3rd-5th Grade – Congregation Shaare Emeth

Shaare Emeth Religious School’s 3rd-5th Grade Program

Bringing Judaism to Life in 3-D

Starting in 3rd grade, we move in a new direction that grows as our students mature and evolve.

One of our guiding principles is to be flexible and to meet students where they are as often as possible. We know that our lives are busy and that we share the same goal: to prepare our children to lead well-rounded lives as people and as Jews. We want their religious education to be deep and meaningful in content, as well as a realistic, thoughtful commitment of your time and energy.

Our 3rd-5th Grade Program provides multiple choices and options for each family. You have the opportunity to choose the one that makes the most sense for you!

To meet our educational goals, our standard expectation for all 3rd-5th Graders is that they meet twice a week, with a focus on community building time, deep study of Hebrew prayer, and the opportunity to explore a variety of Jewish content themes through interactive, rich learning experiences. You can attend our flagship Sunday & Midweek Program, choosing either Tuesday or Wednesday for your Midweek day for all 3^rd-5^th Graders.
Our 4^th and 5^th Graders are also invited, as needed, to participate in a Sunday-only option, where our students attend class from 9-11 a.m. and continue through the afternoon until 12:30 p.m. for their second round of Hebrew and Judaics.
We invite you to consider your options now as you plan for the next school year. Discuss them with your child, think about your other activities and commitments, and explore the possibilities. We recommend that you choose the track that maximizes the possibility of your child(ren) attending on-site as often as possible. This will allow them to get the most out of their learning and build their comfort and confidence.

What Happens in 3rd-5th Grade?

On Sunday mornings, learners attend every week as they begin a deeper study of Hebrew centered on the prayers of our prayerbook. Learners work in small groups to work together on Hebrew decoding skills and become familiar with the core prayers of our worship services. We also explore what these prayers mean and how we can find our own connections to prayer, which is in some ways even more crucial!

Each grade level also focuses on a curricular theme for the year that helps them explore new Jewish ideas and stories, including Israel, global Jewish history, biblical texts, and the holidays. Families are invited to join us throughout the year to learn alongside their children and participate in programs together.

During our Midweek/Extended Day Sunday sessions, we draw on the most exciting elements of contemporary Jewish educational experiences to integrate even more rich content and reinforce what they are learning on Sunday mornings.

Our students learn Hebrew in smaller groups based on their needs and abilities.
Learners participate in a t’filah prayer experience with our clergy and songleaders.
MIDWEEK ONLY – Our Judaics curriculum is taught through immersive experiences based on different Jewish themes in different modalities including art, music, cooking, play, and more! Our elective model encourages students to choose their own adventure.

Ready to Register?

Questions?

Schedules

Sunday Schedule

Sundays • 9–11 a.m.

Sunday Extended Day Schedule

Sundays • 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Midweek Schedule

Tuesdays or Wednesdays
4:15–6 p.m.

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ABOUT

Debbie & Mike Lefton

2024 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Debbie and Michael Lefton have been dedicated members of the Shaare Emeth community and the broader St. Louis Jewish community for many years, contributing their time and talents in numerous ways.

Debbie has been a member of Shaare Emeth since the 5th grade, attending Sunday School and confirmation. Debbie and Mike have been married for 27 years and became family members of Shaare Emeth in 1996. Their children Sydney, and Jacob, both attend Shirlee Green Preschool, celebrated their b’not mitzvah, and attended Shaare Emeth Camps. Debbie and Mike have been actively involved in various committees at Shaare Emeth throughout the years; Debbie serving as the President of the Shirlee Green Preschool and Mike serving on the Board of Trustees and the Operating Committee for 12 years including President of our congregation.

Their commitment to education and community service extends beyond Shaare Emeth. They are true examples of community service heroes. In 2019 the Lefton Family received the American Jewish Committee Netzach Award and in 2022, Debbie and Mike were honored with the JProStL Community Leader Partnership Award.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Life Services, she worked as a Child Life Specialist at Wyler Children’s Hospital in Chicago and St. Louis Children’s Hospital for 12 years. She then earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services from Washington University.

At the St. Louis Jewish Community Center, Debbie has chaired several committees, including the Children’s Activity Center, the Camp Sabra Alumni Committee, and the Mission Task Force Committee. She has also co-chaired the Jewish Book Festival Women’s Event, the St. Louis Maccabi Games Closing Ceremonies and has served on the J Associates Board for 16 years, completing a term as President in 2022. Currently, Debbie serves as an Officer on the Executive Committee at the JCC and is Co-Chairing the Fox Building Capital Campaign. Debbie received the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Richard S. Weiss Past Presidents Award in 2018.

Debbie’s involvement in the St. Louis Jewish Federation includes serving on the Board of CAJE and Women’s Philanthropy and recently began an 8-year term on the National Jewish Federations Women’s Philanthropy Board. Debbie served on the Camp Rainbow Board of Directors and 28 years. Currently, Debbie is a board member of The St. Louis Jewish Light and The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Friends Board. Debbie received the MAC Women of Distinction honor in 2023.

Michael holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael began his career with Metal Exchange in 1984 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, Metal Exchange has grown into a global enterprise with a strong international presence, including offices in Zurich and Shanghai. The company’s diverse operations include manufacturing, marketing, trading, metal processing, distribution, and transportation of nonferrous metals.

Mike’s commitment to community service is evident through his current roles as Board President of Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis and Regional President of the American Jewish Committee – St. Louis. Mike served as President of the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer for seven years and is Immediate Past President. Mike received the Presidential Citation Award from Variety the Children’s Charity international in 2019.

Additionally, Mike currently serves on several boards, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women Advisory Council, Jewish Federation Professional Society Leadership Advisory Council, and Heat-Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Debbie and Mike reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two adult children, Sydney 26, who lives in Tel Aviv, and Jacob 24, who resides in Cincinnati. The Lefton family are avid hockey fans, enjoy theatre, traveling and spending time in Colorado.

The Shaare Emeth community is honored to celebrate Debbie and Michael Lefton for their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to our community and beyond.