Curriculum - Machon Noar

Program Mission:

The mission of Machon Noar is to enhance and expand the middle or high school student’s Jewish educational experience and to assist in developing his or her Jewish identity. As a student reaches the
sacred time of bar or bat mitzvah, he/she begins to develop new needs as well as a more mature learning style. The Machon Noar Program is designed for flexibility to explore his/her own Jewish interests and beliefs.

7th Grade

GOALS:

• Sparking positive Jewish identity
• Creating Jewish friendships
• Explore the history of the Jewish from the book of Genesis
• Learn about different mitzvot that can be performed in or out of the classroom
• Learn basic Jewish values from trained high school junior and senior Gesher Leaders (peer leaders)

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bagels each Sunday morning
• Weekly time with Gesher Peer Leaders
• Class Trip to Tennessee
• Team building field trip

SUBJECTS COVERED:

• Core curriculum entitled “Promises” 
• Mitzvot: Students have the opportunity to perform many of mitzvot as a class and learn ways they can perform them outside of the classroom
• Gesher (Peer Leader): Students meet regularly with Gesher Leaders (a selected group of high school juniors and seniors) to discuss peer pressure and how to find support mechanisms.
• Choose Your Own Track: Seventh graders choose from one of the following: Sports & Teamwork, Fine Arts, Science and Technology, or Social Action.

8th Grade

GOALS:

• Sparking positive Jewish identity
• Creating Jewish friendships
• Focus on the history of the Jewish people from the book of Exodus to the Israelites entering the Land
• Serve as assistant madrichim (teaching assistant)
• Learn the basic skills of Jewish teaching
• Learn basic Jewish values from trained high school junior and senior Gesher Leaders (peer leaders)

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bagels each Sunday morning
• Assisting in younger student classrooms
• Weekly time with Gesher Peer Leaders
• Class Trip to Florida/New Orleans (alternating years)
• Team building field trip

SUBJECTS COVERED:

• Core curriculum entitled “Journeys”
• Madrichim: Assist in the classrooms and work with students and attend regular workshops with our education staff to help build their skills in the classroom.
• Gesher (PeerLeader):Students meet regularly with Gesher Leaders (a selected group of high school juniors and seniors) to discuss peer pressure and how to find support mechanisms.

  9th Grade

9th Grade

GOALS:

• Sparking positive Jewish identity
• Creating Jewish friendships
• To develop our teens' leadership growth through the study of Jewish texts and Jewish leaders throughout history
• Serve as assistant tzadikim (classroom advocates and kef coaches for Hebrew)
• Learn the basic skills of working with students who learn differently
• Learn basic Jewish values from trained high school junior and senior Gesher Leaders (peer leaders)

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bagels each Sunday morning
• Assisting as classroom advocates and Hebrew assistants for elementary students
• Weekly time with Gesher Peer Leaders
• Class Trip to Florida/New Orleans (alternating years)
• Team-building program
• Learn about confronting missionaries with Temple Rabbis

SUBJECTS COVERED:

• Core curriculum entitled “Identity”
• Tzadikim: Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one as a shadow to a student who learns differently, work as a classroom advocate for students with differences, or to work in the learning lab with multiple students. Additionally, student further their skills as a Jewish teacher through a curriculum that includes empathy challenges, text study and other training for working with all students.
• Gesher (PeerLeader): Students meet regularly with Gesher Leaders (a selected group of high school juniors and seniors) to discuss peer pressure and how to find support mechanisms.

Confirmation (10th Grade)

GOALS:

• Sparking positive Jewish identity
• Creating Jewish friendships
• Expand the confirmand’s understanding of God and explore his/her theology
• Explore the purpose of a Jewish community and understand what community can demand of an individual
• Discuss and debate the importance of a stated belief in God in being part of the Reform Jewish Community Work together to prepare a service for the entire congregation

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bagels each Sunday morning
• Shul-in (overnight) at The Temple
• Class Trip to New York City
• Staffing the snack shuk
• Confirmation Weekend in May

SUBJECTS COVERED:

• Community: Explore the worldwide Jewish community and connections to Am Yisrael, in order to better understand who we are
• God: Engage in a unit of study dealing with doubting God and being Jewish
• Reform Judaism: Critically examine what it means to be a part of the Reform Movement