Our Religious School educational program is based on two main components -- the academic and the social.

For many of our students, Religious School may be the only opportunity to meet and connect with other Jewish peers. Therefore, this past year we created new programs, both formal and informal, to provide them with time together developing new relationships and building a stronger sense of community.

We started the 2009-2010 year with the Fourth- and Fifth-Grade weekend retreat, with 36 students spending 30 hours together at Camp Arroyo in Livermore. The Seventh- Grade Class spent Mother's Day morning at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, taking a tour and participating in an art workshop.

The Sixth- Grade Class had a special "Mitzvah Day" in November, during which they made food for a homeless shelter and helped clean up a local park in San Bruno. Our Zimriyah (Youth Choir) group, led by Cantor Barry and Congregant Kim Kirkwood, participates frequently at Friday night services, and will perform on June 6 as part of "Israel in the Gardens" in San Francisco. Michael Battat and Michael Zeichick will join Cantor Barry in the back-up band.

There are many other ways for our students to connect informally, outside of the classroom. One of our goals as educators, clergy, and parents is to try and create more opportunities for them to connect with the community and develop new friendships.

In order to accomplish this, we rely on your support.

We are in the process of hiring a part-time youth coordinator, a position which has been subsidized by a generous donation. We seek additional funds to help cover expenses and subsidize some of the future youth events. If you are interested in supporting our youth program, please contact me at the School office.

I thank all the parents who have helped us this year coordinating and facilitating youth and informal programming.

Todah Rabbah to Davina Drabkin, Julie Kraus, Robin Karp, Stacie Hershman, Greg Boro, Zoe Scheinman, Kim Kirkwood, Sandra Feder, Esther Gillette, Bonnie Stokes, Stephanie Lichaa, Susan Oser, Elissa and Danny Rozansky and many, many more supportive parents and volunteers.

Have a wonderful and fruitful summer!