Youth Education
Shaarai Shomayim's Religious School provides students with exciting, engaging, hands-on Jewish learning experiences while providing the literacy they will need to become practicing Jewish adults.
Our youth education program is vibrant and flourishing with over 170 students enrolled. Holli Winick Viau is our new Principal. She oversees the program by working with teachers to maintain our outstanding programming while also seeking to improve ideas and practice through training, inservices, and brainstorming sessions. She is always available to speak with parents about any thoughts or concerns they might wish to share, and loves to spend time with students in and out of the classroom. We are lucky to have a dedicated and outstanding group of members as our teachers! They are assisted by parent aides, as well as a terrific group of student aides on Wednesdays. Judy Shenk and Sharon Wolman continue as our indispensable school administrators, helping wherever and whenever they can.
While our younger students enjoy a curriculum which includes the holidays, prayers, and the foundations of a thorough Jewish education, our older students learn about and discuss relevant topics such as ethics, Judaism in world politics, and how to incorporate Judaism into their lives as they go off to college. We are happy to make accommodations for students with special educational needs. These may include adapted materials, tutors, one-on-one assistants, and creative life cycle events done in coordination with the Principal and the Rabbi.
With the support of our Sisterhood, the students enjoy model seders for Passover and Tu B'Shevat, a Chanukah Boutique and Latke Party, and many other special programs.
Hebrew classes are offered on Wednesday afternoons for students in grades 3-7. Translation and liturgy play key roles in our students' Hebrew proficiency. The vast majority of our young people choose to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah at age 13, able to chant Torah and Haftorah, as well as lead the Hebrew prayers and English readings of the service.
Our High School students meet on Sunday mornings in an integrated program of learning and youth group activities with our Rabbi as teacher and leader. Students help to plan their program for the year which includes social activities, mitzvah projects, field trips and classroom units of study. This program culminates in Confirmation and High School Graduation in 12th grade.
We are very proud of our religious school, and of the number of our families who see to it that their children’s education is supplemented by time at Camp Harlam, with our youth groups, and with our regional youth organization NFTY/PAR. We also have a number of students each year who spend five weeks touring Eastern Europe and Israel as well through the NFTY in Israel program.
Our religious school meets on Sundays from 9:15 to noon for Pre-K through 12th grade, and our Hebrew school meets on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00 for Grades 3-7.
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