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Vav/Zayin - 6th & 7th Grades |
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Middle School Opening Letter - September 2009
Dear Vav and Zayin Students and Parents,
On behalf of the Middle School staff I wish to welcome you to a new school year. This year marks a milestone in your education here at NCJC. You are now a part of the upper school and will be treated as upper classmen. The goal for all of you is to explore Judaism’s many facets through various media. By now you have met all the teachers and are embarking on your journey together for the year. Having 4 different teachers to learn from and interact with gives you a unique opportunity to grow and develop.
Our goal is to help you be the best that you can be. We have begun to study Ivrit and Tefilah. In Ivrit our students study at their own pace and at their own level. In Tefilah, while it is still important to learn how to Daven, it is equally important to learn about the prayers, their origins, their structure and their meanings. |
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Morah Rachel Cipok |
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Morah Shlomit Hirsch |
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Morah Danielle Maroff |
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Grade Summary
Our Vav and Zayin students explore Judaism’s many facets through various media. The educational structure enhances our efforts to further your children’s personal and intellectual development. The middle school’s structure allows for students to move from class to class having an opportunity to learn with four different teachers, as well as, giving them a sense of being “upper classmen.”
The Middle School is set-up in trimesters. This allows for more intensive learning mid-week in the areas of Bible, History, Ethics and Israel. The trimester also gives us an opportunity to communicate with parents on a regular basis and make changes in a student’s classes based on their progress. The classes in the middle school are primarily mixed, with Sixth and Seventh graders learning together for most courses. This helps in creating a real sense of community. There are three periods each day, including the alternate Sunday sessions. For Tefilah and Ivrit (Prayer and Hebrew) the courses are designed to build upon a student’s skills and knowledge, and so in these courses the student’s are grouped according to their ability. We also Daven the weekday services, Mincha or Maariv, together as a Kehillah (congregation) once a week, which complements what the students study in class.
The other period, “Core Course,” is designed to meet the student’s individual interests in specific areas of learning. The year will begin with Core Courses that are an integral part of preparing your child to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. In the Seventh grade, the first core course will be devoted to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience, and in the Sixth grade, the first core course will be devoted to learning Trope (the musical notations for the Haftarah and Torah readings) and a course in Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness). The next Core Course will be devoted to four stages of Jewish History: American, Pre-Holocaust Europe, Holocaust and Israel.
The Sunday portion of our program consists of 3 periods of Mini-Courses. All students will be able to participate in all 3 Mini-Courses offered. The Mini-Courses are designed to teach concepts and facts in a “hands-on, minds-on” fashion with a little bit of fun thrown in. New this year, we will be picking a special Tzedakah Project that will be carried throughout the year. The middle school is a great opportunity for our students to begin exploring Judaism through their own eyes and gives them the chance to discover for themselves about which aspects of Judaism they would like to continue to learn.
Books: A Young Person’s History of Israel, Derech Chachma, Hebrew & Heritage, The History of the Jewish People I & II, The Holocaust, The Jews of America, Ulpan Aleph & Bet |
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Praying becomes more comfortable, enjoyable and most of all meaningful when you understand what you are reading. While in Ivrit and Tefilah students are mixed our core courses are by grade level in the first trimester. Sixth graders can be heard chanting the Haftarah trope and learning about Gemilut Chasadim, Acts of Loving Kindness. Seventh graders are learning what is to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. |
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Boys and girls have separate classes for these core courses. They begin by discussing similar mitzvot, yet there are some issues that are gender specific. We are in the process of selecting a Tzedakah Project for the year. At the end of the year there will be a poster display that will illustrate our efforts. We will keep you apprised of the projects as the year progresses.
Save the Date! On Wednesday October 28th our middle school will participate in a program on the Holocaust sponsored by the Sisterhood. Hebrew School for the middle school will not be held that day but students are asked to come at 7pm. We encourage parents to attend with their child.
We also have some special programs coming up on Sundays. November 15 is the first of four Bonayih programs with Rabbi Susan Mitrani-Knapp. The theme for that program is God and Prayer Parents and students alike will have an opportunity to pray together, break “Bagels” together and learn together as a community. As the year continues I will keep you updated on the Middle School’s events and academic work. Communication is key, keep in touch with us as well so that we can together raise your children Jewishly.
Lynne Diwinsky, Vice Principal –Middle/High Scholl Coordinator
From all of us to all of you, Shanah Tova and Metukah - Have a Sweet and Happy New Year.
Lynne Diwinsky, Vice Principal – Middle/High School Coordinator |
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New City Jewish Center Religious School 47 Old Schoolhouse Road New City, NY 10956 845.638.9600 x.114 |
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New City Jewish Center Religious School A Framework for Excellence School |
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NCJC Religious School - Believing, Behaving, Belonging |
