Painting

At the end of a year of learning and growing together, kindergarten and first grade children used a collaborative and creative process to reflect on their year, celebrate their growth, and design three stained glass panels to commemorate the year’s three themes. First, children looked through photographs and chatted with peers about highlights of their year. It became clear that children’s greatest excitement was for their theme projects, so those became the focus of their collaborative year-end project: stained glass panels. To design their panels, children first worked with a partner to draft a theme symbol. Then the group reviewed the drafts and built consensus around a final version of the symbols, using skills they’d grown this year for listening and collaborating. Finally, children created their stained glass panels, sharing ideas on how to use the paint, taking turns, laughing, and enjoying working together.Children were so proud  to share their beautiful stained glass with their families! Now, whenever they see the stained glass in our windows, children remember the joy and community they felt in their collaborative year-end project, and in their year together.

Havdalah (Separation) is a Jewish ritual for marking the end of Shabbat. Second and third grade children read a midrash (rabbinic story) about how Adam HaRishon (the first human) learned to make fire as darkness crept across the earth for the first time.

Children explored Adam’s fear and sadness at the end of his first Shabbat, and how Havdalah helped him feel better. It led this young child to see how separating time through rituals like Havdalah provides a safe space for humans to hold a mixture of emotions– allowing us to feel both happy AND sad at the end of Shabbat. The child’s insight led one parent to realize, “Havdalah cannot take away feelings, yet it can make you fully feel them.”

Children and families learned that Jewish ritual can be a way to help them fully feel and process the big emotions that come their way.

When we began our Teshuvah theme, this child said that the word was new to him.

A year later, we asked him to reflect on how teshuvah appears in his life. Astonishingly, he articulated that teshuvah can rebalance power in his relationship with his younger brother. Through our Teshuvah theme, the child came to recognize that power can be used in damaging and nourishing ways, and that teshuvah can rebalance the scales.

What a powerful understanding for an 8 year old!

In the winter of our second year, we created a symbol of personal yearning and communal responsibility. Inspired by two traditional Jewish morning prayers, our Mah Tovu tent knits together the personal intentions of children, parents, and grandparents.

Today, we gather under our beautiful tent at the end of every session, adults and children together. It graces our singing space, a visible reminder of our commitment to each other.