Hebrew School

Welcome to the Shir Shalom VT Hebrew School. Our mission is to educate, inspire, and encourage our youth to engage and connect to a meaningful Jewish life.

Our Goals:

• Create a joyful connection to Judaism & the Jewish People
• Foster Jewish pride and identity
• Attain the Hebrew and Judaic skills necessary for synagogue comfort
• Prepare students for their Bat/Bar Mitzvah 
• Develop informed and engaged Jewish adults

Our Curriculum: Shir Shalom follows the research-based Shalom Learning Curriculum, which is a spiraling of Jewish values-based curriculum designed by both Jewish and secular educators. Shalom Learning connects Jewish concepts to everyday ideas, making it easy for students to see their world through a Jewish lens. The curriculum promotes an "explore and engage" classroom dynamic, allowing for diverse learners to access the content in a manner that feels welcoming. Shalom Learning's lessons are designed for both in-person and online platforms, allowing us to seamlessly pivot if needed. 

Our Programs

Shir Chadash (Babies & Toddlers ages 0-3 and their favorite adults)

This infant & toddler playgroup meets before Hebrew School once a month. This informal group is a wonderful place for new parents to nosh, connect, and shmooze in a Jewish environment. The Rabbi, Education Director, or a Parent Volunteer serve as facilitators. 
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Gan/Garden (PreK - K)
In our Gan classroom, students explore Jewish values, holidays, Torah, and Hebrew through their senses. Children engage in interactive, play-based activities infused with music, art, movement, and love.

Jewish Values explored in our Gan Classroom: 

• Hakarat Hatov: Recognizing the good
• Hachnasat Orchim: Welcoming guests
• Bikur Cholim: Visiting the sick
• Todah: Thanks
• Tzedakah: Giving Help to others
• Eretz Yisrael: The land of Israel
• Ba’al Tashchit: Do not be wasteful or destroy
• Ometz Lev: Courage of the heart
• Shalom Bayit: Peace in the home
• Hashavat Aveyda: Finding lost objects
• B'tzelem Elohim: In God's image

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Shorashim / Roots  (grades 1-3)
In our Shorashim classroom, students explore Jewish values, holidays, and Torah through literature and art.

Jewish values explored in our Shorashim classroom: 

• Hakarat Hatov: Recognizing the good
• Hachnasat Orchim: Welcoming guests
• Bikur Cholim: Visiting the sick
• Todah: Thanks
• Tzedakah: Giving Help to others
• Eretz Yisrael: The land of Israel
• Ba’al Tashchit: Do not be wasteful or destroy
• Ometz Lev: Courage of the heart
• Shalom Bayit: Peace in the home
• Hashavat Aveyda: Finding lost objects
• B'tzelem Elohim: In God’s image

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Gesher / Bridge (grades 4-8): 
In our Gesher classroom, students explore Jewish values, holidays, and Torah through the lens of community & peers. 

Jewish values explored in our Gesher classroom: 

• Teshuvah: Taking responsibility for your actions
• B’Tzelem Elohim: Honoring the image of God in ourselves. 
• Gevurah: Using ones inner and outer strength
• Achrayut: Doing what you can to make the world a better place
• Hakarat Hatov: Seeking joy and being grateful
• Koach Hadibbur: Understanding the power of words
• Shalom: Helping to create a calmer, more peaceful world

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Hebrew: It is our goal that every child who attends  Shir Shalom regularly will be able to decode Hebrew to put together words and sounds fluidly. Our Hebrew curriculum is based around the siddur, enabling students to decode and chant prayers and understand their general meaning and origin. It is our hope that our students will have the Hebrew skills necessary to create synagogue comfort, and to empower them as active participants in services and holiday rituals, while experiencing prayer as a way to connect to and cultivate a personal relationship with God and their Jewish community. 

B'nai Mitzvah Program

The B’nai Mitzvah Program has been designed to support children and families as they prepare for a Bat/Bar Mitzvah. Our philosophy is to enable students to successfully navigate the process while responding to their individual needs. This may mean that a child does not complete this process until the age of 14 or 15. We strive to be flexible with our requirements and to make this process one that the student and parents can be proud of and feel a sense of achievement around. Each student is assigned a mentor to help the student develop their D'var Torah and complete their Mitzvah projects and a tutor who will provide individualized Hebrew support.

Click here for Teen Programs