Bar\Bat Mitzvah Program

In order to participate in a Bar\Bat Mitzvah, a student is required to attend The Jewish Center’s Religious School from grades Gimmel through Zayin (3 - 7).  During these years, school attendance requirements for promotion must be met. Private tutoring or attendance at another area Religious School in lieu of participation in The Jewish Center Religious School do not meet The Jewish Center's requirement.  Any request for deviation from this policy must be presented in writing to the Religious School Committee, whose decision shall be final. This does not apply to those who are new to the community and who have attended Religious School elsewhere. Such students will be appropriately placed. If a student’s skills are not adequate, private tutoring may be required at the parent’s expense.  Students must be enrolled in The Jewish Center Religious School to have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at The Jewish Center.

1.  Eligibility for Bar/Bat Mitzvah

It is important for everyone to understand that only children who are considered to be Jewish by the Conservative movement’s standards may become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at The Jewish Center.  The Conservative movement defines a Jew as a person born to a Jewish mother or converted to Judaism.  If anyone has any questions or concerns about converting to Judaism please contact Rabbi Feldman or Rabbi Tucker.

2.  Specific Jewish Center Requirements

• Religious School enrollment and attendance from Gimmel through Zayin.
• Attendance at a minimum of 10 Shabbat morning services in the Vav year and 18 Shabbat morning classes and services in the Zayin year.
• Individual tutoring for Bar/Bat Mitzvah scheduled by the Cantor or Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutors.  Placement in the Tropes class will be dependent on the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date and placement will be either in the spring of the Vav year or in the Zayin year.
• Completion of a Hesed Project and D'var Torah.

For a more complete explanation of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process, please consult the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Handbook.  Copies are available on-line,  in the School Office, or from Gila Levin, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Coordinator, who can be reached at 609-921-0100, extension 208.

Discipline

Students are expected to behave in a manner consistent with a good learning environment.  Each class and teacher will create a contract to establish a set of class rules for behavior which will be posted in the classroom.  If a student's behavior interferes with learning in the classroom, the following steps may be taken:

• The teacher will contact the parent by phone, email or by mail
• The Principal will contact the parent by phone, email, or by mail.  A conference with the Principal and/or representative of the School Committee will be held
• The student may be suspended from one or more classes (can be in-school or at home)
• The student may be expelled from the Religious School.  Final decisions   concerning such disciplinary actions are at the discretion of the Principal and School Committee.

 

• IF A CHILD IS SENT TO THE OFFICE THREE TIMES, A PARENT WILL HAVE TO COME AND SIT IN THAT CLASS FOR THE NEXT THREE SESSIONS.  IF A PARENT DOES NOT COME, THE CHILD WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO CLASS.
• IF A STUDENT REQUIRES TUTORING TO MAKE UP WORK DUE TO A DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSION, SUCH TUTORING WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE PRINCIPAL AND WILL BE AT THE PARENT’S EXPENSE.

                                                                                               
Students are not allowed to leave The Jewish Center grounds during school hours. Violation of this rule will result in an automatic suspension.

A student will also automatically incur a suspension if he/she causes physical harm to someone at school or destroys school property, including nursery school toys and work.  Bullying or harassing other students will not be tolerated.  In the event physical damage is done to any school or synagogue property, the parent of the responsible student will be billed for repair of the damage.  This includes equipment inside as well as outside, including the playgrounds and landscaping.

Tutoring

When a student is not on grade level, parents will be advised. There are three options:

1.  The student can be tutored during class time by a volunteer in 15-20 minute sessions depending upon availability and timing.  There is no charge for this service.

2.  Parents can arrange for private tutoring at their own expense.  The school will provide names of approved tutors and will discuss a study program with the selected tutor.

3.  STUDENTS WHO ARE ABSENT 20% OF THE CLASS TIME WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR IN-SCHOOL TUTORING.  PARENTS OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO ARRANGE FOR PRIVATE TUTORING AT THEIR COST.  Fees are paid directly to the tutor.  If a student falls behind and is not tutored, he/she will be required to repeat the Hebrew grade.

Arrival Procedures

Students are expected to arrive on time and remain in class until dismissal.
    
All cars must proceed to the rear parking lot.  Cars must be parked in a lined parking space.  STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT TO LET CHILDREN OUT IS PROHIBITED.  This can cause congestion and traffic backups on Nassau Street.  It is also dangerous for youngsters to walk across the parking lot.  Parents or older siblings are expected to escort young children to their classrooms.

Bicycle racks are located in the courtyard for use by children who bike to school.  Walkers/Bikers must have a signed permission form on file in the school office.

For early arrivals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, there is free supervised care.  Students coming prior to 3:50 p.m. should report to the Youth Lounge in the Sanctuary building. The playgrounds are unsupervised and students may not use them.

Dismissal Procedures

Dismissal is from the Sanctuary building only.  On Sunday, teachers will escort their classes to the Lobby and remain with them until a parent or carpool person arrives. During the week, dismissal is from t'fillah.  Parents should enter the Sanctuary through the Lobby, pick up their children and exit via the Parking Lot Lobby.

FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN, PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PARK THEIR CARS, COME INTO THE SANCTUARY OR LOBBY AND ESCORT THEIR CHILDREN TO THE PARKING LOT.

CHILDREN MAY NOT WAIT OUTSIDE IN THE COURTYARD, PARKING LOT OR ON NASSAU STREET FOR PARENTS OR CARPOOLS.

The courtyard circle is for handicapped only and may not be used for drop-off or pick-up from school.
    
Early Dismissal:  A parent must come into the school office to pick his/her child up and sign him/her out in the sign-out book.  The parent will then receive a "pass" to give to the teacher.  Teachers will not release a child without this pass from the office.  For the protection of the child, if someone other than a parent is picking a child up, the parent must send a note and indicate who that adult is in his/her note.  NO CHILD MAY WAIT IN THE PARKING LOT OR COURTYARD FOR AN EARLY PICK-UP.

Late Pick-up Fee:  Children must be picked up no later than 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and no later than 1:10 p.m. on Sunday.  After the first incidence of late pick up, parents will receive a warning notice and thereafter, billed $25 for each late pick up.  This late pick-up fee was designed and voted upon by the School Committee of The Jewish Center to discourage habitual parental lateness at pick-up time.  It is in fairness to our staff, all of whom have other responsibilities after school.  Many have appointments, young children of their own to be picked up and families waiting at home.  However, we do realize that emergency situations sometimes occur which is why a fee will only be charged after the first incidence.  If you do have an emergency, please phone the school office at 609-921-7207 or The Jewish Center office at 609-921-0100 so that proper care arrangements can be made for your child.

Illness And Medical Emergencies

If a child becomes ill in school, a parent will be phoned and asked to take the child home.  If a parent is not available, the person listed on the emergency contact form will be phoned.  Therefore, it is crucial for parents to list only local people on the emergency contact card (i.e., someone who could be at The Jewish Center within 20 minutes of being phoned) to come to pick up an ill child.  It is the parent’s responsibility to update the emergency card and medical insurance form in the case of job changes, a new phone number or a new emergency contact.  Please notify the school office about any changes.  If we cannot reach a parent or your contact person and it is an emergency situation, we will seek medical treatment for the child.  In a non-emergency situation, a sick student will be kept in the school office until the parent or contact person arrives.

We will not dispense ANY medication, including ointments, creams and lotions to any children.  Please do not send any medication to the school for your child to self-administer.

The following will be done if a child has an open cut that needs attention:

1.  The attending person will wash his/her hands with soap and water.
2.  The child's cut will be washed with soap and water.
3.  If necessary, a band-aid will be put on the cut.

We do not have a nurse or physician on staff.  Some of the staff members have CPR certificates.

Please report any contagious condition, such as chicken pox, strep throat, conjunctivitis or head lice, which occurs among all school populations, to the Principal immediately, so that other parents can be informed of possible exposure. Your child's name will not be mentioned.

Allergies

Because of the limitations already imposed by the necessity of maintaining a Kosher facility, coupled with the possibility of requests for accommodations for children with various food allergies such as milk, fish, chocolate, nuts, peanuts, egg, etc., it is not feasible for The Jewish Center to institute a total ban on a foodstuff to which a child may be allergic.  Even if such a ban were promulgated, we would not be able to monitor the ban completely, and thus, enforcement could not be guaranteed.  There are, for example, products that contain food traces that are not so labeled.  Consequently, alternative safeguards must be arranged.

If your child requires the use of an Epipen because of a food or other allergy, please take note of The Jewish Center's policy:

1. The family must provide one Epipen for the First Aid Kit and one for the child's classroom.    

2. The family must train or arrange for training for Staff or child in the use of the Epipen.

3. The families must periodically ascertain that the Epipens are in place and currently effective.

4. The family is to provide the child's snack each day or for a special occasion.

The Religious School Staff will try, to the best of their ability, to keep the aforementioned child from ingesting or contacting foods or other substances known to contain any components of the allergen.  In the event of an adverse reaction, someone on staff will try to administer the Epipen and summon professional help.

The officers and staff of The Jewish Center disclaim any liability and responsibility for any damages, monetary or otherwise, that could be incurred by the aforementioned child or family if there is an adverse outcome or reaction, as we are not medically equipped to deal with a severe allergy.

The officers and staff of The Jewish Center do not want to exclude your child from our excellent school.  However, we trust that you will appreciate that in view of the extraordinary risks that severe allergies impose, as a religious institution running a school, we must try to protect both your child and The Jewish Center, its staff, those who may volunteer their time and energy as officers, class parents, or event helpers who try to be good Samaritans in case of an accident.  We will do our best, but we cannot assume the liability for less than perfect results.