Grade 9 represents a time of great change for our students, as they begin their journey through high school. For most students, this means moving into a new school, which is very often a much bigger pond than the school in which they completed eighth grade. With this expanding community comes new friends, new experiences, and often exposure to more varied viewpoints and a sometimes overwhelming amount of new information from all directions. Chai School becomes a safe place for students to question, explore, and learn how to use centuries of Jewish teaching and tradition to help inform the decisions we make in our everyday lives. Ninth graders are also given the opportunity to spend time with each other socially, be it through sharing a dinner each week, delving into the hot topics of the day under the guidance of our clergy, working together on community service projects on and off campus, and creating memories together through special trips and experiences.
Highlights of our program for 2022-2023 include (but are not limited-to):
Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm, beginning October 12, 2022, include core classes, dinner, and a choice of electives. Director of Congregational Education Lynn Anne Cutler is the ‘homeroom teacher’ for grade 9; electives and special programs will be led by Lynn Anne, our clergy, and other dynamic teachers and guest presenters throughout the year.
Tuesday Topics with Clergy: Chai School students in grades 8-12 are invited to join our clergy on six Tuesday evenings over the course of the year, for dinner and a discussion of significant events, news items and happenings in our community and around the world. Tuesday dates for the 2022/23 school year include: October 18, November 1, January 17, February 7, March 21, April 25.
Service Learning/Community Service projects: In keeping with the Jewish value of tikkun olam – the idea that we are responsible for helping to repair the world – Chai School students will have the opportunity to participate in several service learning projects together over the course of the year. Some projects will occur during Wednesday evening class times, and others will be available on different days of the week and at different times. Volunteer work completed for these programs may be used towards community service or volunteer hours requirements needed for school, scouting, or National Honor Society pursuits, pursuant to the individual guidelines set by each organization.
Travel: We are excited to be able to offer special opportunities for our students to take day trips together beginning in fall of 2022! In addition to off-campus community service projects, ninth grade will be taking an additional day trip together as a class this school year. Details will be provided closer to the beginning of the school year!
Registration for Chai School is open to Temple Har Shalom members in good standing. Tuition for Grade 9 is $595 for the year, and it includes access to any and all of the programs, events and trips open to the ninth grade class.
What are our students saying?
“My closest friends are from Har Shalom, my mentors and teachers of morality and humanity are from Har Shalom. My religious and cultural guides are here. My heart is here. I belong here. And it’s a wonderful thing to know where I belong, and who I am.” – M.C.
