Temple Beth El - Your Jewish Home in the South Puget Sound

Attendance/early dismissal

In order to gain the most from their supplemental Jewish education, it is essential that all students attend regularly and fully participate in class. Any student who misses class should consult the education website for a review of what occurred in class as well as a list of any homework that should be completed before the next class session. Teachers will both call parents and notify the administration if a student misses three consecutive class sessions. Also, we urge that parents get their children to Religious School on time, as late arrivals are disruptive to the class. If a student needs to leave early for any reason, they must be signed out in the Religious School office and be picked up directly from the classroom.

Behavior

Good behavior is expected throughout our school. Students should be made aware of this as both parents and students sign the Behavior Contract that is completed at the time of Religious School registration. Teachers establish specific classroom guidelines and a discipline plan which they review with students at the start of the year. Ongoing communication between teachers and parents and educator will be maintained throughout the year should behavioral challenges occur. There will be meaningful consequences for disruptive behavior. Respect and mutual trust are integral values of our educational philosophy. For more detailed information, please refer to our Derech Eretz Behavior Policy included in our Religious Education Parent Handbook.

Homework

When homework is given, it will be meaningful and realistic. Teachers only give homework when it is necessary to supplement the student’s learning objectives for each grade. Hebrew students are expected to practice reading daily. Attendance at Shabbat services is an excellent way to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom and to reinforce reading skills.

Education website

Temple Beth El is launching a new website initiative for the coming year—a password-protected area of the Education section of the website that will provide you with current information about what has been occurring in your student’s classroom as well as what homework has been assigned. Please check this information regularly, even if your student has not missed class. This new area of the website is designed to work towards increased communication with you, the parent. We hope that you will use the information that the website provides to initiate conversations with your child about topics they have been studying in class.

Progress reports

Progress reports are prepared by teachers and mailed to parents twice during the school year. However, parents should feel free to contact a child’s teacher or the Religious Education Director at any time with any questions or concerns.

Textbooks and supplies

If your child is supplied a textbook/workbook for the school year, it becomes the property of that student. Replacement textbooks, should your student lose their initial copy, become the responsibility of the parent. All students should bring a folder to class. Hebrew students, in addition to a folder and any textbook, should bring a pen or pencil and a notebook. All other supplies will be provided by Temple Beth El.

Tzedakah

Tzedakah comes from a Hebrew root meaning “justice, righteousness,” and “that which is right.” Other words for giving—charity and philanthropy—come from Latin and Greek roots meaning “love.” Giving tzedakah (money to the poor) is not dependent on a feeling of love, but instead, on the recognition of the obligation of giving, even when one himself is poor. We regard the act of giving tzedakah as holy and as a mitzvah (commandment). Tzedakah is collected each week in religious school, and twice a year, each class decides which organization to which they wish to donate their funds.

Attendance at Shabbat services

Attending Friday evening and Saturday morning services is a crucial part of a child’s Jewish education. We, of course, encourage families to attend as often as they possibly can, thus enriching the kehillah (congregation) as a whole, and emphasizing the importance of Shabbat observance in the home. We do require students to attend nine Shabbat services throughout the course of the school year (approximately once a month). Students who meet this requirement will be recognized at the conclusion of the school year.

Class Shabbatot

Throughout the course of the school year, each grade has the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat evening through participation in a Friday evening service and sharing a meal together. Teachers will prepare the students to participate in the service and plan a special presentation to be presented to the kehillah (congregation) during the sermon slot of the service. All parents are encouraged to attend with their entire families.

Students with special needs

Temple Beth El strives to have a Religious School that allows every Jewish child to receive a Jewish education. We are willing to work with parents to make adaptations and/or changes in the classroom to meet the individual needs of special needs children. All parents of students in our Religious School who have a child identified as “special needs” is welcome to make an appointment with the Religious Education Director to discuss how we can best meet the needs of their child.

Madrichim

Our Madrich program allows students who are ninth grade through twelfth grade and have shown a degree of responsibility and interest in working with the teachers an opportunity to work in the classrooms as an educational assistant. Madrichim are trained and supervised during their Hebrew High School classes through a course they take called “Jewish Leadership Skills.” Madrichim assist in the instructional process as needed by the teacher, offering students individualized attention when needed. This is a paid position.

Visitors

We discourage students from inviting guests to school. If it cannot be helped, we urge you to call the school office to let us know that your child is bringing a guest. Your cooperation in this matter is important. Upon arrival on Sunday morning, guests must go to the Religious School office before going to class, where an admission slip will be prepared. We expect all guests to cooperate with the teacher in all activities. If a parent chooses to visit a class, he/she must first notify the Religious Education Director.

Safety

Safety of our students is our highest priority.  In order to prepare for any worst case scenario, we hold two evacuation drills each year, one in the fall and the other in the spring. We also hold one drill in which we secure the building during the course of the school year. Evacuation plans and emergency bags are located in each classroom. Teachers will be responsible on directing students as to which route is taken to leave the building.

School closing

The decision to close school due to inclement weather will be at the sole discretion of the Religious Education Director and the Rabbi. We will make every effort to make our decision as early as possible (no later than 6:00 a.m. on Sundays and 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays).  School closure information, should it need to be distributed, will be done so via a temple phone tree, and will also be posted on our website at www.templebethel18.org/education.

Dress

Students should dress in a manner that is appropriate for both weather and the type of classroom activity. Students should not wear anything that is offensive, sexually suggestive, uses explicit language, or disrespects the feelings of others. Students who disregard this policy will either be instructed to remove the garment or will be sent home for the day.

Electronic devices

Cell phones, iPods, Gameboys, and other portable digital devices are an increasingly significant part of our lives, but they have no place in the classroom. Students are expected to turn off any portable digital devices before entering the classroom, and to leave them off until the end of class. Results of violating this policy are as follows:

a) First occurrence: Any portable digital device that is seen or heard to be in use during class time will be confiscated and held by the teacher until the end of the day.

b) Second occurrence: Any portable digital device that is seen or heard to be in use during class time will be confiscated and placed in the Religious Education Director’s office until the end of the day, and the student’s parents will be notified.

c) Third occurrence: Any portable digital device that is seen or heard to be in use during class time will be confiscated and only returned to the student after a meeting between the student, the student’s parents, and the Religious Education Director.

Food issues

As a Reform synagogue, our dietary rules prohibit the use of pork or shellfish and foods which combine milk and meat products.  We also have students with severe food allergies. If you are sending a snack for the class, please contact the child’s teacher. Please take care to follow these limitations in planning any food prepared or purchased for a school event.

Lost and Found

Mark your children's coats and sweaters with their name to facilitate return of clothes if something is inadvertently left at school. We maintain a lost and found area where you can reclaim lost clothing. At regular intervals during the school year, unclaimed clothing will be donated to Goodwill.