On Sundays from 9:30 AM-12:00 PM our pre-kindergarten to 8th grade students enrolled in The Gan participate in our youth enrichment classes. The design of The Gan’s curriculum is values-based, identity and relationship-building focused, and preparation for Shabbat service leadership.
Our Sunday faculty team is supported by Reyna Abraham, Davida Sims, Jacob Glickman and the Beth Am clergy.
On Sundays, our Pre-2nd grade students start their day with a welcome in the sanctuary. All of our students participate in hands-on activities to explore and engage with their grade-level Jewish values, holidays, stories, and more. Students join our clergy and song leaders for T’filah prayer and music. They begin their Hebrew learning with Hebrew Through Movement.
Faculty
Jessica Faculty Lead
Devany (she/her)
Not Pictured:
Tananda Hannah Miriam Faculty Lead
3rd and 4th Grade
On Sundays, our 3rd and 4th grade students participate in project-based learning building relationships with their classmates. They will explore their grade-level Jewish values, begin their prayer practice through service participation and chevruta (partner) text study, and learn the alef-bet and Hebrew vowels.
In addition to Sunday classes 4th grade students attend Thursday midweek classes and have the opportunity to go on a weekend-long Shabbaton retreat.
Faculty
Tess (they/she/he)
Aviv (they/them) Hebrew Specialist
Akiva (he/him)
Michael (he/him) Hebrew Specialist
Vida (she/her)
5th & 6th
On Sundays, our 5th and 6th grade students will put their grade level Jewish value of kehilah (community) into action. They will engage in Major Jewish Topics, Hebrew, and T’Filah (prayer). The 5th and 6th-grade curriculum emphasizes resilience and understanding anti-Semitism. They will explore their own definitions of the Divine and develop connections with Jewish spiritual elements and rituals in preparation for service participation and leadership. 5th and 6th grade Hebrew learning will support these goals with an emphasis on liturgical (prayer) Hebrew and Hebrew as a “heritage” language.
In addition to Sunday classes 5th and 6th grade students attend Thursday midweek classes and have the opportunity to go on a weekend-long Shabbaton retreat.
Faculty
Lila (she/they)
Jacob (he/him)
Naomi (she/her) Hebrew Specialist
Isaac (he/him)
Sarah (they/them) Faculty Lead
7th Grade On Sundays, our 7th-grade students will participate in a dynamic and intensive year of learning. They will explore their grade-level Jewish values of courage, curiosity, and identity through the following topics.
Connecting with their Seattle Jewish community
Studying the history of and present-day experiences of anti-semitism
Developing an understanding of genocide – including late 18th-century history leading to WWI, WWII, and the Holocaust
Honing critical thinking skills when it comes to nationalism, Israel, the US, and diaspora
Exploring what Jewish texts and sources teach about holding multiple truths and asking difficult questions
Participating in T’filah (prayer) and Hebrew with blessings for Saturday morning services and modern Hebrew
In addition to Sunday classes 7th grade students attend Wednesday midweek classes and have the opportunity to go on a weekend-long Shabbaton retreat.
Faculty
Davida (she/her) Faculty Lead
8th Grade
The Madrichim Internship Year prepares students to be madrichim and leaders in our community, deepen relationships amongst the 8th-grade cohort and foster their Jewish identities. The students will do this through frequent experiential field trips interspersed with classroom time at Temple Beth Am. 8th graders will also have the opportunity to take an overnight class trip.
In addition to Sunday classes 8th grade students attend Wednesday midweek classes.