The Congregation Or Ami Religious School cares not just about how much the students learn, but how they feel about the experience. As a small congregation, every child is precious and receives individual attention. The goal is not just to teach information, but to impart Jewish values and to encourage each student to forge his or her relationship with God and with the Jewish people. The atmosphere is hands-on, active, creative and enthusiastic. Parents are our partners and participate in many family activities and serve in many volunteer capacities.
Times
Students from Kindergarten through 9th grade meet Sundays from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The Confirmation class (10th grade) meets Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Faculty
The teachers in the Or Ami Religious School are almost all congregants and genuinely care about their students. On this faculty there are professional artists, musicians, actors, and storytellers. The great majority of the faculty members are professionally trained teachers. Most have over five years experience teaching in a Religious School.
Veteran educator David Goldsmith leads this faculty, and Rabbi Romer is always available to lend his wisdom and knowledge.
Torah Tots
Or Ami offers an exciting Torah Tots program for 3 and 4-year-old preschoolers on Sundays from 10:30 until noon approximately twice a month. These young students learn about holidays and Jewish living through crafts, music, cooking, and other media.
Kindergarten and 1st grade
Kindergarten and 1st grade are active years of multimedia exposure to Jewish life, Torah, Hebrew, holidays, and Shabbat. These years lay the foundation for those that follow.
Grades 2 - 7
Due to rapid expansion in the past couple of years, all of the grades have been unlinked and the Chai Curriculum of the Reform Movement has been implemented in grades 2-7, along with the Mitkadem Hebrew curriculum which allows each student to learn at his or her own pace.
Music plays a big role in the school. Younger students have music; older students prepare for Bar or Bat Mitzvah with our Cantorial Soloist Emeritus Elaine Ragone.
Grades 8-10
Our teens enjoy lively and relevant discussions and field trips as they prepare for young Jewish adulthood. The 8th grade concentrates on Comparative Judaism and social action. The 9th grade studies Comparative Religion and current events. The Confirmation class (10th grade) meets with Rabbi Romer to discuss a variety of topics of interest.
Youth Groups
Congregation Or Ami has two active youth groups: OATY (Or Ami Temple Youth for highschoolers) and OMG (Or Ami Middleschool Group). These groups have a lot of fun activities and perform important mitzvot. For more information, contact the Temple office at 804-272-0017.
For more information about the Or Ami Religious School, contact:
