Religious School Chai-lights

As you read this article, it is now August, and no doubt you will soon begin (if you have not yet already) to get in the “Back to School” mode. With that in mind, please get out your calendars and mark down these important starting dates for Religious School and for services.

The first day of Religious School will be Sunday, September 13. Please join us for a membership Open House and breakfast, beginning at 9:00 am. There will be a mandatory parent meeting at 10:00 am, and students will be dismissed to go to class with their teachers. Wednesday classes for Gimel – Zayin (3^rd – 7^th grades) will begin Wednesday, September 16 at 4:00 pm.

This year we will offer Family Services on select Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Saturday morning Family Services will be followed by activities for family members to participate in. We are counting on your family’s involvement to make these programs successful!

*All Friday Family Services begin at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted.

*All Saturday Family Services begin at 9:30 am

Please mark your calendars with the following dates for Family & Havdallah services:

Saturday, October 3 – Congregational Family Sukkot dinner (optional) and program following

Saturday, October 10 (Simchat Torah service) – 7:00 pm

Saturday, November 21 – Havdallah dinner & Family Service following

Saturday, December 5 – Morning Family Service with activities to follow

Friday, December 18 – Family Service

Friday, January 22 - Family Service (followed by family BINGO activity)

Saturday, February 6 - Morning Family Service with activities to follow

Friday, February 19 – Family Service

Sunday, February 28 Purim- Megillah reading service (as part of Religious School): 10 – 11:30 am

Saturday, March 13 - Havdallah dinner & Family Service following

Saturday, April 17 - Morning Family Service with activities to follow

Friday, April 30 - Family Service

Friday, May 21 – Confirmation/ Family Service – 8:00 pm

JUNIOR CONGREGATION SERVICES will be offered only on the first day of Rosh Hashana & on Yom Kippur.

We will also conduct some SUNDAY MORNING services as part of our curriculum for our students to experience together (these do NOT count toward students’ service requirements).

There will be 2 simultaneous services (K – 3^rd grade & 4^th – Confirmation) occurring from 10:15 – 10:50 A.M. on the following dates:

Sunday, October 11 – Simchat Torah program & discussion

Sunday, December 13

Sunday, January 31

Sunday, February 21

Sunday, February 28 (Purim- Megillah reading service as part of Religious School): 10 – 11:30 am

*NOTE: MINIMUM SERVICE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Gan (K), Aleph (1^st), Bet (2^nd): 5 services/year

Gimel (3^rd grade): 10 services/ year; 2 of these 10 must be Sat. morning services

Dalet (4^th grade): 10 services/ year; 3 of these 10 must be Sat. morning services

Hey (5^th grade): 10 services/ year; 3 of these 10 must be Sat. morning services

Vav (6^th) & Zayin (7^th): 12 services/ year; 6 of these 12 must be Sat. morning services

Confirmation (8^th & 9^th grades): 10 services/ year