What's the family school?

You have a sense, a feeling in your gut. Your Jewish child could use a Jewish education. Maybe she's even asked you about it.

But maybe a religious education was a lousy one. Or you never had one. Or you're not sure how you feel about the idea of "religion" in general.

The family school at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation provides an open, welcoming, and enthusiastic environment where Jewish children and their families learn to practice Judaism in meaningful ways and enlivening ways.

Our family school is guided by the following principles:
 

Be engaging

If our students experience our family school as a joyful, and meaningful community, they'll be more likely to be involved in Jewish life. Specific knowledge goals are important, but more important is that we establish a loving and caring place for families to grow into their Jewish identity.
 

Create a Foundation of Jewish Literacy

Jewish spaces should always feel like home to our students. We sent to familiarize our families and students with knowledge of key mitzvot, in order that they be empowered to make choices choices. The family school provides a basic vocabulary of Jewish and Hebrew terms in which to discuss those choices. Torah, Hebrew-language Tefillah (prayer), Middot (values to live by), and  the cycle of the Jewish year are touchstones for lives we encourage our families to live - lives lived in Jewish terms.
 

Establish a safe and open environment

The best Jewish education models the values it teaches. We make space for all students and families to safely explore and reflect on the inner lives, and their relationship with God. We include artistic and creative learning modalities as integral components of our learning methodology. All participants are encouraged to think, to reflect, and always to question.
 

The family is a holistic unit

Our experiences shown that students learn best with their study is supported by families who are engaged with, and excited by, what the children are learning. We are committed to the education of the whole family. Shared meals, interactive programs, and intergenerational learning created close-knit and haimish Jewish community.