What We Learn
Learning is a full family endeavor at Religious School designed to combine the passion and expertise of our teachers with our welcoming community. With monthly family programs during our school year and having families join their students at morning minyan, it is our goal to bring Judaism to life for every member of the house.
With monthly family programs during our school year and having families join their students at morning minyan, it is our goal to bring Judaism to life for every member of the house.
Our amazing staff works hard to create an environment of engaging, interactive learning for our students. As a team, our Education Director works with our faculty to create new, exciting curriculum topics to bring Judaism to life in ways that foster our students towards making informed Jewish decisions as they continue to grow.
Pre-K and Kindergarten
At Rodeph, we welcome students as young as 3 years old, as long as they are potty trained, for a combined PreK/Kindergarten classes where our students explore introductions to Judaism and Hebrew. They learn the letters, vowels, colors, family members, basic counting, and so much more though hands-on activities (e.g. baking Hebrew letter cookies), Hebrew letter tracing, and interactive videos.
1st & 2nd Grade
Our combined 1st & 2nd grade class focuses on building on the foundation learned last year, while exploring your child's natural creativity through art projects, music, and beginning to develop a deeper connection to the Synagogue and our local Jewish Community and lay the foundation for their future learning.
3rd through 7th Grade
As we begin to prepare our students for their journey towards Jewish adulthood, we focus on more than preparation for their B'nei Mitzvah ceremony, but on creating well-rounded Jewish students. Students will learn the deeper meaning of prayers, Jewish values and they relate to their everyday choices, experience being part of the larger organized Jewish community, and connect to our past through Jewish History, life cycle events, Israel, and our people. They will engage with Hebrew as a living language through music, poetry, and stories, as well as liturgy.
Our students begin each day by reporting to their "homeroom teacher" and then, as a Rodeph community, join in our family-oriented Sunday morning minyan with our Congregation and Rabbi. Our goal is to have our students side by side with our congregants leading our service, which is not just a great experience being on the bima for their upcoming service, but bridges the generations through prayer and signing.
8th - 10th Grade Confirmation (Nachshonim)
The B'nei Mitzvah ceremony is a very important milestone in your child's Jewish journey, but it is only a stepping stone toward the rest of their lives.
Named for Nachshon, a man who was the brother in law to Aaron and, according to a midrash was the first to step into the Red Sea, trusting that G-d would split the waters, our Post B'nei Mitzvah students are navigating what it means to be a Jew in the turbulent waters of today.
Our students will construct their own beliefs and values as they form the ever-evolving adult they want to be through discussion-based curriculum designed to challenge their perceptions on a wide range of Jewish topics and look at them through an adult lens.
Another step on their Jewish journey is the Confirmation Service around Shavuot in their 10th-grade year. They will work with our Education Director and Rabbi to lead a Shabbat morning service for our congregation where we all share in their celebration and commitment to their Jewish identity.
11th & 12th Grade Madrichim (Teaching Assistants)
After Confirmation, our students have the opportunity to work with our younger students. They support our teachers, assist with class activities, and, most importantly, act as role models for our younger students. Those who choose to give back to Rodeph as Madrichim, will receive leadership training from our Education Director, as well as community service hours needed for high school and scholarship requirements. Being a Madrich/a is a wonderful way to spend time with your friends while being a vital role in securing a Jewish future for our community.
Fri, June 2 2023 13 Sivan 5783