FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Mishkan Shalom Congregational School FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)
1) Can you enroll in the school without being a member of Mishkan?
No.
2) How old are the students at Mishkan?
We offer classes for kindergarten through 12th grade in high school.
3) How big are the classes?
We make every effort to maintain a 12:1 ratio. In most grades, there are
two sections with 12 students each.
4) How are the classes structured?
See “Students’ Schedules.”
5) Who are the teachers?
Our teachers are paid employees with a wide variety of backgrounds. Some
are professional educators who teach full time and teach at Mishkan as
well. Others are dedicated community members who see this work as a Jewish
avocation and a way of contributing to Mishkan. Others are rabbinical students
for whom this is an opportunity to get some hands-on training as a Jewish
educator. Our ideal educator is a person with a professional teaching background,
a commitment to Jewish community, a love of children, creativity, and learning.
6) What is the content of the curriculum in general?
Our curriculum introduces children to Jewish holidays, prayers and prayer
services, reading and writing Hebrew (primarily liturgical, rather than
conversational), Jewish values and ethics (as expressed in the Statement
of Principles), Biblical and Rabbinic stories and texts, Jewish life cycle,
history, politics, music and art and more. We particularly emphasize Tikkun
Olam and Tzedakah (the repair of the world and social responsibility).
We try to make each class function as a mini-community, because the values
and blessings and power of being part of community is one of the greatest
teachings of the Mishkan community as a whole. See “Mission and Vision
Statement.”
7) What specifically would my child learn in his or her grade?
See “Curriculum Overview” and “Civilization Curriculum” by
grade, “Sample Hoogeem (mini-courses/electives)” for a more precise
description.
8) When and where does the school meet?
Gan/kindergarten, Alef/1st and Bet/2nd can enroll in classes which meet every
Shabbat (Saturday) from 10:00-12:30pm, or on Sundays from 9:30-12:00pm.
Gimel/3rd through Vav/6th will meet every Sunday from 9:30am-12:00, and
Wednesdays from 6:15-8:00pm. All classes are at Mishkan consistently.
9) Is tuition included in membership dues?
Tuition is in
addition to membership dues. Financial Aid is available to anyone for whom
the tuition would be prohibitive. This could be discussed in the same phone
call as any financial arrangements concerning your dues.
10) Are there any expectations of parents?
The school relies on parents to implement much of its programming through
participation in a school co-op. Mishkan’s school is designed to
model the belief that Jewish learning is a lifelong process. Therefore,
parents are also expected to participate in Family Education Days, holiday
celebrations, as well as ongoing parent and adult education classes throughout
the year. In addition, we strongly encourage families to attend class brunches
and Shabbat dinners.
11) What are the school attendance expectations?
Consistent school attendance is crucial to the efficacy and quality of our
program. Children are ordinarily expected to attend school 80% of the time.
Students will rarely be allowed to matriculate or move towards becoming
Bar or Bat Mitzvah with lower attendance than this.
Regular service attendance is crucial to teaching students the relevance
and application of what they are learning in their Ivreet (Hebrew) and Tefillah
(prayer) classes. First graders must attend ONE Shabbat service per year,
Second graders must attend Two, and so forth. This is in addition to the
class Shabbat celebrations that occur during the year. Friday night services
are a nice alternative for many families. They begin at 7:30pm and are often
preceded by community dinners. On Saturday mornings, there are services for
tots and k-2 as well as the main service. Approximately twice a month we
have Junior Congregation services for 3rd-5th graders at 11:00am. Sixth graders
should attend as many main services on Saturday mornings as possible so they
can begin to imagine themselves becoming Bar and Bat mitzvah.
12) Who runs the school?
The school has an Education Director, Rabbi Erin Hirsh. Rabbi Erin is a professional
Jewish educator involved in the national educational efforts of the Jewish
Reconstructionist movement. She taught at Mishkan for several years prior
to being appointed Education Director of another Reconstructionist congregation,
and returned here in 1999. Rabbi Erin works closely with the rabbis of the
congregation, as well as the Education Committee.
13) What is the relationship between the school and the congregation?
Although the school is variously referred to as a religious school, a Hebrew
school, a supplementary school and the Mishkan school, it is best described
as The Congregational School of Mishkan Shalom. As this name implies, the
school is designed to embody the congregation’s Statement of Principles
and to educate the youngest members of our community in the values and beliefs
of the congregation. Students participate in all aspects of the life of the
synagogue, and all members of the community are encouraged to be involved
in the education of our youth. The congregational rabbis are involved in
teaching in the school and supporting its faculty and parents.
14) Can I wait and see how the year is going before
I decide to enroll my child in Mishkan’s Congregational School?
Enrollment begins in May for the following school year. To insure an appropriate
learning environment, classes are closed at the Director’s discretion
(typically at 25). Students may be permitted to enter the Congregational
School as late as the high holidays, although late enrollment is not automatic.
If you do not enroll prior to the beginning of school or before a class has
been designated as full, you may not be permitted to enroll your child until
next year.
15) My child is in one grade at school, but I think he or she should actually
be in a different grade in Congregational School. Is this a problem?
This is a very common situation in our school. The classes are actually referred
to by a Hebrew letter rather than a grade in order to minimize any awkwardness
on the part of students who are not in the same grade as other Congregational
School classmates. You should contact Rabbi Erin to discuss any placement
issues.
16) My child has special physical or learning needs. Can the school accommodate
me?
Although we are growing, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide individual
attention to specific needs. Please contact Rabbi Erin to discuss your child’s
specific needs and we will make every effort to accommodate him or her.
17) I have an unusual family situation. Will my child feel comfortable in
this Congregational School?
We have students and teachers of all different races, backgrounds, beliefs,
families structures (single, adoptive, gay, straight, blended), etc. We work
hard not to speak as if (or use any materials that suggest that) there is
any one way to be Jewish, or image of who is Jewish, or what a Jewish family
looks like. Children are encouraged to bring all the parts of themselves
to the classroom and school community in our celebration of a community built
on both mutual respect and diversity.
18) What secular schools do other children attend?
Children from over 20 secular schools attend Mishkan. We plan our programming
knowing that many children will not know any other kids (for example, from
secular school or the neighborhood) when they enter Mishkan. We work very
hard to help the kids build relationships with one another that can transcend
the physical distance between their homes and secular school lives.
19) My family would have a long commute if we decided to enroll our kids
at Mishkan. I’m not sure we can manage it.
That’s a very valid concern, and one of the most challenging issues
our families face. We try to be as helpful as possible by putting people
who live in close proximity in touch with one another to arrange carpools
and offering dinner to kids on Wednesday nights. Most of our families believe
that, at Mishkan, their children have an opportunity to make friends and
learn to love being Jewish in a way that cannot be duplicated in many local
congregational schools. This motivates them to face the transportation challenges
week after week.
20) Can a child become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Mishkan if they are not enrolled
in the school?
Only if they attend a Jewish day school.
21) What if my child has never been in Congregational School and wants to
become Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
There is no set age at which a child must become a Bar or Bat mitzvah, only
a minimum age (traditionally 12 for a girl, or 13 for a boy). Your child
can enroll in the school and become a bar or bat mitzvah after completing
two full years of school and acquiring all requisite knowledge. If your child
is enrolling for the first time after second grade, additional tutoring at
the family's expense may be required in addition to enrollment. A Bar or
Bat mitzvah tutor must also be employed for six months to a year prior to
a Bar or Bat mitzvah ceremony.
22) What activities are available for teens at Mishkan Shalom?
A
Teen Group meets one Sunday/month at Mishkan (5-7PM) for social time, teen
topic discussions and work on our own Tikkun Olam project.During the year,
the Teen Group is planning three major trips: to New York City, which will
includes a tour of the Lower East Side, Shabbat with other teens at S.A.J.
in Manhattan and a Broadway show, a Winter Shabbaton where we will join other
Reconstructionist teens in the area for Shabbat and skiing, and Washington
DC, where we’ll head down to the nation's capital to join
in a protest and tour some museums.
Food for Thought is open to all Mishkan
teens. This monthly Jewish cooking
class (sponsored by the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College) teaches
the basics of Jewish cuisine. We prepare food that is frozen here at
Mishkan and used
for those in our congregation who are ill, have anew baby, etc.
Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing! 8th/9th grade girls meet monthly in each
other's home for is a values-based experiential Jewish program that strengthens
self-esteem and Jewish identity.
Adult education: Post-B'nai Mitzvah students are encouraged to join
adults in our community for a variety of academic and experiential classes.
For an adult education catalog, click here:
For more information about teen programming, contact Gabrielle Kaplan-Meyer,
Coordinator of Spirituality for Children and Youth at gabrielle@mishkan.org
23) Are there any other opportunities for my seventh grader or older child
to be involved in the school?
Students in seventh grade and older can work in the school on Saturday or
Sunday mornings as Madricheem, classroom and office aides. This is a paid
opportunity. They can also volunteer in the building, serve on committees,
leign Torah on the anniversary of their becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or participate
in community service projects or demonstrations.
24) What if I’m not sure if
I want to enroll my child or if I still have questions?
Every family contemplating enrollment in the Congregational School is encouraged
to contact the Congregational School office, 215-508-0226, ext.3. A member
of the Education Committee or Rabbi Erin will gladly return your call.
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Frequently Asked Questions