Dear Temple Emanuel Religious School Families,

Below are several important documents for your review as your family joins the Temple Emanuel Religious School community:

• RELIGIOUS SCHOOL PARENT HANDBOOK: You may consider printing this at home for a handy reference. It contains important information about the Religious School, including curriculum information, b'nai mitzvah information, policies, etc.
• RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CALENDAR
• TEMPLE EMANUEL HEALTH POLICY: An information sheet about the school policy regarding student, family and staff illness, and in particular the guidelines we will be following during the upcoming flu season.

ALL of the following items must be filled out and returned as soon as possible to the school office in order to complete your children's registration in the Religious School:

1. Student Agreement of Understanding (The student agreement of understanding, for students in grades 3-10, must be signed by both the student and a parent.)
2. Field Trip and Emergency Contact Form
3. Student Profile
4. Photo Release Form
5. Registration Form (if not already completed) to be filled out for each child who will be attending the school, to be returned to the Religious School office along with a photo of each child being registered. 

Please print out and complete an appropriate form for every child being registered: 

1.) in person; 2.) or by fax to (301) 942-9488; 33.)or by mail to Temple Emanuel, Attn.:  Religious School Registration, 10101 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895; 4.) or or as an email attachment to schooloffice@templeemanuelmd.org. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to be in touch with me at 301-942-6011 or by email at itzik.eshel@templeemanuelmd.org.  The School Board always welcomes your input, as well.  Comments should be emailed to parentfeedback2boe@templeemanuelmd.org. 

We look forward to your joining us.  We have a wonderful staff in place, and a dynamic and exciting program year planned. 

All the very best,

Dr. Itzik Eshel
Director of Education

A. Primary Grades -- Students in the Kindergarten through Second Grade attend Sunday  mornings.

B.  Middle Grades  -- Third, Fourth Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Grade students attend Sunday mornings and Mid-week Hebrew classes on either Tuesday  or Thursday. Sixth, Seventh and  Eighth Grade students who are four months from their Bar/Bat Mitzvah will also attend preparation   classes with the Cantor or Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutor.

C.  Upper Grades  - Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Grade students will meet once a week on Sunday mornings. Post Confirmation class will meet with the Rabbi, Cantor and Director of Education, according to a separate calendar. Post Confirmation students will be sent the schedule via a special letter.

We take pride in the fact that many of our religious school teachers are parent and other members of our congregation. Their willingness to take upon themselves the task of teaching religious school is an expression of their commitment to Judaism and to Temple Emanuel. We believe that in addition to the qualifications and talent they possess, the also act as role models for our children.

The goal of Jewish education within the Reform Movement is the deepening of Jewish experience and knowledge for all liberal Jews, in order to strengthen faith in God, love Torah, and identification with the Jewish people, through involvement in the synagogue and participation in Jewish life. We believe that Judaism contains answers to the challenges and questions confronting the human spirit, and that a knowledgeable Jew should be aware of these Jewish insights.

      In our effort to provide an educational experience which will meet the challenge of the above state goal, we subscribe to the ten principles delineated by the UAHC-CCAR Commission on Jewish Education. Our program of Jewish Education will enable our students to become:

      *Jews who affirm their Jewish identity and bind themselves inseparably to their people by word and deed.

      *Jews who bear witness to the BRIT (the covenant between God and the Jewish people) by embracing Torah through the study and observance of MITZVOT (commandments) as interpreted in the light of historic development and contemporary liberal thought.

      *Jews who affirm the historic bond to ERETZ YISRAEL, the Land of Israel.

      *Jews who value and practice TEFILA (prayer).

      *Jews who further the causes of justice, freedom and peace by pursuing TZEDEK (righteousness), MISHPAT (justice), and CHESED (loving deeds).

      *Jews who celebrate SHABBAT and other Jewish holidays and observe Jewish ceremonies marking the significant occasions in their lives.

      *Jews who esteem their own person and the person of others; their own family and the family of others, their own community and the community of others.

      *Jews who express their kinship with K’LAL YISRAEL by actively seeking the welfare of Jews through the world.

      *Jews who support and participate in the life of the synagogue.

Religious School cancellations and delayed openings will be announced on the Temple Emanuel phone line at 301-942-2000 and on WTOP - 103.5 FM, 820 AM.

TUESDAY OR THURSDAY: If Montgomery County closes schools early and/or cancels all after-school activities, we will not have class.

SUNDAY: School closing at Temple Emanuel will be determined by the Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Religious School Board of Education.

Click here to contact your children's teachers for information about homework and to send/receive messages.

Looking for that special gift (or just want to stay warm)? The Temple Emanuel Religious School is selling long-sleeved T-shirts and crew neck sweatshirts in two optional colors.

(And if you are looking for a bargain–check out the order form for our Clearance Sale on our Short Sleeve Tees!)

Please return your order forms to the temple office or fax them to 301-942-9488 or mail them to Temple Emanuel, 10101 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. A PDF COPY OF ORDER FORM IS ATTACHED.

Mitzvah Madness: Starting this year on Sunday, February 21, the Religious School, in collaboration with Brotherhood, will kick off five weeks of MITZVAH MADNESS 4 MANNA, an intensive program to collect food for Montgomery County’s Hungry.  Please contribute generously at that time to help us reach our goal of more than 3,000 lbs. Of food to feed over 150 people for a full week!  (As usual, food collection bins can also be found year-long in the Temple office.)

 Want to learn more about summer camping opportunities through the Reform Movement?

Check out their website at www.urjcamps.org.

School trips are an exciting enrichment activity for students, but they can be costly.
For children who would have difficulty with the cost of a planned Religious School trip, the Temple Emanuel Brotherhood offers financial aid. Students may request a grant by sending a letter to Kenny Karbeling at kennyk9999@comcast.net or Phil Magenheim of our Brotherhood.

The Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning has evaluated Temple Emanuel’s Religious School, through the commendation process. As a result, the school received an Educational Excellence Award and grant for its commitment to excellence in education.  Congratulations to Dr. Eshel and the entire staff for this prestigious recognition!