In order to make our school program sound, both educationally and fiscally, our school hours, now at 156 hours/annum, will shift to 140 hours/annum. We will accomplish this change in a number of ways.

First, our school will be meeting on Tuesday afternoons, beginning September 7, from 3:45pm to 6:30pm.

Classes will also be held one Sunday morning per month (generally the first Sunday of the month, with several exceptions due to calendar conflicts.)

Tuesday's program will consist of three pods:

a) Hebrew language, reading, writing, vocabulary, simple conversation and verb conjugation

b) Jewish history/Tanach, Jewish values and

c) Prayer/Prayer skills/Music.

All students in our program, grades 2-7, will have a chance each Tuesday to study with three different teachers, each of whom specialize in their subject area.

Sunday's programs will vary, however many Sunday programs will include a program of intensive Hebrew language review, prayer session, and elective activities, including family programming, field trips, and community events

Our K/1 program will now take place on Shabbat mornings, from 11am-12 noon. This program, under the direction of the capable Myrna Sokoloff, consists of Shabbat prayers, songs, games, arts and crafts, and Parshat HaShavua discussion/study.

Our school retreat, scheduled this year for February 11-13, 2005, will again be held at Camp Ramah in Ojai, CA, and will be a mandatory weekend for all students, grades 3-7.

Our school's Leil Shavuot program, which this year consisted of a remarkable 125+ participants, will continue, and will consist of a community dinner, service and study session.

I would like to strongly urge you to participate on Shabbat morning here at K.M., minimally 1x/month, ideally more frequently.

As you know, the main energy and focus of our synagogue worship schedule takes place on Shabbat morning; what a lovely opportunity to participate as a family in the framework of our holy Sabbath.