JSA Handbook 2004/2005
Elementary School
JSA Handbook 2004/2005
Elementary SchoolWelcome to the Jacobson Sinai Academy, the Liberal Jewish Day School at Temple Sinai of North Dade. We hope that this year will be meaningful and successful for your child(ren) and you. The beginning of our school year comes very close to the beginning of the Jewish New Year, an excellent time for all of us to reexamine our commitment to Judaism, to Jewish education, and to the fostering of happy, productive Jewish families. May we share study, observance, and growth as your family and our school family enter a year of partnership in your child(ren)'s education.
Research has shown that the most effective schools are those in which everyone works together for clear and specific goals. Parents must recognize that a child's education cannot be exclusively the responsibility of the school. No matter how superior the teacher, children will not reach their full potential unless there is cooperation between the home and the school. The greater the involvement in the educational process, the higher the student's achievement.
At Sinai Academy, we are proud of our talented professional staff, who work hard to create a warm, positive environment in which children feel comfortable. Each child learns that we value human growth as well as academic achievement.
Now we ask for your support and cooperation as valued members of our educational team. Read this handbook carefully, and keep it handy throughout the school year. By understanding what is expected and behaving accordingly, you will become the most important advocate your child(ren) can have during these formative elementary school years. Together, we can succeed and reach the goals for which you chose Sinai Academy.
Sincerely,
Jan Goldmann, Ed. S.
Director
Bruchim HaBa'im - Welcome!
It is a pleasure to welcome you as we begin the new year at the Jacobson Sinai Academy. I have the double good fortune to do so, both as rabbi and as father of Hannah (a first grader) and Naomi (a Giant Stepper). This is a wonderful time of the year, filled with anticipation (and even a little anxiety) for what is to come.
I know that Jan Goldmann and Tirza Dalkoff, along with all of the teachers, have been working hard to prepare for another spectacular year at the lowerschool. I look forward to being a part of such a superb team.
We read in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, "You shall teach (words of Torah) diligently to your children. Speak of them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up." .These familiar words speak to the core of the Jacobson Sinai Academy's Mission. We seek to infuse our children with the gift of knowledge. The text is understood as educating our children at all times, at home and away, throughout the day. This is a joint responsibility between students, teachers, and parents that reaches beyond school hours. Please assist us in these efforts by being active, involved parents. I encourage you to model the importance of study through your own commitment to learning.
On both a personal and professional note, I hope that we will have a chance to meet and share thoughts about our school, synagogue, and community. Stop by and say hello. My door is almost always open and my voice mail is always available.
May this be a year of growth for you and your family.
B'Shalom,
Rabbi Alan Litwak
The liberal Day School is a new phenomenon in Jewish education, a unique product of contemporary Jewish life in North America. Jewish Education seeks to combine the best we can learn from our interaction with secular culture with the rich traditions of our Jewish heritage.
Tempered by liberal interpretation, we view education as a dynamic process marked by the interaction of content and method. Our goal seeks to:
We view Jewish Education as the process whereby the individual Jew can develop a sense of positive Jewish identity. Our curriculum seeks to:
WITH THESE CONCEPTS IN MIND,
WE STAND COMMITTED TO THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:
Sinai Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) and the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC). While the State of Florida does not require private schools to be accredited, Sinai Academy has elected to be subject to the high standards and guidelines set forth by the associations. Our most recent accreditation was received in June 2002.
Instructional hours are from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday dismissal is at 2:30p.m. for all schools, Elementary, Upper Schools and Early Childhood. Work begins promptly at 8:15; therefore children should arrive at school in plenty of time to be in class ready to work at 8:15. In the interest of both safety and security, children must not be dropped off before 8:00 a.m. when teachers and School Patrols officially go on duty.
We do not provide bus transportation and therefore, most families find it convenient to carpool. Virtually all of our students arrive in cars, and we cannot emphasize enough that no child's safety will be compromised.
Thank you in advance for following the Safety and Security rules that have been implemented for your safety and the safety of your children.
The safety and security of our families and our campus is an absolute priority. Please do your part to maintain the integrity of our procedures. Repeat violations may result in restricting your access to the campus.
Children will be released to their authorized carpool only. While it is important that you pick up your carpool on time, it is equally important for safety reasons that you do not arrive early. Carefully enter the parking lot through the main enterance. Pull up as far as possible toward the pick up area. The staff in charge of dismissal will driect the children to your car. Please follow their directions completely.
Proper use of seatbelts for all children is the LAW.
We are committed to maintaining a perfect safety record for each and every child in our school. We cannot do so without your absolute cooperation.
If you have Early Childhood students or Upper School students in your carpool, pick up will be at the Early Childhood Education Center building or the Upper School building. Please follow the same cautionary procedures.
If your child is going home in a carpool other than his regular one, you must notify his/her Master Teacher in writing when school opens that day. You must also notify the child's carpool driver.
Teachers/employees of Temple Sinai of North Dade may not transport students in their private vehicles. This includes, buut is not limited to driving students to and from school, from school to another event, personal favors (i.e. lunch or movies) or any event (i.e. youth group activity) sponsored by Temple Sinai. Transporting students/children puts the individual teacher/employee and Temple Sinai at a major liability risk.
While we will do everything we can to help in an emergency such as illness or car trouble, we cannot accept carpool changes for social reasons over the phone during the school day. Children and parents will need to plan ahead for children to travel in other than their regular carpools. Children will not be allowed to phone home during the school day in an attempt to make such alternative arrangements to go to a friend's house. Please do not ask our office staff to break this rule; they will not. No child will ever be released to anyone unless we have been specifically instructed in writing by the parent who that person will be, and we insist on seeing proper identification. Children must be picked up promptly at the end of the school day, at the conclusion of after-school activities. There will be a charge of $5 per 15 minutes of waiting time after 3:30 or the end of an activity.
If you need to take your child out of school prior to the regular dismissal time, you are required to come into the school office to sign the child out. Children will not be allowed to wait outside at the gate. You may not go to the classroom to pick up your child. It is preferable if you can let the office and teacher know ahead of time that you will be taking your child early. Likewise, if you bring your child to school late, or return after an appointment, you must come into the office to sign the child in. It is imperative that you cooperate with this procedure to ensure the safety of your child.
Prompt arrival and regular attendance are mandatory for success in school. Each child is expected to attend a full day of school every day. After a child has been absent for two consecutive days, the school may contact the home to confirm the nature of the absence. Work missed due to absence will be made up at the discretion of the Master Teacher.
If a child misses eight (8) days in any thirty (30) day period, and as a result school work has suffered, the school will notify the parents of the remediative action to be taken. Such remediative action will be at the expense of the parents.
If such a situation recurs within the academic year, the school may deem the child not to be in good academic standing. This could jeopardize the child's promotion to the next grade.
Each student is required to have a medical examination before school begins. The medical form is obtained from your pediatrician and MUST be the "Student Physical Examination HRS 3040." It must certify that your child has received the proper immunizations. Due to State and County regulations, this form MUST be on file here at school by the first day of school, Monday, August 26, 2002. Students without proper health documents will not be permitted to attend classes.
After any absence, a student must bring a written explanation explaining the nature of the absence. If you know ahead of time that your child will be out of school, please communicate that information in writing to the Master Teacher. Please refrain from taking your child out of school; it is not only disruptive to the individual's educational progress, but can also be disruptive to the rest of the class.
If a child has been ill, please check with your physician that s/he is no longer contagious before s/he returns to school. We should be notified immediately if your child has a communicable disease (such as chicken pox or head lice) so that we may notify other parents. The school reserves the right not to allow a student to return to class if we feel there is a chance of contagion; this includes the presence of head lice or nits.
If a child becomes ill at school, we will use our discretion in calling the parents. If a child is running a fever, the parent will be asked to pick the child up. If the parent is not available, the child will be kept in the school infirmary instead of in class. Children will not be allowed to telephone parents to discuss whether they need to leave school, rather, this will be handled by the nurse, teacher, school secretary, or other member of the professional staff.
Each student is required to participate in the Physical Education program each day. No student will be excused from P.E. or swimming without a written explanation from the parent or a physician explaining why such an excuse is necessary. Children may not call the parent from school for such a note.
It is imperative that we have the name and telephone number of someone local as emergency contacts. Please give the name of several individuals who live or work close enough to school to come pick your child up if you cannot be reached or come to school yourself. The school reserves the right to take emergency action on behalf of the child if parents cannot be reached, and if a delay would jeopardize the child's health or safety.
In the event of a hurricane or other weather related emergency, the Administration will make a decision based on the procedures set by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Should school be closed, you will be contacted by a faculty member.
If your child is taking medicine on a regular basis during the school day, we must have your written permission. Permission is also necessary if your child needs to finish prescribed medicine after an acute illness. Aspirin, Tylenol, and other first-aid items are available in our infirmary, but medicine will not be dispensed without parental approval.
To become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a privilege and not a right. We wish to ensure that all our students are properly trained and educated for this special religious moment in their lives. In order for us to make sure that our students are prepared so this day has authentic religious significance, it is necessary that all our students fulfill the basic requirements that have been established by Temple Sinai of North Dade. It is important that each family be in contact with our Rabbi to discuss Bar/Bat Mitzvah eligibility.
Cooperative behavior is part of living in a community. At Sinai Academy, we value the rights of the individual, and help the individual learn how to exist happily and peacefully with his peers. Each Master Teacher works with the class to establish rules appropriate to its age level; these standards must be established in order for effective learning to take place. This includes cooperation, listening to and following directions, respecting the rights of others, being responsible for assigned tasks, and the like. Disruptive behavior interferes with the teacher's ability to achieve stated objectives and prevents other students from learning. Physical abuse of fellow students or of school property will not be tolerated.
Various methods of discipline are utilized to encourage and reinforce appropriate behavior. Inappropriate behavior may result in the loss of free time or special privileges. Parents will be notified of behavioral problems and may be asked to sign communications from teachers acknowledging such problems, and to attend conferences with the teacher and/ or the Administration.
When inappropriate behavior by a student becomes consistent or when a specific infraction is deemed serious or dangerous by the faculty, additional steps will be taken by the school. These may include after-school detention, suspension from school, recommendation for psychological counseling at the parents' expense, or expulsion from the school.
Guidance counselors are available to consult with teachers, students, and parents concerning any pertinent issues. Among their responsibilities are setting up and implementing behavior modification programs, conducting class sessions on social interaction skills and teaching thematic units as well as providing support to families.
Homework is an essential component of the learning process as it teaches self-discipline while helping reinforce concepts learned in class. It is an integral and required part of your child's education. Failure to complete homework assignments will affect a child's academic progress and success. In cases where homework has not been completed, the teacher will send a note home in the child's homework book, indicating the assignment, when assigned and due, and when the redone assignment is due. This note must be signed and returned the next day. If the work is not turned in on the required day, the teacher will call home.
Clear and precise directions for home assignments are given in class. Students copy the assignment from a posted chart where all teachers list required class assignments. Homework is the responsibility of the student; parents should show support by providing a quiet place to study, helping the child schedule homework periods, and occasionally assisting the child when needed.
If you feel that your child's homework is too difficult, or takes an inordinate amount of time to complete, you need to bring this to the teacher's attention. The teacher may have no other indication that your child is feeling frustrated or overwhelmed by what s/he is doing at home. You and the teacher have the common goal of helping your child achieve success.
Many children appreciate it when you offer to monitor or assist them. Others prefer to work independently. Try to respect your child's individual learning style.
Communication to and from the school is essential to your child's comfort. We suggest that you establish a routine with your child for emptying out the school bag and together reading the notices which appear almost daily. Some teachers require that parents sign the assignment, and this, too, affords a good opportunity to be aware of what is going on. Homework Heroes is part of our school's web page. Many assignments can be monitored in this way.
If your child is absent from school and you wish to have homework assignments and books brought home with another child or sent to the office for you to pick up, please telephone the school office before 10:00 a.m. that day. Requests made after 10:00 a.m. will be honored the following school day, if still necessary.
Having the proper school supplies and taking care of the community property of the school are important values for our students to learn. Each teacher will provide a list of required supplies for the class, as needs vary from grade to grade. Personal consumable supplies are the responsibility of each student; it is expected that parents will help the student replace items as they are used up.
Textbooks are supplied to each student. All hard cover textbooks must be kept covered to protect them from wear. Students may not write in textbooks or deface them in any way. Book covers may need to be replaced during the course of the school year. Students are responsible for the texts issued to them; lost or damaged textbooks must be replaced at the parents' expense.
Parent/Teacher Conference sessions are scheduled on the academic calendar twice each year. At these conferences, parents will have the opportunity to meet individually with the child's Master Teacher, and often with other teachers as well. These meetings are about the child's academic progress, and may include standardized test results. However, if parental concerns do not coincide with the scheduled conference times, teachers will be happy to set up special appointments. Parents should write the teacher a note or call the school secretary to ask her help in scheduling a meeting. Conferences are important to the parent, child, and teacher, and require proper preparation to be most effective. Effective treatment of concerns cannot take place in the parking lot, the hallways, or in public places such as the supermarket or the synagogue.
Report cards are issued four times each year at approximately nine week intervals. These reports are intended to communicate the teacher's evaluations of the child's strengths and weaknesses in each subject area as well as developmental skills such as responsibility for criteria, focus on individual potential and progress rather than absolute standards of measurement.
All students must bring their lunches to school. We will supply a choice of milk or fruit juice at lunch time. In some classes, snacks will be provided once each day at the discretion of the teacher.
Lunches are to be brought to school each morning by the student. Delivering lunches once school has begun will not be permitted. While it may be distressing to you if your child forgets the lunch you prepared, we assure you that we have provisions for emergency lunches. We ask your cooperation in not bringing forgotten lunches as this tends to reinforce forgetfulness. Children will not be allowed to call home for forgotten lunches. Please trust that in such a situation, we will be sure your child does not go hungry.
Lunches should be brought in a clearly labeled paper bag or reusable lunch box. These will be refrigerated. If a lunch is brought in a hard lunch box, it will be kept in the classroom until lunch time.
When packing lunch, we ask that you do not include Biblically forbidden foods including pork or shellfish products.
Because we wish to promote healthy nutritional habits, we also request that parents not send candy, soda, and "junk" food in lunches. Fresh fruit, raw vegetables, and healthy snacks are preferable, and provide better nutritional staying power for the afternoon schedule.
Food allergies should be reported, in writing, to the nurse, teacher and school secretary so that we may monitor special treats or snacks.
During the school year, special lunches are held as fund raisers. Watch for notices advising you how to sign up for them and what the charges are. There are also holiday meals provided by the school. You will be notified of these events.
At Sinai Academy we believe that the clothing students and faculty wear help establish the appropriate tone for a Jewish day school. This is especially important on Friday, Erev Shabbat, when we strive to establish a mood of celebration and reverence. Students are required to adhere to the school's dress standards and the uniforms MUST be purchased from the official uniform outfitter. Students may not wear shorts on days when they have T'fillah.
DAILY
Boys:
Girls:
Every child must have a navy JSA polo shirt (without the star logo) for fieldtrips.
On cold days, students may wear cardigan or fleece sweaters or sweat shirts in solid navy, red, or white with no writing on them. These do not have to be purchased through the uniform company.
Additional options available:
All students must wear sturdy closed shoes or sneakers. Clogs, sandals and thongs are not allowed. Oversized clothing is not suitable for school wear. It is distracting, cumbersome, and may be a safety hazard. It is not allowed.
FRIDAYS (EREV SHABBAT)
All students are required to wear the Sinai Academy outfit which must be purchased from our official outfitter. Clothing purchased elsewhere does not conform to the necessary standard. You will be advised when and where to purchase the following items:
Boys: Navy blue trousers with pin-striped oxford shirt
Girls: Navy kick-pleat skirt with pin-striped oxford shirt
All students will wear "dress shoes" (e.g., top siders, loafers, oxfords, flats). Students may bring sneakers to change into in order to save these dress shoes from the field or playground. Students not dressed as required will be sent to the office until proper dress is brought to the school.
Students will wear the navyblue polo shirt with the JSA lettering for designated field trips and performances as instructed by the school. Ample notice will always be given; therefore, students who do not comply may be excluded from the event.
Students in grades 3-5 are required to change their clothes for P.E. classes. The P.E. uniform is a light blue Sinai Academy T-shirt and navy mesh shorts. It is available through our school outfitter. Sneakers with laces or velcro fasteners are required for P.E. Students will not be admitted to class unless properly attired, and may not be admitted to other classes (such as the computer lab) in their P.E. clothing. Students will change their clothes in designated areas as instructed by their teachers.
When swimming is part of the Physical Education program, students are required to wear an appropriate bathing suit:
Students should also bring a towel and rubber thongs or beach shoes to the pool. A plastic bag is needed to bring wet items home. Students will not be allowed to telephone home for forgotten P.E. or Swim clothes.
Students should keep a solid colored red, white or navy blue sweater or sweatshirt in their cubbies in case of changes in weather or fluctuations in air-conditioning. Each student also needs an old shirt or other suitable smock for art class. Younger students may keep an extra set of clothing in school for emergencies. A waterproof jacket or poncho in their backpacks is helpful for rainy day dismissals. It is suggested that you label these with your child's name.
Shabbat is a special day in Jewish observance. Shabbat worship services are held each Erev Shabbat, Friday night, at Temple Sinai and on Saturday mornings as well. While we encourage you to accompany your child(ren) to services on a regular basis, we expect that Sinai Academy families will be present at Family Worship Shabbat which takes place the first Friday evening of each month. Our Day School students sometimes participate in this special, family-oriented service; our children are familiar with the mode of worship in our Sanctuary through their preparation in school.
We will be in touch with all families who are new to our school; new families are met at Family Worship Shabbat by another family, who will greet you, worship with you and introduce you to the rest of the congregation. We will be happy to assist you in becoming comfortably acquainted with our synagogue.
Should you be unable to bring your child(ren) to services yourself, we can also arrange for your child(ren) to be brought to Temple by another family. Children feel left out if their friends are in attendance and they are not.
On Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Passover, and Shavuot, school is closed in observance of the holiday. On festivals such as Chanukah and Purim, while there is school, there are also worship services in the Sanctuary. These Jewish holidays are not "free" days, but rather the opportunity for your family to put into practice what your children are learning in school. You have chosen a Jewish school; it is part of the commitment you have made to Jewish education to bring your children to the Synagogue to observe Yom Tov. Sharing in the joy and beauty of the holidays and festivals will be moments that you and your children will cherish.
If you cannot attend services on a particular holiday, please do not confuse your children by taking them to the beach, movies, or other public places.
We encourage you to experience the joy of Shabbat and Yom Tov in your home with your family. Early on, your child will know the proper blessings over the candles, challah, and wine. It is a wonderful opportunity for you to reinforce what is being taught in school, even if your observance is quite simple. Preparing and sharing a special Shabbat or Yom Tov meal serves to strengthen Jewish family values in a beautiful and meaningful way. From time to time, we offer informal instruction for those parents who feel they need direction or a refresher. The important thing is to develop a Shabbat and Yom Tov tradition in your home for your family to share.
Sinai Academy's perspective is Liberal Reform Judaism. While we teach children to respect all other Jewish perspectives, we teach Liberal Reform Judaism at our school.
We also teach about other religions; however, we never celebrate the holidays of other religions in our school. Please understand that Halloween and Valentine's Day, which may seem like secular holidays due to their commercialization, originate in Christian holidays. Therefore, we do not celebrate them in any way in our school.
Temple Sinai is a part of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the parent body for reform
synagogues in North America. Sinai Academy is a charter member of PARDeS, the Progressive
Association of Reform Day Schools, and Affiliate of UAHC. The rich resources of UAHC and PARDeS
are available to us in areas such as curriculum development, texts, and programming.
Parents are invited to come "back to school" one evening during the first week of school. A Master Teacher will provide an overview of the school year. This is a perfect time to put faces and names together and to become aware of the particular rules and procedures in the new class. Over the years, we have found that by scheduling this evening at the outset, we maximize the opportunity for parents and teachers to work well together all year on behalf of the children. Your attendance on this night is valuable to all of us.
As Shabbat is a special day in Jewish life, so is Kabbalat Shabbat a special time in our school week. Each Friday, our program features the traditional blessings welcoming the Sabbath as well as a presentation by one of the classes. Parents will be specially invited to some of these programs. One Shabbat each year will be designated as Grandparents' Shabbat. Your child(ren)'s grandparents will be invited to share a special morning in our classrooms.
Congregational Shabbat dinners are held on a regular basis throughout the year. Yom Tov dinners are also held for several of the festivals during the year. Sometimes, in addition, the school or a class will plan a warm, meaningful Shabbat or Yom Tov experience to share. We encourage your family to share these festive dinners with your school and congregational families.
Birthdays are life-cycle events, and we encourage children to celebrate their birthdays in school, if they wish. Please let your child's teacher know if you plan to provide a treat for the entire class.
When planning parties that will take place outside of school, please remember that we are a Jewish school; therefore, it is not appropriate to schedule parties on Friday nights, Saturday mornings, or Jewish holidays. Furthermore, we ask you to be sensitive to children's feelings when planning parties. Since our classes are small, if only one or two children are excluded from a party, it can hurt them deeply.
Please mail all party invitations, using the class roster provided at the beginning of the school year. Invitations may not be brought to school. You and your child may also celebrate and commemorate the special day by donating a book to the library, planting a tree in Israel, or making another gift to tzedakah that will spread your happiness.
Sinai Academy families, upon registering their child(ren) for the school year agree to be responsible for a fund-raising commitment which is outlined in the registration material. We need your time and effort, as well as your financial support, for other essential projects to succeed during the year. Please be as generous as possible in your support of fund-raising events such as the pizza lunches, Walk-a-thon, and other events which are developed to enhance our programs.
We encourage parents to become active in SPA, the Sinai Parent Association, an organization dedicated to support and assist the Early Childhood Education Center and the K-8 schools of Sinai Academy. Participation in SPA involves fund-raising, service, and fellowship. SPA helps to provide an important link between home and school, sponsoring such projects as challah sales and special holiday events. Watch for announcements of SPA's activities, sign up and get involved!
We welcome parents to visit our school, but for reasons of security and planning, we require that you clear your intentions with the Administration in advance, and check in with the office before going into the school building.
Please give the children a few weeks at the beginning of the school year to adjust to their new routine. Children enjoy having parents share their experience. If you would like to help out on a class project or if you have a special hobby or talent to share, please let your child's teacher know. We encourage parents to become active in SPA, the Sinai Parents Association, an organization dedicated to support and assist the school.
An essential ingredient for the success of our educational program is the establishment of good communication. Communication occurs on many levels, and it is critical that all lines be open to benefit each child. The school will keep you informed of school activities in general and your child's progress in particular. Our teachers are often in touch with parents on an informal basis. A phone call from a teacher or administrator does not necessarily signal a crisis; it is an expression of our concern for the child's well-being. We especially enjoy letting you know when good things happen in school.
Likewise, we ask that you keep us informed of situations that may be affecting your child either positively or negatively. We need to be informed about illness (either of the child or of other family members when the child's emotions may be affected), changes in behavior, extended trips, changes in transportation arrangement, changes in family status, changes in medications, or anything that might upset the child's normal routine. Our professional staff respects the confidentiality of such information.
We cannot stress enough how important it is that if you have a problem or question concerning your child, you speak with the Master Teacher first. The Master Teacher is ultimately responsible for everything that affects the student's day-to-day progress and is in the best position to clarify matters or deal with problems.
Where necessary, the Master Teacher will involve or refer you to another teacher who might be more directly involved. If you feel the problem has not been resolved after speaking with the teaching staff, then please request a conference with the administrative staff or with one of our guidance counselors.
Please understand that we are not trying to put you off, but rather to suggest the most effective way to handle your concern.
Your child's teacher is a professional with extensive responsibilities. The considerate way to contact the teacher is by written note, or through the school secretary. The teacher will return your call as promptly as possible. It is impossible for the teacher to give your concern appropriate attention while engaged in teaching or other school responsibilities such as carpool duty. It is disrespectful to both the teacher and your child to discuss school concerns in public places or at social events. Teachers may choose to call you from their homes, but it is more effective for you to call them only at school.
Of course, the most critical area of communication is from parent to child. Try to establish good rapport and demonstrate interest by talking to your child often about school experiences and assignments. Give positive encouragement by acknowledging the good things a student does; don't dwell on the negative, and don't expect perfection. Remember that mistakes can be opportunities for learning.
We believe in a trusting partnership between the school and the home. Thus, it is crucial that parents be fully supportive of the teacher and reinforce the measures which the teacher adopts to address problems. If a child reports a negative experience, the parent is usually safe in assuming that the teacher has dealt with it in an appropriate manner.
If you suspect that the teacher is unaware of a situation, or if you need clarification, contact the teacher. Children should be able to come to you with their frustrations, hurts and disappointments. It is appropriate for parents to acknowledge their children's feelings ("I understand"), but it is not necessarily the parent's responsibility to solve the problem.
We believe in most cases, at least as far as school is concerned, that children can and should solve their own problems. A helpful response to your child may well be, "What do you think should be done?" In order to further our goals of increasing independence, self-confidence, and responsibility, we caution parents not to be manipulated into giving negative attention.
Remember, the best parent-child communication is often a big hug!
There are a variety of after-school activities offered by the school. Specific information to announce such activities at school and elsewhere in the community are distributed to the students along with information on registering. Sometimes classes are given for a few weeks, and sometimes for half or all of the school year.
Please pay attention to the deadlines for registration in order to avoid your child being left out of an activity. We will continue to cooperate with the JCC for pick-up of our students who are registered in their after-school programs.
In addition, the Temple runs SNFTY Youth Program for children in grades three and up. You will receive information about its activities and membership.
During the year each class will be going on several field trips, combining learn and fun. Although there is a blanket permission slip on file in the office, parents are requested to sign a permission slip for each trip. These will be announced as planned. Students wear their navy blue Jacobson Sinai Academy polo shirt with a uniform bottom on field trips, unless othewise informed. Field Trips are not considered optional, but rather part of the curriculum. Grades 4-8 will also be taking overnight out of town trips. All trips are relevant to curriculum being studied in the classrooms.
Students are not permitted to bring spending money for food or souvenirs. We will not tolerate exceptions to this rule unless the children have received written instructions from the school to bring spending money.
Our school arranges for individual and class pictures to be taken each year, usually some time in the winter. You will receive details about the scheduling of the pictures. While the purchase of these pictures is entirely at your discretion, we require all children to participate in picture taking.
Each year we offer parents the opportunity to have their children screened by a private professional speech and hearing clinic. While this is discretionary, and at the parent's own expense, we do encourage parents to take advantage of this convenient service.