Defining Success for the Next Generation
By Rabbi Jennifer R. Flam

What defines a successful religious school and youth program?

It is a school that nurtures the hearts and souls of its students along with encouraging them to develop a lifetime’s worth of Jewish knowledge and values. It is a program that acknowledges that there is more than one way to teach and that each student has individual learning needs. It is a context in which each student receives the opportunity to learn from their teachers, their peers and the world around them. It is a place in which the teachers are diverse, collaborative, and representative of the values of the entire congregation. It is an environment in which students are given the opportunity to explore who they are as Jews and why the community is incomplete without their unique contribution.

If you looked up “Congregation B’nai Shalom Religious School” in Wikipedia, these definitions listed above would appear. Now, you know what we are. But if you keep reading, you’ll find more about who we are…

We are a small and vibrant school with a phenomenal staff, some who have been part of B’nai Shalom for decades and others who grew up in the community. Each teacher brings passion and insight to our educational team. Over the past few months, the 7th grade completed an amazing family history project in which the students created a video and museum exhibit to share their personal history with our school community. We had a community-wide event at Barnes and Noble, during which Rabbi Fisher told a story and we created arts and crafts as a community. Finally, our Hanukkah family program paired informal learning with a celebratory atmosphere. Parents and children learned with their whole being about different ways to be a hero, including a community-wide Tikkun Olam (social responsibility) project and Maccabee games.

The definition of who and what we are is constantly changing. Each month we, as a school and as a congregation, continue to grow and develop in positive directions. Ultimately, what will lead to continued success at CBS is a supportive community willing to work together for the benefit of our youth. In other words, what will define us tomorrow begins today.

The Congregation B’nai Shalom religious school will nurture your child’s heart, mind and soul while providing them with the building blocks of Jewish life.

Now beginning enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year.

For more information please contact Rabbi Jennifer Flam.

Tikkun Olam

Watch this spot in February for new plans and projects.

Thank you to Anne Cahn and Howard Bulos for taking on the leadership of the cooking at the Mountain View Homeless Family Shelter. They are already planning for our first week this year at the end of February.

Thank you to Beth Feldman for taking on arranging for the first Blood Drive this year. She could really use someone to train with her this year, as she may be leaving the area.

We will be asking for specific numbers of people to prepare a dinner in May at the Garden Park Apartments. We are asked through our participation with the Contra Costa Interfaith Housing organization.

My computer has not been receiving multiple volunteers for some of the projects we are involved with at the present.

More news in February.

Elise Lustig

Preschool Update
By Liz Kaufman

We can only guess at many of the skills our children will need in the years to come. After all, a generation ago, who ever thought that preschoolers would use computers? As parents, we always want what is best for our children. We want them to be happy, healthy, successful and prepared for the future.

While it may only be January, many families of preschool age children are busy trying to determine which early childhood education program best suits their child. How does one decide? Parents generally consider their own preferences when selecting a preschool. They want to know what and how the children will learn. Parents also look for values similar to their own. And the big question that is always asked, “Will my child be prepared for kindergarten?” On the more practical side, parents ask, “What is the price,” “Where is the care located,” and “Is there a space available for my child?”

It is a very challenging process for parents, especially if this is their first child, to choose the perfect school. What should you, as parents, look for in a preschool program? According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) the following are some of the things that parents should observe occurring in a good quality early childhood education program:

Teachers provide meaningful classroom activities that challenge the children to move forward. At the same time, the children are able to successfully complete many of the tasks encountered so that they gain self-confidence, feel proud of their accomplishments, and learn to love learning.

The curriculum engages the children. The classroom is arranged to give the children easy access to toys and other materials. The children have space to interact with their peers and adults.

The teachers consider the strengths, interest, and needs of the children.

The children feel safe and secure in their environment. They like their teacher and the other children in their program. The children do not feel pressured to do things that are emotionally or physically too difficult.

Teachers encourage conversations to develop language and communication skills. They talk to and listen to the children’s responses and encourage group interactions.

The children learn what is meaningful to them. Past experiences, knowledge, and skills that they already have are incorporated with their new experiences.

Teachers have an understanding of age appropriate behavior and clear limits are set about acceptable behavior.

There is a sense of community within the classroom.

Most importantly, the children should be given opportunities to learn and develop through exploration and play.

After reviewing these and many other points raised by Sue Bredekamp in her book entitled Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, I am pleased to say that Gan B’nai Shalom offers a very high quality program acceptable to NAEYC’s standards. Our children are happy and thriving in the stimulating, creative, and nurturing environment our staff has created. We are providing our children with a foundation to grow educationally, socially, and spiritually, and preparing them for their future success. B’nai Shalom can be very proud of the early childhood education being provided to families in the area. We have already had many visitors inquiring about our school for the fall and have begun accepting enrollment applications. With the anticipation of more families entering the workforce, we will be adding an extended afternoon program. After school care will be available from 1pm to 6pm with a variety of options to help meet the needs of our families. Please help us promote our program by spreading the word about our outstanding preschool. Our updated brochure and enrollment applications are now available at the preschool and in the CBS office. Please feel free to stop by and visit us. We would love your child to join our early childhood program.

Contra Costa Midrasha

Every so often we get asked the question, “what do our teens really learn at Midrasha, isn’t it just a place for socializing?” Usually I answer that question with a list – Midrasha teaches its Jewish teens about Jewish values, media literacy, Jewish culture, Israel, Tikkun Olam (and the list goes on). But what I have begun to hear in that question is something different – we need to do a better job to engage our entire community in understanding HOW Midrasha is unique in its choice of teaching through social mechanisms. So, we are offering two solutions.

The first lies in inviting YOU – the adults - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers and friends to engage in a night of learning at Midrasha. Come to Midrasha on January 21 and learn with our teachers and, most of all, with each other. Our teachers will be offering classes they have taught to your students, largely in the same style they teach to our teens. This will give you the chance to engage in Jewish learning rooted in social interaction and engagement. In case the learning and schmoozing isn’t enough, we’ll also have oodles of dessert to share.

The second solution is to give you a glimpse into the results of a survey we recently conducted of our teens. We wanted to know what they wanted to learn about next semester. What topics interested them? What makes for a good class? Our students told us their top ten choices are:

Top 10 Choices:

1. Jewish Foods/Cooking - overwhelmingly positive response
2/3. Meditation and/or Yoga
4/5. Jewish Comedians and/or Jews on Saturday Night Live
6. Leadership (tied with Hebrew!)
7. Hebrew (tied with Leadership!)
8. Jews in Sports (tied with Improv!)
9. Improv (tied with Jews in Sports!)
10. Music/Jews who Rock
In explaining what they find makes a good class the following words came up consistently: fun, good teacher, good curriculum/interesting topic, social time, food, inspiring, incorporates fun and learning/information. Our teachers are currently responding to this information by crafting a new round of electives for this Spring to more deeply engage our teens.

Your continued engagement with our community and in asking us questions makes us ask the hard questions too. Thank you for your questions. I hope we’ll hear a lot more of them from you on January 21. Everyone is welcome!

Warm Regards,

Devra Aarons
Contra Costa Midrasha Education Director

UPCOMING EVENT - Dessert and Delve
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
7:15 – 9:15pm
Contra Costa Midrasha
74 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek

Ever wonder what happens during a typical night at Midrasha? This is your chance! Study with the Midrasha teachers, schmooze with fellow parents and community members and enjoy yummy desserts!

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