1. What is the Chadeish Yameinu Community
School
and what programs do you offer? The Chadeish Yameinu Community School was founded
in 2003 as an alternative Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation program,
serving 10-13 year olds. While the primary focus of the
school is Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation, we also provide
the Kitah Aleph/Bet Group for 9 & 10 year olds.
3. What are my obligations as a parent?
B’nai Mitzvah: One parent per family (at least) is
required to attend monthly parent meetings. These meetings
have been wonderful in the past. They include some study,
discussion of personal and practical concerns relating to
upcoming bar/bat mitzvah (what to do about including non-Jewish
relatives in the service, how to deal with households with
one Jewish parent and one non-Jewish parent, keeping it
spiritual and not materialistic, etc.).
We also require each family to provide a minimum of six
hours of volunteer help to the school in the course of the
school year. We expect those parents who are not able to
do this to "pay for their time" at the end of
the school year at the rate of $20 per hour. We value your
time, and even more, value your demonstration to your child
that this process is of importance to your family. Please
let us know how you would like to volunteer your time:
PR for the CYCS +Organize a Shabbat meal either at an
off-site location or in your home.
+Host a family learn at your home.
+Help build a succah.
+Organize, assist or chaperone a special event.
+Other:_____________________________________
Ellen Abrams will contact you prior to
the beginning of school to follow up on your selection.
For more information about parent hours contact Sarah
Young at @ 423-8044.
Kitah Aleph/Bet: Parent(s) are invited
to attend monthly parent meetings. These meetings have been
wonderful in the past. They include some study, discussion
of personal and practical concerns relating to upcoming
bar/bat mitzvah (what to do about including non-Jewish relatives
in the service, how to deal with households with one Jewish
parent and one non-Jewish parent, keeping it spiritual and
not materialistic, etc.).
We also require each family to provide a minimum of six
hours of volunteer help to the school in the course of the
school year. We expect those parents who are not able to
do this to "pay for their time" at the end of
the school year at the rate of $20 per hour. We value your
time, and even more, value your demonstration to your child
that this process is of importance to your family.
Ellen Abrams will contact you prior to
the beginning of school to follow up on your selection.
For more information about parent hours contact Sarah
Young at @ 423-8044
4. What are my child’s obligations? B’nai Mitzvah
Preparation for Class: We expect regular attendance
by our students and for each student to come to class
prepared with their books, kippa and a willingness to
focus on class material.
Attending Services: Each child in the school who is
preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is required to attend
thirteen services over the course of the school year,
before the B. Mitzvah celebration. At least seven of these
must be Shabbat morning services. Certain holiday services
may qualify, but must be pre-approved.
Attendance at Shabbat services, especially morning services
and other B. Mitzvahs, is essential for the student to
become familiar with the structure and content, to become
more comfortable with the process, and to learn about
being an active member of a Jewish community. It also
offers opportunities in some cases to practice leadership.
Your child will be involved in creating his or her own
B. Mitzvah service along with Rabbi Eli, and will be drawing
from all they have learned in study and observation.
The student is required to keep a log of this attendance,
with dates and type of service. The log will be reviewed
periodically. Three months prior to the B. Mitzvah, if
the attendance requirement is not being met, the service
and celebration will be postponed until the requirement
can be met. (Note that the change of date will entail
studying a different Torah portion).
Mitzvah Project: In the year leading up to Bar/Bat
Mitzvah, all B’nai Mitzvah students are also required
to put in a minimum of 13 hours toward a Mitzvah Project
in service to the community. All projects need to be approved
with Rabbi Eli first. Talk to him if you have questions
about the Mitzvah Project. It is the responsibility of
each student to track his/her own hours.
Kitah Aleph/Bet
We expect regular attendance by our students and for each
student to come to class prepared with their books, kippa
and a willingness to focus on class material.
7. Who's in charge? Our teachers/leaders make day-to-day teaching decisions.
The School Committee makes other decisions. The current
members of the School Committee are: Debra Sloss,
Ellen Abrams, Sarah Young,
Carl Pechman and Miranda Allen
Brower. Their contact information is here or at
the bottom of this
information sheet (pdf). Please see the policy information
about who to talk to for further details.
8. Who do we talk to if we have a concern or problem? Our intent is that everyone involved in the school
is able to communicate on issues of importance to the school
in a reliable and effective manner. To achieve this goal,
we have established the following procedures:
• Comments about classroom issues should initially
be brought to the teacher involved. The teacher, in turn,
can decide if the issue requires the attention of the committee.
• If it seems inappropriate to discuss a classroom
issue with a teacher, the committee may be contacted to
discuss the issue.
• More difficult questions should be directed to a
member of the school committee as soon as possible
• Educational policy issues will be addressed by the
committee.
• Registration and logistical questions should be
directed to Sarah Young for the 2008-2009 school year. Ellen
Abrams is the treasurer and volunteer coordinator.
• If any decisions are to be made involving more than
one student, those decisions will be made by the committee.
The current members of the committee are listed
below: Reb Eli Cohen: 429-6936; rebeli@sbcglobal.net
Debra Sloss (Contact Person for the KA Class): 426-4800;
dscloss@pacbell.net
Ellen Abrams (Treasurer): 423-8570; autybe@hotmail.com
Sarah Young (General Contact Person): 423-8044; sarahyo@cruzio.com
Miranda Allen Brower: 460-9118; Miranda@cruzio.com
September: 11 (Ice Cream
Social following class), 25, October: 2, 16 = Sukkot Family Learn,
23 November: 6, 20 December: 4, 11, 18 = Chanukah Family
Learn/Party January: 8, 22, February: 5, 19, March: 5, 12 = Purim Family Learn &
Skate Party, 19 April: 2, 23, May: 7, 21=Shavuot Family Learn @ the
Beach
PARENTS MEETINGS: 7-8:30 PM All on the 1st Thursday of the Month (except September
& January)
All parent meetings occur on the same nights as the
Kitah Aleph Classes
to facilitate participation.
September: 11 – Parent Welcome
followed by Ice Cream Social October: 2 November: 6 December: 4 January: 8 February: 5 March: 5 April: 2 May 7
Class Location:
First Congregational Church, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz,
CA 95060
In the Education Building – park in the upper parking
lot. In the rare instance when the parking lot is full,
you might have to park at Westlake Elementary School next
door and walk over.
Thursday B’nai Mitzvah Class
(full year)
--$500 before August 15, 2008 or -- $540 on August 31,
2008 Thursday B’nai Mitzvah Class (one semester
only)
-- $350*
Thursday Kitah Aleph/Bet Class (full
year)
--$400 before August 15, 2008 or --$440 on August 31,
2008 Thursday Kitah Aleph/Bet Class ( one semester
only)
--$285* *This option is for students entering the Kitah Aleph/Bet
or B’nai Mitzvah class late in the year.
For all classes teachers shall meet with
each student and assess whether the student will need
private tutoring prior to entering the class.
All fees must be paid by August 31st. Additional
donations to the school are also welcome. If paying all
at once presents a hardship for your family, call Sarah
Young @ 423-8044 or Ellen Abrams @ 423-8570 to make special
arrangements.
Please remember
to submit: Admissions application/Emergency Contact
Form & School Tuition Check
Please make checks payable to Chadeish Yameinu
and note in the subject line which class the check is
for.
School Registration and Tuition
should be mailed directly to: (Please do not drop forms off at the school)
Sarah Young
941 Delaware St.
Santa Cruz, Ca.,95060
(831-423-8044)
IMPORTANT:
Please note that to take part in our school, you are also
expected to join the Chadeish Yameinu community. CY membership
fees for families for 2008-2009 are on a sliding scale
from $750.00-$2000.00. No one will be
turned away for lack of funds. If you have particular
concerns, please contact the membership chair, Karen “Shira”
Belford at 426-9271.
Chadeish Yameinu membership is paid separately
from school fees.
Please make checks payable to Chadeish Yameinu and note
in the subject field that it is for membership dues.
Membership Dues should be mailed directly to:
Karen “Shira” Belford
Chadeish Yameinu
PO Box 3578
Santa Cruz, CA 95063-3588
