Welcome to the new school year!
September 2022 Keeping Connected
Welcome to September! I hope you can all look back on a fun, restful and an exciting summer as we all forge ahead to a new school year. I am excited to begin another year at Congregation Shalom and I hope you are too. There are some new ideas and curriculum in place for the coming year, the restoring of some traditions that have taken a covid hiatus, the continuation of some tried and true experiences and the return of familiar faces and the joy of reconnecting with your temple community.
As you may know, the first day of Religious School will be on Sunday, September 11, 2022 in the parking lot. There has been such a great response from so many of our school parking lot activities that we are excited to continue that covid tradition and bring it into our school regularly. The difference is that is the weather does not cooperate, we can easily bring our plans into the building. On September 11 we invite students and families to join together to reconnect with each other and to meet and greet your teachers for the year (both Religious and Hebrew School teachers.) Students and families will also have some time to engage in some welcoming activities and catch up with old friends and meet new friends. A separate note will come out with the exact plans for our opening day!
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 will be the first day of Hebrew School. Our Hebrew program will be taking on some new ideas this year, including the idea of teaching a few Hebrew words to our entire temple community! Stay tuned to find out more about you using Hebrew words throughout the week in meaningful and fun ways. Students attending Hebrew School in-person will be at the temple on Wednesdays from 4:15pm – 6:00pm. Students attending Hebrew School online will attend at a designated time that will be shared with you.
The first Hebrew word that we will learn as a community is Sh’hecheyanu – שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ. (It begins with the letter SHIN, which is also one of the letters found on the Hanukkah dreidel!) The Sh’hecheyanu is a blessing of praise said for first times and joyous occasions. You might say the Sh’hecheyanu when you lose your tooth for the first time. A Sh’hecheyanu moment might be when you when you see someone you have not seen in a long time. We challenge you this month to take a moment to stop and acknowledge the Sh’hecheyanu moments in your life. On September 11 you will all have a chance to record some of these moments so that we can share in your joy as a community. Here is link to one version of the Sh’hecheyanu –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQkzWSSgklg There is a joyful sound when the community joins together in singing the Sh’hecheyanu! I look forward to hearing it in our community all year long.
Lots of school related information will be coming your way in the coming month, so please check your emails! Check out the list of important dates below for September plans.
Wishing you all a safe and healthy start to the new school year and a Happy New Year.
L’shana tova,
Deborah Morrisse
Schedule for September
Sunday, September 11 – Yom Rishon/First day of Religious School – in the Parking Lot – begins at 9:30am
Wednesday, September 14 – First day of Hebrew School
Friday, September 16 – Family Shabbat – led by our new 7th graders – 7:00pm
7th grade Shabbat dinner at 6:00pm
This year we are hoping to see lots of families attend the monthly Family Shabbat Service. Challenge your family to see how many you can attend this year!
Sunday, September 18 – Religious School
- First day of Preschool – 8:30am – 10:15am
- Kindergarten through 4th grade – 8:30am – 10:15am
- Kitah Aleph (3rd grade Hebrew School) – 10:30am-11:30am
- 5th grade through 7th grade – 10:30am-12:30pm
Wednesday, September 21 – Hebrew School
No School on Sunday, September 25 – Rosh Hashanah – see High Holiday schedule
No School on Wednesday, September 28 – due to High Holiday set up in the temple
No School on Sunday, October 2 – still the High Holiday season
No School on Wednesday, October 4 – Yom Kippur
No School on Sunday, October 9 – Holiday weekend
Hebrew School will resume on Wednesday, October 12
Sunday Religious School will resume on Sunday, October 16