Religious School Registration
2023-2024 School Year
PLEASE NOTE: DETAILED CALENDARS OF WHEN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CLASSES ARE IN SESSION WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY JULY 15, 2023.
Class Descriptions and Schedules
The Pre-K program will be held concurrent with Religious School – one Sunday a month from 9:00AM – 12:00PM. Each session will focus on the Jewish holiday or observance that it’s closest to on the calendar. The classroom experience will be planned around songs, stories, activities and crafts, taught by one of our former Preschool teachers, Macey Schwartz. Our clergy will also interact with the Pre-K Religious School class through teaching prayers and leading song circles. THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND.
2023-2024 dates:
September 10, 2023: High Holidays
October 1, 2023: Sukkot
November 12, 2023: Ancestors/Generations
December 10, 2023: Chanukah/Courage
January 7, 2024: Tu Bishvat/Ecology/Nature
February 4, 2024: Shabbat/Rest/Family
March 10, 2024: Purim/Masks/Identities
April 7, 2024: Passover/Spring/Renewal/Freedom
April 28, 2024: Israel/Return/Land/Connection
Kindergarten through 3rd grade will meet will meet on Sunday mornings, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for the 2023-2024 school year. They will follow the ShalomLearning curriculum, an interactive, values based curriculum that helps children develop a positive Jewish identity. Sunday mornings will also include a community worship service and enrichments including Music, Art, and outdoor activities. Our weekly supplemental Hebrew activity will reinforce our students’ basic knowledge of Hebrew language. CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHOOL CALENDAR
Fourth – Sixth grades will meet on Sunday mornings, 9:00am – 12:00pm.
We will be utilizing the ShalomLearning curriculum for the Fourth grade. Using a dynamic, values based curriculum, ShalomLearning helps students see the connections between their daily life and Jewish tradition and wisdom. Blending classroom instruction and family engagement with technology support, the ShalomLearning approach focuses on seven core Jewish values. Sunday mornings will also include a community worship service, engaging lessons, and periodic visits from guest educators.
HEBREW FOR 4TH GRADE
We begin our more advanced Hebrew program in Fourth grade. Our Hebrew program utilizes Torah Aura to pair Hebrew learning with prayer, and is designed to teach students to decode Hebrew (putting together words and sounds fluidly). The program will have an in-person component during class on Sunday mornings, an option for study immediately following Religious School Sunday, and a weekly virtual session for individualized instruction. Our Hebrew instructors will contact families to schedule additional instruction.
HEBREW FOR 5TH & 6TH GRADES
We continue our Hebrew program in 5TH & 6TH grades. Our Hebrew program utilizes Torah Aura to pair Hebrew learning with prayer, and is designed to teach students to decode Hebrew (putting together words and sounds fluidly). The program will have an in-person component during class on Sunday mornings, an option for study immediately following Religious School Sunday, and a weekly virtual session for individualized instruction. Our Hebrew instructors will contact families to schedule additional instruction.
7th Grade Gesher (Bridge) Program
We have a special program planned to engage our 7th graders as they transition from our Religious School program to our Teen Academy. There are several components to this program.
FALL:
Yachad
Gather as a 7th grade family cohort to reconnect after the summer as we continue the b’nei mitzvah journey together. This is also an opportunity to meet Rabbi Shields. He will briefly share his philosophy of b’nei mitzvah, and answer any questions you might have.
This program will continue for 3 Sundays in the Fall. Our first session will be an opportunity to finalize plans, give an update on mitzvah projects, and walk through Divrei Torah. Our last 2 sessions will cover topics relevant to Sinai families in the modern world.
Additionally, we will be holding 2 Shabbat experiences emphasizing the modern relevance of Shabbat observance rooted in ancient wisdom and tradition.
Sunday Learning
In September through December, we will hold our final semester of the Religious School program on Sundays. 7th graders will be exploring Jewish values and Biblical stories in creative ways with a thematic focus of global human issues. They will begin exploring this theme, which translates the cumulative lessons of their Religious School education to-date into core insights.
Special “Siyum (Culmination)” Celebration with the Rabbis
7th graders will be invited to celebrate the culmination of their Sunday “Torah” learning together.
SPRING:
Intro to Teen Academy
In January, 7th graders will be invited to sample Teen Academy on select Wednesday evenings. 8-9th graders will be involved in a meaningful investigation of modern topics through a Jewish lens culminating in developing their own Podcast.
Sunday Learning
7th graders resume Sunday learning with two core components: (1) 2 Sundays per month are dedicated to those who are still preparing for b’nei mitzvahs, with lessons focused on attaining b’nei mitzvah specific goals; (2) 2 Sundays per month, 7th graders attend Sunday Religious School, with: (a) either leadership opportunities during prayer, or a separate prayer experience emphasizing specific themes and sections; (b) elevated learning experiences addressing modern challenges with insights from Jewish wisdom; (c) engaging guest educators.
YEAR-ROUND
Shabbat Mornings
It is important for families to become familiar with Shabbat morning worship service Temple Sinai. Families will be encouraged to attend 3 of these throughout the year. Programming specific to 7th graders will be offered during specific Saturdays.
WELCOME TO TEEN ACADEMY!
Program Overview: Sinai Teen Academy Podcast
Unleash your teen’s voice with Sinai Teen Academy’s innovative, year-long program: The Teen Academy Podcast! Anchored in Jewish values, our 8th and 9th graders will explore the question “What is Tikkun Olam?” through the exciting lens of podcasting. They’ll dive deeply into critical topics of their choosing—like antisemitism, human impact on the environment, online bullying, and housing insecurity—utilizing their own research, interviews, and personal insights to craft powerful, student-led podcast episodes. This immersive experience offers fun, hands-on learning while fostering a deeper understanding of Jewish wisdom and its practical relevance in today’s world, nurturing creative expression, and fostering essential skills such as listening and critical thinking.
Confirmation: Challenges and Choices – Menschiness and Meaning
Description: Confirmation at Sinai is all about finding Jewish relevancy and deepening your connection to Judaism. There are two components to our Confirmation program:
Mussar, a 1,100-year-old Jewish spiritual tradition, will provide the core texts and framing for our Confirmation sessions. Mussar is about “menschiness,” character, and balance. Each one of us is created in the Image of God (B’tzelem Elohim). Mussar helps us identify, understand, and refine the awesome traits (middot) that we each possess. Through study and reflection within the context of a trusting community we can shape our Jewish souls. Participants will help guide our ongoing conversations and learning.
The second component of our Confirmation experience is with Aaron Mendelsberg, who will return as a facilitator, bringing Judaism to life through interactive art sessions.
The tuition for 10th Grade Confirmation includes Confirmation fees and the Confirmation Retreat at La Foret Retreat Center the weekend of May 3-5, 2024.
Confirmation Service will be held on Erev Shabbat, Friday, May 10, 2024.
Important Registration Information
Tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is below. Our Religious School program continues to be subsidized by the Temple budget itself. Scholarship assistance is available through the Appel Family Youth Education Scholarship Fund. Once you complete the registration process you will receive follow up information. Contact Lisa Thorner for details, lisa@sinaidenver.org. LINK TO TUITION GRID
Scholarship assistance is available through the Appel Family Youth Education Scholarship Fund. Once you complete the registration process you will receive follow up information. Scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 school year are due by August 31st, 2023. Click here to complete the scholarship application!
All students and staff enrolled in Temple Sinai Preschool and Religious School are required to have age-appropriate vaccines as determined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). You will be required to submit a copy of a signed copy of each child’s Immunization form. For the full Temple Sinai policy, click here.
Registration
You must be logged into your Shulcloud account in order to register for Religious School. Once you are logged in, click the School Enrollment button on your dashboard to begin the process. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call the Temple office at (303) 759-1827.
Contact: Doni Kaye, Director of Education: doni@sinaidenver.org
