Jr. Academy Grades 6-7
Limud (Lifelong Learning)
The Jr. Academy is split into two semesters. One semester, teens will take the core learning curriculum. The other semester, teens will take an elective.
Core Learning
For the 2019-2020 school year, the required core learning for 6th and 7th Graders will be the Facing History Holocaust curriculum. The following year, in 2020-2021, the required core learning will be an Israel curriculum. This cycle will continue to rotate, so that teens experience different required courses as they progress through the program.
Electives
All electives are taught by Temple Israel educators or clergy. Teens will rank their preferences, and we guarantee placement in one of their top three choices. Specific content will be determined by the teacher, but overall elective topics will be:
Hot Topics: may include politics, sexuality, gender, feminism, discrimination, current events
Judaism in Art: may include fine arts, performance arts, literary arts, culture
Leadership: may include Madrichim prep, camp counselor skills, youth group board skills, volunteering
Modern Hebrew: conversational skills
Course Assignments
Teens will choose a day of the week to attend for the entire year. Based on their choice of day and their elective preferences, the Lifelong Learning office will determine which semester will be their core learning, which semester will be their elective, and which elective they will take.
Hebrew
Our Religious School Hebrew program continues into the 6th Grade. 6th Graders will attend a Hebrew class before their Jr. Academy course in order to continue to work on reading, chanting, and understanding the prayers we read during Shabbat T'filah, many of which they will lead on the occasion of their B'nai Mitzvah. 6th Graders will also have a weekly 20 minute Hebrew check-in with their teacher. Timing will depend on your and their schedule, and check-ins will be conducted virtually over Skype.
For many teens, 7th Grade marks the beginning of B'nai Mitzvah meetings with Cantor Altshul. Because of this, Hebrew is not a formalized part of the 7th Grade year. 7th Graders may attend an optional Hebrew class before their Jr. Academy course in order to work on prayers they have yet to master.
Teens will gather in the 5th floor lobby before class for snacks, shmoozing, and community time with teens in other Jr. Academy courses.
See also: Academy Trips, Madrichim (Teaching Aides), and YETI (Youth Groups)
Logistics
Grade 6:
One day a week
Monday or Wednesday
5:00-7:00PM
5:00 Hebrew
5:45 Snack/Shmooze
6:00 Class
Plus weekly 20 minute virtual Hebrew check-in
Grade 7:
One day a week
Monday or Wednesday
6:00-7:00PM
5:00 Optional Hebrew
5:45 Snack/Shmooze
6:00 Class
Plus 7th Grade Day Out (see Trips page for more details)
Thu, April 25 2024 17 Nisan 5784