Marion & Henry Bloch Religious School

Instilling a Love of Judaism in Every Child

Shalom!

The Marion and Henry Bloch Religious School is committed to teaching our children a sense of loyalty and devotion to Judaism and the Jewish people. We seek to develop a positive Jewish identity for our children by teaching our students how to live a Jewish life.

The entry into our school begins with our pre-school program, Torah Tots, which meets monthly. It is a hands-on program which includes stories, singing, crafts and learning about the Jewish holidays. Parents are directly involved in this wonderful Jewish experience.

Our formal school begins in kindergarten and continues through the 10th grade. Our 9^th and 10^th grade Confirmation is the culmination of our education program. Students meet with Rabbi Londy and Tom Barnett to discuss how Judaism helps us to understand current events. A beautiful Confirmation service takes place at the end of the 10^th grade.

Our Hebrew Program, Hebrew in Harmony, is a four-year curriculum that uses the power of music to engage students with prayer and prepares students to fully participate in services, wherever they pray.

Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a sacred milestone in the evolution of a child’s Jewish identity. It is an opportunity for both the parents and the child to deepen their Jewish connection. All aspects of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience are guided by Rabbi Londy.

Our principal, Shelley Hedrick, is an experienced Jewish educator, who has a unique ability to create a welcoming and loving environment for our students and families.

The Marion and Henry Bloch Religious School provides our students with a sense of belonging and community, along with a positive place where their voices matter. Our incredible faculty is passionate about Judaism and inspiring their students. We look forward to creating a rich partnership between our school and our parents.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Shelley Hedrick, Principal, at sehedrick@gmail.com.

Religious School Program Details

Registration + Calendar

Please make sure your student registration forms are in. If you need another form, you can contact the Temple office, at 816-523-7809 or download it below. All students, in Torah Tots through Confirmation, need to have their forms filled out prior to class beginning.
2023-24 Registration Form »
2023-24 Religious School Calendar »
2023-24 Hebrew Program Calendar »
2023-24 Parent Handbook »
Schedule
Curriculum Goals
We place great emphasis on experiential learning. Our course of study is grounded in the national curriculum of the Reform Movement entitled the Chai Curriculum. We construct our curriculum utilizing three fundamental Jewish values: Torah, Avodah, and G’milut Chasadim.
The Torah strand emphasizes our students’ engagement with the sacred writings of Judaism, especially the Hebrew Bible. The Avodah strand focuses on how Jews live their Judaism through participation in synagogue worship, Jewish holidays, Shabbat, and life cycle events. The G’milut Chasadim strand encourages our students to develop a commitment to caring for all people who are in need. Our goal is to nurture the spirit and souls of our students. We believe that our Jewish core must be rooted in compassion.
Our Reform Jewish commitment to the State of Israel and Jews around the world is woven into our entire school culture.
Two other important components of our program are our individualized Hebrew program available to all students which guided by Brendan Howard and weekly school-wide worship led by Rabbi Londy and Brendan Howard.
For a child to become a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah at the congregation, they must have four years of religious education and participated in our Hebrew program. Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring is conducted on an individual basic with a tutor selected by Rabbi Londy.
- Current Events through a Jewish Lens, Learn more »
Hebrew Program

In September,2020, upon Board approval, we implemented an optional Hebrew program for grades 3-6. We believed that Hebrew literacy was an essential part of a serious Jewish education. This program has been highly successful and well received by both parents and students.
Our Hebrew Coordinator is Brendan Howard. He manages the program and is the teacher of our students. Brendan brings a wealth of knowledge in teaching Hebrew, prayers, music and loves our NRT students and parents!
Learning Hebrew prepares students to fully participate in Jewish life by connecting them to prayers and being able to take part in Jewish life wherever they pray. We utilize the Hebrew In Harmony curriculum. This is a four-year curriculum, beginning in 3^rd grade, that uses the power of music to engage students with prayer. The first year focuses on learning the Hebrew letters, vowels, along with the pronunciation of two and three letter syllables. In years two, three and four, the focus is learning different prayers, chosen from individual modules. These dynamic multi-media lessons are built around singing, drama, art and more.
This Hebrew program lays the foundation for our students who seek to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, at The New Reform Temple.
Hebrew In Harmony is a totally individualized program and executed by one-to-one tutorials each week, held on Zoom. Schedules are determined by Brendan and parent(s).
I am proud that we have created this program. I personally monitor it and would love to answer any questions that you have. If you would like to chat about the program, call me at the temple at 816 523 7809.
Cordially,
Rabbi Alan Londy
Torah Tots

Our awesome Torah Tots program is for children 2 years old through Pre-k, along with a family member(s).

Lynn Poskin, our 2023-2024 Torah Tots teacher, brings a wealth of knowledge for children of all ages.

Our class is creative and fun-filled! We will explore what it means to be Jewish through music and art, as we learn about traditions, holidays and Jewish literature.

Torah Tots meets on Sunday morning and includes 8 sessions:
September 10
October 22
November 12
December 10
Our January-April dates will be added in October.
Class time–9:30-11:00am.
Bagels and schmoozing–9:00-9:30am.

We can’t wait to see you!

There is no fee for Torah Tots but registration is required. 2023-24 Registration Form »