Goals & Curriculum

Our Curriculum – General and Judaic Studies

In Middle School, students learn a variety of core subjects and specialties, with a talented and dedicated faculty.  Unlike in the Lower School, the day is no longer divided into a half day of Judaic and general studies, but rather subjects are intermingled throughout the day. We aren’t bifurcated individuals and therefore we opt not to bifurcate the day.  This is easily accomplished since the MS is departmentalized--students now have a different teacher for most of their subjects.  Classes will meet for 40 minutes and there’s a 4-minute pass time between classes.

Core Academic Areas:

Chumash, English, Hebrew, History, Math, Navi, Science, Mishna/Gemara

Specialties: 

Art, Design Thinking, Physical Education, and Technology 

About Our Curriculum

• The day begins with tefillah, in which there are two parallel minyanim, Ashkenazi and Sephardi. Twice a month we have Women’s Tefillah, which includes Torah reading by our girls. We daven mincha as a whole community. Our Friday shacharit is enhanced by divrei Torah and spirited singing in preparation for Shabbat.

• The Middle School’s dual academic curriculum is measured by its relevance, rigor, and high standards. While we value the Common Core Standards adopted by most states, we strive to exceed these standards and challenge students to expect more of themselves and their classmates.
• In most of our classes, students are grouped heterogeneously. For mathematics, Hebrew language, and Gemarah, students are grouped appropriately, enabling more individual instruction and learning.
• Chumash and Navi are taught Ivrit b’Ivrit.
• Specialty classes in art, music, physical education, computer education, and advisory complete a student’s weekly schedule.
• Learning Center specialists and skills classes in writing and research are made available to support qualifying students.
• Students are encouraged to engage in a meaningful chesed project as part of their becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Every year, charitable organizations are invited to our annual Chesed Fair. Fifth and sixth grade students and their parents are introduced to some of the available chesed options.
• In seventh grade, we have a special ceremony recognizing the Bar and Bat Mitzvah of all our students. The grade-wide celebration includes tefillah, a festive meal, and the presentation of a class gift to each student.
• Many of our curricular units culminate in projects that are displayed throughout the school: the Mitzvah, Science, and History Fairs energize our building.
• Technology is integrated into the Judaic and general studies curricula. For example, students produce iMovies as part of their study of Shakespeare, create Facebook pages for an element on the Periodic Table, and use SketchUp to create a 3-D model of a city in Israel.