Temple Beth Emet Day School was founded on the belief that children flourish intellectually in a caring and supportive environment. Through an holistic approach, which focuses on all aspects of growth – social, physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual – children, Grades K – 5th, discover and maximize their potential.

Class size is kept small and instruction is individualized in order to respond to each child’s interests and needs. Our integrated curriculum nurtures the students’ critical thinking, creative expression, and self esteem. General and Judaic studies are developed hand in hand, enabling children to build strong academic skills and an understanding of Jewish values and traditions.

The Mission of Temple Beth Emet Day School is built upon three Pillars:
Din for Righteousness and Dignity; Shalom for Peace and Spirituality; and Emet for endeavoring towards Excellence and Truth.

We are committed to developing a partnership between family, school, and community. We are dedicated to nurturing and stimulating our students to think critically, behave responsibly, and become life-long learners with a firm foundation in secular and Jewish learning.

Our Beliefs and Vision

Quality is our mission. Wholeness is our philosophy.
At Beth Emet Day School our Education Builds Mind, Body and Soul.

We are an educational institute that:
· Is personal and committed to the individual student.
· Is committed to creating an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
· Is committed to educational excellence.
· Is committed to the Jewish family, its growth, development and enhancement.
· Develops spirituality, not only “rituality.”
· Encourages acts of Tzedakah for the general community as well as the Jewish community.
· Instills American, Israeli, and Jewish pride.
· Stresses Ahavat Yisrael, the love of the land of Israel and the Jewish people.
· Is open and committed to Jewish diversity and intellectual freedom.
· Is committed to provide a dedicated faculty and staff to facilitate an exciting atmosphere where children will have the unique opportunity to think, feel, explore, and create.

General Studies

Temple Beth Emet Day School provides a supportive and trusting environment which enables each student to gain confidence, grow and take risks. Our learning environment stimulates and challenges children to develop and enhance the academic skills, leadership skills, and character values, necessary to succeed beyond our school and in life.

By integrating the development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills the Language Arts program ensures that all students have the opportunities and resources to develop the language skills they need to pursue their academic professional and personal goals. The program also seeks to develop in students a love of language, reading, and writing that will be a source of pleasure for them throughout their lifetimes.

At Temple Beth Emet we accomplish many of our goals using a Balanced Literacy approach. This method allows us to integrate all the areas of Language arts on a daily basis. Using a balanced literacy approach gives us the opportunity to be flexible to meet the individual needs in each student’s learning profile.

In accordance with our philosophy of teaching to the individual child, Accelerated Reader has been incorporated into our Language Arts curriculum. This program enables students to learn and progress at their own personal pace. Through Accelerated Reader, students have the opportunity to select texts at their level, and then proceed to go online for quizzes on various components of the text such as comprehension, literacy, and vocabulary. An online database maintains each student’s records and keeps track his/her progress. In addition, we have a reading reinforcement program that provides students with a small group instructional setting, where they work on mastery of fluency and reading comprehension skills.

Texts used in Language Arts include the following:
Rigby Literacy (K-2), Harcourt Brace Trophies Reading (3-5), Houghton Mifflin (Grammar), Elements of Reading (Vocabulary), Zaner Bloser Spelling Connections, and Zaner Bloser Manuscript and Cursive Handwriting.

Mathematics permeates all facets of life and is an integral part of our everyday learning. At the younger levels, the investigation and construction of mathematical ideas are facilitated by each child’s interaction with manipulative materials on a daily basis. This enables students to discover for themselves mathematical concepts, and how to apply them in daily life. Students explore concepts, then practice and apply skills, reinforcing concepts through problem solving as well.

Our math curriculum is comprehensive at all grade levels, and designed to help build conceptual understanding, skill proficiency, problem solving facility, and logical reasoning. It provides thorough coverage of state and national standards, and allows teachers the flexibility to customize the program.

Texts used in the Mathematics program include Harcourt Math, as well as supplemental material.

Science is a systematic investigation of the ever-changing world around us. The study of science enables students to develop skills and learn methods of scientific inquiry including observation, prediction, measurement, estimation, experimentation, classification, formulating hypotheses, interpreting data, drawing conclusions, developing models, and communication, to derive specific concepts or ideas. These concepts become the basis for further exploration of our scientific world. Students actively construct ideas through their own inquiries, investigations, and analyses, and gain an understanding of scientific topics through hands-on experiments. At each grade level there are physical science, life science, and earth science units that are often connected to other subject areas.

Texts used in the science program include Harcourt Brace Science and Full Options Science System (FOSS Kits).

Social Studies education helps students acquire the historical perspective to appreciate their roots and understand modern society. It fosters respect for the dignity and worth of all people, loyalty to democratic ideals, and the skills necessary to accept the right and responsibilities of citizens. Through the Social Studies curriculum, students learn to integrate significant facts, concepts, and generalizations from history into their own experiences. Derech Eretz, making the world a better place for all to live, is a central theme in all social studies teaching at Temple Beth Emet, and as students increase their knowledge of world history, they develop an awareness and appreciation of ethnic and cultural differences, and become capable of connecting personal experiences to people of other cultures.

Texts used in the social studies program include Harcourt Horizons, as well as supplemental material to add depth of understanding.

Hebrew & Judaic Studies
In Jewish Studies, we not only focus on providing knowledge, understanding, and skills, but also, on the students’ commitment, values, and behavior. Jewish life will be taught and experienced in school through holiday observances, Israel education, Jewish life cycle events and customs, Torah studies, and prayers.
For Hebrew Language Arts, we have adopted the TalAM curriculum, which is based on the principles of communicative-heritage language acquisition, the development of Jewish concepts and values, and reading and writing skills. Starting at the second grade, students will have the opportunity to try out for a Hebrew Spelling Bee team and participate in the tri-county Hebrew Spelling Bee.

Chess
Chess is introduced into the curriculum by CCS – Cornwall Chess Services – South Florida’s leading organization for scholastic chess training. Playing chess facilitates the development of mental skills by sharpening analytical thinking, increasing concentration and expanding the imagination. The students will learn to develop a competitive spirit, practice patience, and experience mistake making and problem solving. Starting at the kindergarten level, students will have the opportunity to participate in chess tournaments.

Physical Education/Sports/Swimming
Our physical education program focuses on a variety of progressive and developmentally appropriate learning experiences, through which students will develop motor skills, movement concepts, and health related fitness, providing a foundation of physical activity that will pave the way to a healthy lifestyle.
Our sports program is led by Playball, an educationally based program with positive coaching methods that actively incorporates the development of life skills alongside sport skills and team sports. In addition, students enjoy a semester of instructional swimming, utilizing teaching techniques that ensure they have fun while learning water safety and swimming skills. For our intermediate and advanced students we also focus on water safety, while improving their swimming skills and endurance.

Art Appreciation
Art studies encourage self-expression through projects that strengthen conceptual and emotional development. Through theoretical and practical application, students are introduced to the great masters, while focusing on techniques, elements, and principles of design. This hands-on introduction to art history, aesthetics, appreciation, and production, in addition to aesthetic conversations about art and artists, enables students to value their own original ideas, and recognize there are many avenues for artistic expression.

Rhythm, Dance & Song
The rhythm and dance program consists of a blend of traditional and modern concepts. Students will work on coordination, timing, and balance, as well as team work and self expression. Through our song program, students will learn a variety of pieces – from songs of Israel that tell of the land and history, to pop culture music.

Music Appreciation
The world of music is one that encourages imagination, creativity, individuality, and discipline. Our music appreciation program encompasses various areas of study, from guided listening to classical pieces, to recognition of notes and rhythms. Students will expand their music related vocabulary, experience playing on various instruments, and develop a musical outlook that will accompany them throughout their lives.

Spanish
The Spanish program aims at opening the world of a new language through early exposure, while students’ learning capabilities are at their best. The curriculum, Aprendo Espanol, is designed to involve students in the learning process of the Spanish language in a fun way, following the see-listen technique, which engages children’s natural ability to learn languages.

Technology
Our technology curriculum, implemented through the Futurekids program, is designed to teach computer mastery skills. Through the use of various child oriented themes and software, the goal is to provide students with practical computer literacy and computer mastery training in a challenging academic environment. The curriculum is based on hands-on experience with a focus on students learning how to use the computer by creating practical projects using a variety of computer application software (from Kid Pix and Word Processing to MS Office and Internet).

Family Programs, Shabbat Services & Temple Events
Family programs and Shabbat Services are part of Day School curriculum enrichment. Their significance is rooted not only in the practice of tradition, but further in the value of bringing together of the entire family, and allowing the parents an opportunity to glimpse into their children’s world and share their learning experience.

Field Trips
Field trips are an integral part of the curriculum and serve to introduce, enrich or reinforce subjects taught in class. Students will be transported in an air conditioned school bus with seat belts, unless otherwise noted.

After School Programs
For your convenience, our school offers a variety of optional afternoon enrichment programs, which vary from semester to semester. Examples of offered courses include: Visual Art & Filmmaking, MindLab, Karate, Soccer, and Chess.

Outstanding Achievements
Our students are winners! We are so proud of their accomplishments.
In the past year alone, we have achieved the following:

Writing
1st Place in the Disney on Ice Art/Essay Contest (tri-county)
3rd Place in the Reading Rainbow Writers & Illustrators Contest (tri-county)
(Winners 2 years in a row)
Chess
2nd Place in the Scholastic Chess Championship (K-3)
3rd Place in the Scholastic Chess Championship (K-1)
Multiple individual trophies
(Winners 3 years in a row)

Hebrew Spelling Bee – 3rd Place (tri-county)
Scholastic Book Club Artist Award – 1 of 10 exceptionally talented runners up (national level)

Our student body as a whole demonstrated tremendous academic achievement:
SAT Scores
Our 2nd grade average score was equivalent nationally to the 3rd grade level
Our 3rd grade average score was equivalent nationally to the 5th grade level

Lexile Scores- (The Lexile measure is an indicator of the students’ reading level)

Our 2nd grade average score correlated to the 3rd grade level

55% of our 2nd graders scored at or above the 4th grade level

Our 3rd grade average score was correlated to the 6th grade level
45% of our 3rd graders scored at or above the 7th grade level

HAVDALAH

ACROSS GENERATIONS

BUDDIES

RABBI'S BIRTHDAY HAT

PLAY BALL

LEARNING TO DANCE

100 DAYS OF SCHOOL