Summary for Sunday 4/10

Today the students worked with Moreh Spenser and Morah Emily on their Shabbat service. In fact, they worked so hard that after tefilah with the Rabbi, we took a break and had a yummy snack before working with Morah Emily some more! I'm so very proud and pleased with the progress your children are making and the amount of material they'll be leading in this service. Please mark your calendars for May 6 and be sure to invite family and close friends to share this special occasion.

We have religious school this Tuesday, then will be off until April 26 due to April school vacation. Please encourage your children to take a look at their Hebrew during this break so they don't forget what they've worked so hard to learn!

Thank you,

Morah Debbie

4/3/16 class summary

Shalom Parents,

Today we worked on our Shabbat service with Morah Emily and Moreh Spenser. The children are doing an amazing job of learning the prayers, and will be leading most of the Friday night service. I'm sure you'll all be proud, so be sure to invite family and friends to enjoy this mitzvah with you on May 6.

The children are sooooo excited about learning to read Hebrew that they voted to work in their Mitkadem books today rather than do our usual holiday learning. But no worries; we'll get to our Passover curriculum next Sunday!

Enjoy your week,

Morah Debbie

March updates

Shalom, Parents,

Your children are working hard with our specialists to learn about prayer and design their own special class prayer for their Shabbat service in May. We don't have too many classes left, and every one is important as we get ready for this service as well as continue to learn to read Hebrew with more confidence and accuracy. So please, do continue to make religious school a priority and send your children to class--even if they may have to come late or leave early!

This Sunday please join us as we celebrate Purim with a fun and educational family education program for all ages! You don't want to miss it!

Morah Debbie

It's good to be back!

Shalom Parents,

I was so happy to see your children this Sunday morning, and even happier to see how hard they're working on their Shabbat service with Morah Emily, Moreh Spencer, Morah Heather, and Morah Liz. I'm so excited to be back to help them with this exciting learning, and can't wait to see the service that they are creating.

I'm also happy to report that they have made huge strides in Hebrew while I was away. Since they already have a good understanding of Purim, we spent some time today working on our mitkadem Hebrew program, and I was literally beaming as I watched them all work steadily at their own pace (while munching on pretzels, cheese balls, and/or goldfish, of course, which helps make the work go easier!).

Next Sunday is pajama day, so please remind your children to stay in their pjs and come to school and be comfy!

Morah Debbie

March 6, 2016

Hi Parents,

Morah Debbie returned today, but we are now beginning to practice for the class service, so for the first hour, Moreh Spencer and I worked with your children along with Morah Debbie.  Moreh Spencer started by doing an exercise with them designed to teach them in a way they could understand the meaning of the Hebrew word l'hitpalel, self reflection.  Next, we worked on the blessings over the candles, wine, and challah.  Our madrichim Claire and Jason made videos of them that are attached, to help your children learn them at home.

We all look forward to this process going forward!
Morah Emily

February 23, 2016

Hi Parents,
 Yesterday was my last Tuesday of subbing for Morah Debbie.   We finished reviewing all the prayers and readings that we might like to include in our class service.  It's a long list, especially because your children also will be writing their own prayer with Moreh Spencer.  In the coming weeks, as Moreh Spencer and I work with them on on the service, it will all come together!
 Because on Sunday we are going to the movies with ARC clients, we had a visitor today who explained to us about autism.  In the second session, we got to talk about the fact that preparing ourselves to know how to be kind to these children and their families can be a kind of prayer, since not all prayer comes from books.  I was struck by what good questions were asked by your children, and how many of them have had exposure to children with developmental disabilities.
 Be aware that your children did take homework today, and look for it, since I think you know that it requires your child reading to you.  They have been so proud to show me their parents' or grandparents' signatures on their work!
I look forward to meeting you this Sunday at the Warwick Theater!
Morah Emily

Tuesday, February 9, 206

Hi Parents,
I am subbing for Morah Debbie on Tuesdays while she is away.  I am working on a project-based learning initiative with your children.  At present, we are thinking about prayer--what it is, why we pray, and how we pray.
We've taken a look at a couple of the lovely siddurim (prayer books) that are available at Temple Emanu-El, and your children are expressing their opinions about what is meaningful to them, and what they might like to include in their class service.  As I told Morah Liz, we are going to have our hands full trying to distill all their choices into a service of reasonable length, as they are so proficient and enthusiastic.
I also am continuing to work with your children on their Hebrew. Understandably, other than one student who is not on vacation from secular school next week, no one elected to take homework during the vacation, which made perfect sense to me.  Enjoy the vacation; they are a charming group of children!
Morah Emily