|
|
March 14, 2003/Adar2 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 29
Beth El to start Northeast school
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Beth El Congregation will be opening a satellite religious school in the Northeast Valley in the fall of 2003.
The decision was made in response to the release of the 2002 Greater Phoenix Jewish Community Study that shows the greatest percentage of Jewish households - 41 percent - residing in the Northeast Valley, according to David Brook, executive director of Beth El.
"We have members who have moved to the Northeast Valley over the last few years that are still members of Beth El," explained Brook. "We have former members who have moved to the Northeast Valley who are no longer members and are unaffiliated and looking for a program like this, so we are addressing this need."
Classes will be offered for children in kindergarten through sixth grade - on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for third through sixth grade, and Sunday morning for kindergarten through second grade. Some classes will be taught by current Beth El religious school teachers, others by new staff.
Last November, the religious school at Beth El was named a "Framework for Excellence School" by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Additionally, the school has been selected to participate in Project Etgar - a two-year b'nai mitzvah course for sixth-graders - according to Cantor Marc Philippe. Project Etgar is a joint project of Jewish Theological Seminary and the Melton Institute, and Beth El is the only religious school in Arizona to have been selected. Philippe said the program will be offered at both the Phoenix location and the new Northeast Valley location.
"I feel really fortunate and really honored to be able to do it," he said.
The site selection committee is working to secure a location in the Northeast Valley, and plans are to be operational after Labor Day.
Additionally, in an effort to increase the affiliation rate in the Valley, Beth El has offered a free one-year membership for all who apply through May 31. The program was underwritten by an anonymous donor, a member of Beth El. Since Jan. 2, more than 70 families have inquired about the offer, and more than 50 have taken advantage of the free membership, according to Brook.
"We're really happy with the success of that program and we're going to continue it at least until the end of our fiscal year," he said. For more information about Beth El's religious school, call Cantor Marc Philippe at 602-944-3359.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
|
