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. If that is not the best option for your family, we also have 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.
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- 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.
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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!
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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.
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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 Sundays.
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- 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.
- The 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.