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KI Religious School

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KIRS Statement of Goals and Vision

KIRS Parent Handbook for 2011–12

B'nai Mitzvah Handbook

B'nai Mitzvah Kiddush Planning Guide

Simcha Book Club Contribution Form

KIRS Registration Materials

About the KIRS

The KI Religious School is an integral part of our community. It is not only the place where children begin a lifetime of religious study; for many young families it is the centerpiece of the KI experience. And with many classes led by adult volunteers, it is also a center for adult learning through teaching.

The KI Religious School pioneered a new model of training a pool of supplementary school teachers. In 1991, KIRS received a grant from the Covenant Foundation to fund a pilot program in developing "avocational" teachers by recruiting adults, who were not necessarily professional or trained teachers, to learn to teach elementary grade students in religious studies. That the project was an outstanding success is demonstrated by its emulation at other supplementary religious schools around the country. Read about the Avocational Teacher Program here.

Our Sunday morning school includes kindergartners through seventh graders. The broad subject matter of Judaica classes are Tanakh (Bible), history, holidays and Jewish ethics; there is a separate curriculum in prayer and synagogue skills, as well as a prayerbook-based Hebrew curriculum. Grades K through 2 meet on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., while grades 3 to 7 meet on Sundays as well as Wednesdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The school also meets on a Friday evening or a Saturday morning several times during the school year to give students opportunities to practice their synagogue skills and to encourage their sense of being an essential part of the larger KI community.

The seventh grade is a b'nei mitzvah-preparation class which is designed to further our students' Jewish knowledge and Jewish self-identity as they approach adulthood as well as teach the skills that they will need to prepare their individual Torah and haftarah portions.

Our preschool is for children aged two through four. Classes are held once or twice each month on Sunday mornings; children are accompanied by a parent. Preschool dates are given in the calendar below.

The school has adopted a no-nuts policy to protect its students with nut allergies. No peanut butter, nuts or items containing them, or prepared foods whose labels indicate they were produced in facilities that also process nuts will be served at KIRS. Families are asked to keep these restrictions in mind when providing food for school snacks or potlucks. Parents whose children have other food allergies are asked to notify the staff of necessary precautions.

Visit this page for a snapshot look at the Kehillat Israel Religious School.


School Hours
Grades K–7 Sunday 10:00 a.m.–noon
Grades 3–7 Wednesday 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Preschool One Sunday per month 10:00 a.m.–noon

Contact the Education Director () for more information.



Calendar for 2011–12

Notes: Calendar dates and programs are subject to change.
Key: Preschool meetings shown in green, School meetings on Friday/Saturday in bold-italic

August
Sunday 14 SEED Teacher Conference at Temple Israel
Wednesday 31 7:00 pm Teacher Orientation at KI
September
Wednesday 7 Open House/Registration – 4:30–6:00 pm
Sunday 11 KIRS & Preschool starts; will include 9/11 memorial
Wednesday 14 KIRS
Sunday 18 KIRS
Wednesday 21 KIRS
Saturday 24 KIRS Shabbat & Potluck Kiddush
Sunday 25 NO KIRS
Wednesday 28 NO KIRS—Erev Rosh Hashanah
October
Sunday 2 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 5 KIRS
Sunday 9 NO KIRS—Day after Yom Kippur
Wednesday 12 KIRS—Erev Sukkot; 5:45 ma’ariv service in the sukkah
Saturday 15 Bat mitzvah of Ruby Schneider—mazal tov!
Sunday 16 KIRS
Wednesday 19 KIRS—Sukkot, Hoshanah Rabah, Erev Shemini Atzeret; 5:45 Hoshanah Rabah ritual in the sukkah
Saturday 22 Bat mitzvah of Isabella Ndlebe—mazal tov!
Sunday 23 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 26 KIRS
Sunday 30 KIRS; Katom (Orange) Family Program—Making Bedtime Jewish
November
Parent-teacher conferences available this month by request/appointment
Wednesday 2 KIRS
Sunday 6 KIRS & Preschool; 11:30–1:30 KI Tikkun Olam Mitzvah Mall
Wednesday 9 KIRS
Sunday 13 KIRS—KI/SZ Family Program: It’s a Mitzvah Part I (at Shaarey Zedek)
Wednesday 16 KIRS
Saturday 19 KIRS Shabbat & Potluck Kiddush
Sunday 20 NO KIRS
Wednesday 23 NO KIRS—THANKSGIVING BREAK
Sunday 27 NO KIRS—THANKSGIVING BREAK
Wednesday 30 KIRS
December
Sunday 4 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 7 KIRS
Saturday 10 KIRS Shabbat School in the EVENING
5:00  KIRS School Classes
6:00  Havdalah
Sunday 11 NO KIRS
Wednesday 14 KIRS
Sunday 18 NO KIRS—WINTER BREAK
Wednesday 21 NO KIRS—WINTER BREAK
Sunday 25 NO KIRS—WINTER BREAK
Wednesday 28 NO KIRS—WINTER BREAK
January
Sunday 1 NO KIRS –WINTER BREAK
Wednesday 4 KIRS Resumes
Sunday 8 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 11 KIRS
Sunday 15 NO KIRS
Wednesday 18 KIRS
Sunday 22 KIRS—KI/SZ Family Program: It’s a Mitzvah Part II (at KI)
Wednesday 25 KIRS
Sunday 29 KIRS & Preschool
February
Wednesday 1 KIRS
Sunday 5 KIRS & Preschool; 11:30–1:30 KI Tikkun Olam Tu b’Shevat Fair
Wednesday 8 KIRS; Tu b’Shevat
Sunday 12 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 15 KIRS
Sunday 19 NO KIRS—Presidents’ Weekend
Wednesday 22 KIRS
Saturday 25 KIRS Shabbat & Potluck Kiddush
Sunday 26 NO KIRS
Wednesday 29 KIRS
March
Parent-teacher conferences available this month by request/appointment.
Sunday 4 KIRS & Preschool; Purim Carnival
Wednesday 7 No KIRS — erev Purim
Sunday 11 KIRS
Wednesday 14 KIRS
Saturday 17 KIRS Shabbat & Potluck Kiddush
Sunday 18 NO KIRS
Wednesday 21 KIRS
Sunday 25 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 28 KIRS.
April
Sunday 1 NO KIRS—SPRING BREAK
Wednesday 4 NO KIRS—SPRING BREAK
Sunday 8 NO KIRS—SPRING BREAK; Passover Day 2
Wednesday 11 KIRS; Passover snack will be provided—do not bring snack into the building
Sunday 15 KIRS & Preschool
Wednesday 18 KIRS
Sunday 22 KIRS & Preschool—Hebrew Reading Assessment
Wednesday 25 KIRS
Sunday 29 KIRS
May
Wednesday 2 KIRS
Sunday 6 End of Year Picnic at KI; 11:00–1:00


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