Shalom Families,
We are so excited for a great year of learning, community, and fun. This year we will again be having our full 3-hour days of in-person Shul School!
There will be 15 Shul School sessions meeting 9:30-12:30am, approximately every other Sunday. Please note: Some weeks we will meet two Sundays in a row, and other weeks we may have a few weeks break due to holidays, etc.
Shul School days will begin in the morning in the Main Sanctuary as an entire school community for morning greetings, songs, prayers and conversation. Likewise, our days will end with a reflection and closing circle in either the library, sanctuary, or outside. Caregivers (and siblings), this time all together is designed for you to be with us! Please join us!
After morning prayers, we will invite students to head to classrooms with their teachers and madrichim (teen aides).
Please know: You are welcome to remain in the building or backyard during school hours.
Students and teachers will gather together outside for a 15-minute snack/recess in the middle of our mornings. Please pack a Nut-Free snack and optional beverage for your children. On special days we may provide a snack.
Please pack sweaters, jackets, hats, and/or rain gear for students, as needed, for outside time.
For our program this year we are returning to our Values Based Curriculum, seeing how Jewish values are a part of our every-day lives. We will also have time in our days to explore the weekly Parashah (Torah reading), holidays, Hebrew, and more.
Students in grades 3-6 will have weekly 1:1 Zoom Hebrew tutoring with either Bari Frimkess or David Sherman, for 20 minutes a session.
Outside of class, Bnai mitzvah students will meet with a tutor on Zoom to work on Hebrew prayers, Torah chanting, and more, and will meet with Rabbi Julie to plan their Mitzvah projects and speaking parts.
Our classes most likely will be (depending on enrollment):
Prek/K
1st/2nd
3rd/4th
5th/6th
Bnai mitzvah
Tuition this year:
Please see the separate letter from our TES Board President, Steve Portnoy, about tuition changes this year.
NOTES:
Financial Aid is available for TES members. Please ask Rabbi Julie for more information
If you are not a member and are interested in membership, please let us know!
Depending on one’s category of membership every student will pay a base tuition cost.
In addition to the base tuition cost there will be costs for:
Security fee
3rd-6th grade Hebrew Zoom Tutoring (30 sessions, beginning week of 10/15)
(no tutoring Thanksgiving week, 2 winter break weeks, or 1 spring break week)
B’nai Mitzvah (7th grade)
PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
New to TES Shul School! We are ready to form a Parent Teacher Association for our Shul School family to support Shul School and Family programming at TES. If you are interested in participating please reach out to teacher David Sherman to sign up: moreh18@gmail.com.
Please see the next page for the Shul School calendar that includes the holiday happenings throughout the year. As more family programming is added to the TES calendar, we will be sure to let you know.
If you have any questions please be in touch with Amy Schoppert (shulschool@emekshalom.org) or Rabbi Julie (rabbijulie@emekshalom.org).
With blessings and joy,
Amy Schoppert and Rabbi Julie Benioff
5784/2023-24
Shul School and TES Family Programming Calendar
Friday: 9/8: 5:30 pm Family Shabbat/High Holy Days program and picnic
Sunday: 9/10:
Friday 9/15-Sunday 9/17: Rosh HaShanah
Saturday 9/16, afternoon, Tashlich at Lithia Park
Sunday 9/24-Monday 9/25 Yom Kippur
Wednesday 9/27, 4pm: Sukkah Decorating
Friday 9/29, 5:30pm: Erev Sukkot and Shabbat songs and Potluck dinner
Tuesday 10/3, 7pm: Sukkot with Havurah @ TES Sukkah (dessert potluck)
Saturday 10/7, 5:30pm: Simchat Torah Celebration (+ Dinner potluck)
Sunday: 10/15: Shul School
Sunday: 11/5: Shul School
Sunday: 11/19: Shul School
Sunday: 12/3: Shul School
Friday 12/8, 5:30pm TES Hanukkah and Shabbat celebration
Sunday: 1/7: Shul School
Saturday 1/20, 5pm: Family Tu b’shevat seder and potluck
Sunday: 1/21: Shul School
Sunday: 2/4: Shul School
Sunday: 2/25: Shul School
Sunday: 3/10: Shul School
Sunday: 3/17: Shul School (Purim carnival!)
Sunday: 4/7: Shul School
Sunday: 4/21: Shul School (Shul school in the woods, North Mountain Park: NOT in the building)
Tuesday 4/23, 5pm : TES Community Passover Seder
Sunday: 5/5: Shul School
Sunday: 5/19 (Final Closing circle and family picnic)