Theme of the Year KAVOD: Respect and Honor
“Middot” (Jewish Virtues/Values): This year many of our lessons will be taught through the lens of building menschlikite (Character Development). Each grade will pay special attention to one of the Jewish middot (virtues/values) as it appears throughout the year in Torah study, chaggim (holidays), and tefilah (prayer).

Gan (PreK/K)
Gan age children begin the first steps of their journey into Jewish education through music, art and drama with an introduction to Jewish holidays, Jewish symbols and Bible stories.  Emphasis is on incorporating Mitzvot into daily lives and practicing Mitzvot at school and at home. In particular students will learn about the mitzvah and value of tzedakah.

Kitah Alef-Bet (1st/2nd Grade)
Kitah Alef-Bet introduces students to the Jewish community and Jewish values.  Kitah Alef-Bet students will learn the Jewish value of gemilut chassadim (acts of lovingkindness) by visiting the sick and providing food and clothing to those in need. They will learn about these mitzvot as they appear in the Torah. Students will learn the basic prayers and blessings recited in our every day Jewish life that include: the Hamotzi, Sh’ma, Sheheheyanu, Torah study, Shabbat and holidays.  Students will continue to focus on the Hebrew alphabet recognition and fluency with an additional concentration of the Hebrew vowels.  Hands-on activities through art, music and storytelling will embellish all areas of study.  

Kitah Gimel (3rd Grade)
Kitah Gimel will learn about the Avot and Imahot (the ancestors) from Abraham through Joseph. A variety of classroom projects will reinforce the content of each story through drama, crafts, puzzles and games.  

Students will also learn the basics of Kashrut and discuss why it is observed. They will also begin an intensive study of Hebrew reading and writing with some reading comprehension. Throughout the year students will learn the Jewish values of hospitality, respecting parents and elders, and avoiding gossip through stories and real-life activities. Students will continue to explore and expand their knowledge of the Jewish holidays, Shabbat and Havdallah.
 
Kitah Dalet-Hey (4th/5th Grade)
In two years the students of Kitah Dalet-Hay will study the Exodus through the Babylonian Exile. Throughout the year students will learn about the Jewish values of Social and Environmental Justice as it appears in the Torah, prayers, holidays, and Jewish history. This year Kitah Dalet-Hay will begin a new innovative self-paced and student-centered Hebrew curriculum called Mitkadem. Students will learn Hebrew reading and basic comprehension through the prayers of the Shabbat and daily services. They will deepen their knowledge of the Holidays based on the detailed curriculum below. Next year Dalet-Hay students will study the lifecycle curriculum.

Kitah Vav-Zayin (6th/7th Grade)
In two years students will study the Tenakh from the Second Temple and the birth of rabbinic Judaism in the Mishna. Throughout the year they will learn about the values of Klal Yisrael (Jewish Unity) and Ahavat HaAretz (Love for the Land and people of Israel) This year Kitah Dalet-Hay will begin a new innovative self-paced and student-centered Hebrew curriculum called Mitkadem. Initially students will “test out” and skip the units for prayers that they already know until they find their level among the 23 units of the Mitkadem curriculum. The exploration of God and spirituality will allow students the opportunity to discuss as well as evaluate their own beliefs. Zayin students will prepare for their bnei mitzvah by exploring what the meaning of the word mitzvah (obligation) means to them. They will also choose individual mitzvah projects to help re-enforce the significance of their new responsibility as a bar/bat mitzvah.