TBT Religious School : Summary of Important Information
- AGE RANGE: We offer Religious School learning opportunities starting PreK through 12th grade
- MEETING TIME FOR PREK-GRADE 8: Saturdays from 9:30am - 12:00pm (families are encouraged to stay for our congregational kiddush luncheon at 12pm)
- MEETING TIME FOR GRADES 9-12: Wednesdays from 6:00pm - 8:00pm, beginning with dinner each week
- START DATE: For the 2023-2024 year, Religious School will start on September 29
- REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The deadline to register is August 31. If you have missed the deadline please email contact@templebnaitorah.org to inquire about registration
- COSTS: The cost of enrollment is $500 per student for Temple members and $1,500 per student for non-Temple members. Consider joining as a member to benefit from the reduced tuition rate, as well as additional resources and complimentary High Holiday tickets. Contact us at contact@templebnaitorah.org to learn about the cost advantages of membership
What does Religious School look like at TBT?
Our Shabbat-based Religious School program offers opportunities for students and families to experience the world through a Jewish lens. Each year is filled with special events that translate Jewish learning into opportunities for Jewish celebration and growth. We offer Religious School learning opportunities for kids in PreK through 12th grade.
PreK-2nd Grade
PreK to 2nd graders gather on Saturday mornings from 9:30am - 12pm to discover Torah stories, holidays, symbols and values of Judaism. Our storybook curriculum centers around a different picture book each week to explore Jewish life.
Each grade has a guiding question to direct learning:
- PreK: What are the symbols of holidays and Jewish life?
- Kindergarten: What are the stories of the Jewish people?
- 1st Grade: What are the values of the holidays and Jewish life?
- 2nd Grade: What are the key Hebrew words and phrases of the holidays and Jewish life?
Developing lifelong connections to other Jewish kids is at the core of our Religious School experience. In addition to our curriculum learning, students also engage with each other through t'filah, enrichment activities (such as Israeli dancing and cooking), Torah Play, and more.
3rd-5th Grade
3rd-5th graders gather on Saturdays from 9:30am - 12pm to participate in t'filah, chuggim (electives), Torah Play, and tiyulim (journeys), our new badge achievement program.
Students also meet once a week in small groups for Hebrew learning, either virtually or in person. Hebrew group schedules vary each year depending on families' schedules.
Tiyulim: “Tiyulim” means trips or journeys. In this new program students explore Jewish culture, history, and rituals by choosing which journeys they want to take. At the beginning of the year, students receive their own siddur (prayerbook), siddur cover, passport and guidebook. Similar to other badge programs, students choose a badge to pursue and have to complete a number of learning activities in order to achieve that badge. Each trimester, students are guided and supported in their learning journeys. At the end of each trimester, we join together in a siyum (concluding ceremony) to learn about each others' journeys and receive badges.
Chuggim: Our 3rd-5th graders select electives three times over the course of the year. Options have included: Outdoor Judaism, Jewish Cooking, If I lived in Israel, Art, Drama, Music, etc. These are mixed-grade classes where participants can focus on their own interests or learn new skills.
Funding for Tiyulim (Badge Education Program) was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
6th-8th Grade
6th-8th graders gather on Saturdays from 9:30am - 12pm to participate in Shabbat services, learn, and do mitzvot together.
All 6th-8th graders participate in our monthly "Mitzvah Team" program by joining together in a volunteer project in the community during Religious School.
Each grade has a different curriculum focus:
- 6th Grade: What does it mean in my own life to become b'mitzvah?
- 7th Grade: What is my responsibility to the Jewish community and the world when I become b'mitzvah?
- 8th Grade: L'dor Vador (generation to generation) - learning about our Jewish history and becoming a leader for the future.
Each year, our 8th graders have the opportunity to participate in a trip, alternating years between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
9th-12th Grade
9th-12th graders meet on Wednesdays from 6-8pm, starting with dinner. At one gathering a month, teens engage in our Moving Traditions Tzelem program, a safe space to explore the social and emotional aspects of teenage life through a Jewish lens.
Additional Information
Registration Info
Religious School registration is online through your new ShulCloud account. When logged into your ShulCloud account, click on "my account" at the top and then select "start school enrollment." If you need assistance or if you are not currently a member, please email contact@templebnaitorah.org.
Tuition
Religious School tuition is the following for the 2023-2024 school year:
$500 per student for Temple members
$1,500 per student for non-Temple members
Meeting your Family's Needs
There is space on the registration form to describe any special needs, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions your child may have. We urge you to give the school as much information as possible so that we may better serve your child.
2023-2024 Calendar
The 2023-2024 Religious School calendar will be shared in the summer. Registered families will be sent a grade-specific calendar with info about each session.
