Rodeph Sholom School

Next stop: high school! 🎓

Last week, we gathered at Congregation Rodeph Sholom to celebrate our incredible 8th graders. Speaking from the bimah, each student shared reflections that highlighted their maturity, deep values, and readiness to take on the future. We are immensely proud of the leaders they have become and cannot wait to watch them thrive in their next chapters.

Mazel tov to the Class of 2026! 💙

Happy Last Day of School! The Early Childhood Division and the Elementary Division had the incredible opportunity to see a performance by the Friends of Israel Scouts Caravan (). Middle Schoolers celebrated the last day of school by having their annual Field Day, playing games together, and eating pizza in the park. Each division finished the day with an end-of-year ceremony and ice cream parties. Happy summer!

As our 8th graders prepare for the world beyond Rodeph Sholom School, this morning they participated in the ’s “Words to Action” workshop.

Rather than just talking about bias, our students dove into real-world scenarios. They were challenged to think critically about how they would react in the moment, coming together in group discussions to analyze their options. Together, they mapped out ways to assess different situations and learned practical strategies for when and how to challenge hate safely and intelligently.

We are so proud to watch these students develop into confident, safety-conscious leaders who know how to stand up for themselves and build a more just world.

For the last two weeks, the 8th graders have been traveling through Portugal on a journey designed as a culmination of their Rodeph Sholom School education.

They met local Jewish community members in Porto, walked the historic Jewish quarters of Trancoso and Lisbon, and immersed themselves in European culture, including a pastel de nata cooking class!

Most importantly, they deepened their sense of shared class identity and reflected on their roles as active, thoughtful members of the global Jewish community. As graduation approaches next week, this trip has challenged them to consider their responsibility as Jews in a global context, showing them that the lessons learned at Rodeph Sholom School serve as a foundation for high school and beyond.

Our Rodeph Sholom School 4th graders completely shined during this year’s Midrash Hour! This beloved tradition brings students together with the Jewish Studies Department and their teachers to reinvent a classic Torah story. This year’s performance of “The Creation” was filled with passion, humor, and immense vocal talent. Beyond the stellar performance, the students taught us the valuable lesson that we are responsible for our planet and must take care of it and each other. Thank you to show director and choreographer Sam Joseph, the 4th Grade Team, and art teacher Kaley Finnigan for helping create a gorgeous set. Appreciation also goes to the Midrash Band, featuring Midrash Hour creator and composer Eliot Bailen and Music Director Jonathan Levine.