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Inspiring Excel l ence

ABOUT JOSEPH KUSHNER HEBREW ACADEMY

Pirkei Avot describes Torah study in a way that best characterizes our yeshiva: הפך בה והפך בה דכלא בה—turn the Torah over, and over again, for everything is within.

For more than 60 years, our Modern Orthodox, co-educational Yeshiva has inspired children to embrace Torah study and ideals, and strive for personal excellence, in a safe, supportive environ-ment. Our Judaic and General Studies programs are designed to teach students how to learn by challenging them to discover their strengths, expand their understanding of the world, and deepen their connection with the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Graduates of the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School are well prepared to take responsi-bility for themselves and their communities, because we encour-age them to forge strong, healthy identities and to treasure their priceless heritage.

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Inspiring...

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g A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL

In our broader society, education today is associated with eco-nomic prosperity, and its main utility is perceived by many as a way to sustain a competitive edge and gain social status. Jewish education, however, has a different purpose: to inspire children to embrace Torah study and values; to motivate them to challenge themselves intellectually; to stimulate their independent think-ing; and to help them develop critical thinking and social skills in a safe and supportive environment. From Dewey to Rav Kook, wholesome and thoughtful educational philosophy emphasizes the need to teach children how to learn while they discover and explore realms of life that spark their curiosity and help strength-en their characters.

JKHA has deep historical roots. We are committed to academic excellence in our religious and general studies programs, and val-ue our critical mission to partner with parents in the transmission of Torah ideals. We strive to inspire our students to discover their strengths and to develop strong, healthy identities. We value the trust parents place in our school to impart knowledge and mo-tivate our students, your children, to embrace their heritage and history and assume responsibility for the world around them.

Enjoy this overview of the many wonderful facets of our school. You will find more detailed information in our Admissions pack-age, available when you schedule your tour of the school. We look forward to partnering with you to enhance your child’s learning experiences through our challenging and exciting school program.

Rabbi Eliezer E. Rubin JKHA/RKYHS Head of School

a love fo

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Our Pre-K through 12 yeshiva, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (JKHA/RKYHS), is fully accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the gold stan-dard of accreditations (www.njais.org). We are the only Orthodox school in New Jersey accredited and recognized by NJAIS, joining a respected community of elite, private New Jersey schools that meet the standards of this national organization.

Under the guidance of Dr. Rosemary Steinbaum, Dean of Instruction, our faculty is continually engaged in professional growth, including staff development workshops, study groups, Teachers Teaching Teachers In-Service days, and external professional growth programs. In addition, our Mentoring and Teacher Induction program lets new staff members benefit from the experience and expertise of veteran teachers.

Our School Nurse is a licensed RN, providing warm, professional care for ill and injured students, emergency care and infection control.

At the Lower and Middle School levels, the Guidance Department gives students the tools for success and independence. Our students en-joy the engaging interactive workshops and programs while acquiring new skills in decision-making and social development. JKHA also staffs both a Lower School psychologist and a Middle School psychologist.

Students have the option of bringing lunch or purchasing well-balanced and nutritious meals, prepared by J&M Caterers in our mashgiach- supervised school kitchens. Vegetarian options are always provided on days that meat is served.

JKHA has a peanut- and nut-aware policy; we do our utmost to keep the school safe for children with peanut and tree nut allergies, but recog-nize that we cannot guarantee a completely peanut-free or tree nut-free environment. Lunches and snacks sent from home may not contain pea-nut butter, peanuts or tree nuts.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Accreditation

Professional Development

Cafeteria & Kashrut

What the NJAIS Visiting Accreditation Team said about JKHA:

“The faculty, staff, and administration...are talented people who make up a warm, lively, and vibrant community.”

“Students at JKHA/ RKYHS are motivated to live and uphold the values of the School. They exemplify the school’s cultivation of individuals with a secure sense of Jewish identity and love of Israel. Kushner students handle the pressures of a dual curriculum with grace and aplomb.”

“The extracurricular program is well developed, offering a plethora of opportunities for students, especially in the arts and in physical education.”

Health & Guidance

At JKHA, we are passionate about what we do. The high-level education we provide in both General and Judaic Studies empowers our students to be informed and inspired American Jews. Our faculty, well-trained in differentiated instruction, guides our students to become critical think-ers and independent learners. Students are challenged to reach their maximum potential and, both in and out of the classroom, they are fully supported in developing their strengths and overcoming their challeng-es. They are equally encouraged to think about the needs of others and to take action to help.

The nurturing and child-centered environment at JKHA allows us to focus on the needs of each and every student. Formal and informal as-sessments allow teachers to tailor their instruction, setting individual goals for each child and challenging each student intellectually at a pac-ing unique to him or her.

Classes are co-ed through grade five. At grade six and beyond, our Judaics classes are divided by gender, following the Modern Orthodox Jewish educational model.

Shared reading, independent reading, read-alouds, writing exercises, and guided reading groups make up our Balanced Literacy program. Our teachers use McGraw Hill’s Treasures Program, providing a pleth-ora of resources to enhance children’s reading experiences. Throughout the year, we focus on nonfiction texts and essential comprehension skills. High-quality literature, coupled with explicit instruction and ample practice, ensures that students become life-long readers and writers.

We are proud to use the Science and Technology Concepts (STC) Ele-mentary program in our science curricula. Following National Science Education Standards, this inquiry-based program provides a framework for scientific discovery by using a variety of tools. Students apply pri-or scientific understanding to new scenarios to solve real-world prob-lems, carry out experiments, question, make and test predictions, make observations and share their discoveries. With this interactive process, children gain not only a thorough scientific grounding in nature and technology, but crucial critical thinking skills and experience in collab-orating with their peers.

Balanced Literacy

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Science

From the earliest years, we nurture our students’ spiritual growth as they delve into the study of Torah, beginning with their study of the par-shat hashavua and the related mitzvot. Age-appropriate projects develop students’ understanding and inspire them to make personal connections with the content. In second grade, students begin formal textual Torah study. Teachers use Lehavin Ulehaskil, a skill-based Chumash curricu-lum that focuses on the language skills necessary for independent Torah study through which our students develop a strong foundation for future study.

Teachers use a variety of modalities to accommodate different learning styles when crafting their lesson plans. With a warm and nurturing en-vironment, students are taught to apply their developing language skills to an in-depth study of our history as depicted in Tanach.

The Hebrew Language program at JKHA creates an organic Hebrew-speaking environment, inspiring students to think, read, write and speak Hebrew through a natural development. Beginning in Pre-K, students are introduced to basic Hebrew language through songs, stories, simple directions and an introduction to basic Hebrew vocabulary and letter recognition. Our Kindergarten program builds on and advances this knowledge in a Hebrew environment. This year, we introduced a new Hebrew language program in our Kindergarten curriculum: Migda-lor Lagan, which uses a combination of multisensory letter recognition review, visual cues for Hebrew vocabulary and the development of simple sentence structure, providing the students with important pre-reading skills while learning to speak Hebrew.

First-graders advance to the Tal Am curriculum, a whole-language Hebrew immersion program which incorporates numerous modalities, including units about Tefillah, Parsha, Dinim and holidays. The pro-gram develops the students’ Hebrew language skills by reinforcing spe-cific skills in varying subject areas. Language skills are integrated simul-taneously with a deeper understanding of tefillot and Torah.

Ivrit

Limudei Kodesh

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ZionismAs a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school, our goal is for students to identify their Jewish heritage with the land of Israel and feel connected to the people of Israel. From Pre-K through high school, students learn through myriad activities that Israel is our homeland, forging a lifelong bond with the Land and State of Israel. Zionism is integrated into the three major Judaic curriculum areas: Tanach, the holidays, and Hebrew Language. Students learn about Israel’s past and present through daily learning and interaction with Israeli youth ambassadors (shlichim); they also raise tzedakah for Israeli causes. Older students proudly march in the Salute to Israel Parade in New York. By creating a Hebrew-speaking environment and studying our Jewish heritage, we provide students with the background necessary to feel at home in Israel. We are very proud that on average, nearly 90% of our High School graduates spend a year post-high-school studying in Israel.

Chesed is an integral part of how to instill the belief that we must treat everyone with respect and loving-kindness. From Pre-Kindergarten on, students are encouraged to give tzedakah daily. They learn that even a penny a day can make a difference. As the students grow, they are pro-vided with a variety of chesed opportunities including toy drives, cloth-ing drives, collections for veterans, tzedakah projects, and opportunities for bikur cholim. Chesed projects are integral parts of both the Judaic Studies and General Studies programs. Learning to be a kind and caring individual is of the utmost importance to us as a school community and as part of Klal Yisrael.

The JKHA Learning Center is a multi-faceted support program which addresses the individual learning needs of identified children. It creates a warm and secure environment in which students learn effective strate-gies to achieve success in the mainstream classroom. The Learning Center is a partnership between special education teachers, classroom teachers, students and parents. Students are taught to advocate for themselves, and with consistent encouragement and proper tools, they develop the confi-dence and skills to grow into independent, successful learners.

The following pages contain a brief overview of our curricula for grades Pre-K through six. For more details, please see The Guide to JKHA booklet in our Admissions packet, available when you schedule a tour of the school, or online at www.jkha.org/Learn-more-about-JKHA.

The Learning Center

Chesed

Marking Milestones Lower School students cele-brate milestones with special performances. As they advance, they increase their control over the content and presentation. Productions include:

■ The Pre-K Chanukah and End-of Year shows, featuring songs and choreography in an informal setting surround-ed by family and friends

■ The Kindergarten End-of-Year show, combining interactive classroom stations with an onstage performance in our auditorium

■ The first-grade Siddur play, for which first-graders memo-rize lines and put on a play to celebrate receiving their very first Siddurim

■ The second-grade Chumash presentation, for which the students help write their own lines, and receive their own Chumashim at the end

■ The third-grade Chanukah play, performed for the entire school as well as an audience of proud parents and grand-parents

■ The fourth-grade play, written and directed by the students themselves, and featuring an adaptation of the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”

first steps

EARLY CHILDHOOD

The JKHA Early Childhood Program (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten) provides our youngest students with child- centered experiences as they cross the threshold to formal learning.

In Pre-K, classroom focus is on letter recognition, vocabulary, fine and gross motor skill development, number concepts and patterns, and on the natural and social environments. The program also focuses on the emotional, social, and spiritual development of each child. Our curriculum provides for full in-tegration of Judaic and General Studies, with an emphasis on pride in Jewish

identity and familiarity with ritual and tradition. Torah values are incorporat-ed into daily instruction and activities. Students also begin to identify letters of the Hebrew language using a hands-on approach.

The kindergarten program continues to build on foundation skills for early literacy and numeracy by working in both whole-class and small groups. The literacy curriculum emphasizes pre-reading skills, word recognition skills, oral and written vocabulary, and writing skills. Through hands-on experiences in mathematics, students solve simple word problems, recognize number con-cepts to 10, and use the calendar to recognize patterns. Science is a dynamic and interactive program exploring the natural environment, while social stud-

ies introduces values of community at school, home and country. Judaic Stud-

ies immerses the kindergarten student in basic Hebrew literacy and the Jew-ish environment through Bible stories, chagim, and Shabbat observance. The Hebrew program focuses on letter recognition and spoken Hebrew. Students learn the stories in the Bible to reinforce the material taught. Week-ly Shabbat activities and holiday projects partner home and school cele-brations. Our kinder-garten children learn foundational content in a dynamic Jewish environment.

America the Beautiful Along with instilling a love of Israel and sense of connection with our land, we teach a sense of pride and patriotism for America—a country that provides us with the freedom to be practicing Jews. On 9/11, our age-appropriate activities focus on American pride, helping those in need, heroes and the Jewish concept of tikun olam. Throughout the year we also celebrate Election Day, Thanksgiving, President’s Day, Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. Students dress in red, white and blue as they participate in school-wide activities that highlight the significance of American federal holidays.

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PRE-K Chanukah Show

Challah Baking • Alphabet Museum End-of-Year Performance • Pool Party

Trip to the Turtle Back Zoo Birthday Party Visits

KINDERGARTEN Parent Careers • Statue of Liberty Study • Chanukah

Celebration • Purim Presentation • Model Seder • Thanksgiving Corn Festival • Reading Buddies

Kabbalat Shabbat

strong foundations

LOWER SCHOOL GRADES 1-4

Students in first grade continue to estab-lish their literacy skills, with instruction in phonics, comprehension and writing. In math, a Singapore Math-based program develops their un-derstanding of place values, addition and subtraction, with daily application in real-life word problems. In social studies, students explore the concept of family through a multicultural study of families around the world. Our sci-

ence curriculum gives students hands-on exploration and observation, leading them to form hypotheses about ecology, habitats and weather.

Our first-grade Judaics curriculum uses the Tal Am program to introduce Hebrew reading, Tefillah, and parsha study. Students continuously build upon reading skills, attaining basic fluency. Classes study the stories of the Parsha (weekly Torah portion) and the chagim (Jewish holidays), connecting students to fundamental Torah ideals, Jewish ideas and practices.

Second-graders build on earlier foundations in a nurturing, collaborative learning environment. They increase their literacy skills and fluency with a fo-cus on phonics, vocabulary and comprehension skills, and collaborate in small groups on more complex writing pieces. The Math in Focus program builds understanding of numbers, expanding their addition/subtraction skills and introducing multiplication. The children investigate the life-cycle of plants and animals, body systems, and magnets through hands-on scientific experi-mentation. The social studies curriculum centers around map study and infor-mational texts about Native Americans and Early Colonial life.

In Judaic Studies, second-grade students continue to build their Ivrit skills and begin a for-mal introduction to Torah

study. Students learn to navigate the par-sha, recognize root

Further Afield Our students take many interesting field trips throughout the year. During Chol Hamoed Sukkot, Lower School students go on expeditions that connect Judaic Studies and science. At the Essex County Environmental Center’s Seasonal Discovery program, Kindergarten students compared animal tree habitats to the sukkot that B’nei Yisrael built in the desert. Other grade-wide trips include apple-picking and a subsequent discussion on how weather affects farming, and a tour of a mine as an introduction to a study of rocks and minerals.

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FIRST GRADE

Chanukah Extravaganza • Siddur Program • Reading Buddies • Classroom

Quilt • Seasonal Greeting Cards to the IDFAriotCal • Sukkot Trip • Thanksgiving celebra-

tion • Kabbalat Shabbat • Model Seder

SECOND GRADE Chumash Program • Thanksgiving Fair •

Chanukah Party • Sukkot trip • Field Trip to Colonial Museum • Model Seder

words, and tease out meaning through contextual clues. They

encounter the morals exhibited by our forefathers and mothers so that they

may learn from the life stories of our forebears. In addition, Shabbat serves as a starting point for teaching Jewish practice as it relates to the Jewish calendar.

Third graders become increasingly more autonomous learners, while simul-taneously learning to work collaboratively with peers. In language arts, they expand their understanding of fiction and nonfiction by investigating texts appropriate to their level. Through daily writing, they hone their skills in ex-panding and editing their work. Singapore math methodology is used to ex-plore arithmetic operations, new number concepts, fractions; students solve problems using a variety of strategies. In science, children use the scientific process and laboratory sessions to explore animal habitats, states of matter and sound. The social studies curriculum is an in-depth investigation of different types of communities, including the social, economic and geographical fea-tures of rural, urban and suburban communities.

The third-grade Judaic studies curriculum focuses on developing Chumash

and Ivrit skills while equipping students with the tools to become independent learners. As students progress in their study of Chumash, they further their comprehension skills and identify the differences between dialogue and nar-ratives. They begin studying Rashi’s commentaries and learn to read Rashi script. Lessons in Hebrew grammar are stressed and woven into both Chu-mash and Ivrit units. Units dealing with the weekly Parsha emphasize real-life applications of our religious ideals, while each Rosh Chodesh serves as a mod-el for the practical and spiritual events in the Jewish calendar.

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THIRD GRADE Chanukah Extravaganza English & Hebrew Reading Buddies • Sunshine

Math • Page Turners • Immigration Fair • Life Cycle Project • Matter Circus • Sound Factory

Cities in IsraelFOURTH GRADE Joseph Production Math Olympiad • Native American

Research Report • Kosher Sukkah Project • Torah Dollars

Torah: Learn It, Live It, Love It Our living Torah environment involves full participation in Shabbat and the chagim. The children love the special workshops in which they make their own shofars, press olive oil, and roll out matzoh. Every family’s Seder table is graced with age-appropriate haggadot, including those created by students themselves. Desktop publishing class in the computer lab finds students writing and designing their own slideshows and booklets to prepare for the holidays, while learning to navigate both English and Hebrew characters on the keyboard.

Fourth grade at JKHA is a transitional year, in which students are encouraged to become increasingly self-directed in their learning. In literacy, they contin-ue to use a balanced literacy approach to expand vocabulary and concentrate on more sophisticated comprehension strategies such as inferencing. Students delve into informational texts in order to study the content. The Math in Fo-cus program provides the students with extensive real-world problem-solving

opportunities using the skills attained in their study of whole numbers, frac-

tions and decimals. They explore geometric concepts including lines, angles, perimeter and symmetry, and analyze data. In social studies, students explore geographic, political, historical and social concepts related to their study of the State of New Jersey. The science curriculum provides the students with an in-depth study of topics related to Earth Science, including weathering, erosion, minerals, geology, climate, and air and water.

The fourth-grade Judaics curriculum focuses on adding new Ivrit and Chu-

mash skills while furthering the development of the independent learner. He-

brew composition is an important part of the Ivrit curriculum and students begin to study Hebrew poetry. The Chumash curriculum emphasizes high-er-order thinking, asking students to make inferences, predictions, and con-nections between events as they study the text along with the commentaries of Rashi. In addition, they begin the study of Navi (the books of the prophets) focusing specifically on Sefer Yehoshua (The Book of Joshua) as well as an introduction to Nach (the books of the prophets and the books of the writ-ings) as a whole.

Beyond the Blackboard Technology has changed the face of education. Our Early Childhood classrooms feature a SMART Table that lets as many as eight children play and learn together on its intuitive multitouch surface. Older students love manipulating items on the classroom SMART Boards in activities that feel more like play than schoolwork. Our Education Technologist constantly searches for new and intriguing educational apps for our classroom iPads and our mobile iPad cart.With extensive classroom audiovisual capabilities, our teachers can accommodate every learning style with ease.

moving towards maturity

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 5-8

Building on the formative learning years of the Lower School, the JKHA Middle School faculty is dedicated to their roles as both academic instructors and mentors, nurturing students’ commitment to a life of Torah and a love for the land of Israel. In addition to our rigorous departmentalized dual curriculum, we have informal educational programming designed to stimulate students’ emotional and reli-gious growth while fostering their increased independence and responsibility. In every learning scenario, we create opportunities for students to work to-gether collaboratively and to take on leadership roles. Upon graduation, our students are ready to meet the demanding challenges of high school and soar to greater academic heights.

Grade 5 Fifth grade at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy serves as the bridge between the elementary years and middle school. The dynamic and interactive learning environment, integrating technological resources, is de-signed to pique students’ curiosity about the world. Our balanced literacy cur-

riculum includes both fiction and nonfiction texts, as well as creative, persua-sive and expository writing. Fifth-graders solve mathematics problems related to fractions, decimals and percentages, and explore measurement as well as geometric concepts. Social studies includes an in-depth state study integrating their research and technology skills, while in science, students use the scien-tific method to explore human body systems, nutrition and the properties of matter.

The Judaic Studies curriculum enables students to engage in independent study. Fifth-graders delve into the story of the Exodus to understand its cru-cial role in our formation as a nation. They begin to learn Mishna with a study of Pirkei Avot (The Ethics of our Fathers). In Ivrit, Hebrew conversation and writing are emphasized to increase stu-dent independence, including preparation of the weekly Parsha. The students use the skills acquired in fourth grade as they work alone and in chevruta (partner study), empowering themselves as active learners.

Film-making as a Teaching Tool The Names, Not Numbers© project brings together local Holocaust survivors and eighth-grade students to create a high-quality documentary preserving the testimony of these survivors. The challenge of Holocaust education is to invest young people with a personal connection not only to the impact of the Shoah on human beings, but the importance of a secure State of Israel.

The middle school students use the NETA program for Hebrew instruction, which offers curriculum, a wide range of digital and print materials, and on-going professional training for teachers. There are three levels of Ivrit instruc-tion: introductory, intermediate, and honors. Activities for all levels include student-created dialogues to hone both vocabulary and grammar skills, as well as exercises centered around Zionism and Biblical scenes. Introductory and intermediate levels progress from a focus on conversational Hebrew to more complex grammar, written and oral skills, Israeli literature, and dictionary usage. The honors levels challenge students with advanced literary passages and sophisticated grammatical constructions.

“Tanach” refers to the Jewish literary canon: Chumash, Navi and Ketuvim. Each grade has separate classes for Chumash and for Navi. Seventh- and eighth-graders have combined Judaic studies classes separated by gender, which allows the school to offer three levels for study.

The sixth-grade Chumash and Navi curricula study Bamidbar (Numbers) and Shmuel Alef (Samuel I) respectively. The seventh/eighth grade Chumash curriculum alternates between the study of Bamidbar (Numbers) and De-varim (Deuteronomy), while the Navi curriculum alternates yearly between the books of Shmuel Bet (Samuel II) and Melachim Alef (Kings I). In each class, analysis of the structure of the Hebrew text increases linguistic profi-ciency. Students also reflect on the characters’ actions and resulting events, discussing what lessons can be derived and applied to their own lives.

Sixth Grade Students review the concepts of Torah She’be’al Peh and the mesorah or tradition that has been passed from generation to generation. Con-cepts include detailed law as well as core Jewish values. Students focus on daily mitzvot as well as the moadim (Jewish holidays) and life-cycle events, as well as parts of Masechet Berachot relating to prayer. Throughout the year, the students also cover topics in halacha that relate to daily practice.

Seventh and Eighth Grades In these grades, a two-year Talmud program introduces the requisite skills for understanding Talmud. Students are intro-duced to the layout of a daf (page) of the Vilna Shas, the standard for the Talmudic text. They gain introductory Talmudic tools and vocabulary words that enable their development as self-sufficient learners. During the first year in this cycle, students learn the fourth chapter of Masechet Berachot, which discusses Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv. In the second year, students focus on the tenth chapter of Masechet Pesachim, which deals with the laws of various rituals such as Kiddush, Havdalah, and the Passover seder.

GRADES 6-8: JUDAIC STUDIES

Ivrit

Tanach

Talmud

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ent • • • • • • • • • • Field trips • Chesed activities • Enrichment • • •

The Language Arts curriculum for grades six, seven, and eight is a literature-based program designed to encourage reading com-prehension and mastery of the writing process. Students read works of increasing complexity in a variety of genres, and teachers use proj-ect-based learning activities, computer technology, movies, journal projects, and creative writing projects to enhance student engagement. In addition, newspaper and magazine articles are used to improve the reading comprehension skills necessary for success on standardized tests.

Middle School math teachers build on previous concepts to ensure in-depth understanding, and model real-world applications. Students learn to integrate both new and previous skills in problem-solving. Upon graduation from Middle School, students will have developed a strong foundation for algebra as well as competency in using a variety of problem-solving techniques; determining the best strategies for solving word problems; estimating the reasonableness and ef-fectiveness of solutions; and taking standardized exams and other kinds of tests.

The science curriculum at the Middle School introduces students to the scien-tific principles of the world we live in. Sixth-graders focus on Earth Science, while seventh-graders examine all forms of life—from single-celled life to com-plex systems—to determine the relationship of each organism to its ecosystem. Eighth-graders explore the scientific principles underpinning the physical world. The role of science in society is emphasized, as is the importance of critical thinking and experimentation to all branches of knowledge. Engaged by a rich variety of science experiments, both individual and collaborative, students also develop critical social and communication skills.

Our social studies program illuminates the connections between personal identity and the history of humankind. Sixth-graders explore ancient cultures of the Near East, Greece, and Rome, emphasizing the role of the Jewish people during this era. Seventh graders examine American history from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War, learning how historical events both influence and craft the so-cial landscape. In the eighth grade, students investigate Unit-ed States history from post-Civil War era to the period after World War II, including industrialization, WWI, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression and the New Deal, WWII, the Cold War and post-Cold War eras.

Language Arts

Math

GRADES 6-8: GENERAL STUDIES

Science

Social Studies

Imagineering

The Toy Project is a cross-disciplinary project bringing together art, research, physics and industrial design. Eighth-grad-ers interview younger students about what they’d want in a toy, then use the data to design a colorful model vehicle

engineered for velocity and acceler-ation. Their unleash their creativity

in designing and naming the toy and demonstrate their market

research skills in posters detailing the process.

8 Ways in 8 Days

This annual event captures the excitement and fun of

Chanukah as well as instilling Torah values in our students.  Innovative

chesed activities range from giving a local shul a thorough cleaning to

making Tomchei Shabbat packages  for needy families. Time is set aside for family bonding with a chevruta-style Parent & Child Learning Breakfast, featuring a shiur given by the Middle School faculty. And with special events ranging from sports

games to a magic show,  there’s plenty of just plain fun.

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Conveniently located in Livingston, New Jersey on 30 acres, JKHA’s beautiful facility is the perfect setting for our mission of inspiring aca-demic excellence in a Torah-centered environment. Our campus is de-signed to nurture the minds, bodies and spirits of our students in equal measure: Bright, spacious, and child-centered classrooms are equipped with SMART Boards and other technological innovations that our trained teachers use to engage their students in all subjects; our extensive indoor and outdoor recreational facilities let youngsters expend their en-ergy in healthy and constructive games; and our three serene and beau-tiful Batei Midrash encourage a sense of reverence for tefillah and Torah learning. We encourage you to tour our school and experience for your-self its unique educational environment.

Movement Room Suitable for both small groups and whole class activ-ities, our mural-covered movement room is equipped with a variety of play structures that develop students’ fine and gross motor skills while they’re having fun.

Library The JKHA library contains a vast array of children’s books. Through the guidance of our full-time librarian, students learn key li-brary and research skills. The warm, friendly ambiance sets the tone for developing a life-long love of literature.

Computer Labs To teach students the computer skills so crucial in the digital age, JKHA offers two computer labs. In the CIJE Computer Lab, under the guidance of our Educational Technologist, students use a vari-ety of individualized self-monitoring programs including SuccessMak-er, AriotCal and Waterford. Our second computer lab is equipped with 24 computers and a SMART Board, where students are provided with hands-on experience in Microsoft Office software, including Word, PowerPoint and Publisher.

Auditorium Our auditorium, seating around 600, is equipped with a state-of-the-art soundboard, lighting system and full-size screen. This beautiful facility is the setting for school plays, assemblies, lectures and special performances.

OUR FACILITIES

Recreational JKHA/RKYHS has two fully equipped gymnasiums, an indoor floor hockey rink, exercise room, and outdoor sports courts, where students of all levels learn game skills and the value of sportsman-ship and teamwork. Equipment includes basketballs,  footballs, para-chutes, scooters, volleyballs, soccer balls, scoops, pins, rackets and much more. The Lower School playground offers younger children a variety of play structures on a soft surface.

Beit Midrash The Klatt Beit Midrash is one of three Batei Midrash located in our building. In addition to the daily Shacharit minyan for Middle School students, Lower School students use this stunning space, designed by an Israeli artist, for religious assemblies or gatherings, ex-amine sifrei Torah and learn to identify key aspects of a shul or place of worship.

OUR FACULTY

Our teachers are the heart of our school and our most valuable resource. Under the guidance of our administrators, who oversee curriculum de-velopment and programming, our talented faculty are experts in edu-cation who truly love seeing each child reach his or her potential. Our teachers hold degrees from such universities as Columbia, Cornell, NYU and Stern, and the majority hold advanced degrees.

OUR PARENTS

We are proud to partner with parents in offering the best day school ed-ucation possible. Our hard-working Parent-Teacher Council raises funds to make possible many of our special programs, and our PTC members welcome new parents to join their ranks. Many other volunteer oppor-tunities are available, such as serving lunch in the cafeteria, donating special artistic talents, heading up committees, or giving the students glimpses of professions or avocations. The children are always very proud to see their parents giving of their time to benefit the school.

AFFORDABILITY

At JKHA/RKYHS, we believe that a Jewish education is a vital invest-ment in your child’s future; however, we also understand that tuition requirements place a sizable burden upon many of our families. Just as we are dedicated to providing an outstanding education in both secular and Judaic studies to our students, we are equally committed to part-nering with families to achieve an agreeable financial requirement. We offer several payment options, including single-payment, semi-annual payment, and ten-payment plans.

Below are our three initiatives for the 2015-2016 school year:

We are very proud to announce the launch of the Financial Assistance Endowment Campaign, an initiative created to build a robust endow-ment fund that will perpetually provide additional resources to our an-nual Financial Assistance program. Eligibility for Financial Assistance is based on demonstrated need. Families meeting established criteria re-viewed by our Financial Assistance Committee are awarded Financial Assistance for the upcoming academic year.

JKHA/RKYHS offers a Middle Income Subvention Grant program, designed to assist families who do not receive Financial Assistance but who may be eligible for other means of assistance. Under the leadership of Paula and Jerry Gottesman and supported through generous donors to the Greater MetroWest Day School Campaign for Academic Excellence and Affordability, the grant demonstrates our commitment to making the JKHA/RKYHS education more affordable.

JKHA/RKYHS recognizes the importance of growing our school com-munities. To that end, the school is offering offering a significant Bonim community growth incentive program in partnership with the local com-munities for families relocating to the Greater MetroWest community.

For more information, please see the Affordability booklet in our Admissions packet, available when you schedule a tour of the school, or online at www.jkha.org/Learn-more-about-JKHA.

Financial Assistance

Endowment Fund

Middle Income Subvention Grants

Bonim Community Growth Incentive

Program

A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Each day, I have the privilege of witnessing a completely com-mitted and dedicated faculty infusing our students with an in-spiring education. I see children’s faces that are illuminated and engaged by an atmosphere of inquiry-based learning and stimu-lating lessons. The classes are designed to meet each child where he or she is, and enhance their own learning opportunities. Our teachers get to know each child as a cherished individual, and tailor learning, both in and out of the classroom, to enable each student to achieve his or her personal best.

JKHA/RKYHS creates a safe space for each child to develop a strong foundation in our traditions while acquiring the skill sets needed to succeed in the modern world. Whether in a science class or a model Seder, on field trips spanning apple farms to the local zoo, creating and performing their own scripts for a class play or competing in Math Olympiad, the JKHA student is continually learning and constantly discovering.

Love of learning is a hallmark of Judaism, and parents have a right to expect the highest standards of academic excellence for their children. Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and we are con-fident that JKHA will be that school. It would be our privilege to partner with you in shaping the next generation of young Jewish leaders.

Please contact the Admissions Office to schedule a tour of our school and receive our Admissions packet with more detailed information. Of course, we are always available to answer any additional questions you may have about our school.

Sandra Blank JKHA/RKYHS Director of Admissions

& Community Relations

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Our MissionAs a Modern Orthodox co-educational yeshiva, JKHA/RKYHS seeks to inspire students  to live lives of Torah and mitzvot; to embrace secular knowledge and American democratic values; to love and serve the Jewish People;  and to forge a lifelong bond with the Land and State of Israel.

We aim to empower students to achieve personal excellence by teaching them how to learn, and by encouraging them to analyze, to create, and to pursue new intellectual challenges. 

We lead students to recognize that  because we were all created in the image of God, we must treat everyone  with respect and loving-kindness. 

We help students form strong, healthy identities, and we prepare them to take responsibility for themselves and their communities.

© Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy 110 South Orange AvenueLivingston, NJ 07039(862) 437-8000 • www. jkha.org