The Educational Program |
What makes a Bornblum Solomon Schechter School education special is an integrated curriculum that meets the highest standards for both General Studies and Judaic Studies. From grade one through grade eight, Schechter students benefit from a program that combines the best of innovative and traditional teaching methods. Teachers work together across subject lines to relate one area of knowledge to another and thus students develop "big picture" thinking. In all subjects, a climate of free inquiry encourages students to investigate new ideas in a safe and supportive setting. Students are challenged to use critical thinking and reasoning as they expand their view of the world. Hebrew is a living language and all school activity is conducted within a framework of living Jewish values. Bornblum Solomon Schechter School is dedicated to providing the best possible education for each child. Small classes and an experienced, dedicated teaching staff provide an academically challenging, yet secure and nurturing environment that enables each child to reach his or her full potential. The Support Program provides need-based academic assistance and enrichment. Teachers and administrators meet regularly to write and evaluate curriculum and to discuss the progress of each individual student to determine the best use of the school's many resources. Students have many opportunities for enrichment, leadership, and success through the Student Council, Kavod (respect ) Council, school newspaper, yearbook, community service, intramural sports, and morning services. Bornblum Solomon Schechter School is a community school in the true sense of the word. Students recycle cans and plastic bags, collect food for MIFA, plant trees in Israel, visit friends at the Memphis Jewish Home, raise money for St. Jude Hospital, and are involved in many other service projects. Schechter students are the future leaders of the Memphis community. Parents and families are an important part of the Bornblum Solomon Schechter School community. Families actively participate in the PTA, join in school celebrations and community projects, and volunteer in many ways to make the school a unique and wonderful place. THE LOWER GRADES At every level, an experiential approach to learning is combined with creative and integrated instruction. Skills acquired at one grade are broadened and fine-tuned in the next. In language arts program, children are prepared for challenging reading programs in each grade through the use of phonics, writing, and language development. Students explore quality children's literature with an emphasis on personal expression and creative writing. The mathematics curriculum concentrates on both accurate computation and a math sense that develops from hands-on exploration of numbers, processes, weights and measures. Skill acquisition is sequential, allowing for application to real-life situations. The science program encourages the development of scientific thinking as teachers use the scientific method to guide students through experiments and explore the natural world. From growing beans in the first grade to active involvement in conservation in the fifth grade, the hands-on approach to science fosters authentic enthusiasm and understanding. Social studies is presented in a progression of carefully designed units: neighborhood, community, local, state and federal governments, and other cultures. Emphasis is on the role and responsibility of the student as an American and as a Jew. Children participate in a variety of projects and fields trips that stress social commitment and awareness. Judaic education is an essential part of the school curriculum. Religious ideas and ideals are explored in an environment of free inquiry. Students study modern conversational Hebrew as a living language, one that is heard and spoken daily. They read Genesis and Exodus in the original Hebrew along with modern and traditional Biblical commentary. They lead daily and Shabbat services in an egalitarian environment that enables students to feel comfortable in any synagogue. Through the study of Torah, mitzvot (good deeds), and customs, students become knowledgeable about the traditions of their people and develop a love of the land and the people of Israel. Prayer, social action, and the celebration of holidays create a living experience of the joys and responsibilities of Jewish life. Instruction in art, music, library, computer and physical education complete the educational program. Students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for the fine arts and discover new ways to express themselves through art and music. Students become familiar with an array of learning and research tools in the library. In our state-of-the-art computer lab, students master a variety of skills such as keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets, and use of the Internet. The physical education program is both fun and instructive, challenging each child to progress according to his or her ability. Skills taught help prepare students to participate in competitive sports programs and foster leadership and good sportsmanship. THE UPPER GRADES The upper grades' program is structured to meet the unique needs of early adolescence. The goal of BSSS is to provide a comfortable, but challenging, environment in which this age group can stretch their minds, capitalize on their abilities and discover new possibilities within themselves. A rigorous core curriculum emphasizes traditional disciplines while giving students the latitude to explore topics of special interest. The approach to learning is experiential and integrates material across subject lines to enable students to put pieces together, forming a more "complete picture" and better understanding. The General Studies curriculum in the upper grades consists of English, literature, math, science, and social studies. Nine classes a week are dedicated to language arts with a strong triple focus on literature, grammar, and composition. Math courses stress building on acquired skills to prepare students for algebra in grade eight. In the state-of-the-art science lab, students integrate hands-on experimentation with the principles of scientific reasoning. Students gain greater insight into the society and world around them through the study of history and culture in social studies. The Judaic Studies curriculum includes Hebrew, Bible, rabbinic literature, prayer, Judaic social studies, mitzvot, and holiday observance. Hebrew is an essential tool for actively engaging students with classical and modern texts. Students become comfortable with Jewish ritual and deepen their personal connection to Israel. Through integration of the Judaic and secular studies, tzedakah, Tikun Olam outreach projects, and character education programs, they increasingly experience themselves as members of both the Jewish and larger community. This growing sense of Jewish self culminates in an eighth grade class trip to Israel. The core curriculum is enriched with classes in computer, art, music, and physical education. Exploratories and student-teacher advisory further personalize the upper grades' experience. Young adolescents think in increasingly complex and abstract ways while at the same time they learn to face new real-life issues and experiences. Students in the upper grades at BSSS concentrate on actually practicing literacy, critical thinking, cooperative group work, creative problem solving, scientific inquiry, and cultural awareness. Learning is a life-long endeavor, and the primary goal of the upper grades program is to launch students in that on-going, ever-deepening process. |