Principal: Shari Rothstein

Rabbi: Susan Falk

Arrival and Dismissal

School will be held in one three hour session for Kindergarten through Seventh grades on Sunday mornings from 9AM to 12 PM.

All students are expected to arrive on time for all class sessions and special programs, and to remain for the full three-hour class session. Late arrivals and early dismissals are very disruptive to the learning process, and are strongly discouraged. If you need to pick up your child before class ends, a note to the teacher is requested at the start of class, to minimize disruptions. Please come in to the Religious School office located in the back right corner of the sanctuary to sign your child out if your child must take your child out leave early.

Parents are expected to arrive on time for dismissal. Please come inside the synagogue building and walk to their classrooms to meet your children. Parents and/or emergency contact people will be called if a child does not get picked up in a timely manner.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of a medical emergency involving your child, the following procedures will be followed:
1. If an ambulance is required, 911 will be contacted.
2. The parent/guardian will be notified.
3. The emergency contact people listed on your registration forms will be contacted if the parent/guardian cannot be reached.

School Closings

In the event of an emergency school closing for snow or other reasons, you can check online at www.centraljerseysnow.com and look under the letter "C" for Congregation Kehilat Shalom. You can also listen to WCTC (1450 AM) and an announcement will also be on the taped message at the Temple, (908) 359-0420.

Supplies

Your child will receive Religious School textbooks on the first day of school. The books are yours to keep. PLEASE CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR CHILD'S NAME HAVE IDENTIFICATION ON EACH BOOK.

Each week, please be sure that your child brings to Religious School several pencils or pens, a notebook, money for tzedakah, and all class books. It is expected that the children keep their Religious School textbooks and supplies in a separate Religious School book bag. Gently used text books will be collected at year-end for re-use. You may keep any books you'd like to retain.

Announcements and Flyers

Much goes on in the Kehilat Shalom Religious School is a very active organization. To keep current, please check your email, the synagogue weekly and monthly bulletins, and notices posted on the front door and our bulletin board.

Kindly advise us in the Religious School office if you do not have email or would prefer paper copies of announcements. In an effort to improve communication and reduce our use of paper, we will send most messages via email.

Scheduled events are listed in the Calendar section and in the monthly temple synagogue bulletin. IN CASES OF DISCREPANCY, THE SYNAGOGUE BULLETIN SUPERSEDES THE ONLINE CALENDAR. There will be a separate section of the synagogue bulletin entitled "Religious School News." The bulletin also highlights Shabbat and holiday services of special interest to Religious School students. All families are encouraged to attend family Shabbats, as well as all class services. We believe that regular attendance at our Shabbat services is an important complement to the Hebrew language and prayers being taught in our Religious School.

Homework

Each teacher will give children homework to be completed before the next class. Teachers will be emailing a brief summary of each class AND the homework assignment. If your child must be absent, please use the teacher's email to get the homework or call another student in the class (using the class list). We encourage parents to work with their children to complete homework assignments. The books are wonderful resources, and we think you may be surprised at how much you learn as you work with your children.

Students are encouraged to call or email several other classmates on a regular basis to practice skills. In the event that a student has called classmates and still does not understand a concept or feel that they have completed all assignments, then that student should email the teacher. Teachers have provided email addresses during class and are listed on the bulletin board in the hall where assignments are posted weekly. If there is still concern, please contact email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or leave a message on the phone mail at the Religious School office.


If you are interested in a Crash Course in Hebrew reading, please contact Shari Rothstein via email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or leave her a note in the Religious School Office.

Reports and Parent Conferences

Individual report cards are issued two times per school year. Open School for parents of children in grades K-7 will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2009. Parent -Teacher conferences are held on request. Please read the Religious School article in the monthly synagogue bulletin and check the bulletin boards in the hall in the synagogue building to learn more about find out what your children are studying.


Extended Absences

In the event of an extended absence, please telephone the Religious School office. If your child is seriously ill, please let Shari Rothstein know. The Synagogue's Life Cycle committee is always ready to help in cases of serious family illness. Call us so we can help you!


Grade Skipping Policy

It is the policy of the Congregation Kehillat Shalom that no student will be permitted to skip grades under any circumstances. It is important that our children complete the entire Religious School curriculum in order so that the proper educational foundations can be laid.

Attendance Requirements
All B'nai Mitzvah candidates must be registered for and attend 7th grade in the Religious School as part of their preparation for becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Students who celebrate their Bar or Bat Mitzvah during their 7th grade year may choose to attend Hebrew High School at semester break in February or remain with their 7th grade class for the remainder of the year.

Tidiness of the Synagogue Building/Clean-up

Students are expected to clean up after themselves during Religious School to maintain the tidiness of our synagogue building. If the classroom is not clean by the end of class, children will may be asked to stay until they have completed clean up.


Lost and Found

The lost and found box will be placed in the synagogue lobby during Religious School hours. Please label all outer clothing, books, etc. to facilitate the return of misplaced items. Anything not claimed by the end of the school year will be donated to Tzedakah.