Home > Learn > Religious School > Religious School: Pre-K – Grade 7
Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Religious School is committed to inclusion. Please consult with Stephanie Tankel, Director of Lifelong Learning, should your child require any special educational accommodation so we can best meet their needs.
The Religious School curriculum is spiraled in order to scaffold each child’s learning opportunities and build from one year to the next. The topics explored include culture, holidays, sacred text (Torah and beyond!), theology, prayer and spirituality, Jewish life cycle, Israel (through history and today), and so much more.
More than any theme or topic, this is a space where Jewish identity is shaped. We see each child as uniquely made in the image of God and partner with them and their family to ensure a meaningful educational journey.
Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is open!
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Beginning in Gan (Pre-K) and lasting throughout, we help our students build a Jewish identity through socialization and play, blending music, art, drama, and dance into fun and learning. These years focus on developing a love of being Jewish as well as comfort with Judaism. A big emphasis is placed on building community within the class and forging new friendships — we know social and emotional components are the foundation for strong and meaningful learning.
Pre-K students gather once a month on a Sunday morning and K-2 students gather weekly.
When students are empowered to exercise agency, they are more invested in the experience and more likely to forge long-lasting friendships and a stronger connection to Judaism. Happy children make for happy parents — and thus, a thriving school and synagogue community.
3rd through 7th graders gather from 9:30am-12noon.
Students in grades 3 through 7 will experience their mornings in three parts: Hebrew/Judaic Studies, tefillah-prayer, and their chosen electives. Our innovative, elective-based approach allows each student to steer their Jewish journey. Throughout the school year, students are presented with elective options taught by passionate faculty members. Electives last between 4 to 6 weeks and honor the diversity of interests, learning styles, and abilities in our community. In addition to electives, we offer “core” Jewish learning opportunities to ensure the arc of the Jewish year – with holidays, values, and role models – is infused into everyone’s experience.
Religious School’s elective-based model is funded by the Ginny Grunley Education Initiative.
4th through 7th graders have the chance to strengthen and build their Hebrew skills mid-week by building from 4:30-6:00pm. We believe in-person learning is the strongest model for communal prayer, community building, and consistent Hebrew progress. Tuesday afternoons will take place at JBSC; Wednesday afternoons at Temple. Hebrew via Zoom will be available only for advanced students in 6th and 7th grade who complete an assessment to ensure their ability to participate.
