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Shir Tikva Religious School

“V’shinantam L’vanecha” -- and teach them to your children – is the guiding principle of our religious school. Together, the education staff, clergy, teaching faculty and parents strive to provide an enriching educational experience for our children in kindergarten through grade 6. Our goal is to facilitate a sense of community and connection among students and to engage each student, meaningfully, with the cornerstones of Jewish life.

The religious school program focuses on five major subject areas in its curriculum:

• Hebrew, both prayer and language
• Torah and text study
• Jewish life celebrations, including holidays and life cycle events
• The land of Israel
• Social action

General Program Description

Kindergarten – Grade 2 — Community is Shir Tikva’s educational model for Kindergarten, First and Second Grades. The process of learning and understanding is dependent upon partnerships between home, synagogue and school — teachers, parents and students —practice, observance and on-going Jewish learning. Through Shir Tikva’s primary program parents and children actively learn about Judaism together, both at Temple and at home. Each grade has its own curriculum, yet follows a similar model of education.

Grades 3 – 5 – The basic tenets of the primary grades are continued through the program of study for grades 3-5. Learning and understanding is dependent upon the partnerships developed between home, synagogue and school — teachers, parents and students —practice, observance and on-going Jewish learning. Parents and children continue to actively learn about Judaism together, both at Temple Shir Tikva and at home.

Grade 6 – Shir Tikva places great emphasis on the home-school partnership. As Grade 6 students make their journey towards becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the meaning of “Jewish Coming of Age” is explored both in the class and through the family education program, the “Mitzvah Awareness Workshops.”

Hebrew Language Studies

Hebrew is the key that unlocks the treasure contained within our Jewish texts and Torah. It is the language we use to communicate with God. It is the mutual language that connects us with any Jewish person in the world. The Hebrew curriculum of the Religious School includes Tefillah (prayer), Jewish Life vocabulary and Modern Hebrew language skills.

The overall goal of the Tefillah curriculum is to develop in our students an understanding of prayer in our lives and the ability to engage actively in Tefillah (be able to read and chant prayers and blessing with understanding).

Jewish Life vocabulary is taught at every level of the school program. Jewish Life vocabulary includes: mitzvot, middot (ethical behavior), synagogue, and Shabbat and holiday language.

The major goal of Modern Hebrew is to enable our students to develop a connection with Hebrew as a living language. Students in Kindergarten through grade 2 are taught Hebrew in every session of class. Hebrew in grades 3-6 is taught twice a week and includes homework. Homework in Hebrew provides students with additional opportunities to engage in language practice which is vital to a successful language learning experience.

Shir Tikva’s Redesigned Religious School Tzedakah Initiative

This year, the students of our Religious School will engage in specially designed Tzedakah projects for their grade. Each grade has been assigned a specific organization. Students will learn about the organization they are entrusted with and will develop and engage in a variety of projects of students’ own design in order to collect Tzedakah for their organization. Each grade’s project is described below.

Religious School Policies

Please refer to the Temple Shir Tikva Religious School Policies Handbook for questions on school policies.

Shir Tikva School
Religious School and Youth Community Times and Days

Sundays
9:00-11:00 a.m. – First Session (Kindergarten through Grade 6)
11:15-1:15 p.m. – Second Session (Kindergarten through Grade 6)

Wednesdays
3:45-5:45 p.m. – Grades 3 through 6
6:00-8:00 p.m. – Youth Community

Thursdays
3:45-5:45 p.m. – Grades 3 through 6

There is a new policy for pickup on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon; please read about it here.

Shir Tikva School Core Values

1. We respect one another (no fighting, hurting, or disturbing other people or their property)
• Who deserves respect? Someone who respects others.
  (Pirkei Avot 4:1)
  
  
2. We respect the authority of our teachers and adults involved in our learning (no talking back or fooling around).
   • Who is wise? Someone who learns from every person.
     (Pirkei Avot 4:1)
     
     
3. We talk and listen to each other with kindness and skill (no teasing, swearing, or insults).
• You shall love your fellow person as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)
  
  
4. We do our best to be good Jews and practice what we learn (no put-downs for someone’s efforts, or insults about someone’s work).
   • All Jews are responsible for each other.
     (Talmud Shavout 39a)
     
     
5. We all belong at Shir Tikva with all the ways we are the same or different (no disrespect of what someone else thinks is important, or purposely excluding others).
• Do not keep yourself apart from the community.
  (Pirkei Avot 2:5)
  
  
6. We respect our environment and take care of our Shir Tikva space.
   • Take heed not to corrupt and destroy My world. For if you do there is no one to make it right after you.
     (Ecclesiastes Rabba 7:13)

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Pillars of Shir Tikva Religious School Curriculum

Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Curriculum Enhancement

Religious School Policies Handbook