The K-2 family education programs are designed to be engaging and exciting for both parents and students, hinging on the curriculum themes and topics of each grade. Our goal is to strengthen the connections between school and home.
In GAN (Kindergarten) our family education program is focused around a specific holiday and offers opportunities, resources and useable projects that can enrich your home celebration. This year our program is focused on the holiday of Passover.
Our ALEF (first grade) family education program, “A Visit to Mitzvahland”. This program includes a parallel learning session for parents about the concept of Mitzvot (divine directives or commandments) while the students are preparing and learning about mitzvot in the classroom Parents and children come together to take a Journey to “Mitzvahland”, visiting places at Temple Isaiah where we can perform mitzvot. Students create a mitzvah bag of objects to help perform mitzvot at home and resource materials are provided as well.
Our Bet (second grade) families are invited to join us for two family education programs during the course of the year. Our first family education program, “Setting Your Clock to Jewish Time” focuses on the lunar cycles of the Jewish calendar. Our second family education program, “Making Room for God” offers a forum for sharing ideas and questions about God, to share the Jewish ideas and understanding of God.
For specific dates and times of programs, please click here for Sunday families and here for Thursday families.
Family Education in third to fifth grade focuses on a variety of topics, including enhancing home observance of Shabbat, celebrating Jewish holidays by doing mitzvot, and connecting to Israel. Each program is connected thematically to curriculum students cover in school. In addition to “traditional” Sunday morning learning activities, we hold community Shabbat dinners, a family gathering in the sukkah, and an offsite overnight family “Kallah” retreat for the third grade.
This year, Family Education programming will be held in the fall and spring, to allow parents to participant in the Sunday morning “House of Study Café” adult learning programs during the winter months. For more information, click on
Adult Learning.
Third Grade Family Education
Third Grade family education is a parent/child learning program which is an integral part of the third grade curriculum. Through the activities, you and your child will embark on a journey of Jewish learning, in which you will explore Jewish texts and traditions and build a sense of community with other third grade families. Sessions take place on Sunday during religious school hours with the exception of the family retreat weekend. Parents (one or both) are asked to set aside the time to participate with third graders on the designated dates/times listed below.
Third grade Family Education schedule for 2009-2010:
- Parent Orientation and Visit to the Classroom: Sunday, October 4
A parent orientation and study session with Rabbi Brown and Jodi Jarvis Kaufman as well as an opportunity to get a taste of the third grade Hebrew Curriculum with your third grader and a festive brunch in the Temple Sukkah.
Session I Families: 9:00-11:00. Parents meet together and join 3rd graders in their classroom.
11:00-11:30 All 3rd Grade Families (from both sessions) gather in the Temple Sukkah for a light brunch
Session II Families: 11:30-1:15. Parents meet together and join 3rd graders in classroom
- Three family activities which will take place in lieu of the 3rd grade class time on the following dates:
Sundays November 15 (9-11 on “exploring Shabbat”) January 31 (11:15-1:15)Exploring Tu B’Shevat and March 28 (9-11) Exploring Passover
- Third grade offsite Family Retreat on Saturday December 12 and Sunday, December 13.
Fourth Grade Family Education
In the Fourth Grade Program, parent(s) and 4th grade children join in three special family activity programs including a Shabbaton. In these activities children and their parents explore Jewish traditions by making ritual items, discussing Jewish texts related to family stories, and participating in a hands-on mitzvah project. In addition, all Fourth Grade families are invited to our one day Shabbaton held at the Temple, a chance to build community and enjoy a truly enriching Shabbat experience.
Parents (one or both) are asked to set aside the time to participate with fourth graders on the designated dates/times listed below.
- September 13, 2009, 11:15-1:15: Make Your Own Shofar Workshop with Rabbi Mendy Horowitz, Chabad of Sharon
- Saturday, November 7, 2009: Family Shabbaton (in lieu of religious school for 4th grade on Sunday, November 8) 10:00-2:00
- Sunday, April 11, 2010, time: TBD Mitzvah Project: Family Table Delivery (of
Fifth Grade Family Education
In the Fifth Grade Program, parent(s) and 5th grade children join in three special family activity programs and a Shabbat dinner. In these activities children and their parents will explore the connection of their Hebrew studies to the Modern State of Israel, learn about organizations in Israel that perform acts of kindness while “seeking peace” and enjoy a fun Passover seder created by the 5th grade families.
Parents (one or both) are asked to set aside the time to participate with fifth graders on the designated dates/times listed below:
- Sunday, October 18, 2009 (9:00-11:00): Parent Orientation to the 5th grade curriculum followed by an Israel-related Family Activity with 5th graders
- Friday, February 26,2010 (6:15): Shabbat service followed by 5th grade family potluck dinner.
- Sunday, March 21, 2010 (9:00-11:00) Creative Seder led by Erica Fox and the 5th grade families.
- Wednesday, April 14 (3:40-5:10) Israel Projects Fair presented by the 5th grade students.
Sixth Grade Family Education
One of our goals for our Vav class (sixth grade) is to engage the students and their families in an ongoing process of Jewish growth and exploration as part of becoming Bnai Mitzvah. To meet this goal we provide a variety of opportunities for our Vav students and their parents
The parent sessions (students will participate in two of the sessions) will cover the following topics:
- Affirming Jewish values in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience
- Learning about the historical as well as sociological and developmental context of Bar/Bat Mitzvah
- Exploring our (and our children’s) expectations of and feelings about this rite of passage – students will join parents for part of this session.
- Covering the nuts and bolts of the service itself and crafting a message to share on the Bimah
- Making Meaning:Parent/Child Exploration of The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Torah Portion
- “The Fringes of our garments” – Family Tzitzit Project with Rabbi Brown
Parents (one or both) are asked to set aside the time to participate with sixth graders on the designated dates/times listed below.
| Sunday October 25 |
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop (Parents Only)
“The Meaning of B’nei Mitzvah: Personal and Communal” with Rabbi Jaffe |
11:15am-1:15pm |
| Sunday November 15 |
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop (Parents and Students)
“Understanding Tradition: Tzedakah and Tzizit” with Rabbi Brown and Marilyn Stern |
11:15am-1:15pm |
| Sunday December 20 |
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop (Parents only first part, students join for second part of workshop)
“Expectations” with Rabbi Brown and Jess Slavin |
11:15am-1:15pm |
| Sunday January 24 |
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop (Parents and Students)
“Exploring your Child’s Torah Portion” with the Clergy and Education Team |
11:15am-1:15pm |
| Saturday April 3 |
6th Grade Service followed by Passover Brunch |
10:00am-12noon |
| Sunday May 2 |
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Workshop (Parents Only)
“A Walk Through The Torah Service and How To Write A Blessing For Your Child” with Rabbi Jaffe and Cantor Doob |
11:15am-1:15pm |
Seventh Grade Family Education
In keeping with the focus of performing Mitzvot as part of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah year, Temple Isaiah provides opportunities for families to participate together in hands-on Mitzvah projects as well as Shabbat worship experiences.