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JRC Religious School

Judea Reform Religious School 2022/5782 

Our new Director of Youth Education & Family Engagement, Michelle Crosbie,  has been working hard with the JRC leadership to make plans for this fall. How wonderful it is that we get to be together again, to learn, grow, and explore this year.

Religious School Calendar 2022-2023

Click Here to Register Your Student

Tuition

Gesher (our program for 3 year old students and their parents) — $72
Pre-K through 2nd Grade — $565
3rd through 6th Grade (including our Hebrew program) — $715
Darchei Mitzvah (our 7th grade program) — $605

Director's Message: September 18

Shana Tovah v’Metukah to All of our Wonderful Families!

I want to begin by reminding everyone that there is no Sunday school this Sunday, September 25th, but we hope to see you at Family Services on Sunday, September 25th at 4:00 pm for children ages 0-5, and on Monday, September 26th at 11:00 am for children ages 5-12. Also on September 26th at 12:45, Rabbi Damsky will lead an in-person Tashlich ceremony. We are looking forward to celebrating the new year together.

Last week

We had a wonderful speaker come to religious school on Sunday, September 18th. Alejandro Moreiras, a teacher at Carolina Friends, explored the concept of the worldwide Jewish family with our students. He focused, in particular, on Jews in Yemen and Ethiopia.

Upcoming Events

When we come back to school on October 2nd, we will continue our study of the Days of Awe, and we will learn about Yom Kippur and the concept of T’shuvah.

On October 9th, we will welcome Deb Levin who will share her unique story and her lifetime connection to the JRC community with our students. Parents and congregants are invited to join us in the sanctuary at 10:00am.

On October 16th, students will visit the Sukkah during religious school. At noon we will begin our “Pizza in the Hut” event for all of our religious school families. We will ask families to RSVP ahead of time so that we can be sure to have the right amount of pizza for all. More information and details to follow.

 

School Notes

There is a parent lounge inside the Mirkaz Limud (religious school for 3rd-6th grades) which is open for anyone who would prefer to wait inside rather than outside for their children. The lounge has snacks and books for your enjoyment.

We are going to try a new method at dismissal time for the Mirkaz Limud with the hope that dismissal will go more smoothly. We will create zones by grade for the students to wait for their parents. 

 If you are a parent of a Pre-K-2nd grader picking your child up from Lerner, please park your car and come into the building. Before leaving for the day,  please let the teacher or Madrich know that you are  leaving with your child. 

I am very pleased to announce that our Gesher program for two and three year olds will begin on Sunday, October 9th.

Finally,  I wanted to leave you with a blessing that I read during our T’filah service this past Sunday. It comes from Rabbi Marcia Falk. It spoke to me, and I hope it speaks to you and your families as well:

“Be who you are– and may you be blessed in all that you are.”

Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead,

Michelle Crosbie

To read Religious School Notes from Past Weeks, click here.

Welcome to a New Year from our New Director of Youth Education & Family Engagement

Bruchim Habaim - Welcome to Judea Reform Religious School 2022-2023 / 5783

 

As a lifelong educator, one of my favorite times of the year is the time right before the new school year begins. It is always a time to imagine, to dream, and to plan the journey ahead. The new school year looms full of possibility and promise as we strive to honor the many wonderful traditions of Judea Reform and to create new ones. For me, this hatchalah (start) is going to be particularly exciting as it is my first in this position. I am thrilled to be the new Youth Education and Family Engagement Director at Judea Reform. I will be listening and learning right alongside you and your children as we explore our Jewish community, tradition, and lives together.  

My official start date is July 18, 2022, and you can reach me, then, by email at mcrosbie@judeareform.org or 919-489-7062 x248. Please give me a call or send me an email to say hello.

I’m looking forward to a great year of learning, celebrating, and community-building with you and your children. Thank you for the honor and privilege of being in a sacred learning partnership with your family in the coming year. 

B’Shalom,

Michelle Crosbie

Read Rabbi Soffer's introduction to Michelle Crosbie:

Rabbi Soffer Announces Michelle Crosbie, Dir of YEFE, May 17, 2022  

Important Information About Religious School

Here's what you need to know for the 2022/23 school year.

ENROLLMENT

Religious School enrollment will start on July 1, 2022.  Please enroll your child(ren) as soon as you are able and no later than August 25, 2022.  Knowing whom and how many students we can expect to welcome at school allows us to more easily and accurately plan for teachers, adequate instructional support systems, supplies, and curricular materials.  Thank you for partnering with us so that we can be successful in achieving these aims. To enroll, click here.

SCHOLARSHIP INFO & APPLICATION

We want every student in our congregation to feel welcomed and valued. We believe every student should have access to a Jewish education in our school.  Please don’t let finances be a barrier to your participation.  We have scholarship funds available through a generous gift from the Melvin & Zora Rashkis Charitable Trust. The deadline for applications in September 9. To apply for tuition assistance, click here.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The first day of school is September 11, 2022.  We will start the morning with an assembly in the sanctuary from 9:30-10:00 a.m.  Please plan to join us.  At the end of the assembly, students will go with their teachers and madrichim (teenage teaching assistants) to their classrooms.  There will be a Meet & Greet Coffee for all parents from 10:00-11:00 (after opening assembly).  

SCHOOL TIMES AND LOCATIONS BY AGE/GRADE 

  • 2-and-3-Year-Old Gesher (Bridge) Parent-Child Class, Meet at Lerner School on select Sundays, 10:30 to11:30 AM.
  • Pre-K- 2nd Grade Meet at Lerner School, 9:35 AM to 12:00 PM
  • 3rd – 6th Grade Meet at Mirkaz Limud (JRC Education Center), 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
  • 7th Grade's Darchei Mitzvah (Paths of Commandment) Program Meets at Mirkaz Limud (JRC Education Center), Saturdays 9:00 - 10:50 AM, when there is a worship service that follows.
  • 7th-12th grade Community Midrasha. The fall program will cover Jewish Immigration to America and will be held Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30pm at Jewish for Good.  

COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS 

  • Masks are required for communal activities with more than 25 people, including worship and music.
  • Masks are encouraged, but not required for classes.
  • We will continue to monitor the situation, so, please, be prepared for changes. We'll keep you updated through weekly teacher notes and this website.

Living Jewishly: Worship & Tzedakah

T’FILAH (Worship)

We believe that praying together is an important part of what we do on Sunday mornings.  Our school worship services teach students spiritual and prayer skills, build a community based on a common language and experience, and allow students to practice liturgy included in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony.  Parents are encouraged to join us.  T’filah for Grades 3-6 is held in the JRC sanctuary from 9:30-9:50 a.m.  T’filah for Grades Pre-K-2 will be held at 11:30 AM at the Lerner Day School in the open space in the center of the building. 

FIRST FRIDAYS GRADE LEVEL
     SHABBAT/HOLIDAY DINNERS, GRADES K-7

Kindergarteners – Seventh Graders will have one school sponsored grade level Shabbat or holiday dinner during the school year.  This is an opportunity to see Friday night Shabbat rituals in action and to celebrate with your child’s classmates and their families. During the Shabbat service, students will be called to the bimah to sing a song or lead a prayer that they have learned in Religious School.  

TZEDAKAH

The giving of tzedakah (literally meaning justice or righteousness, commonly translated as charity) is an important value and practice in our school and community.  Tzedakah will be collected in every class on Saturday and Sunday mornings.   Students will decide as a class, in a developmentally appropriate fashion, where they would like their contributions to go at the end of the school year.  Giving tzedakah in any amount is a mitzvah.  Most students bring $1.00 - $5.00 to class each session. 

SHABBAT SERVICE ATTENDANCE

Attending services is a great way to increase your Jewish literacy, and offers students an opportunity to practice Hebrew outside of the classroom.  Let your child(ren) impress you with how much they have learned! Students who attend services regularly tend to feel more at home in the synagogue, stay involved in our youth programs longer, have an easier time preparing for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and have closer relationships with the Jewish professional staff and congregational leaders. We want to see you and your student(s) every chance we have and sing and celebrate with you on Shabbat.  Please join us!

For Parents and Guardians

PARENT OPEN HOUSE

Please join us on October 30, 2022, for T’filah and some or all of your child’s Religious School class. This is an opportunity for you to see Religious School in action and get to know your child’s teacher.  

PARENT LOUNGE

Our parent lounge in the Mirkaz Limud (Education Center) is a great place to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, read a newspaper, play games, and use our Wi-Fi network while school is in session. Please feel free to come every week or drop in occasionally. You can find the lounge by turning left off the lobby and entering the second door on your left.

VOLUNTEERING

We hope that parents/guardians will volunteer in the school at least two hours during the year. The school belongs to you and your child(ren), and we need you to make it work well. We have many ways to do this, including:  assisting at events and programs, setting up for grade level Shabbat dinners, helping with clerical work, and substitute teaching. Volunteering is a wonderful way to spend time with friends, meet new people, become more connected to the temple, role-model involvement for your child(ren), and lend a much needed hand to a very small Religious School staff

Upcoming School Events

All Events

 

Mon, October 3 2022 8 Tishrei 5783