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Our goals are to help our students:

• Develop a strong Jewish identity;  
• Apply Jewish ethics to daily life; &
• Acquire the information and skills needed to become knowledgeable members of the Jewish community.

To reach these goals, we have created a learning environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, compassion, and an appreciation for the ideas and opinions of others.  The curriculum consists of the following areas, which are taught in varying degrees in each grade:  Holidays, Customs, and Ceremonies; Theology and Prayer; Ethics and Values; Hebrew and Torah; and Israel and Jewish History

Our objectives are based on the goals of the Reform Movement and enable students to:

• Celebrate Shabbat, holidays and festivals; recite prayers, learn rituals, symbols and meaning of each holiday
• Make choices based on Jewish ethics and values
• Identify the central themes and ethical messages within the Torah and integrate them into their lives
• Explore their relationship to God and the role of prayer
• Participate in Shabbat, High Holy Day and festival services; learn the order of the Shabbat service
• Read Hebrew and value it as the language that binds the Jewish people together through generations
• Pray with comprehension, by understanding the general meaning of each prayer
• Develop a relationship to Israel and learn about its history, geography, and modern life
• Draw connections between Jewish thought and traditions and their own lives           

For more, call or email Jill Stepak, Director of Religious Education at 202-363-1942 (school) or 202-363-6394 (x229). 

Also see our Registration Packet, FAQs & Interfaith below.

5/27/08 Update: We have in the past followed the Montgomery County Public School System in deciding whether to close the Religious School due to weather. However, we have concluded that we needed a policy that would be better tailored for our school and community, and that would result in fewer closings that were ultimately not justified by actual or threatened weather conditions. We trust that families will use their best judgment when making travel decisions on days when weather is an issue.  School-closing decisions will, therefore, now be based upon the following policy.

Inclement Weather Policy: The decision to close school is given serious consideration with the students' safety as the primary concern. For both Sunday and weekday classes, school closing will always be at the discretion of the Temple Sinai Religious School Director and Executive Director. In making those decisions for weekday classes, we will automatically follow the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) if they dismiss early, or close for the day because of inclement weather. However, there may be cases where the DCPS remain open, and we will still decide to close the religious school because of the weather. Therefore, even if the DCPS remain open during inclement weather, you should still check to verify that the religious school will also be open by calling the religious school office at 202-363-1942 or checking WTOP. A decision will be made no later than 7:00 am on Sundays and 1:30 pm on Wednesdays. Note: We do not close for MCPS or DCPS teacher in-service days. Also check the Temple Sinai homepage. (Click here for TSNS closing info.)

When space is available, students may transfer from another congregational school in Grades 4-6.  For registration forms, see below or visit the office.

For 2009-2010 registration, all families must complete a new registration form in order to register for Relilgious School.  If your child has any allergies or health concerns, we ask you to please complete the Health Information and Allergy Information form.  All families will be required to complete payment of any outstanding Religious School tuition or Temple fees before registering for next year.  All registration forms are available through the Religious School office and will become available online May 1, 2009:

♥ PDF | DOC — 2009-2010 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM 
♥ PDF | DOC — Religious School Tuition & Fees
♥ PDF | DOC — Religious School General Information Sheet
♥ PDF | DOC — Health Information Form (& Allergy Action Plan)

♥ PDF | DOC — 2009-2010 UPPER SCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM (Grades 7-10)
♥ PDF | DOC — Upper School FAQs (Grades 7-10)
♥ PDF — Upper School Program Information (Grades 8-9)

Temple Sinai welcomes interfaith families who have made the decision to raise Jewish children. We follow the URJ guideline that offers enrollment only to children who are not receiving formal religious education in any other religion. Our staff is sensitive to the challenges that families face and will work with you to meet your family's needs. If any questions or concerns, please contact the Religious School Director for an appointment. | Also see our Interfaith Marriage Policy, visit our Lifecycle page, or search "interfaith" (top right.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (& ANSWERS) ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

When can my child start Religious School?

Temple Sinai Religious School begins with Kindergarten and continues through Confirmation class, 10th grade. Children are eligible for Kindergarten the same year they enter Kindergarten in secular school. (We do not have a pre-K program, although the Nursery School provides early childhood care.) We strongly encourage children to begin in either Kindergarten or first grade. We require that all children be enrolled by third grade since that is when we begin to teach Hebrew formally. We are unable to enroll students new to religious education after third grade, but can accept students transferring from other schools when space is available.

When does Religious School meet?

There are two sessions on Sundays at 8:30-10:45 AM and 11:00 AM-1:15 PM. Families are given a choice of sessions, and most requests can be honored. Kindergarten through third grade meet only on Sundays. Beginning in fourth grade, students also meet on Wednesday afternoons from 4:15-6:15 PM. The Confirmation class, 10th grade, meets during the second session on Sunday mornings and the Upper School, grades 7, 8, and 9, meet on Sunday evenings, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. For more details, visit our Classes page.

Does my family have to join the Temple in order to send my children to Religious School?

Temple Sinai members have priority for enrollment in Religious School. When space is available, a family may enroll a child in the school for one year as a non-member. After the first year we require membership for all Religious School families. We encourage your active participation in the congregation because we believe that children do best in school when their families are involved.

Does Temple membership ensure my child a place in the Religious School?

Please contact the Religious School directly to determine whether there is currently room available in the school before joining the Temple. Registration begins in April. In June, based on enrollment, we decide whether or not to add a class in the primary program, K-3. Once classes are filled, usually by July, new Temple Sinai members do have priority over non-members and can be put on a waiting list, but are not guaranteed a space in the school once classes are filled.

Will my children be in the same class as their friends?

We do the best that we can to place children with their friends. The registration packet (available above or through the Religious School Office at 202-363-1942) has a place to note your child’s friends. Make sure that you contact your child’s friends and tell them to write your child’s name on their registration form.

Tuition: When is the registration fee due?

For the 2008-2009 school year, member tuitions vary according to class, ranging from $400 for Grades 11-12 to $855 for Grades 4–6. Non-member tuition is $1700. Tuition covers all books, art, and classroom supplies. Temple Sinai will bill you for your Religious School dues. To complete your registration, 60% of the tuition must be paid by August 1. The remainder is due by December 31. In addition, Religious School tuition balances (from previous years) must be paid in full at the time of registration for the next academic year.

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"Let all who work with the congregation do so for the sake of heaven; the merit of their ancestors will sustain them..." PIRKEI AVOT 2:2
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