School Curriculum
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General Description - The Religious School Program
Congregation B'nai Tikvah Religious School offers an elementary Jewish education program. It is designed to help its students acquire a foundation in the basic skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential for intelligent, active participation in Jewish life. The School prides itself on offering classes of limited size in order to provide individual attention to its students.
The Religious School is divided into three departments: the Primary Department, the Hebrew Department , and the Etz
The Primary Department classes for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades are intended to help the children acquire a basic familiarity with the many aspects of Judaism and of Jewish life, and to integrate Jewish experiences into the life of the young child. Children will be placed in the Primary Department based on their grade level in Public School. Our Primary Department will participate in various Friday night services which will enable them to become familiar with the rituals of Shabbat.
Since Jewish experiences are of crucial importance to the healthy development of the Jewish child, parents are strongly urged to enroll their children in the Primary program at the same time they enter Kindergarten in Public School. The knowledge gained during these initial years provides an essential background for the Hebrew Department.
The Hebrew Department consists of a full five-year program culminating in Religious School Graduation. The Hebrew Department is designed to build upon the experiences and knowledge acquired in the Primary Department and to further expand the children's Jewish knowledge.
As part of our curriculum, our students in Grade 6 will attend Shabbat Services on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm every week. Our students in grades 3- 5 can attend a bi-monthly Shabbat Service on Saturday morning from 10:00 am – 12 noon.
Please note: In accordance with the policies of the Conservative Movement and the Board of Jewish Education, children are expected to enter the Hebrew Department upon entrance into 3rd Grade in Public School. Children who wish to join our school in 4th Grade or above will have to demonstrate knowledge in Hebrew customs, ceremonies, and social studies by passing proficiency exams prior to being admitted to school.
This special program is geared toward students in Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, and meets one evening during the week. As part of the curriculum, the students and teachers are involved in Tzedakah projects as well as class discussions. Most of the discussions deal with how the teachings of the Torah can help the students make good choices.
S.K.I.P. - Send a Kid to Israel Partnership
S.K.I.P. unites families, B’nai Tikvah and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago to help make a visit to Israel an integral part of the Jewish Education of our children. The S.K.I.P. goal is to send a high school or college student to Israel as a Jewish educational experience. Families choose a program from among many approved programs. Members can participate in this special savings plan, where each family contributes $145 per year per student. B’nai Tikvah contributes $25 per year per student and the Jewish Federation sets aside $85 per year per student. Students in grades 3-6 are eligible to enroll in the program. Annual contributions to the program are made through 9th Grade. There is a full refund of a family’s contribution plus interest in case of termination of the plan.
