B”h
Chabad Hebrew school of NW Seattle
Parents & Student Handbook
Learn it. Live it. Love it.
Chabad Hebrew School NW Seattle’s goal is to provide Jewish children with an education that instills Jewish pride, conveys a meaningful and relevant understanding of Jewish life and Jewish history, and teaches Hebrew Language reading and writing.
We strive to provide a basis in which to enable our children to grow into warm and informed adults who will positively shape our communities in years to come.
In this booklet you will find all the necessary details for the upcoming year of Hebrew School .
Welcome to Chabad Hebrew School
We are pleased that you have chosen Chabad Hebrew School NW Seattle for your child’s education. We will do everything in our power to make sure that your family’s Hebrew School experience will be enjoyable and inspiring, as well as provide warm memories for a lifetime.
Communication
Our school is blessed with a staff of professional and dedicated individuals. Each staff member spends hours planning lessons and designing creative methods to infuse fun and excitement into the program. They are deeply concerned about the progress of each individual student and are always glad to spend time discussing your child’s progress with you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, or contact the school office , should any concern or issue arise.
Weekly Email
A weekly email is sent out to update our parents with important information; please read these emails thoroughly to ensure that you are up to date on HS happenings.
School Hours
Class begins promptly every Sunday at 9:30am. Please be sure that your child arrives on time. Hebrew School ends at 11:30 am.
If you will be more than 10 minutes late for pick-up, please notify the office at 206 851 9831
Tuition
Tuition fees will be billed and should be paid on time. Prompt attention to tuition fees is necessary as we depend on these funds for operation.
Attendance
The first step in the right direction is for parents and children to recognize that attendance is the key to a successful Hebrew School. A child who takes days off not only misses important work, but also creates a feeling that ‘Judaic studies is not that important’. Parents should try to schedule all appointments, enrichment programs and extra-curricular activities around Hebrew School. If you know in advance that your child will be missing a Sunday, please let us know the Thursday before.
Snow Days & Cancellations
In the event that Hebrew School should be canceled whether due to snow or unforeseen circumstances, you will receive an email by 8:00 am Sunday morning notifying you about the cancellation. .
Snacks
Students are provided with snacks during Hebrew School. If your child is allergic to any food or beverages, please make sure that it is written down on his or her medical form.
Tzedakah & Mitzvah Notes
Parents are requested to send in a coin or two each week so their child can give tzedakah during class. This applies to all students in grades K-7. Parents of children in grades K-2 are asked to please send a “Mitzvah Note” to Hebrew School each week. A Mitzvah Note is a small note from the parents relating something positive their child has done throughout the course of the week.
Electronics
I-phones or electronic games should not be brought to Hebrew School, as they can distract from learning. If your child has a phone, please speak with your child about leaving it at home during Hebrew School.
Behavior
Students and all members of the school community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with Rabbi Hillel’s Rule: ‘What is hateful to you, never do to your fellow person: that is the entire Torah; all the rest is commentary’ (Hillel in Talmud: Shabbat, 31a). Student conduct is measured against this criteria and, if found wanting, the necessary steps are taken by Hebrew School’s professional staff to correct the behavior with emphasis on the educative rather than on the punitive.
Bagels & Coffee
Periodically at pick-up parents are welcome to enjoy fresh bagels and coffee, compliments of Hebrew School. This is a great opportunity to get to know other members of the community.
Holiday Programs
Throughout the course of the year, we will celebrate the Jewish holidays in Hebrew School. Parents are
encouraged to attend and participate in all Hebrew School holiday celebrations. Refer to the school calendar to take note of all family events.
Engaging our Children
How can we get our children excited about celebrating Jewish holidays, joining Shabbat dinner, going to Shul and participating in Jewish life as a whole? Often, even when we would like to go to Shul or celebrate something Jewish in the home, our kids are not on board and the experience feels more compulsory than uplifting.
Success in Jewish life vitally requires implementing the “5 P’s”: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
To begin with, every home must be equipped with the most essential tool needed to prepare for Jewish life: a Jewish calendar. Step one is to consult our Jewish calendar regularly in order to be aware of what holidays and celebrations are coming next. Generally, it is best to begin thinking about and preparing for the next “occasion” in Jewish life about 30 days ahead.
After we’ve made ourselves aware of what’s coming and decided how we’d like to celebrate it (going to Shul, having a meal, etc.), the next step is to get the kids excited as far in advance and as often as possible. Let your children know what your family will be doing and how many weeks and days away it is. See what your kids know already, what they have learned in Hebrew School or remember from years past. Start engaging and educating: go online and find articles to read and discuss, print out coloring pages or projects to do. Focus on the child-centric parts of the experience such as yummy foods, a carnival or party, dressing up, etc. Involve the children in any arrangements. Cook, shop or prepare Holiday essentials together. As a family, bake raisin challah for Rosh Hashana, buy a Lulav for Sukkot, prepare and pack food baskets for Purim, etc.
This organic approach changes Jewish activities from something children ‘have to do’ into aspects of daily life that children are excited about and look forward to.
Rabbi Yoni Levitin
206 851 9831
[email protected]
Mushka Levitin
214 924 2058
[email protected]
