Dear Parents,
Thank you for your patience and feedback as we have been thinking carefully about how we will educate your children and gather this Fall for Kulanu and TLC. We continue to be committed to providing quality Jewish education, maintaining our Bet Torah community values and prioritizing the health and safety of your children during these very challenging times.
Kulanu/ TLC will begin as a hybrid learning model of in-person and remote classes and programs.
This hybrid learning model is based on:
- Recommendations by the Return to School - Kulanu/TLC Task Force
- Guidance from medical professionals
- Up to date CDC health guidelines
- Feedback from parents and teachers
- Commitment to quality Jewish education
- Core value of community
When crafting this hybrid learning model, we also considered:
- Prioritizing in-person learning for younger children
- Limiting after secular school exposure by having in-person learning on Sunday as much as possible
- Consistency in schedule and staffing
- Use of large indoor spaces and when possible, outdoor spaces
- How madrichim can support teachers in-person and remotely
- How to support students who are not able to attend or who struggle to engage with remote learning
Kulanu Hybrid Learning Model
In-person: Sunday, 9-11 am (weekly)
In- person: Sunday, 9-11 am (weekly)
Remote: Monday or Tuesday, 4-6 pm (weekly)
Gimel (3) & Dalet (4) will have class twice a month in-person (the entire grade on-site together in small groups) alternating between in-person (Sunday A) and remote (Sunday B) and remote learning weekly during Monday or Tuesday and Wednesday.
In-person: Sunday A, 9-11 am (alternating weeks)
Remote: Sunday B, 9-11 am (alternating weeks)
Remote: Monday or Tuesday and Wednesday and, 4-6 pm (weekly)
Hey (5) & Vav (6) will have class twice a month in-person (the entire grade on-site together in small groups) - alternating between in-person (Sunday B) and remote (Sunday A) and remote learning weekly during Monday or Tuesday.
In-person: Sunday B, 9-11 am (alternating weeks)
Remote: Sunday A, 9-11 am (alternating weeks)
Remote: Monday or Tuesday, 4-6 pm (weekly)
Remote: Sunday, 9-11 am ( weekly)
In-person: Tuesday, 4-6 pm (weekly)
TLC: Teen Learning Community
TLC is all the ways Bet Torah engages our 8th-12th graders, including Madrichim who serve as role models in the Kulanu Learning Program.
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Small group TLC programs (e.g., Moving Traditions, Leadership Training Cohort) will meet in-person, in outdoors spaces, weather permitting. We will not be gathering in the homes of congregants.
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Larger groups (e.g, Nosh and Drash) will meet as a hybrid of in-person and remote learning depending on enrollment.
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To protect the vulnerable in our community, Better Together will be remote all year.
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Madrichim will follow Kulanu depending on their placement.
- An email will be going out shortly with further details to all our 8th-12th grade families.
If the current health situation changes and in-person learning is not possible, the remote schedule will mirror the Hybrid Learning Model.
IN-PERSON LEARNING based on recommendations from the CDC, NY state guidelines, the American Pediatric Association and guidance from medical professionals, we have developed health protocols for meeting in-person. Highlights are:
- Face masks are required for all
- Health screening and temperature check on arrival
- Social distancing in classrooms, hallways, dismissal, bathroom
- No eating or serving snack or bringing food
- Use of larger spaces and outdoors, when possible
- Separate learning materials for each child (books, pencils, etc.)
- Increased airflow and ventilation
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Read more about Kulanu/ TLC Health Protocols
REMOTE KULANU LEARNING will include:
- 45 min Jewish Culture or Hebrew class each weekday (via Zoom)
- 15 min small group Hebrew practice weekly (via Zoom)
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30 min Zman Kef “fun time” weekly (music, yoga, cooking, games, art) (via Zoom)
- Optional time for extra Hebrew Help - drop in time with teacher (via Zoom)
- Teachers will contact students who are unable to attend or who are not connecting to remote learning
As parents, we are partners together in your child’s Jewish journey and your family’s connection to Bet Torah and beyond. Please do not hesitate to email with any questions or concerns. We are here to support you in this challenging time.
Loen Amer, Director of Experiential Learning for Children and Teens
