Summertime brings the delight of warmer weather (usually), less stress, fun, and
travel but it can also be a time where much of the wonderful learning of the school
year is lost.
We want to make sure our students know that Judaism is learned and
practiced all year long. So we have designed some activities to keep Jewish practice
in the forefront of our lives.
We have several programs. For our youngest students, we have the Fill in the Torah
Chart form and the book reports. Each time our Mechina through 3rd grade students do
something that is Jewish, they can fill in a square on the Torah chart.
Examples of activities that qualify include saying a bracha, attending services,
going to a Jewish museum, reading a Jewish book, saying the bedtime Shema and giving
tzedakah.
In addition, these students have to read (or have read to them) 5 books with a Jewish
theme and do a book report (really, just draw a picture about the book). When the
form and all five book reports are turned in at the start of the year, the student is
invited to a cupcake decorating and eating party during Bet Sefer hours.
For our 4th through 6th grade students, we have a different program. All 3rd through
5th graders have vocabulary lists each year. The goal is that the students will be
able to translate the words on their list so that they are better able to understand
the prayers that they learn in Bet Sefer. Each Fall, students are given a test to
see how well they have retained the words learned in the previous year.
This year we have added our new Mila-a-thon project. During the summer, students get
pledges from friends and families. Then, when they return to school in the Fall,
students take the vocabulary test. For each word that they get correct, the sponsor
would pay them a set amount of money. All of the money collected for each class goes
into a fund. Each of these classes will then take the money to a local grocery store
and buy food to donate to the Alameda County Food Bank.
Finally, students who participate in the Mila-a-thon will be invited to their own
cupcake party in the Fall.
Check out the forms linked below so that your child can participate.
Questions? Just email Susan@tbaoakland.org.
Have a wonderful summer and don't be a stranger!