Busy is the key word around the Education Department of TKC. Many thanks to Rhonda Flynn, whose
volunteer assistance in the Education Office has been invaluable!! The first days of Religious School and
Preschool wouldn’t have been nearly as smooth without her assistance!
Approximately 75% of our known families sent in their registration for Religious School prior to the beginning of school. Thanks to those of you who made everything so easy! I look forward to increased participation at Family Shabbats and Family Education days!! We will be organizing pot luck dinners prior to every Family Shabbat. Your teachers will be in touch with details. The first Family Shabbat will take place November 4th for our Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classes. Students who are entering their first year of Religious School will be consecrated that evening. If your child is in Religious School for the first time and is older than a 2nd grader, please contact me so that we can include him/her for Consecration.
Our 2nd grade and 4th grade classes are unusually small – 4 in the 2nd grade and 7 in the 4th grade. While I am not quite sure how we target a specific age group, if you know of a family looking for a synagogue to call home and a GREAT (no modesty there!) religious school, please invite them to check us out!! We are willing to have a child visit (with prior knowledge, please) for one session!!
We are in “rebuilding” mode here at the Preschool. Eric Smolin has agreed to chair the Preschool Committee. Our aim is to get information out into the community about the tremendous program we have here at TKC. After 14 years in our community, it is time for the community to become re-acquainted with us!!! Our Preschool teacher will be participating in a new literacy effort as part of a cohort of 7 other Jewish preschools and the PJ Library, called PJ Library Goes to School. I am very excited to be able to add yet another layer to our already rich curriculum.
I would like to thank the Board for supporting the opportunity for me to attend the NewCAJE (New Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education) conference in Greensboro, NC the first week in August. The conference was held on the campus of the American Hebrew Academy, a beautiful Jewish boarding school for 9 – 12 grades (6 Points Sports Camp is held there during the summer). This facility boasts one of the largest geothermal energy systems in the world and is used to heat and cool 440,000 square feet in 29 buildings. But, enough about the facility – you can find out more about American Hebrew Academy by going to www.americanhebrewacademy.org.
At the NewCAJE conference, I discovered an extensive list of classes to attend, everything from administration, creative and cultural arts, early childhood to Hebrew, teaching techniques and technology and Torah, spirituality, music. It was difficult to decide where to go!! I was also able to spend an extra day participating in an “intensive class” with our former Education Director, Diane Zimmerman. Diane specializes in leading interactive professional development workshops for teachers and principals. There was also a “Young Professionals” track (alas not young at heart). I felt very reassured that the next generation will carry the Torah forward with ruach (spirit)!! The evenings were spent listening to Jewish storytellers and musicians. What a rich environment! I could go on and on about the experience, but I invite you to come speak to me if you are interested in hearing more!
From my family to yours, Shana Tovah!
B’shalom,
Catherine Rosing
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