Mrs.+Courtheoux's+Class

October 2009 Dear Parents, I am writing to welcome you and your family to the Religious School Fifth Grade. It has been a joy for me to meet your children and I can already see that we will have a lively year learning together. Our curriculum centers around learning the importance and rituals of the Jewish Life Cycle. While we use a text, __The Book of the Jewish Life__ by David and Syme, whenever possible our methods are “hands-on,” re-enacting a Brit Milah, a baby naming, pieces of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah and a Jewish wedding. A second focus is the study of the State of Israel. Our texts, __Welcome to Israel__ by Rivlin and Gevirtz, and __The Great Israel Scavenger Hunt__ by Blumenthal provide an overview. It is our Fifth Grade Retreat in March that magically helps to integrate our Israel studies with our hearts. Hopefully, you may notice that your children are trying to be more helpful and kind and may be more interested in Services and service. We keep a journal of mitzvot (commandments) and g’milut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) with a class goal of helping to change the world for the better as well as to enjoy a fun, culminating pizza party! This program has the side benefit of helping us to get to know each other and to become a supportive, warm community in class. I sincerely hope that each of your children will understand the intrinsic beauty and importance of Judaism in their lives and will know that they each matter as an essential member of our Temple Family. Here’s to a fun, enriching year together! Please feel free to call me with any questions or developments. L’Shanah Tovah! Perri Courtheoux