Temple Israel School
Temple Israel Religious School can be reached at: tirs@templeisraelottawa.ca
For more information see the School Calendar
Printable version in PDF format
School Brochure in PDF format
Sunday School, JK - Grade 6, - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Monday High School, Grades 7 - 10, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Wednesday Hebrew School, Grades 2 - 6, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Our school is selling Fair Trade coffee, a package for $20. Please see Penny in the school to purchase. If you wish to make a donation of $20, or multiples, for this coffee to donate to Temple, please let us know.
I am positive that there are both young members and veteran members who can make a terrific contribution to our educational programmes. Rabbi Steven H. Garten
Temple Israel Religious School provides Jewish religious education with a Reform perspective. Our Temple school continues to grow, both in the quality of its educational offerings and in the number of students. Pupils are enrolled in classes ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 10. The school is staffed by a professional educator, a fine teaching staff and Hebrew specialists. The operation of the school is overseen by a school committee.
Our school follows the premise that education is a shared endeavour encompassing home, synagogue and religious school. It is our task to provide students and their families with the knowledge and skills necessary for significant Jewish life experiences and identity. This learning process is enhanced by creating a welcoming environment that gives our students the opportunity to be creative and to share the beauty of our Jewish heritage. Students participate and assist in services during the year as well as participate in activities outside the synagogue.
Nursery and Kindergarten
Nursery and Kindergarten offers programs for 4-5 year olds. The Nursery and Kindergarten programs offer children the opportunity to develop Jewish identity and meet other Jewish children. The program includes weekly Hebrew language instruction by our Hebrew specialist; music, taught by a professional music teacher; and study of holidays and basic blessings. The program runs Sunday mornings.
Grades One through Six
The children attend a program on Sunday mornings that includes a study of Torah, Israel, Tefilah (prayer), Holidays, Hebrew and Music. The program seeks to instill a commitment to a Jewish way of learning and a Jewish way of living. Beginning in Grade 2 and by Grade 3 (compulsory), students attend Wednesday afternoons for additional Hebrew studies.
The High School Program covers grades 7 to 10
The grade 7 year generally coincides with Bar/Bat Mitzvah. The students share the experience of this major event as a group, lending support to each other. Grade 7 meets once a week on Monday evenings and engages in the study of history and Jewish Life Cycle Events. In addition these students attend 3 Sunday programs during the school year which provide "hands-on" experiences related to Life Cycle and Tzedakah.
Grade 8 and 9 are a combined class that give our youth the opportunity to study values and ethics, Judaic practice, modern Jewish history, current issues and events, Jewish literature and the arts, and social responsibility.
The Confirmation year (grade 10) represents the pinnacle of learning at our Religious School, leading to the Service of Confirmation on Shavuot and the adding of the silver links to the Chain of Tradition in our Sanctuary. The program involves weekly meeting to study theology and philosophy, discuss important issues of the day for Jewish Value content, and explore ritual and custom relating to Jewish lifecycle. Students are required to participate in a volunteer project of the student's choice.
News from Temple Israel Religious School
As the only synagogue school in Ottawa, we are looking forward to welcoming your children, not only into the academic school programs, but also as participants in the Temple Israel community. Our goal is to make what the children learn in the classroom relevant to their life experience as Jews. With that in mind, our students, from the youngest to the oldest, will be participating in services, will be involved in Temple celebrations, and take part in the Ottawa Jewish community. We are looking forward to the ongoing changes in our synagogue school.
Parents are invited to join the assemblies led by Rabbi Garten that begin each school day prior to the beginning of class instruction. They are welcome to observe classroom activities or become more involved in the school by helping in the classroom. We also welcome Temple members into the classroom to share their areas of expertise. Please contact one of the supervisors to find out how you can help.
TIRS offers classes for those from Consecration (JK/SK) to Confirmation (Grade 10). We welcome the participation of Grade 10 students and older in our Madrichim program. This program offers training for older students to work as teaching assistants in our school. Madrichim volunteer from Oct to Dec during the training period and then receive remuneration for their placements from Jan through May. To register to be a Madrich(a) contact Penny Giaccone.
For the fifth year in a row, Temple Israel Religious School is involved with Partnership 2000. This program links our Temple with Emek Hahula High School in the northern Galilee in Israel. During Sukkot, we will be hosting six Israeli teens and their teacher who will be visiting Temple and participating in our Chagim.
We look forward to a great school year, with many exciting and positive experiences ahead for the entire school and Temple community. Please join us in our journey!
Penny Giaccone and Annette Paquin
Temple Israel Religious School Supervisors
Revived School Committee will help shape development of Temple Israel Religious School (TIRS)
Paul McKeague, School Committee Member
The School Committee is welcoming new members as it prepares for a productive year supporting the development of the Religious School at Temple Israel.
Much of last year’s work involved getting the committee up and running again after a two-year hiatus. The first task was to develop and approve the reconstituted committee’s mandate, which includes:
- Working with the Principal to develop all educational, fiscal and registration policies of the school and prepare an annual operating budget;
- Confirming appointments of school personnel;
- Advising on the school curriculum and policies relating to Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation;
- Serving as a liaison between parents and the school administration;
- Promoting the school and its programs in the synagogue and in the community.
- The reformed committee, chaired by Nathalie Thibault, was able to chalk up some concrete achievements before the summer break. In addition to preparing the school budget, the committee developed a brochure to better enable Temple Israel to promote the religious school in the community; approved a snow-storm class cancellation policy, revised the school registration forms and developed and distributed a parent questionnaire to help the school better meet the needs of students and their families.
- In the coming year, work will include developing consistent policies relating to Bar/Bat Mitzvah, examining what approach should be taken to school attendance and developing a health and safety policy. The committee will also continue to examine trends in demographics and school enrolment to help identify strategies to recruit and retain students and ensure the school remains strong, vital and relevant in the future.
- If these issues are of interest to you, please consider joining the committee. Please contact Nathalie Thibault.
