Sundays, 9:00am-12:00noon; Tuesdays, 4:10pm-6:15pm

Teachers: Susan Bloom & Ariel Borochov, pods 8-9

Teachers may be contacted through the Religious School Office 703-425-3237 or religiousschool@olamtikvah.org

(above) Learning about Israel with the JCCNV shlicha, Shiri. (below) At our Tu B'Shevat seder.

(below) Learning about Israel for our Israel Museum project

(above and below) Learning about t'fillin with Rabbi Ben-Gideon

(below) Practicing the mitzvah with Rabbi Kalender at the World Wide Wrap

Class News from Susan Bloom, 9/30/07

We have had an exciting, fast-paced beginning to the school year. The students and I wrote our class rules together. I’m sure this will be an incentive to follow them!

We are collecting Tzedakah weekly and will soon determine where we want to send the money. We discussed using a portion of their allowance (if they receive one) for their Tzedakah.

Our curriculum is fact-filled, fun, and thought-provoking. We had our 'Hagworts' kickoff lesson, which is the sixth grade version of Harry Potter on Diagon Alley. We even had our own spinning chair and Sorting Tallit. This led right into our first unit, Sifrei Kodesh (Holy Books). (See the pictures below.)

The class will be subdivided into 4 groups (k'vutzot) per section for in-depth study and cooperative learning activities. This past Sunday, Mrs. Nierow came in for music. This was a treat for us and will continue to be a regular part of our curriculum.

Because the Jewish community will be celebrating Israel@60, our focus will be on Israeli music. We had our first experience with 'Project Box' and created our first 'project' -- a Jewish History Time Line.

The students are discovering that this year’s learning will be both student-centered and teacher directed, bringing together the Sifrei Kodesh with issues that are relevant today. From the beginning of each class with 'Moach (brain) Madness' to cooperative study units to independent Project Box activities, I believe this will be a great year.

Hebrew Enrichment News from Shula Friedman:

It is such a pleasure to be with your students .

In the thirty minutes or one hour I spend with them on Sundays, I review the prayers we learned last year - The Torah Service. To my delight most of them remember and as a group sound wonderful chanting them. Those who need a little assistance I work with in smaller groups and help them master the prayers. Those who need to go on are learning to read the Musaf prayers. I will continue to work with them on Sunday mornings throughout the year.

As always your help is needed in encouraging them to practice at home and attend Junior Congregation.