Kindergarten is an extra special year at Temple Sinai – so special, in fact, that we engage with Kindergarten B’yachad – together! Our Kindergarten program is a monthly program for Kindergarten students and their families, and gives our youngest TSRS learners a chance to get to know Temple Sinai, Temple Sinai Religious School, and begin building the relationships and learning that will last a lifetime. B’yachad meets monthly. Check out all the details and calendar!
For kindergarten students looking for some more, our B’yachad Plus program is our B’yachad family program plus Kindergarten Sunday school experiences on the weeks we do not have B’yachad.
1st Graders spend their year looking at the stories and symbols of our Jewish community! Whether exploring holidays, Jewish values, Israel, our Temple Sinai family, or more – our 1st grade program integrates engaging activities and meaningful learning to build a memorable year. Through art, music, books, active play, dramatic play, and experiential learning, our 1st graders build a meaningful foundation for lifelong Jewish learning.
In this special year of Sunday school, our first graders also prepare for and celebrate this formal beginning of their Jewish learning with a ceremony of Consecration. Save the date for this beautiful and festive event: Sunday November 9, 2025!
1st Grade meets on Sundays, from 8:30am – 10:30am or 11:00am – 1:00pm.
During 2nd grade at Temple Sinai, we continue to build our student’s foundational knowledge about significant topics – including Shabbat and Holidays, Prayer and our Relationship with God, Engaging in Acts of Justice that Repair our World, and Building a Foundational Relationship with Israel. Our students begin to learn simple Hebrew prayers to accompany their holiday celebrations, and are introduced to Torah study through a regular “10 Minutes for Torah” activity. With the Responsive Classroom framework as our structure, 2nd graders continue to build relationships, gain skills to be an awesome member of our community, and experience a sense of significance, belonging, and fun.
2nd Grade meets on Sundays, from 8:30am – 10:30am or 11:00am – 1:00pm.
During 3rd grade at Temple Sinai, we continue to build our student’s foundational knowledge while expanding their opportunities to begin personal reflection on how to integrate Judaism into their daily experiences, as well as identifying curiosities as they continue to learn. Our students look at their Jewish year through the lens of “Tikkun Middot,” or Jewish Values. Each day, whether looking at holidays, acts of kindness, prayer, stories, or more – our students have a chance to explore a Jewish value, reflect on how that value shows up in their own lives, and consider how they might keep engaging with that value. With the Responsive Classroom framework as our structure, 3rd graders continue to build relationships, gain skills to be an awesome member of our community, and experience a sense of significance, belonging, and fun. Our 3rd grade year also includes a field trip to the Portrait Gallery.
3rd Grade meets on Sundays, from 8:30am – 10:30am or 11:00am – 1:00pm.
Beginning in Grade 4, Temple Sinai Religious School meets twice weekly when school is in session: On Sundays for Judaics learning, and during the week for Hebrew. Our Hebrew program is called Chug Ivrit, or Hebrew club!
Judaics
In 4th grade, we travel through the many events and experiences in Jewish communities around the world. On the homefront (that is DC Metro area Reform Judaism), we study the lifecycle. This includes ceremonies of welcome, Hebrew namings, Bet Mitzvah, Weddings, and even end of life/ funerals. Our students learn about these lifecycle milestones in experiential ways – and you’ll love coming to their very cute model wedding, and benefit from the rich experience of their mock funeral. We also take a world view on Jewish life in 4th grade, exploring the holiday cycle and unique Jewish communities around the world. From Passover in Uganda, and Chanukah in the Caribbean – all the way to Shavuot in India, our 4th graders have a rich opportunity to begin an exploration of world Jewry.
4th Grade Judaics meets on Sundays from 8:30-10:30am OR 11:00-1:00pm
Chug Ivrit
Our Hebrew program, Chug Ivrit, begins in Grade 4 and begins the lifelong process of teaching and using Hebrew as a tool for sacred work – including prayer. During the 4th grade year, students are introduced to the process of decoding – or turning letter and vowel shapes into sounds. This is done using as much ‘real’ Hebrew language as possible so interested students can gain some vocabulary access when desired, however, we do not teach Hebrew language; rather, we teach Hebrew as a tool. As the year continues, 4th graders begin to apply their decoding skills to prayers they have already learned from memory, including Sh’ma and the Shabbat evening Blessings. Paired with weekly t’filah (worship) in Sunday school, students gain strong access to Hebrew prayer during this 4th grade year.
We offer our Hebrew program after school on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons. You can choose one of two ways to participate in our Chug Ivrit Program:
In-Person Small Group Hebrew
On Tuesdays from 4:00-4:50pm, 5:00-5:50pm, and 6:00-6:50pm, or Wednesdays at 4:30pm – 5:20pm, and 5:30pm – 6:20pm, we offer small group (6-8 children) Hebrew at Temple Sinai.
Online 1:1 Hebrew Tutoring
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays we offer 1:1 online Hebrew tutoring for 20 minute sessions. 1:1 learning allows students to move at their own pace through the school year, and creates an opportunity to attend without coming to Temple Sinai mid-week. We offer sessions from 4:00-8:00pm (4-4:20, 4:20-4:40, etc.) on each weekday. At the beginning of the school year, students are given a bag of supplies to make their online learning engaging, significant, and fun!
4th Grade meets on Sundays from 8:30am-10:30am OR 11:00am – 1:00pm AND a Chug Ivrit time (see above for options)
5th Grade is the final year of Sunday school at TSRS, and 5th graders – just like 4th grade – attend twice a week for Judaics and Chug Ivrit.
Judaics
5th grade is the final year of Sunday school at TSRS, and we have lots of exciting information to learn, modalities of learning to engage with, and opportunities to ‘level up’ in the kind of study and content of engagement. 5th graders explore the Jewish calendar – not only to see how the calendar works in comparison to our secular calendar, but also to investigate other minor holidays and observances in Jewish tradition. AS the depth of student awareness for others increases, our torah learning turns to the books of the prophets, and the legacy of social justice they left for us. Our 5th graders expand their experiences with cultural Judaism, looking at science and technology in Israel and folk tales from many avenues of Judaism. It is a diverse year of meaningful learning and relationship building as 5th graders complete their Sunday school journey and prepare for what is next!
5th Grade Judaics meets on Sundays from 8:30am-10:30am OR 11:00am – 1:00pm
Chug Ivrit
Our Hebrew program, Chug Ivrit, continues in Grade 5. Accessing Hebrew as a tool for prayer and sacred learning, student continue to study different prayers in the Shabbat morning service, including the prayers of the Amidah. Additionally, students apply their decoding skills to common Hebrew songs and phrases.
We offer our Hebrew program after school on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons. You can choose one of two ways to participate in our Chug Ivrit Program:
In-Person Small Group Hebrew
On Tuesdays from 4:00-4:50pm, 5:00-5:50pm, and 6:00-6:50pm, or Wednesdays at 4:30pm – 5:20pm, and 5:30pm – 6:20pm, we offer small group (6-8 children) Hebrew at Temple Sinai.
Online 1:1 Hebrew Tutoring
On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays we offer 1:1 online Hebrew tutoring for 20 minute sessions. 1:1 learning allows students to move at their own pace through the school year, and creates an opportunity to attend without coming to Temple Sinai mid-week. We offer sessions from 4:00-8:00pm (4-4:20, 4:20-4:40, etc.) on each weekday. At the beginning of the school year, students are given a bag of supplies to make their online learning engaging, significant, and fun!
5th Grade meets on Sundays from 8:30am-10:30am OR 11:00am – 1:00pm AND a Chug Ivrit time (see above for options)
6th Grade at Temple Sinai Religious School has two components: Judaics and Hebrew.
Judaics
Our Judaics program meets Tuesday evenings, from 6:30-8:00pm. (We have the option for a pizza dinner from 6-6:30 to make your life easier!) During this time, our 6th graders engage in meaningful explorations of the next phase of their Jewish life: Becoming a leader.
Together they will explore becoming a leader in Torah, prayer, and Social Action/ Justice. We will jump in to the process of Biblical Exegesis (understanding the Torah portion), considering what our t’filot mean and what it means to lead them, and work as a team to plan and execute a project that will have an impact on our world. Our year also includes an elective unit in the springtime. In addition to these lessons being a critical part of becoming a Jewish leader, these units of instruction are also strongly connected to our B’nei Mitzvah preparation programs – both introducing concepts and ideas, and integrating requirements into religious school.
Chug Ivrit
As our 6th graders continue their Hebrew learning in Chug Ivrit, our program shifts to make sure every child is maximizing their Hebrew learning time. All 6th graders will work 1:1 with a Hebrew Tutor throughout the 6th grade academic calendar. These weekly 20-minute sessions will be held on Zoom, and will support the 6th grade student as an individual as they work towards mastery in the Hebrew skills that will last them a lifetime – and prepare them for beginning to work with a tutor for b’nei mitzvah preparation. We offer tutoring sessions on Monday – Thursday at a variety of times. Tutoring days and times will be selected near the beginning of the academic year.
Our 6th grade program is exciting, fast-paced, socially engaging, and peer supportive. And, we recognize that some of our students have an immovable conflict on Tuesday evenings. While we know that might feel stressful – please be assured, we are able to offer an alternative 6th grade program on Monday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm online.
6th grade meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm with an optional pizza dinner from 6:00-6:30pm AND one day a week Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday for 1:1 Hebrew in 20 minute increments.
As our students celebrate a significant milestone in their Jewish lives, their learning and experiences at Noar are foundational to their lifelong learning and teen Jewish experiences. With significance, belonging, and fun at the center of our program, 7th grade at Temple Sinai:
7th Grade meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm at Temple Sinai. An alternative 7th grade class is offered on Monday evenings online from 7:30-8:30pm.
Coming Soon!
Registration opens for Temple Sinai Members on May 1, 2025 at 10:00 am. You must be logged into the Member Portal.