2 nd and 3 rd Grade Aleph Bet Presentation

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

2

nd

and 3

rd

Grade

Aleph Bet Presentation

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

R a b b i R e b e c c a R e i c e , C o n g r e g a t i o n B e t h T o r a h

S a m a n t h a H a m m o n t r e e , V i c e P r e s i d e n t

S a m a n t h a H a m m o n t r e e , V i c e P r e s i d e n t

S a m a n t h a H a m m o n t r e e , V i c e P r e s i d e n t

S a m a n t h a H a m m o n t r e e , V i c e P r e s i d e n t

M i c h a e l G i n s b e r g , B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s

M i c h a e l G i n s b e r g , B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s

M i c h a e l G i n s b e r g , B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s

M i c h a e l G i n s b e r g , B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s

S h i r a

S h i r a

S h i r a

S h i r a Z i g l e r

Z i g l e r

Z i g l e r

Z i g l e r , P r o g r a m D i r e c t o r

, P r o g r a m D i r e c t o r

, P r o g r a m D i r e c t o r

, P r o g r a m D i r e c t o r

A a r o n N i e l s e n s h u l t z , W e i n e r R e l i g i o u s S c h o o l

A a r o n N i e l s e n s h u l t z , W e i n e r R e l i g i o u s S c h o o l

A a r o n N i e l s e n s h u l t z , W e i n e r R e l i g i o u s S c h o o l

A a r o n N i e l s e n s h u l t z , W e i n e r R e l i g i o u s S c h o o l

NATE-Accredited Weiner Religious School Overview

Grade Educational Program Description

Pre-K Religious School, Sundays 9:30-10:00 am Family Worship 10am-noon in class

Students attend every other week. Specialists: Art, Music, Library, Hebrew

K-4 Religious School, Sundays 9:30-10:00 am Family Worship 10am-noon in class

In-class and experiential learning

Specialists: Art, Music, Library, Hebrew 10am-noon in class Specialists: Art, Music, Library, Hebrew

5 Religious School, Sundays 9:30-10:00 am Family Worship 10am-noon in class

In-class and experiential learning

Specialists: Art, Music, Library, Hebrew Aleph Bet Tutoring

6 Religious School, Sundays 9:30-10:00 am Family Worship 10am-noon in class

In-class and experiential learning Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutoring

7-9 TAG, Wednesdays

7:00-8:45pm in class _{Torah, Avodah, G’milut Chasadim}

10 TAG, Wednesdays

7:00-8:45pm in class Torah, Avodah, G’milut Chasadim Confirmation

Community-Building Programs

Grade

Available Program

Just about 4 years old-3rd_Grade

• PJ Library at Beth Torah (2ndFridays) • Just about 4 (Variable Schedule) • FamJam (2ndFridays)

• Religious School Family Socials (Variable Schedule) • Sunday School starts at PreK (2x/month)

• Sunday School is weekly starting at K • Youth Choir starts in 3rdGrade (Weekly) 4th_{– 6}th_Grades

• Youth Choir (Weekly, before Sunday School) 4th_{– 6}th_Grades

• Youth Choir (Weekly, before Sunday School) • 4th/5thTWYG: TWeen Youth Group (Monthly) • 4th, 5th, 6thGrade Mitzvah Clubs (Variable Schedule) • JYG: Junior Youth Group, 6th-8thGrade

• Religious School Family Socials (Variable Schedule) 7th_-8th_Grades

• JYG: Junior Youth Group, 6th-8thGrade 9th_-12th_Grades

• BTTY: Beth Torah Temple Youth

• NFTY: North American Federation of Temple Youth All Ages _{• Nosh on Friday nights}

• Tashlich

• Erev Sukkot Picnic • Mitzvah Day • Chili Cook Off • Purim

Alef Bet and Hebrew Overview

Aleph Bet:

Is a partnership.

Offers improved print-to-sound Hebrew learning.

Delivers 1:1 teaching.

Provides flexibility in scheduling.

Provides flexibility in scheduling.

Supports digital education.

Keeps Keshet (Hebrew School) costs flat.

Is seamless for younger grades.

Alef Bet Logistics

Students will be matched with a professional tutor.

Alef Bet begins at least 18 months prior to B’nai Mitzvah

date.

Aleph Bet is nine months of weekly 35-minute sessions

focusing on Hebrew reading skills.

focusing on Hebrew reading skills.

Aleph Bet is followed by nine months of B’nai Mitzvah

tutoring: weekly 35-minute sessions focusing on Torah

and Haftarah portions and leading from the Siddur.

Where? Locations may include CBT, HBHA, the Jewish

Community Center, the Student’s home and the Tutor’s

home, etc.

Aleph Bet Finances

Grade 2013-2014 Costs

2014-2015 Costs Difference in Cost to Families New Yearly Total PreK RS $210 RS $210 $0 $210 K-3 RS $420 RS $420 $0 $420 4 RS $420 + Keshet $420 =$840 RS $420 ($420) $420 =$840 5 RS $420 + Keshet $420 =$840 RS $420 + AB $1310 tuition =$1730 ($420) + $1310 =$890 $1730 6 RS $420 + Keshet $420 + BM $750 =$1590 RS $420 + BM $750 =$1170 ($420) $1170 PreK-6 Total $5160 $5210 $50 $5210

Aleph Bet Finances

Aleph Bet costs are flat.

Payments will be made directly to HBHA up front,

quarterly, or monthly.

The Sunday School and B’nai Mitzvah fees do not change.

Education Services Accounts are available through many

Education Services Accounts are available through many

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ #7 How does this new

Hebrew program affect our

current Pre-K-3

_grade

students? What are the

student costs? is on

Slide 16-17

FAQ #8 How does this affect

our current Keshet students

(4

_-6

_{grade)? is on}

_{Slide 18}

FAQ #9 Why are we partnering

FAQ #1 What is changing about

our model of Hebrew

learning? is on

Slide 10

FAQ #2 What is our Aleph Bet

Program? is on

Slide 11

FAQ #3 What is the Hyman

Brand Hebrew Academy

(HBHA)? is on

Slide 12

FAQ #4 Why are we changing

FAQ #9 Why are we partnering

with HBHA? is on

Slide 19

FAQ #10 What are the

qualifications of the HBHA

tutors? is on

Slide 20

FAQ #11 Are our Sunday school

and TAG programs changing?

is on

Slide 21

FAQ #12 What if I am in need

of financial assistance? is on

Slide 22

FAQ #4 Why are we changing

our Keshet Program? is on

Slide 13

FAQ #5 How will we maintain

the sense of community built

in Keshet? is on

Slide 14

FAQ #6 When does the Aleph

Bet Program start? is on

Slide

15

1. What is changing about our model of Hebrew learning?

Our New Hebrew model represents a change in the way we

teach and learn Hebrew at Beth Torah. Our current model

focuses on the printed letter and moves from print to sound.

None of us learned our native language this way. Instead,

people spoke to us and then we began to speak. Only after

speaking, did we begin to read. Our new model focuses on

Hebrew sounds first (with “Hebrew through Movement” on

Hebrew sounds first (with “Hebrew through Movement” on

Sundays) and then moves to Hebrew letters (in our Aleph Bet

Program). Moving from sound to print is the way

Hebrew speakers learn. This sound to print model will

give our students years of exposure to Hebrew sounds and

vocabulary, before the pressures of reading set in. We dream

of our community feeling a visceral connection to the

sounds of Hebrew, the sounds of our Jewish spiritual

lives, the Hebrew prayers, the Hebrew Bible, and the

chain of our tradition.

2. What is our Aleph Bet Program?

Our Aleph Bet program is a joint venture between CBT

and HBHA. Our students will receive private tutoring

from an HBHA approved tutor for nine months during

their 6

th

_{grade year.}

Upon graduation from the program students will be

prepared to read t’filot from Mishkan T’filah and begin

prepared to read t’filot from Mishkan T’filah and begin

an additional nine months of B’nai Mitzvah training.

The Aleph Bet Program will be managed by HBHA and

will be offered to the students of CBT.

Shira Zigler, on behalf of HBHA, will act as Program

Director and will handle all of the day-to-day operations

of the program.

3. What is the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA)?

Established in 1966, HBHA is Kansas City’s only

Jewish community day school. HBHA offers an

exemplary general and Jewish education to students

in Kindergarten through 12th grade. HBHA

celebrates the strength of pluralism and the

celebrates the strength of pluralism and the

power of diversity, while challenging students to

think critically, creatively and independently.

HBHA is located at the Jewish Community Center on

the Sprint Campus in Overland Park.

4. Why are we changing our Keshet Program?

There are 4 main reasons driving this change:

Improved Hebrew literacy. Sound to print learning will help all of our

Hebrew learners to enter their B’nai Mitzvah preparation with greater

confidence and comfort. Hebrew phonemes will be easier to master,

because children will be exposed to them early and regularly.

Addressing Keshet scheduling conflicts. One third of Keshet age students

currently opt for private tutoring (opting out of Wednesday’s Keshet

program). More families are finding it difficult to attend the Wednesday

currently opt for private tutoring (opting out of Wednesday’s Keshet

program). More families are finding it difficult to attend the Wednesday

late afternoon Keshet program. Aleph Bet offers flexibility in session

training. The HBHA tutors meet on your schedule!

Financial Considerations. One reason the Weiner Religious School has

been so successful, and received NATE accreditation is the history of

innovation and evolution. The current Keshet program model is running

at a deficit. By partnering with HBHA we are helping to close the

financial gap, while also enhancing the Hebrew learning.

NATE Accreditation Recommendation. Read about this

recommendation from NATE and its implications for our Aleph Bet

Program in #9 below (

slide 19

).

5. How will we maintain the sense of community built in Keshet?

Students will still be together on Sunday mornings, as in the past. Our 4

, 5

and

6

_{grade mitzvah clubs will continue, as long as you support them. Our TWYG}

program will continue, as long as you support it. Our B’nai Mitzvah Family

Groups will continue to form at each Pick-A-Date meeting (approximately 20

months before a Bar/Bat Mitzvah date). We will continue to support family

socials, havurot, Ice Cream Onegs, and we are open to new ideas to

further strengthen the sense of community for this age group. Meanwhile, the fun

continues at every community gathering, whether it is Erev Sukkot, the Chili

Cook Off, or Saturday morning worship. Bring your children, bring yourselves.

Community starts with you showing up.

Cook Off, or Saturday morning worship. Bring your children, bring yourselves.

Community starts with you showing up.

In the formal Hebrew structure, as in Keshet, we will maintain and increase our

celebratory Read-In nights. Students engaged in Aleph Bet will be invited to show

off their Hebrew readings skills in the ulam and enjoy popcorn, prizes, and worship

on a quarterly basis.

Read-Ins are planned for Wednesday afternoons, between 5:00-6:15 p.m.

The 2014-2015 planned dates are September 10, 2014; November 19, 2014;

6. When does the Aleph Bet Program start?

Aleph Bet starts on June 1, 2014. Our Keshet

program will conclude with this year’s Field Day and

not reopen for the 2014-2015 school year. Our 4

th

through 6

th

_{grade students will be phased into our}

Aleph Bet program per the below table in #8 (

slide

Aleph Bet program per the below table in #8 (

slide

18

).

7. How does this new Hebrew program affect our current Pre-K-3rd grade students? What are the

student costs?

In the 2014-2015 school year, our students will enjoy an active and interactive

Hebrew curriculum called “Hebrew Through Movement” with a Hebrew

Specialist as a part of our Sunday School curriculum. Just like they have

music or library each week, the Hebrew Specialist will be visiting their

classrooms every week to play Hebrew games and bring special spoken

Hebrew activities to our students. This program will give our students years of

exposure to Hebrew sounds and vocabulary (in addition to the Hebrew used

in worship and other locations of exposure to Hebrew in the synagogue, at home

or even in Israel), before the pressures of reading set in. We dream of our

community feeling a visceral connection to the sounds of Hebrew, the

community feeling a visceral connection to the sounds of Hebrew, the

sounds of our Jewish spiritual lives, the Hebrew prayers, the Hebrew

Bible, and the chain of our tradition. This feeling of connection starts

with exposure to Hebrew and regular use of Hebrew.

Sunday morning is the start of this process of moving from Hebrew sounds to

printed Hebrew. The Aleph Bet one-on-one “Let’s Learn Hebrew

Side-by-Side” program (in lieu of Wednesday Keshet) begins, not in the 4

_{grade, but}

approximately 18 months prior to your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah date. Some

students may be in 5

_{grade and others may be in 6}

_{grade. While Sunday School}

only runs during the school year, Aleph Bet runs year-round. A table

comparing the 2013-2014 costs of our Hebrew Program and the 2014-2015 cost

structure for Pre-K-6

_{grades is on}

_{slide #7}

_{(RS=Sunday Religious School,}

7. Continued (How does this new Hebrew program affect our current Pre-K-3rd grade

students? What are the student costs? )

Currently, our Keshet students pay $420 per school year for 3 years (4

through 6

_{grade) for a total of $1,260. Under Aleph Bet, families will}

continue to pay $1,260 plus an additional $50 (for a full and

non-transliterated copy of Mishkan T’filah, other materials and an on-line

subscription cost), for a total of $1,310. The $1,310 will be due during the 9

month Aleph Bet program. There is a $50 difference in the total cost

between our Keshet and Aleph Bet programs.

Families will not have to pay the current $840 fees for their students during

the 4

_{and 5}

_{or 6}

_{grades. The total Aleph Bet program costs are due}

Families will not have to pay the current $840 fees for their students during

the 4

_{and 5}

_{or 6}

_{grades. The total Aleph Bet program costs are due}

during the 9 month program period, which may fall partly during a student’s

5

_{grade year and partly in his/her 6}

_{grade year.}

Aleph Bet payment arrangements will be made between HBHA and our

families.

Families can discuss upfront, quarterly, or monthly

payment options with HBHA.

Please note that the B’nai Mitzvah fees that are currently in place do not

change with the Aleph Bet Program.

The 7

-10

grade TAG and Confirmation Program fees do not change with

8. How does this affect our current Keshet students (4th-6th grade)?

Our current 4

through 6

grade students are being phased into our Aleph Bet

program, so the costs of this program are being prorated for our incoming 5

and 6

_{graders (see table below). This schedule will avoid overlap and duplicate}

fees.

2013-2014 Grade

2013-2014

Keshet Program

Aleph Bet Program beginning in June 2014 2014-2016 Aleph Bet Costs

4th _{Attends at least 20 of 28}

sessions of Wednesday

Will participate for 6 months, beginning 15 months prior to B’nai Mitzvah date

$840 + optional $15 materials fee sessions of Wednesday

Keshet

prior to B’nai Mitzvah date $15 materials fee

5th _{Attends at least 20 of 28}

sessions of Wednesday Keshet

Will participate for 3 months, beginning 12 months prior to B’nai Mitzvah date

$420 + optional $15 materials fee

6th _{Attends at least 20 of 28}

sessions of Wednesday Keshet

Participation in Project Aleph Bet prior to 9 months of B’nai Mitzvah tutoring is optional

Optional

•

Aleph Bet payment arrangements will be made between HBHA and our families.

•

Please note that the B’nai Mitzvah fees that are currently in place do not change with the

Aleph Bet Program.

•

The 7

-10

grade TAG and Confirmation Program do not change with the Aleph Bet

Program (see

#11

).

9. Why are we partnering with HBHA?

Our NATE Accreditation report came with both commendations

and recommendations. In the recommendations, NATE states:

“Restructure Hebrew School configuration and

curriculum immediately, based on current student

population. Explore the possibility of identifying

community partners.”

We have identified HBHA as the ideal community partner for this

We have identified HBHA as the ideal community partner for this

element of our new Hebrew model. HBHA is the only Jewish

private school in our metro area. They offer a unique Jewish

education that yields outstanding results.

Particularly, through one-on-one tutoring, each tutor will be able

to tailor lessons to the individual student. This personalized

attention goes beyond what even the best teachers can provide in a

classroom setting.

We are excited to be in partnership with HBHA. The Congregation

that was first to be NATE accredited in our metro area is now the

first to be in partnership with HBHA for our Aleph Bet program –

another first!

10. What are the qualifications of the HBHA tutors?

A majority of the HBHA tutors are members of the

full time Hebrew faculty of HBHA. Some tutors

are native Hebrew speakers and all are

experienced Hebrew educators.

In addition to members of the HBHA faculty, we

In addition to members of the HBHA faculty, we

expect several of our current Keshet teachers

to join our HBHA tutor faculty.

11. Are our Sunday school and TAG programs changing?

Our Sunday school program will change for Pre-K

through 5

th

_{grade students with the addition of our}

Hebrew Specialist joining their classes each week

for a session of “Hebrew Through Movement.”

Our 6

th

graders will experience a greater emphasis on

service structure and enjoy the addition of new

opportunities to lead prayers.

opportunities to lead prayers.

Our whole school community will benefit from additional

activities to help maintain our sense of community and the

friendships between our students.

With our growing curricular focus on not only the words

and language of Jewish prayers, but Jewish ways of praying

and spirituality, we plan to introduce a Jewish

12. What if I am in need of financial assistance?

As is our current policy, we do not turn families

away from education based on affordability issues.

Please contact Robin O’Bryan and s/he will

forward your request anonymously to our

Membership Commitment Adjustment

Membership Commitment Adjustment

Committee for review.

As is our current policy, all such requests are

confidential and no names are connected with