Kulanu Learning (K-6)

Welcome

We look forward to welcoming your child into our kindergarten through 6th-grade Kulanu Learning program, which is on Sunday mornings from 9:15a.m. to noon. Contact Rabbi Schwartz for more information.

• Useful Kulanu Quick Links:
  • 2022-2023 Kulanu Calendar (PDF) or view our online calendar
  • Link to Parent Handbook
  • Link to Volunteer Participation Form
  • Register for Kulanu (you must log in to your Shir Hadash account to register)
  • Tuition and Fees

Our Curriculum

SESAME SHUL (Pre-K)

Geared for our students in the year prior to kindergarten, Sesame Shul meets monthly and introduces Jewish values, holidays, and traditions in a developmentally appropriate way through stories, crafts, and participation in school-wide Kulanu programs.  Students will begin to become comfortable in the sanctuary during tefillah (services) and have meaningful Jewish learning experiences through a variety of different modalities.  Families will have opportunities to learn with their children and bring Judaism home to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom.    

Kindergarten-FIRST Grade

Our curriculum for Kindergarten and 1st Grade focuses on Jewish symbols.   We want our students to have tangible representations of Jewish expression that are linked to profound values.  Some of these objects aim to create, enhance or facilitate a connection with God, while others bring to life our biblical stories, and all can enrich our relationship with Judaism. Whatever the reason, symbols give shape to our Jewish identity. 

With these guiding principles in mind, we will aim to explore each symbol through a different lens.   We will strive to create a space that facilitates opportunities for each student to find their own connection to each symbol, we will encourage them to ask, engage, wonder, and reflect.

second grade

Our curriculum for 2nd Grade focuses on Jewish Heroes.   You will be inspired, you will travel, you will explore, and you will experience!   Every hero must make choices—many difficult, some seemingly impossible. These choices, and a person’s actions that follow, make a hero. Students explore the many Jewish heroes from our sacred texts, stories, and history.   Students decide who are their heroes. What makes a Jewish hero? What makes a superhero? Does a hero have to be perfect?  Students gain an understanding of heroes’ common values. 

THIRD GRADE

The curriculum for 3rd grade is based on Mitzvot. Mitzvah (singular for Mitzvot) literally means “commandment.”  In fact, Jewish tradition understands exactly 613  (“tariag”) mitzvot to be derived from the Bible. The common usage of the word Mitzvah often means “good deed”, however, It is not simply a “good deed,” for example, to refrain from murdering or stealing.  And similarly, the mitzvot which deal with feeding the poor, acting kindly to the stranger, or observing the Shabbat are  links to connect with ourselves, with our society and with the entire world.  Traditionally, Mitzvot are understood as God commandments other way to look at this is thinking about an ethical code that help us as individuals and as communities to find the divine.  Our sages thought about this as a guide for a better expression of our humanity,  “The mitzvot were given only in order to purify human beings" (Genesis Rabbah 44).

FOURTH Grade

The curriculum for 4th grade is Stories from the Bible (Torah).  Children love stories, and each of the stories from our Torah embodies examples of things that children, and adults, deal with on a daily basis: environmental responsibility, social responsibility, jealousy between siblings, forgiveness, good and bad judgment, defying our parents/guardians, and many other topics and values. These stories are an invitation  to a deeper reflection about our own lives and a link to connect ourselves to Jewish tradition through “folklore” and values, and of course our personal connection. That’s the power of a good story!

Through Bible stories we will also learn  about the history of the Jewish people.  We will discover who the first Jew was, our heroes and their beliefs, and even about non Jews who risked their own lives to save Jewish lives.  We will exercise the muscle of the memory. We understand memory as the collective experience, and the individual experience that our people lived. 

FIFTH Grade

The curriculum for 5th grade focuses on Deciphering  Prophets and Writings.  It seeks to introduce 5th graders to a wide variety of stories and characters that many times receive less attention, but that offer a rich and inspiring world of narrative, feelings, values and emotions that children at this age can easily relate to. They will explore the idea of being a prophet, how can we be modern prophets today, and how can we take a part in shaping a world of peace, respect, acceptance , and doing our part in Tikkun Olam. 

SIXTH GRADE

The curriculum for 6th grade focuses on the Talmud.  Diving into Talmudic stories is an invitation for us to actively participate in Jewish dialogue.  They will take a part in shaping their own Jewish identity while discussing matters that might concern the whole community,  their group of peers, or themselves. The Talmud is a fascinating compilation of books. The people we encounter, both in the stories and in the commentary are (were) intelligent, articulate, and dedicated to the remarkable project of the continuity of an ancient tradition. The arguments are stimulating, their language gives pleasure, and the immensity of their achievement provokes awe. The Talmud has a touch of humor and wit too. 

FAMILY EDUCATION

Our programs facilitate Jewish experiences and inspire families from all backgrounds to seek out and create their own points of Jewish connection, both individually and together as a family.   Family education programs empower parents to be Jewish role models for their children by helping them attain the tools, props, skills, and information for Jewish living. Further, it gives a Jewish perspective to activities of everyday life.

Tuition

See tuition and fee details for the Kulanu Learning program.

Attendance

Regular attendance is the foundation of every educational program and is essential in building a spirit of community. It is the policy of Kulanu Learning that all students attend at least 2/3 of the class sessions. Special arrangements for independent study can be made with the educator if there are special circumstances.

Special Needs

My child has special learning needs. Can I enroll him/her? Yes. Please be certain to complete the special needs section of the registration application. We will make every attempt to meet your child’s needs. If we are not able to accommodate your child, we will work with you to find alternative ways to strengthen your child’s Jewish identity. Please contact Rabbi Schwartz for more information.