Religious School With Honors was created to acknowledge the important part
our students play in the Temple Emanu-El community above and beyond the time
that they are with us for our regular weekly program.
To qualify for Religious School With Honors at Congregation Emanu-El, students in Pre-K through Sixth Grade must fill out the Application Form and submit it to the Religious School office for approval. Students need to earn five points to achieve Honors status; forms may be submitted as soon as this is achieved. Points are earned by attending temple events outside of Religious School hours or by participating in certain programs.
Students can achieve three levels of Religious School With Honors throughout the year.
Each level has its own requirements and rewards associated with it. (See below for details.)
All Honors students will be recognized at Shabbat worship on May 17, 2019.
By Harrison Starr, Fifth Grade
(A true story by a former Sixth Grade student)
Level I: Honor RollWe know that living in New York City provides many opportunities to do just about anything you want at any given moment. And, we appreciate that so many of our students and families choose to join Temple Emanu-El for events outside of Religious School hours. This is our way of recognizing your ongoing commitment to our community. See below for a partial list of qualifying events.
Once Level I has been achieved and the application form approved, students will earn the following:
• Name added to Honor Roll on display
in the 66th Street lobby
• Religious School With Honors tattoo
• Certificate suitable for framing
• Name added to Honor Roll
• Recognition at our final
Shabbat Kodesh Worship Service of the year
Level II: Student Leader
Pirkei Avot, a book of 2,000-year old Jewish wisdom not found in the Bible, teaches us that the world is built on Torah, Avodah and G’milut Chasadim. At Emanu-El, we add Leadership as the fourth pillar necessary for a community. Therefore, in order to achieve Religious School with Honors Level II, students must participate in events that fall into one of each of these categories. See below for a partial list of qualifying events by category.
Once Level II has been achieved and the application form approved, students will become a Student Leader and earn the following:
• Name moved to Level II Honor Roll
• Religious School With Honors magnet
• Another Religious School With Honors tattoo
• Name moved to Level II Honor Roll
• $50 certificate for the next
Congregation Emanu-El trip to Israel*
Level III: Role Model
Students who have proven themselves to be leaders by achieving Level II are invited to keep on going and earn Role Model status by participating in five more Temple events outside of school hours. The final step is to demonstrate to the Religious School community your understanding of the connection between Torah, Avodah and G’milut Chasadim, including how your participation in temple programs helped you reach this understanding. Demonstrations can take the form of a presentation to your class, an article for the school newspaper, a video for our website or something else entirely! Completion of this presentation will make you a Role Model for other students in our school.
Once Level III has been achieved and the application form approved, students will become a Role Model and earn the following:
• Name moved to Level III Honor Roll
• Religious School With Honors special gift
• Yet another Religious School With Honors tattoo
• An additional $100 certificate for the next Congregation Emanu-El trip to Israel*
• An invitation to a special end-of-year breakfast
NOTE: The first person to achieve Level III status for the day he or she attends Religious School (Sunday or Monday) will get to be School Assistant Principal for a day. The second person per day to reach Level III will get to be Assistant A-TEEMer for a day.
* Each student can earn a maximum of $150 in certificates per Emanu-El trip to Israel.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL WITH HONORS APPLICATION FORMS
Application forms for each level can be completed online by clicking the links below or downloading and filling out a PDF version.
• Level I: Honor Roll | PDF Version
• Level II: Student Leader | PDF Version
• Level III: Role Model | PDF Version
Completed paper forms must be returned to the Religious School Office.
QUALIFYING EVENTS FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL WITH HONORS
The following is a partial list of events that qualify for Religious School With Honors Level I.
It is not a complete list. If you participated in an event at the temple outside of Religious School hours (i.e., Sabbath services, a Tikkun Olam volunteer opportunity) that you think qualifies, then please ask.
SEPTEMBER 2018
| • Sunday, 9 | Shir Chadash Eve of Rosh Hashanah Worship Service |
| • Monday, 10 | Rosh Hashanah Family Worship Service, followed by Reception & Tashlich |
| • Thursday, 18 | Shir Chadash Kol Nidrei Worship Service |
| • Wednesday, 19 | Yom Kppur Family Worship Service, followed by Activities in the Museum |
| • Sunday, 23 | Family Sukkot Celebration: Shake in the Shack |
OCTOBER
| • Monday, 1 |
Simchat Torah Family Service & Consecration (Sunday students only); Family Dinner & Celebration |
| • Friday, 12 | Family Dinner & Shabbat Kodesh Family Worship Service |
NOVEMBER
| • Friday, 16 | Shabbat Kodesh Family Worship Service & Family Dinner |
| • Friday, 30 | Shabbat Worship Service including installation of Rabbi Andrue Kahn |
DECEMBER
| • Sunday, 2 | Women's Auxiliary Family Ice-Skating Party |
| • Monday, 3 |
Chanukah Family Service (Sunday students only); Family Dinner & Celebration |
| • Sunday, 9 | Mitzvah Day (Monday students only) |
JANUARY 2019
| • Sunday, 13 |
5th-6th Grade Family Bar/Bat Mitzvah Mini |
FEBRUARY
| • Friday, 1 | Shabbat Kodesh Family Worship Service & Family Dinner |
| • Saturday, 2 | PreK-2nd Grade Havdalah Pajama Party |
| • Sunday, 3 |
Tribal Cup Competition & Lunch |
MARCH
| • Friday, 1 |
Family Dinner & Shabbat Kodesh Family Worship Service Emanu-El After Dark Sleepover |
| • Sunday, 10 |
Congregational Purim Shpiel (Monday students only) & Purim Carnival |
APRIL
| • Friday, 12 | Shabbat Kodesh Family Worship Service |
MAY
| • Friday, 17 | Shabbat Kodesh Family Worship Service & Family Dinner |
IN ADDITION, participation in any of the following programs earns one point each:
| • Student Council | • Annual Student Newspaper |
| • Shofar Blowing Workshop | • Rosh Hodesh |
| • Youth Group | • Moadon |
| • Temple-sponsored Tikkun Olam events throughout the year |
• Hebrew Enrichment Skype Tutoring |
| • Family Trip to Israel |
The following is a partial list of events that qualify for Religious School With Honors Levels II and III. It is not a complete list. If you participated in an event at the temple outside of Religious School hours that you think qualifies, then please ask.
| TORAH • Family Shabbat Dinner • Simchat Torah Family Dinner • Chanukah Family Dinner • Purim Carnival • Fith/Sixth Grade Bar/Bat Mitzvah Retreat • Hebrew Enrichment Program • Moadon |
AVODAH • Rosh Hashanah Family Worship Service • Yom Kippur Family Worship Service • Shir Chadash Worship Service • Sukkot Worship Service • Shabbat Kodesh Service • Shabbat Worship Service • Shofar Corps • Sunset Service |
| G’MILUT CHASADIM • Sunday Lunch Program Volunteer • Second Seder Volunteer • Thanksgiving Dinner Volunteer • Participate in Mitzvah Day (on a day you don’t attend) • Donate to a Temple food, clothing or toy drive • Early Room Mini-Mitzvah Project |
LEADERSHIP • Student Council • Write article for the student newspaper • Shabbat Kodesh Greeter • Usher or Greeter for Fifth Avenue Sanctuary Service • Help at the welcome table at a special program • Lead Tefilah/Music • Lead classroom activity • Invite/bring a Temple friend to an event • Take photos at an event • Present to classmates on why you participated in Religious School with Honors |
QUESTIONS? Contact the Religious School Office.
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