Orna Sonnenschein
Welcome to Temple Beth Am

As the Director of Education of Temple Beth Am, I am pleased to make available, on-line, my thoughts which are found in Temple Beth Am's monthly newsletter, TEBEAM.

My articles are available on-line and are readily available for viewing or downloading and reading at your convenience.

Director of Education’s Message
Tebeam
September 2007

Welcome back everyone!

I hope each of you had at least some vacation time to enjoy the summer.  For me the summer has flown by, yet it has still been productive.  As of this writing I have hired a teacher for 6^th and 7^th grade.  We hopefully will have a new youth educator and that person will help in the school with the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th grades.

Changes have been made to our service requirement policy which will be outlined in the family handbook you will receive on the first day of school.  The reason this policy was originally introduced was to insure that our students get to feel comfortable with the way services are led at our temple so that when they become a bar/bat mitzvah they are well prepared.  I can see why some families felt our policy was restrictive since attending services other that Shabbat Services did not count.  Therefore the policy has been tweaked.  Again, the specifics will be in the handbook but students will be required to attend a variety of different types of services and in the older grades services attended at a different congregation will count.

Our first week of school begins on Sunday September 16^th.  On September 16^th parents are invited into their children’s classrooms for the first 20 minutes or so, to meet the teacher, hear about the curriculum and expectations.  The family handbook will be distributed at that time.  I will send out a reminder email about the open house closer to the first day of school. 

Throughout the year you will notice on the calendar (when you receive the updated one) that there are several grade kallot.  The objectives of the programs are three fold.  1.  To provide an avenue for us (adults) to get to know one another.  2. To learn something new in a fun way with your family.  3.  To show your child that Jewish education is not just for them, not just for children but for all congregants. 

I know that when there are younger children at home it is hard for both parents to attend these programs.  This is why you are provided with the date early in the year.  Show your child that Jewish education is important.  Support them by asking specific questions about what they’ve learned, reading them the books they’ve taken out of the library, and attending programs to which you are invited.  We want everyone to come and learn.  Help us build a learning community!

A special note from the Worship Committee about the High Holiday Services:
There will be no family services in the Friedman Hall this year.  Babysitting will be available for children ages 3-6 (out of diapers).  The cost is $15/child per holiday ($30.00 max for each holiday.) You received reservation forms in the mail.  Please be sure to send your requests promptly.  There will be a special service geared toward younger children (ages 5-10) at 3pm for Rosh Hashanah, and 2:15 for Yom Kippur.  Tickets are not required for the children’s service.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.

L’Shalom,