Adat Chaverim, Plano, TX - Religious School

Parent/Toddler Class Classes approximately every other Sunday from 9:00-11:00. Children ages 2 & 3 by Sept 1, 2008 with a parent	Parents come with their 2 and 3 year olds for 2 fun filled hours of music, crafts, stories and an all around fabulous time. It is a great opportunity for parents and children to be together in a positive Jewish environment.
Pre-Kindergarten Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30. Student age 4 by September 1, 2008	With a curriculum specifically designed for the early childhood classroom, this is an active, hands-on pre-school class that focuses on holidays, Shabbat, Bible stories and Hebrew through music, crafts and games.
Kindergarten Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 Student age 5 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	A series of booklets help students learn about the synagogue, Jewish life and holidays through art, games, and songs. Students make their own ABC book to record what they learn. Storybooks are used to reinforce various holiday traditions and students are introduced to the Hebrew aleph-bet.
First Grade Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 Student age 6 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	Students continue to learn about the Jewish holidays celebrated during the year. They also begin to discover their thoughts about and connection with God. The above is accented with a weekly Hebrew class and all is learned through lots of crafts, music and games. This is big year in religious school; our first graders have their first memorable lifecycle event, Consecration.
Second Grade Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 Student age 7 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	Students spend their time discovering mitzvot and exploring Jewish identity through booklets and lots of arts, crafts, songs and games. Formal Hebrew instruction begins.
Third Grade Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 and Wednesday mid-week Hebrew from 4:45-6:30 or 6:00-7:30 p.m. Student age 8 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	Students use critical thinking and questioning skills to explore different aspects of Judaism. Topics include: learning for Jewish life: living a life of holiness, ways we experience God and taking responsibility for G'milut Chasadim (deeds of loving kindness) and holidays. This is taught through crafts, music and games. The are also taught to read Hebrew this year! By the end of 3rd grade, using the textbook Derech Binah, the students are taught the skills they need to read Hebrew.
Fourth Grade Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 and Wednesday mid-week Hebrew from 4:45-6:30 or 6:00-7:30 p.m. Student age 9 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	Students explore the direct relationship between being a member of a community and how we behave. This is taught through the study of Lifecycle events. The students will also learn about different regions and cities in Israel. This is taught through Bible stories, crafts, music and games. In Hebrew, they learn the first level of prayers and services.
Fifth Grade Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 and Wednesday mid-week Hebrew 4:45-6:30 or 6:00-7:30 p.m. Student age 10 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	Using carefully translated text and language clues, we teach the meaning of the Torah. Students become Biblical commentators, suggesting their own interpretation and explanation to develop a lifelong relationship with the Torah. In Hebrew, they learn the second level of prayers and services. This is taught with crafts, music and games.
Sixth Grade Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 and Wednesday mid-week Hebrew from 4:45-6:30 or 6:00-7:30 p.m. Student age 11 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	As we near B'nai Mitzvah, the students are given the opportunity to study a selection of essential Rabbinic texts. They look at Pirkei Avot, navigating the complicated journey of Jewish character development with three questions: What are the character traits that help define who we are as individuals? What are the ways we can interact positively with others? What are our responsibilities to improve the world? They also use Babaganews, a newspaper for children to learn about current events in the Jewish world. In Hebrew, they will learn the third level of prayers and services.
Seventh Grade Mitzvah Corps Sunday classes from 9:00-11:30 No mid-week Hebrew Student age 12 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade Most students have their Bar/Bat Mitzvah during this year.	7th Grade Mitzvah Corps is about making a difference. Learning and performing Mitzvot in the Torah, our students are provided with an action-based view of Jewish spirituality. Not only will they explore the wisdom of Jewish sacred texts, students will also consider the kind of adults they want to become and how the mitzvot can help them achieve their goals.
Eighth Grade Gesher Program Sunday class from 9:00-11:30 Student age 13 by September 1, 2008 Coordinating with secular school grade	Our 8th Grade study a variety of topics. These include: Living a Jewish ethical life, Jewish Leadership, Post Torah text study and prayers. Tuition for the Gesher Program also includes a trip to Greene Family Camp for the Junior Youth Group Retreat in the Spring of 2008!
B'nai Torah Meets 12:30-1:30 and/or 1:30 -2:30 on Sunday afternoons. Students must be in grades 9-12	This program of continuing education leads to the granting of B'nai Torah. This unique high school program offers the students a variety of classes to choose from so they can learn about Jewish topics that interest them. By doing this our B'nai Torah students discover Jewish learning is a life-long activity and B'nai Mitzvah is only the beginning. The B'nai Torah graduates are prepared to live an independent, Reform Jewish lifestyle in college and beyond. B'nai Torah is based on a credit system. They earn credits in 3 different areas: Torah (classes, study), Avodah (youth group events, leading services) and Gemilut Chasadim (Being a Machar, mitzvah projects, etc) Each student will need 18 credits (6 in each area) by the end of their senior year in high school to graduate from the program. These credits can be fulfilled at various times during grades 9 - 12. Although registration happens earlier, individual classes are chosen in the fall.
Individual Hebrew Tutoring Sundays from 11:30-12:30 Students of any age who need individual help with their Hebrew skills.	Every student learns differently than his or her peers, and each student learns at his/her own pace. Some children need individual tutoring in order to help them progress. We have a Hebrew teacher on staff to tutor these children after regular religious school hours. The Rabbi, Religious School Director or the child's Hebrew teacher may recommend a student for this program. This program is not intended as a replacement for Midweek Hebrew.
Machar Program Sunday mornings 8:45-12:30 Students must be in grades 9-11	Machar is a volunteer program for our students, grades 9-11, who love children, love to teach and want to learn more about their own teaching abilities. Macharniks assist teachers in Religious School, meet as a group for training and have a great time. Macharniks earn credit toward B'nai Torah.