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1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe, IL 60022847.835.0724

OUR MISSION BY GRADE

Guided by four core values, our dynamic team of teachers and staff approach each grade level with unique purpose, learning goals, and format in order to develop well-rounded, educated, and thoughtful young Jewish adults.  We strive to enhance Jewish living and learning with the following outcomes:

  • Students gain knowledge, tools, and skills of Hebrew and Jewish life
  • Students feel positive about being Jewish
  • Students make meaningful relationships and connections to students and staff
  • Students feel motivated to further their Jewish living and learning

Find out more about our goals and mission for each grade level in our Religious School.

 

Sunday Preschool-OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY!

Our Sunday Preschool program for children ages 3-4 years taps into their natural sense of awe and wonder about the world. Our emphasis is hands-on, and we offer many different ways for them to engage because we recognize that everyone learns differently.  Each week children explore our dynamic classroom which has an Israel theme with a shuk (marketplace), a kid-designed Magen David Ambulance (made out of a refrigerator box), a train, a cave, and much more, all designed to encourage imaginative play. We provide joyful and enriching Jewish experiences exploring symbols, rituals, customs, values, and holidays through stories, music, art, food, and play. A highlight of each week is Havdalah in the sanctuary, the service marking the end of Shabbat.

Note: All Preschool programs are offered to anyone in the community with pre-registration.

 

K-2nd Grade

We introduce children to friendships, fun, and Jewish life in a hands-on and dynamic way. Our journey together relates home and school to the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly Jewish celebrations connecting us to our congregation and the Jewish people. We investigate our culture and heritage in a variety of different ways knowing that everyone learns differently. At family programs, adults and children form lasting friendships as they explore the synagogue’s rhythm and space.  We see how Judaism helps us understand values and make our world a better place.

 

Students meet once a week on Sundays (with optional Hebrew for 2nd graders) and we invite families to join in a few times a year for events designed to build Jewish learning and family connections. We welcome 1st & 2nd graders to the fun activities of the Youth Group for 1st & 2nd grade throughout the year as well!

 

3rd-4th Grade

Our 3rd & 4th graders have the opportunity to try out different hands-on experiences to explore big life questions, holidays, Hebrew, and Torah. We teach in many different ways because we know that everyone learns differently, even offering individual instruction for those students who learn more effectively in a one on one environment.  At this age, we begin to introduce choices into the curriculum to allow children to connect more deeply and meaningfully to their Jewish lessons and we keep things fun with a “camp” theme. We strive to connect them to their lives as we form a community.

 

Students meet two days a week: either Tuesdays or Wednesdays for Hebrew studies and Sundays for Jewish studies in Camp@NSCI. Also, we invite families to join in a few times a year for events designed to build Jewish learning and family connections. You can join in the optional activities with the Youth Group for 3rd-5th grade which are offered throughout the year!

 

5th-6th Grade

For 5th & 6th graders, we emphasize choice so that your children will connect more deeply and meaningfully to their Jewish lessons, even offering individualized instruction for those students who learn more effectively in a one on one environment. Our hands-on program encourages deeper investigations of Jewish studies and Hebrew, challenging them to think through big life questions, and taking responsibility for Jewish living and learning. Overall, we aim to solidify friendships and help each child find their connection to the synagogue.

 

Students meet two days a week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, and Sundays, to study Hebrew and explore Jewish studies. Also, we invite families to join in a few times a year for events to prepare for their upcoming B’nei Mitzvah. Join in the optional activities with the Youth Group for 6th-8th grade which are offered throughout the year.

 

Additionally, please visit our dedicated website for B’nei Mitzvah as you get ready to plan your special day.

 

7th Grade

In 7th grade, we emphasize choice so that each student connects more deeply and meaningfully to their Jewish lessons and B’nei Mitzvah service, even offering individualized instruction for those students who learn more effectively in a one on one environment. Our hands-on program challenges students to further their own Jewish identity by clarifying and committing to different ways of being Jewish and finding their own self-expression, allowing them to create a sophisticated understanding of themselves and ways of engaging with our community and the larger world. This is a year to learn about themselves through learning about others.

 

Students meet once a week for Jewish studies on Tuesdays. Monthly during their class time, 7th graders participate in “It’s a Girl’s Thing” with Rabbi Lisa Greene or “It’s a Guy’s Thing” with Rabbi Ryan Daniels. Private tutoring begins 6-12 months before their B’nei Mitzvah as well.  For more details about the B’nei Mitzvah preparation, please click here.  Also, we invite families to join in a few times a year for events designed to build Jewish learning and family connections.  Join in the optional activities with the Youth Group for 6th-8th grade which are offered throughout the year!

 

8th-12th Grade

We are excited about our new approach to Jewish learning for 8th-12th graders which offers many choices in terms of content and structure to better match student interests and schedules. Students can come once, three times, part of the year, or the whole year. Some offerings are at NSCI while others take our students around the community, the country, and even to Israel. This extension allows students to realize their Jewish identity outside their traditional peer group, make new friends, and expand their social Jewish identity.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784