Religious School

Stay informed about all the school events and youth activities at Olam Tikvah. Send your e-mail address to religiousschool@olamtikvah.org to receive all the e-mail notices. Read school news on our About OTRS page. You can also see a faculty list there.

The school office is open during religious school hours.  If you need to meet with someone specific, please call first.  Materials may always be left with the main office.

Our 2009-2010 handbook is online.

Pesach Workshop for Parents:

Join us for a special workshop, "Your Seder, Your Children, and the Haggadah’s Four Children," on Sunday, March 14, 10:30am-12:00pm, led by Rabbi Kalender.  All parents welcome, regardless of children's school enrollment.  See the flyer for more information and to RSVP.

Hours & Grade Levels

Kindergarteners and first graders meet on Sunday mornings, 9:00am-12noon.

Grades 2-7 meet Sunday mornings, 9:00am-12noon, and Tuesday afternoons, 4:15pm-6:15pm. 

Grades 8-10 meet weekly on Sunday evenings, 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Pre-college 11th and 12th graders meet several times a year, usually on Sunday evenings.

Curriculum & Texts

OT's curriculum introduces children to Jewish rituals, history, and values.  We want our students to develop a strong connection to Israel.   Our Hebrew program emphasizes the ability to read and understand the siddur, so that our children will always be comfortable in synagogue.  We study Jewish holidays in all grades, sometimes coming together as a school for celebrations and other times celebrating in individual classrooms.

Our kindergarten and 1st grade programs focus on holidays and customs, the synagogue, Torah, literature, community, Mitzvot, values, and music. Students are introduced to the Aleph-Bet, and learn to recognize some Hebrew words. Kindergarten children will use the Let’s Discover series, including the aleph-bet, the synagogue, and the holidays; first graders have the Beginning Jewish Life Red Label series (holidays), and  Journeys Through the Alef Bet: A Hebrew Pre-primer.

In 2nd grade, children begin to study Torah, Hebrew phonics and word recognition, and basic brachot (prayers). The emphasis is on Shabbat and Havdallah, and introducing an awareness of Israel.  Second grade texts are My Jewish Year and The Sarah and David Primer (Hebrew).

The grade 3 curriculum includes an introduction to Prophets, and to the people and cities of Israel. In Hebrew, they continue to develop Hebrew and reading and comprehension skills, with a focus on learning the Shema and related blessings.  Grade 3 books are Partners with God, A Child’s Bible - Lessons from the Prophets & Writings, The Great Israel Scavenger Hunt and Hineni 1.

In 4th grade, our students study Jewish American history and immigration.  They explore aspects of Jewish lifecycle, including rituals and practices. Their Hebrew studies emphasize learning the Amidah and improving reading fluency. Fourth grade texts are Journey of a Lifetime, Book of Jewish Holidays and Hineni 2.

Our 5th grade focuses on learning the Torah service in Hebrew, and provides opportunities for students to advance to learning the Musaf service, and special prayers such as Anim Z’mirot. Judaics topics include Torah study, focusing on selections from Bereishit (Genesis), and early Jewish history.  Grade 5  will use History of the Jewish People I and Hineni 3, as well as Siddur Sim Shalom and the Tanakh. 

Grade 6 will study topics in Jewish living, including friendship, Sifrei Kodesh (sacred texts), kashrut, values and mitzvot, using a variety of different resources.

Fall 2009 High School Classes

Grade 8 will study modern Israel for the first hour of class both semesters. Students may choose an Hour 2 elective each semester.

Grade 9 students may choose an Hour 1 and an Hour 2 elective each semester.

Grade 10 students may choose an elective for each hour of class first semester, and for Hour 1 the second semester.  During the second semester, tenth graders will spend the second hour with the rabbis in a special class that includes preparation for Confirmation.

Hour 1 Electives (grades 9-10)

• Courtroom Trials from the Bible:  A study of conflicts in the Torah.

• David Melech Yisrael: Text study of the life of King David.

Hour 2 Electives (grades 8-10)

• Conversational Hebrew.

• Jewish Cooking Around the World.

• Hot Topics in Today's World, and the relevance of Judaism.

Pre-college grades 11-12 address a wide variety of topics relevant to modern Jewish living and current issues that teens commonly face.  To some extent, the curriculum is influenced by the interests of the students and their families and will vary from year to year.

Tzedakah and Community Service

All of our grades collect tzedakah for contribution to worthy charities.  Past charities have included ALYN Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center in Israel, Yad Sarah (supporting disabled and elderly in Israel), Pizza IDF, local food banks, and local animal shelters.  Students also have opportunities to learn about ways to give beyond donating money.  At different grade levels, children participate in activities such as preparing casseroles for homeless shelters, food and clothing drives, and preparing cards for Israeli soldiers.

3800 Glenbrook Road · Fairfax, Virginia  22031 · phone 703-425-1880  · fax 703-425-0835  · info@olamtikvah.org

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