August 25, 2020
5 Elul 5780
Dear Parents:
The summer has flown by so quickly and here we are just a week before school starts again. We have been very busy preparing for the safe return of our students, faculty and staff to a pristine environment. We have outfitted all of the rooms with upgraded technology to allow for hybrid learning - both within the classrooms and from home. Our teachers have been preparing lessons which will be enhanced by these new educational platforms. We will continue to build on our successes of the past and motivate our students to achieve at the highest levels in both limudei kodesh and general studies. Our faculty and staff are eager to welcome back our returning students as well as many new students. Although a few of our students have opted to "zoom in" we will continue to provide a warm and supportive atmosphere. Our school is committed to each and every individual student, and every SBTAG girl is a valued member of our school community.
Attached to this letter you will find an updated version of The Guide:Everything You Need to Know to be a Successful Student at Sha'arei Bina. We are asking you to please read The Guide carefully to become familiar with the guidelines, regulations and limits. We have added in a section on our response plan to the Covid-19 pandemic. Please pay particular attention to the dress code requirement for students (see details as to where to purchase school uniforms), as well as parents and visitors to the school. We are requiring that all students-even those who are learning from home - be dressed in the school uniform when attending classes. One of the ways the school and parents can partner in the education of our daughters is to really share our ideals and values. We want to foster a strong sense of school spirit, respect for our institution of Torah Learning and demonstrate, at all times, respect in the way we speak, behave and dress.
Additionally, please open the attachments which include a number of important administrative forms that must be filled out and returned to the school office on the first day of school (Monday August 31st for 6th graders). We are continuing with the use of Reweb as our school administrative system. We urge you to get acquainted with the various forms and information you can glean from this very transparent system of communication. The teachers post grades, homework and lesson plans on Renweb. You can also send and receive emails from the school through this platform. If you are not yet familiar with the logging in process, please call the school office (954-927-5544) and Sandra or Debbie will walk you through it. This is especially important as the daily Health Survey will be accessed through the Family Portal (The Covid 19 Form for Students)
Many of our teachers also use Google Classroom to communicate with the students. Each teacher will take the time to demonstrate the use of Google Classroom with their students. All of our teachers have participated in a Google Webinar on the best use of Classroom for lesson planning, delivery and assessments.
You can view your child's program on Renweb. This is a TENTATIVE schedule of classes as we are still fine tuning rooms, meeting times and teacher availability. Please remain open to the possibility of change. Students may also be taking diagnostic tests during the first week of school to determine which level of math they belong in. If you have any questions about the schedule, please call me (Dr. Brand) to discuss placement. We will also be reviewing the schedule with the students on the first days of school. This year we are having the teachers move from room to room and the students will be assigned to specific rooms. This is to prevent "cross-pollination" of the virus and help maintain social distancing. Students also have 'wellness periods" scheduled into their day so that they can go outside and breathe without their masks on.
As we advance technologically as a society, we are faced with the challenges of our students being exposed to venues that may be inappropriate to some. While we do allow the use of laptops or ipads for students who benefit using these tools for note taking and organization, at the same time we have strengthened our firewall and filters within school to prohibit (as best as possible) the venturing onto social media sites. With this in mind though, we absolutely prohibit the wearing of I-watches and ask that you please do not send your daughter to school with an Apple or similar watch, Cell phones will be collected at the beginning of the day by the first period teacher. Students are not permitted to use their cell phones unless specifically assigned to do so by their teacher. (Please see our Guide for more details regarding the use of technology). Please read and sign the TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT and return the form on the first day back in school.
The first day of school for Sixth graders is Monday August 31. The Seventh grade will begin on September 1st (joining the 6th grade) and the Eighth grade will complete the middle school on Wednesday September 2nd. The High School will begin their classes on Thursday, September 3rd, remotely. That is, all high school students will follow a full schedule of classes on ZOOM from home (in their uniforms). The goal is to bring everyone back to the building on September 21st.
The school day begins promptly at 8:20 a.m. and we recommend that the students come a little earlier to get situated. We will begin the day with Tefillat Shacharit in the appointed classrooms. Tentatively - the 6th grade will be in room 14, the 7th grade (A and 1) will be in room 9 and room 7 (respectively). Grade 8 will be in room 8. . Girls are asked to please bring their own siddurim from which they will daven (each according to her family's minhag). Each girl will be assigned a set seat and we will be davening together on a daily basis. Please remember that the girls are required to wear their FORMAL Uniform on the first day of school (grey skirts, pink shirts) and NO LEGGINGS are permitted (ever)
Please note: You will be receiving Admissions Cards which the girls must bring on the first day of school in order to attend classes. Admission Cards will be sent to parents who have begun tuition payments based on their approved plans. Please avoid any potentially embarrassing situations for your daughter and be sure to send her to school on the first day with the Admission Cards. Please call to speak to Goldie Zeines regarding tuition payment plans.
Similarly, no student will be permitted to ride the bus without a Bus Pass. To register for bus transportation or for further information, call the school office.
Students were assigned voluntary summer reading and Limudei Kodesh assignments which may earn them extra credit. The students may hand in assignments to the school office and we will distribute the work to the appropriate teachers.
You should have received the school supply list by email but if you did not give us a call or email us and we will be happy to send it out again. Please be aware that during the first week of school some teachers may request additional supplies or materials.
We ask that you please check your daughter's hair for lice before returning to school on August 31st. This is a health precaution which keeps our school "nuisance" free. Similarly, please make sure that all your daughter's immunizations are up-to-date and that she is Covid-free. As per halachic rulings, students who did not receive an MMR vaccine will not be permitted to come to school.
I know that I can count on your full support to ensure that your daughters have a most productive school year. We all aspire to the same goal- to have our girls happy, successful. growing and healthy. Please share with us any "home happenings" that may have an impact on your daughter- smachot and/or difficult situations (lo alaynu).
Mrs. Tobi Wolf, our Principal, Mrs. Rivkah Bodkins, our Director of Student Life, and Rabbi Daniel Wolnerman, our Mashgiach Ruchani join me in wishing everyone much bracha and briyut as we start the new school year. As always please feel free to share with us your ideas, concerns or questions, so that we may make SBTAG a place in which our girls continue to Believe, Inspire, Nurture and Achieve!
Bivracha,
Rochelle Brand, Ed.D,
Head of School
Student and Parent Handbook 
