Dear Parents,

I am so pleased to be sending you information about B’Yachad (together), TBE’s 6th and 7th grade learning program. We are working hard to plan an interactive, multidisciplinary, engaging program for all 6th and 7th grade learners at TBE that includes elements of both formal and informal learning. Following the success of our BaDerech program last year and the myriad creative opportunities available through our innovative teen program (Havayah), our B’Yachad curriculum includes more opportunities for creative expression both in the classroom and in the process of becoming B’Mitzvah. An important component of the B’Yachad program is our shul-in, which is an integral part of the curriculum. The informal setting provides opportunities to build community within B'Yachad through experiential learning, which strengthens and develops the bonds between peers and faculty. We will share additional details regarding the shul-in later in the summer.

This letter contains important information about the program structure, B’Mitzvah expectations, registration, and class placement. Please read this letter carefully BEFORE you register your child(ren) for B’Yachad.

Please note: Next year, we plan to continue to meet for learning in person, as described below, but will follow the guidance of federal and state governments, as well as TBE’s Strategic Reopening Committee to make adjustments, if needed.

Registration is ONLINE through our Member Portal; you will need to log-in to register. You will be able to register all your children in grades K-7 on one form. Please note that your account needs to be up to date to be able to register. If you have questions about your account, please contact Stephen Ashkinos at [email protected] or call Stephen at the temple office ext. 241.

Once you have submitted the registration, you will receive a confirmation email. Please save this email for your records. If you do not receive an email confirmation, your submission might not have been complete, please check your spam folder or contact Ali Klein, Administrative and Communications specialist for K-12 programs, at [email protected] for assistance.

Need help? If you have any difficulties completing registration online, please email Ali at [email protected] or call 781-997-4215 and she will be happy to assist you.

As we go back to in-person learning, building the B’Yachad community continues to be one of our top priorities. Therefore, we have made few changes to our program that reflect this goal as we continue to meet the specific needs of each grade.

Ma’asim Tovim volunteer work: We are very proud of our Ma'asim Tovim volunteer program that connects our students with one of our partner organizations for a long-term volunteer commitment. We know our students are eager to put their mark on making the world a better place. We are working tirelessly with our partner organizations to find out if and when they will reopen their doors to in-person volunteers. In addition, we are looking for our students to volunteer by engaging and supporting TBE causes throughout the year. We are committed to creating opportunities for students to volunteer in the coming year, even as we recognize that circumstances may require new approaches to engaging students in volunteering.

Students in grades 6 and 7 are expected to attend once a week for a 2-hour session. Families may choose one of the three options: Sunday, 11:15 am–1:15 pm, Tuesday 3:30–5:30 pm, Wednesday, 4:00–6:00 pm. 

In the first hour, students will participate in Kesher (connection), small groups, peer-to-peer discussions addressing issues relevant to preteens and young teens. These discussions are grounded in Jewish wisdom and facilitated by our dedicated staff. In the second hour, we will offer electives to 6th and 7th grade students together to provide new opportunities for community building and to explore key curricular themes through experiential learning. Students will choose an elective from a variety of options, including visual arts, STEM, performing arts and book club, yoga and more.

6th grade: The Hebrew curriculum is designed to be the first formal step in the B’Mitzvah tutoring process for your child. Students are required to sign up for a 30-minute group session, as well as a 10-minute 1:1 session to be scheduled by the family with the teacher directly. The ultimate goal is for every child to feel proud and confident when leading the Jewish community in prayer at the time they become B’Mitzvah. During these once-a-week small group and 1:1 sessions, students work to achieve key milestones in learning prayer book Hebrew and specific blessings. A small amount of weekly homework will be given to ensure your child is on track to move to the next stage of B’Mitzvah tutoring. Homework is given every week and you will receive an email from the teacher with the prayers to practice each week. The materials students are learning can be found on the TBE website. We cannot stress enough how important it is to find time to practice with your child every week to ensure that your child will be able to move onto one-on-one tutoring in a timely way. 

One-on-one sessions with the tutor are designed to support your child in learning the Torah portion and Haftarah portion for the Shacharit (morning) service, or the Ashrei for the Mincha/Ma’ariv (evening) service. Students must practice Hebrew reading and chanting at home in between sessions to attain the mastery needed to begin 1:1 tutoring.

We will continue to provide adjustments and additional support for students with learning needs. Please complete the concern section on the registration form so we can be best prepared to meet your child’s needs. We want to assure you that all assessments are conducted privately and confidentially.

The date 1:1 tutoring begins is determined in accordance with your child’s B’Mitzvah date. We intentionally pair each student with a tutor we feel fits the child’s learning needs. The tutor will contact you to schedule a regular time* for your child to attend tutoring. Each tutoring session is 30 minutes long.

*Please note: 1:1 tutoring cannot take place during your child’s B’Yachad session.

As part of the B’Mitzvah preparation, parents and students must attend family programs led by our clergy. These sessions connect families with our clergy and facilitate the process of becoming B’Mitzvah. Details and dates will be included in our summer mailing.

We will strive to honor all placement requests, but we cannot guarantee either that we will be able to place your child in the preferred class or session, or that your child will be placed in a class with a specific friend. We consider a range of issues, including, but not limited to, gender balance, learning styles, towns in which students live, and class size. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the best possible learning environment for every student. If requests for a class or session reach maximum capacity, a lottery will be held from all complete registrations received on or before 5:00 pm on Friday, June 24. Registrations received after the deadline will be placed in classes after all on-time registrations have been placed. Thank you for your timely return of materials.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to the registration process and your timely completion of our materials. Working together, we will be able to finalize class placement, notify families to facilitate making plans for the fall in a timely manner. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Click here to begin your registration for 5783!

L’Shalom,

Dr. Judy Avnery

Interim Director 4-7 Learning Programs