August 7, 2017
Dear Hevreh,
Our Reading Jewish Community High School is now ready for registration and class preference choices.
WHAT IS NEW FOR THIS YEAR?
We kept our “strengths” from previous years, and we have listened to student and parent input in the new Reading JCHS for this New Year 2017-2018 / 5778.
Rabbi Dov will return to direct our program, and Shira Simon will return also as a member of our team.
Our classes this year are divided into semesters rather than year-long courses, which provides for more choice and more variation. We will have three periods of 45 minutes each evening and a 15-minute break and snack. We will continue the suggested timeline of 5:30 to 8:00 PM.
As a matter of principle and concern for achieving the best possible program for our Reading youth, we will continue to review our program and also experiment where appropriate for new formats, courses, learning experiences to offer maximal inclusion of our Reading Jewish youth and families.
ORIENTATION: SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 5:30 PM AT RABBI MICHELSON’S HOME
RSVP PLEASE to Brenda at 610-921-0624 by August 14.
Our first meeting of the year will be Sunday, August 20th at 5:30 PM. This is an evening for 8th through 12th graders, whether enrolled or not in JCHS and their parents.
That evening the Reading JCHS will host an informal dinner BBQ at the home of Rabbi Michelson. Rabbi Lerner and Shira will be on hand to answer questions about the upcoming year and students can fill out registration forms and select classes that evening.
After dinner and beverages, we will introduce our faculty, the courses being offered and the new elements of our Reading JCHS program. We will also describe our year’s plans for our “Better Together” program of inter-generational education and invite those who are interested to apply.
REGISTRATION & CALENDAR
Registration forms will be available on the meeting on Sunday, August 20. Online registration and payment is available via our website: Online Registration Form
JCHS classes will be conducted according to a complete calendar can be found on the JCHS website: JCHS Calendar .
We will have our JCHS website constantly updated with vital information including calendar, materials for family discussions and support for the Jewish community. Text alerts will also be sent out to parents and students for any urgent announcements.
NATIONAL CONNECTIONS
We are continuing to affiliate with The North American Association of Community & Congregational Hebrew High Schools (NAACCHHS), and we are working to create some form of transcript which we believe will be beneficial for college applications. Attendance is very important for this process and there will be minimal outside assignments.
BETTER TOGETHER
In addition to the classes of JCHS we are also very proud to announce that for a third year we will continue “Better Together,” a program of inter-generational activities.
Led by Rabbi Dov, our teens and seniors will continue to discuss issues of decision-making. There are still a few openings for both teens and seniors, and we encourage you to contact Rabbi Dov or Carole Robinson to sign up.
As always if you have any questions please contact the Federation at 610-921-0624 and ask for Amanda.
With best wishes to you and your families for the New Year 5778,
William D. Franklin Rabbi Dov Lerner
President Director of Reading JCHS