THE RASHI SCHOOL STUDENT AND FAMILY HANDBOOK
2016 - 2017 5776 - 5777
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of The Rashi School Student & Family Handbook is: • to support communication among faculty, administration, students, and parents; • to inform students and parents of academic and religious opportunities at school and in the Rashi community; and • to set forth policies governing student conduct and expectations.
The Handbook is intended to provide information and guidance to all members of the Rashi community. Provisions may be changed or deleted as warranted by circumstances.
The Rashi School Boston Area Reform Jewish K-8 Independent School 8000 Great Meadow Road Dedham, MA | 02026 | 617-969-4444 www.rashi.org
CONTACTING RASHI FACULTY AND STAFF Contacting Rashi Staff Members Dial the main number, 617-969-4444, and when prompted, enter the extension. Staff members whose extensions begin with the number ’7’ may be dialed direct by calling 781-355-extension.
Contacting Rashi Faculty Email is the most effective way to communicate with faculty. Because teachers do not generally see their messages until after the school day, please allow one school day for them to respond. Name
Position
Ext
Abraham, Karen
Grade 1 Teacher
kabraham@rashi.org
1125
Albert, Zachary
MS Assistant Teacher
zalbert@rashi.org
Allen, Glenn
Facilities
gallen@rashi.org
Alper, Deborah
Grade 2 Teacher
dalper@rashi.org
1124
Angelo, Darcey
School Psychologist
dangelo@rashi.org
7332
Berks, Alison
Kindergarten Teacher
aberks@rashi.org
1122
Berlin, Deborah
MS Science Teacher
dberlin@rashi.org
1229
Bernstein, Katie
Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
kbernstein@rashi.org
1120
Boyd, Bruce
Facilities Director
bboyd@rashi.org
7331
Brauer, Janie
Learning Specialist
jbrauer@rashi.org
1123
Brezina, Zbysek
MS Social Studies Teacher
zbrezina@rashi.org
1320
Brickman, Stephen
Song Leader
sbrickman@rashi.org
Brodt, Mali
MS Language Arts Teacher
mbrodt@rashi.org
1323
Brown, Beth
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
bbrown@rashi.org
7341
Carter, Cynthia
MS Mathematics Teacher
ccarter@rashi.org
1326
Chapple, Heidi
Head of Lower School (K-4)
hchapple@rashi.org
7321
Civin, Keith
MS Social Studies Teacher
kcivin@rashi.org
1322
Clevenger, Sharon
MS Rabbi
sclevenger@rashi.org
7325
Clew, Jessica
Grade 5 Assistant Teacher, MS Math Teacher
jclew@rashi.org
1227
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Name
Position
Ext
Coleman, Dan
Facilities
dcoleman@rashi.org
Corriveau, Venus
Director of After School Programs
vcorriveau@rashi.org
7328
Dalzell, Maya
Hebrew Teacher/Gr. 5 Jewish Studies Teacher
mdalzell@rashi.org
1321
Ferland, Colin
Music Teacher
cferland@rashi.org
1301
Fine, Alison
MS Science Teacher
afine@rashi.org
1318
Finke, Michael
Technical Theater Manager
mfinke@rashi.org
1102
FischlowitzRoberts, Aaron
Grade 5 Teacher
afischlowitz-roberts@ rashi.org
1227
Fishman, Joni
MS Dean of Students
jfishman@rashi.org
7323
Fraser, Brittany
Grade 3 Assistant Teacher
bfraser@rashi.org
1223
Freedman, Adrienne
Business Office
afreedman@rashi.org
7306
Friedman, Mandy
Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
mfriedman@rashi.org
1122
Garcia, Courtney
Controller
cgarcia@rashi.org
7305
Gennert, Pamela
Hebrew Teacher
pgennert@rashi.org
1110
Gibbs, Monica
MS Mathematics Teacher
mgibbs@rashi.org
1325
Glanz, Anne
Grade 5 Teacher
aglanz@rashi.org
1225
Goldberg, Bonny
Theater Director
bgoldberg@rashi.org
7333
Gulman, Jessica
Grade 1 Assistant Teacher
jgulman@rashi.org
1125
Hascal, Adar
Assistant Hebrew Teacher
ahascal@rashi.org
1211
Holloway, Rebecca
MS Learning Specialist
rholloway@rashi.org
1308
Horowicz, Joshua
Athletic Director
jhorowicz@rashi.org
7327
Katz, Fallon
Learning Specialist
fkatz@rashi.org
1207
Kavande-Flores, Lorena
Spanish Teacher
lflores@rashi.org
1329
Khelemsky, Adrien
Director of Admissions
akhelemsky@rashi.org
7316
Klatzker, Meira
Grade 4 Assistant Teacher
mklatzker@rashi.org
1222
Klotz, Amy
Annual Campaign
aklotz@rashi.org
7309
Director
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FAMILY HANDBOOK
Name
Position
Ext
Konstantine, Galit
Hebrew Teacher
gkonstantine@rashi.org
1111
Koppelman, Lauren
Communications Manager
lkoppelman@rashi.org
7336
Laio, Lauren
Assistant Director of Operations
llaio@rashi.org
7307
Lerner, Hilary
MS Language Arts Teacher
hlerner@rashi.org
1324
Levine, Julie
Librarian, Grade 6 Jewish Studies Teacher
jlevine@rashi.org
7338
Levine, Morgan
Grade 2 Assistant Teacher
mlevine@rashi.org
1124
Levy, Neal
Director of Development
nlevy@rashi.org
7308
Levy, Raquel
Hebrew Teacher
rlevy@rashi.org
1211
Lifson, Jenny
Assistant Theater Specialist
jlifson@rashi.org
Ludwig, Maya
Hebrew Teacher
mludwig@rashi.org
1311
Marcovski, Ari
Hebrew Teacher
amarcovski@rashi.org
1337
Miller, Sharon
Kindergarten Teacher
smiller@rashi.org
1120
Moyer, Marlene
Learning Specialist
mmoyer@rashi.org
1224
Myers, Nancy
Assistant to the Head of School
nmyers@rashi.org
7303
Olshansky, Judith
Grade 2 Assistant Teacher
jolshansky@rashi.org
1126
Packer, Sharon
Grade 5 Assistant Teacher
spacker@rashi.org
1225
Papadopol, Mike
Technology Coordinator
mpapadopol@rashi.org
7334
Perkins, Hanna
Grade 4 Assistant Teacher
hperkins@rashi.org
1220
Regen, Joseph
Grade 4 Teacher
jregen@rashi.org
1222
Ricker, Jean
Grade 1 Teacher
jricker@rashi.org
1127
Roberts, Corey
Grade 3 Teacher
croberts@rashi.org
1221
Robinson, Laura
Development Assistant
lrobinson@rashi.org
7312
Rome, Mallory
Head of School
mrome@rashi.org
7304
Rosenberg, David
Assistant Head of School
drosenberg@rashi.org
7319
Rosenblatt, Melissa
Grade 4 Teacher
mrosenblatt@rashi.org
1220
Rotsky, Stephanie
Social Justice Coordinator
srotsky@rashi.org
7335
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Name
Position
Ext
Sapir, Shukie
Hebrew Teacher
shukiesapir@rashi.org
1327
Savage, Rachel
Admissions Associate
rsavage@rashi.org
7317
Schulman, Lynn
Administrative Assistant
lschulman@rashi.org
7302
Seresky, Margo
Grade 1 Assistant Teacher
mseresky@rashi.org
1127
Sesnovich, Lisi
Director of Finance and Operations
lsesnovich@rashi.org
7301
Shaw, Jennifer
Fitness & Health Teacher
jshaw@rashi.org
7329
Shulsinger, Ariela
Assistant Hebrew Teacher
ashulsinger@rashi.org
1311
Simansky, Tamar
Gr. 3 Associate Teacher
tsimansky@rashi.org
1221
Sisenwine, Heidi
Grade 2 Teacher
hsisenwine@rashi.org
1126
Smiley, Erica
Art Teacher
esmiley@rashi.org
1226
Smith, Jodi
School Rabbi
jsmith@rashi.org
7324
Smulski, Holly
HR Specialist
hsmulski@rashi.org
7310
Solomon, Jessica
Grade 3 Teacher
jsolomon@rashi.org
1223
Speyer, Glenda
Head of Upper School (5-8)
gspeyer@rashi.org
7322
Stone, Kim
Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events
kstone@rashi.org
7311
Stone, Mary Beth
School Nurse
mstone@rashi.org
7337
Stone, Matthew
Facilities
mpstone@rashi.org
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FAMILY HANDBOOK
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE RASHI SCHOOL. . . . . . . . . 9
Enrollment Contracts . . . . . . . . . 24
The Rashi School Mission . . . . . . . . 9
Commitment to Pay and Consequences of Non-Payment . 25
The Rashi School Core Values. . . . . 9
Withdrawal or Dismissal . . . . . . . 25
The Rashi School Philosophy. . . . . . 9
Sibling Admissions Policy. . . . . . . 25
Affiliation with Reform Movement . . 10
Safety and Security. . . . . . . . . . 25
Nondiscriminatory Policy for Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Parent Access to School. . . . . . . 26
COMMUNICATION. . . . . . . . . . . 11 School-wide Communication. . . . .
11
Grade-and Class-Level Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Communication About Your Child . . 14 Key Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
RASHI BASICS. . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Parents and Siblings Attending School Events. . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Visitor Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Lost and Found. . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Pets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Birthday Celebrations . . . . . . . . . 27 Teacher Gift Policy . . . . . . . . . . 28 Privacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The School Year/Holidays . . . . . . . 16
HEALTH AND WELLNESS. . . . . . 29
American Holiday Celebrations . . . . 16
Physical Examinations. . . . . . . . . 29
Jewish Holidays/Second Day Observances. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Immunization Requirements. . . . . 29
School Cancellation/Delayed Start/ Early Closure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Common Childhood Diseases. . . . . 31
Absence Due to Sickness . . . . . . . 30
School Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Return to School After Surgical Procedures . . . . . . . . . 31
Lunch/Recess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Medications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. 21
Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis. . . 32
Early Drop–off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Head Lice Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Drop–Off Procedure and Safety. . . . 21
Medical Equipment. . . . . . . . . . 33
Walking Your Child In. . . . . . . . . . 21
Concussion Guidelines and Protocol. 33
Using the Drop–off Circle . . . . . . . 21
Fitness & Health Program . . . . . . . 36
Dismissal Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Dismissal Procedure and Safety. . . .22 Early Pick–Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Change in Afternoon Plans/After School Play Dates. . . . . . . . . . 23 Bus Transportation . . . . . . . . . . 23 Carpools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
FOOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Kosher (Kashrut) Policy . . . . . . . . 37 Food Provided by the School . . . . .37 Hosting the Rashi Community in Your Home. . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Hosting Birthday Parties. . . . . . . 38 Food Allergy and Nut Policy. . . . . 38
RASHI BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . 24
Packing Lunch and Snacks. . . . . . 39
Required Medical and Permissions Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pizza Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Financial Aid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Environmentally Friendly Lunches. . 39
TABLE OF CONTENTS EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS . 40 Student Behavior Expectations. . . 40 Consequences of Behavioral Infractions . . . . . . . 40
Celebrating Bar/Bat Mitzvah Outside of Rashi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Shared B’nei Mitzvah Dates. . . . . . 53 Class Gift and the Rashi Book Gift . . 53
Bullying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Invitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Dress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Resources . . . . . . 54
Backpacks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Electronic Devices . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Toys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
ACADEMIC PROGRAM . . . . . . . 43
PARENTS AT RASHI. . . . . . . . . 55 Chaperoning Field Trips and Classroom Volunteer Opportunities. . . . . . 55
Curriculum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
YACHAD, RASHI’S PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION . . . . . 56
Homework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE . . . . . . 57
Daily Homework Guidelines . . . . . 43
The Annual Campaign . . . . . . . . .57
Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Matching Gifts. . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Tribute Gifts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
After School Program . . . . . . . . . 46
Capital and Endowment Giving. . . 58
Field Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Special Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Family Education . . . . . . . . . . . 47
The Limud (Learning) Celebration. . 58
Plays and Performances . . . . . . . 47
The Annual Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Curriculum Enrichment. . . . . . . . 47
Generations Day . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Mitzvah Makers . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Alumni Association. . . . . . . . . . 59
Rashi Purim Tamchui . . . . . . . . . 47
The Sheldon A. Cohen Grandparents Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Learning Support. . . . . . . . . . . 48 School Psychologist . . . . . . . . . . 49
APPENDIX: . . . . . . . . . . . . .
60
Tutoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Acceptable Use Policy Agreement For Computer Use . . 60
Assistant Teachers. . . . . . . . . . . 49
School Network Policy. . . . . . . . 60
Student Leadership. . . . . . . . . . 49
Computer Use Policy. . . . . . . . . 60
Standardized Testing. . . . . . . . . 49
Internet Use Policy . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Computer Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Copyrights and Plagiarism. . . . . . . 61
RELIGIOUS LIFE. . . . . . . . . . . .51 Jewish Community . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Interfaith Families at Rashi. . . . . . . 51 Kabbalat Shabbat. . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Kippah and Tallit Policy. . . . . . . . .52 Bar/Bat Mitzvah. . . . . . . . . . . . .52 In-School Middle School Minyan. . . 52
Mobile Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Valuable Links for Parents and Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
INTRODUCTION TO THE RASHI SCHOOL The Rashi School Mission The mission of The Rashi School, the Boston Area Reform Jewish K–8 Independent School, is to provide a dynamic, child–centered program of academic excellence that integrates rich secular and Jewish studies curricula and nurtures in its students critical minds and compassionate hearts.
The Rashi School Core Values Ruach (Spirit), Kavod (Respect), Kehillah (Community), Tzedek (Justice), Limud (Learning)
The Rashi School Philosophy Rashi prepares students for participation in an increasingly complex society. Students are encouraged to engage in intellectual challenges. Our curriculum integrates general studies and Jewish studies, Hebrew language, and the values of Jewish tradition. The Rashi School provides children the opportunity to practice essential Jewish values as they engage in educational and social experiences. These experiences build a deep appreciation of learning and encourage our children to become active lifelong learners. Our Program Fosters: • Academic excellence in secular and Jewish studies; • Proud, knowledgeable, and compassionate Jewish children; • Integration of Jewish and American values and traditions; • Hebrew language as a gateway to our past, present, and future; • A connection to the land and people of Israel; • Spiritual experiences and regular communal prayer; • A caring Jewish community. As a Reform Jewish Independent School, we respect each family’s choices concerning religious practices. At the same time, for Rashi to have a cohesive and strong kehillah (community), we have thoughtfully developed certain communal customs and religious practices. We ask that families be respectful of our community’s observance of kosher food (see the Food section), Shabbat, and holidays (see the Religious Life section).
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Affiliation with Reform Movement The Rashi School is associated with the Union for Reform Judaism. “Reform Judaism is rooted in tradition but committed to change” (A Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism, adopted at the 1999 Pittsburgh Convention, Central Conference of Rabbis, May 1999). As Jews, we have an obligation to study the texts and traditions of our people and to observe mitzvot (commandments). Jewish thinking has evolved over the centuries. As a Reform Jewish institution, we continue this process of education, evolution, and reform and we enable our children to participate in this time–honored tradition of study and evolution. A Rashi education is infused with the fundamental principles of the Reform Movement: Egalitarianism: Men and women, boys and girls, have equal opportunity to study and to observe all aspects of Jewish life. Informed Choice: Individuals, families, and communities make informed choices with regard to their Jewish beliefs and practices. Emphasis on Social Justice: Our curriculum emphasizes human rights for all people. Through the study and practice of tzedek (justice), we teach our students to look for ways they can individually and collectively work to repair brokenness in the world. The State of Israel and the Hebrew language play an important role in our lives as Jewish Americans.
Nondiscriminatory Policy for Students The Rashi School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, athletic, and academic program.
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FAMILY HANDBOOK
COMMUNICATION School-wide Communication Daf Kesher (which means Page of Connection) is Rashi’s weekly parent newsletter and is sent out most Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM. Daf Kesher is the primary way that the school communicates with parents. It is extremely important that you read it each week to stay informed of the philosophy of education at Rashi, events, programming, deadlines, and other important matters. All items published in Daf Kesher is also posted in the parent portal on our website, www.rashi.org. Daf Kesher features: • Articles from administrators and teachers; • Events for the upcoming two weeks; • Calendar changes; • News and Announcements about deadlines, sign-ups and other important matters; • Highlights of the past week’s activities; • Health Notices, Simchas and Sadness (life-cycle announcements), and News from Yachad (Rashi’s Parent Teacher Organization). Rashi.org is a rich source of information. On it you will find: • Directories: Parent, student, in a list or map view, as well as faculty and staff. • School Calendar: Which utilizes filters, allowing you to customize your view. iCal feeds allow you to sync this calendar to your personal calendar. • Resource Board: Quick links to homework, Moodle, Magnus, After School, the Family Handbook, important documents, and more. • News: Recent letters, photos, videos, and news stories. A username and password is required to log into the parent portal of our website. Parents can update their contact information online which will be automatically sent to the Main Office. For assistance with login or account management, please contact the Communications Manager, Lauren Koppelman, at 781-355-7336 or webmanager@rashi.org. Social Media Rashi’s YouTube Channel has videos of Rashi concerts, performances, events, and student work. You can access the YouTube channel from www.rashi.org. Rashi’s Facebook page posts photos and stories several times a week. Like us on Facebook to stay informed. Visit www.facebook.com/therashischool. Mrs. Smiley’s Artroom Blog is where Rashi’s Art Teacher, Erica Smiley, posts student work periodically. Access it from the Art page on Rashi’s website or go directly to mrssmileysartroom.blogspot.com.
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On The Inside is a print newsletter featuring longer, more in–depth articles about topics of interest to the community. It is published several times a year and mailed to parents at home. The Annual Report presents the state of the school including the school’s financial picture and fundraising efforts. It is published in the fall.
Grade-and Class-Level Communication Back-to-School Night Back-to-School Night, held shortly after the start of school, is an opportunity for parents to learn about curriculum and classroom procedures. Back–to–School Night is a parent–only program which all parents are strongly encouraged to attend. In order to allow teachers and administrators to speak about our program on an adult level, students and siblings do not attend. Please note that this is not a time discuss an individual student’s progress. If you have specific academic concerns about your child, please contact the teacher to schedule a conference. Grade-Level Forums Held by Head of Upper and Head of Lower School several times a year, these 45– minute forums provide parents the opportunity to hear about programming in their child’s grade. Dates for forums are listed in the School Calendar. Grades K–4 Topics • First forum of the year is an open discussion • Second forum is focused on a specific curricular topic • Third forum is a preview of the child’s experience in the next grade Grade 5 Topics • Grade 5 iPad Program • A Taste of Middle School • Growth Education Curriculum Grade 6 Topics • Transition to Middle School • Bar/Bat Mitzvah Grade 7 Topics • The Bar & Bat Mitzvah Year • Information about the Washington, DC Trip Grade 8 Topics • Preparing for High School • Israeli student visit in December • Preparing for the Grade 8 Israel Trip
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FAMILY HANDBOOK
Moodle Each class at Rashi has a Moodle (Modular Object–Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) page which can be accessed at http://moodle.rashi.org. Kindergarten–Grade 2 In these grades, Moodle’s primary role is to provide parents a glimpse into the life of the classroom through photos, videos, examples of student work, teacher lessons, and newsletters. Grades 3–8 In these grades, Moodle is geared more toward student use. Through it, students access assignments, video, and other resources posted by teachers; create, share, and collaborate on documents; submit assignments and receive feedback online. Instructions for parent access to Moodle are available on the Resource Page of the Parent Portal. Teachers also review Moodle access at Back–to–School Night. HomeworkNOW HomeworkNOW.com is the web page on which teachers in Grades 3–8 post homework assignments. You can access HomeworkNOW through the Resource Page of the Parent Portal and also from Moodle. Parents have the option of signing up for a daily email which lists their child’s homework assignments. See the instructions in the “Custom Alerts” box on the HomeworkNOW page. Class e–newsletters Many teachers send out regular e–newsletters that let parents know what is going on in the classroom.
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Communication About Your Child Parent/Teacher Conferences Parent/Teacher Conferences are an important means of communication between home and school. All parents are expected to attend these conferences, which occur in the fall and spring. Conferences are scheduled online through the SchoolSoft Conference Manager. Instructions on how to schedule your conference (including creating an account and logging in) will be provided to parents when signup begins. The format for parent/teacher conferences is as follows: Kindergarten–Grade 5 25–minute conference with the classroom teachers and a 10–minute conference with the Hebrew teacher. Grades 6–8 10–minute conferences with parents’ choice of three of the following teachers: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Jewish Studies. Parents may also sign up for additional meetings with Hebrew and (where applicable) Spanish and Organizational Skills teachers. Additional Kindergarten Conference There is an additional 20–minute conference in the early fall for parents of Kindergarten students. Parents will be notified of their scheduled time slot by the Head of the Lower School. Report Cards Report cards provide important information about student progress towards the curricular standards in each subject area. They are issued in January and June. Your Child’s Teacher(s) Open communication is central to the well–being of a school. Teachers will communicate with parents about their children by phone, email, and if necessary, additional conferences. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, please contact your child’s teacher. Please remember that teachers generally do not see their messages until after the school day ends. Teachers will respond within one school day. The School’s Administration If, after speaking with your child’s teacher, you still have concerns, we encourage you to speak with the Head of the Lower School, Heidi Chapple, the Head of the Upper School, Glenda Speyer, or the Middle School Dean of Students, Joni Fishman. If, after speaking to the Head of Lower/Upper School, you still have concerns, please contact Dave Rosenberg, Assistant Head of School, or Mallory Rome, Head of School.
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FAMILY HANDBOOK
Key Contacts For questions or concerns about...
Please contact...
Your child’s schoolwork or
First the teacher and
social issues
then...
Email/Phone
Grades K-4: Heidi Chapple
hchapple@rashi.org or 781-355-7321
Grades 5-8: Glenda Speyer
gspeyer@rashi.org or 781-355-7322
or Grades 6-8: Joni Fishman
jfishman@rashi.org or 781-355-7323
Your child’s teacher
Grades K-4: Heidi Chapple
hchapple@rashi.org or 781-355-7321
(see “The School’s Administration” for the proper order of escalation.)
Grades 5-8: Glenda Speyer
gspeyer@rashi.org or 781-355-7322
Dave Rosenberg
drosenberg@rashi.org or 781-355-7319
Curriculum
Beth Brown
bbrown@rashi.org or 781-355-7341
Jewish Studies, religious practice, synagogue affiliation
Rabbi Jodi Seewald Smith
jsmith@rashi.org or 781-355-7324
Specific learning support
Grades K-2: Janie Brauer
jbrauer@rashi.org or 781-355-4444 x1123
Grades 3-5: Marlene Moyer
mmoyer@rashi.org or 781-355-4444 x1224
Grades 6-8: Becky Holloway
bholloway@rashi.org or 781-355-4444 x1308
A program or field trip
Classroom teacher Grades K-4: Heidi Chapple
hchapple@rashi.org or 781-355-7321
Grades 5-8: Glenda Speyer
gspeyer@rashi.org or 781-355-7322
High school applications
Joni Fishman
jfishman@rashi.org or 781-355-7323
Billing questions
Courtney Garcia
cgarcia@rashi.org or 781-355-7305
Transportation
Lauren Laio
llaio@rashi.org or 781-355-7307
After School
Venus Corriveau
vcorriveau@rashi.org or 781-355-7328 After School cell: 617-877-3621
Financial aid
Lisi Sesnovich
lsesnovich@rashi.org or 781-355-7301
Logging in to website
Lauren Koppelman
lkoppelman@rashi.org or 781-355-7336
Development opportunities
Laura Robinson
lrobinson@rashi.org or 781-355-7312
Athletic program
Josh Horowicz
jhorowicz@rashi.org or 781-355-7335
Social justice
Stephanie Rotsky
srotsky@rashi.org or 781-355-7335
Bar/Bat mitzvah
Sharon Clevenger
sclevenger@rashi.org or 781-355-7325
Prospective Rashi families
Adrien Khelemsky
akhelemsky@rashi.org or 781-355-7316
Yachad, Rashi’s Parent Teacher Organization, should not be contacted with questions or concerns about school policy. Please contact one of the people listed above.
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RASHI BASICS The School Year/Holidays The Academic Calendar (showing key dates at the school such as the first and last of days of school, holidays, vacations, conferences, and professional days) is published in the winter and distributed to parents with re–enrollment contracts. The School Calendar (showing school-wide and many grade level events) is available online in mid-August.
American Holiday Celebrations At Rashi, students learn about our American heritage through formal study as well as by celebrating many American holidays. We recognize the following holidays: Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Patriots’ Day, Mother’s and Father’s Days and Memorial Day. We do not recognize Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or Easter during the school day or in our curriculum.
Jewish Holidays—Second Day Observances The Rashi calendar generally follows that of the Reform Movement. We are closed for two days on Rosh Hashanah and eight days of Pesach. We are closed for only one day on Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and Shavuot. If a holy day (second day observance) falls during the school week, no special projects, homework, or tests are assigned or due and no field trips are scheduled. Students observing a second day are responsible for the schoolwork missed, but they will not be penalized for their absences.
School Cancellation/Delayed Start/Early Closure Rashi determines its snow cancellations on many factors including the road conditions in the communities in which students and staff live. If school is canceled, delayed, or closing early due to snow, it will be announced: • via email to parents; • on the Rashi homepage; • on WHDH–TV Channel 7, WCVB–TV Channel 5, WBZ–TV Channel 4, WFXT–TV Fox 25. Please note that in some cases, the school will stay open until the end of the regular day but the After School program will be canceled. If this is the case, you will need to make arrangements to pick up your child at regular dismissal time (3:00 PM) in order to ensure the safety of the children and staff. Certain extreme circumstances may necessitate the complete evacuation of our building. We have made arrangements with NewBridge on the Charles across from our building. In such circumstances, we will contact parents or emergency contact people with further instructions. Please make sure that we always have up–to–date contact information for you and your emergency contacts.
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School Hours The school day starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:00 PM Monday–Friday for all grades. Please plan to have your child at school between 7:50 AM and 8:00 AM. Early Drop-off:
7:30 AM (in the Gym)
Classrooms open:
7:50 AM
Classroom/Advisory: 8:00 AM Lateness Students arriving after 8:00 AM are late and must check in at the security desk. While we understand that there may be a variety of factors that affect your child’s arrival at school, lateness is disruptive to a child’s learning and to the class. Please make every effort to ensure that your child arrives at school on time. Chronic lateness has a particularly severe impact on student learning. After a student has been late ten times in a semester, the Head of Lower/Upper School will call home and work with the family to create a plan for avoiding future tardiness. Attendance Parents/guardians of children are welcome partners in improving the school attendance of their children. Please email mainoffice@rashi.org or call the attendance line at 617–969–4444 option 1. If your child will be absent. Please include the reason. Students are expected to attend school every day. Irregular attendance is unsettling to a student’s learning and to the class. We urge parents to keep absences to a minimum and strongly discourage families from taking vacations while school is in session. Please see “School Attendance Guidelines: Absence Due to Sickness” in the Health and Wellness section of this Handbook for guidelines regarding when to keep your child at home.
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Extended Absences Extensive absences due to illness will require documentation from a physician. When a student accrues 5 absences that are not explained by a phone call or doctor’s note in any given semester, the Head of the Lower/Upper School will call home and will work with the families to create a plan for avoiding further attendance problems. When students miss class time, they will be expected to check in with their teachers and make up any missed work. Class participation grades may be negatively affected for students who are frequently absent or late. In cases where absences and lateness are unavoidable (medical issues, family emergencies, etc.), missed work policies will be adjusted accordingly. Students absent from school for medical leave need clearance to return to Rashi. Parents should contact the School Nurse or the School Psychologist in advance of the anticipated return.
Lunch/Recess Students have 25 minutes for lunch followed by 25 minutes for recess every day. Grades K–2: Lunch is 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM. Recess is 12:00 PM – 12:25 PM Grades 3–5: Lunch is 12:00 PM – 12:25 PM. Recess is 12:30 PM – 12:55 PM Grades 6–8: Lunch is 12:30 PM – 12:55 PM. Recess is 12:55 PM – 1:18 PM
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GETTING TO AND FROM SCHOOL Early Drop–off • Early Drop-off is available at 7:30 AM: • Early Drop-off for Grades K-5 is in the Gym; • Middle School students may congregate in the Middle School Atrium beginning at 7:30 AM. Students must be in their advisories at 8:00 AM. The playgrounds are off–limits at the start of the school day.
Drop–Off Procedure and Safety Parents may either park in the parking lot and walk children into school or drop them off in the drop–off circle at the front of the school. Whichever you choose, please help us keep our students safe by: • Using extreme caution while in the Rashi parking lot; • Not calling or texting while driving on school grounds; • Parking in designated spaces only.
Walking Your Child In • Park your car in a designated spot; • Keep your children with you at all times; • Use the designated path to walk to the school entrance; • Watch for traffic and follow the directions of the staff.
Using the Drop–off Circle • Drop–off is only for students who can get out of the car independently. If your child needs assistance, please park in a designated space and walk your child into school. • Drop–off is allowed in the far section of the circle (beyond the crosswalk). The near section is reserved for buses only. • Please pull all the way up in the far section of the drop–off circle to allow space for other cars. • Students should exit vehicles from passenger side doors only. • Never allow your child to exit the car until it is safely stopped in the drop– off circle. Do not allow your child to leave the car while double–parked by the bus area or from the parking lot. • Leave the drop–off circle as soon as the children have exited the vehicle. • Do not remain in the drop–off circle to chat or for other reasons. • Do not park in the drop–off circle.
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Dismissal Time Dismissal is at 3:00 PM • Students who are not picked up by 3:10 PM will automatically be admitted to the After School Program and parents will be billed accordingly. • The After School Program ends at 6:00 PM. • There is no After School on Friday.
Dismissal Procedure and Safety Kindergarten – Grade 5 Students being picked up • Parents (or other authorized individuals) who are picking up should park in a designated spot, walk into the school, and wait in the lobby until 3:00 PM. • At 3:00 PM when the doors to the classroom wings open, you may proceed to your child’s classroom. • Please do not ‘hang out’ outside your child’s classroom prior to 3:00 PM, as this can be disruptive to the students’ end–of–day routine. • If picking up multiple children, please have students in Grade 3 or higher meet you outside the youngest student’s classroom. Students taking the bus • Students in Kindergarten–Grade 2 will be escorted to the bus to check in with their bus monitor who will assist them to their bus. • Students in Grades 3–5 will get to the bus independently. Students going to After School Program • Students in Kindergarten–Grade 2 will be escorted to the After School program where they will sign in with an After School staff member. • Students in Grades 3–5 will get to the After School program independently. • When leaving After School, all students must be signed out by a parent/ authorized individual picking them up. Students must remain under the supervision of After School staff until they are signed out.
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Middle School Middle school students are given the responsibility of meeting their parents, going to After School, or walking out to the bus on their own. Students going to After School Middle School students going to After School must sign in with an After School staff member. Students who are meeting with a teacher after school must first sign in with After School and inform the After School staff where and with whom they will be. No student is allowed to be in the building after 3:10 PM unless they are checked into After School.
Early Pick–Up If your child will be dismissed early, you must notify your child’s teacher in writing in advance indicating the date and the time that you will be picking up your child. If this is a day-of change, please notify the Main Office. At time of pick-up, your child will be waiting for you in the front lobby. Do not go directly to your child’s classroom.
Change in Afternoon Plans/After School Play Dates You must notify your child’s teacher in writing (by note or email) by 1:00 PM if your child has afternoon plans that necessitate a change in his/her carpool, bus, or pick–up schedule. Please be sure to include your child’s full name, the date and – in the case of written notes – your signature. Students may not make phone calls during the school day to arrange play dates. If a friend will ride the bus with your child, you must contact Lauren Laio in the Business Office at 781–355–7307 or llaio@rashi.org at least one day prior.
Bus Transportation Rashi offers morning and afternoon bus transportation. For more information, please refer to the Transportation page on Rashi’s website or contact Lauren Laio in the Business Office at 781–355–7307 or llaio@rashi.org.
Carpools Parents interested in carpooling should refer to the map function of the family directory in the Parent Area of the Rashi website. Here, you can identify families who live near you so that you can contact them to set up a carpool. For technical assistance with the directory applications, contact Lauren Koppelman in the Communications Office at 781-355-7336 or lkoppelman@rashi.org.
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RASHI BUSINESS Required Medical and Permissions Forms Student Medical and permissions forms must be submitted electronically prior to the first day of school. These forms can be found on the Magnus Health Portal.
Financial Aid Rashi awards need-based financial aid on the basis of demonstrated financial need and capacity to pay assessed tuition. Rashi follows guidelines established by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in determining the amount of financial assistance, and also considers extenuating circumstances that may not be reflected in standardized tuition assistance application forms. Financial aid awards are determined on the basis of demonstrated financial need and capacity to pay assessed tuition. A family’s financial capacity is determined by looking at many factors, including, but not limited to: incomes of both parents (earned and unearned, taxable and non-taxable), assets held by the family, number of dependents, and the number of children attending tuition-charging schools. Financial aid is reviewed annually and families must submit a new application each year. The maximum financial aid award is 90% of tuition. Financial aid is also available for class trips, transportation, and the After School program. Families will receive information about the financial aid application process for the following year in November/December. Please visit the Rashi website for more details about the Rashi financial aid program.
Enrollment Contracts Enrollment contracts for the next academic year will be offered to families in January and will be due back by the date indicated on the enrollment contract. A non-refundable enrollment deposit must be made by check and accompany the signed agreement. If the re-enrollment contract is not received by the due date, the student’s spot cannot be guaranteed. Enrollment contracts cover the entire school year and are enforceable from the date of signature on the document. If after such time the student is withdrawn, dismissed, or otherwise ceases to attend the school, unless written notification of cancellation is received by the Head of School in writing by the date on the enrollment contract, no part of the tuition/fees paid to the school shall be refunded and any unpaid balance for the entire school year is immediately due and payable to the school. It is understood that even though tuition may be paid in more than one installment, this does not constitute a divisible contract. For enrolling students, both parents should be listed together with appropriate contact information. Should a parent wish to preclude the other from contact with the school, a legal court order must be provided to the school. The school will release a child to either parent on demand in the absence of a court order.
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Commitment to Pay and Consequences of Non-Payment All families must register with FACTS to create an account through which tuition will be paid. Tuition and fees net of financial aid will be collected according to the fee schedule selected by the parent on the enrollment contract. Accounts must be in good standing before a student will be placed on a class list and in order to begin school in September. If funds are not available to meet the tuition obligation, FACTS will make two additional attempts to collect and will fine the family $30 for each collection effort. FACTS will notify the family that insufficient funds were available. Upon a third collection attempt, a fine of $100 will be imposed by Rashi. If funds are insufficient on the third attempt, further collection proceedings may begin.
Withdrawal or Dismissal The specifics of a withdrawal or dismissal are found in the Terms and Conditions of the enrollment contract. Notification of withdrawal is to be made in writing to the Head of School. Parents having financial responsibility for the student are liable for payment of the full year’s tuition. Families who have tuition refund insurance should contact the Business Office.
Sibling Admissions Policy Rashi values community and recognizes that for many families, having all children enrolled in one school is a priority. However, we recognize that each child has a different learning profile/needs and that Rashi may not be a match for every child. Siblings are given priority for available spaces, but must meet the same admissions criteria as all other applicants.
Safety and Security The safety and security of our students and staff is a primary concern. Rashi partners with public and private organizations to ensure our students’ safety. Members of the Dedham Police and Fire Departments, who would be first responders in case of emergency, visit the school regularly to inspect, review, and provide advice on emergency protocols. The Dedham Fire Department conducts several fire drills in the course of each year. Rashi, in consultation with the Dedham Police, conducts shelter-in-place drills throughout the year. Since 2004, Rashi has contracted with Internal Security Associates (ISA) to provide us with consistent, daily security services while school is in session. ISA assists us in the continual update of our safety practices and our security policies and procedures. ISA also communicates regularly with local and state law enforcement as well as our partner organizations, CJP and ADL. Our ISA security officer is seated at the security desk in the lobby and signs visitors in and out. He is able to monitor our facility and grounds via our security system.
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Parent Access to School Parents are assigned a device called a fob (a type of security token) which allows access to the front entrance of the building during normal school hours. The fob identifies the holder as a parent with clearance to access the school. Parents keep the fob throughout their years at Rashi. Fobs are not assigned to grandparents or caretakers and are not transferable. Persons without a fob will be let in by the guard, asked to sign in, and wear a visitor badge. Registration for fobs begins during the Back–to–School Open House and continues through September. You will be asked to have your picture taken and sign a release that stipulates a few common sense rules. The process should take less than five minutes.
Parents and Siblings Attending School Events Parents have numerous opportunities to visit the school to attend programs and performances. When visiting, please remember that Rashi is a learning environment designed for the students. Teachers will notify families when it is appropriate to bring younger siblings to a school program. Although students are often delighted to see their younger siblings at school, younger siblings may be disruptive to the learning environment. Please feel free to contact the classroom teacher or the Head of the Lower School or Upper School if you are uncertain as to whether you may bring younger siblings for a particular event. At times, Rashi students may wish to attend performances in which a sibling takes part. In this case, parents should email the child’s teacher/advisor. Students are expected to make up any missed work.
Visitor Policy Visitors to the school sign in at the security desk upon arrival and sign out when leaving the building. If you notice or hear of anything out of the ordinary on our grounds, please be sure to communicate it to our security guard and main office. Student Visitors There are three types of student visitors who may visit during school hours (8:00 AM – 3:00 PM): • Applicants: Visits to Rashi by applicants are arranged in advance through the Admissions Office; • Former Rashi Students: Former Rashi students who are not prospective students are permitted to visit the school during lunch and recess hours only with prior approval from the Head of the Lower School or Upper School; • Out–of–town Visitors: Out–of–town visitors who are not prospective students must have prior approval from either the Head of the Lower School or Upper School.
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Adult Visitors Unless there is an entire class or school program, visitors must check in at the security desk before going to a classroom. Visitors from NewBridge often come to volunteer in the classrooms or attend school programs.
Lost and Found The Lost and Found is located on the lower level of the building. Please check the Lost and Found regularly for items your child may have left at school. To avoid the loss of clothing, please label all clothes. Three times each year (during Parent Conferences and the Book Fair in the spring), items are displayed in the lobby and if unclaimed, donated to a charitable organization such as Cradles to Crayons.
Pets Out of respect for members of our community who have allergies, do not bring pets into the school building at any time. Under certain circumstances, and with prior permission, an animal may be brought in for a special visit.
Birthday Celebrations In School Each classroom has its own guidelines for in–school birthday celebrations. Feel free to speak to your child’s classroom teacher about how to celebrate your child’s birthday in the classroom. One popular way is to buy a book or game for the class in honor of your child’s birthday. Please note that food is not allowed as part of birthday celebrations in any classroom. At Home Although birthday parties are a home event, we ask you to remember that your family is part of the Rashi community. Please join us in our efforts to create a kehillah, a positive and respectful community, by: • Respecting Shabbat by not scheduling a child’s party between Friday sundown and Saturday sundown to ensure that religious observance will not prevent a classmate from attending the party and to ensure that the teachings of our Jewish school are modeled at home for all of our children to see and observe. • Considering kashrut when planning refreshments to ensure that every child attending the simchah (joyous event) will be able to partake. • Sending invitations by email, US Postal Service, or other appropriate means. No invitations should be brought to school for distribution. • Remembering that children often discuss parties before and after the event and that excluding just a few of your child’s classmates from the party is disruptive to the classroom community.
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Teacher Gift Policy We strongly encourage families to show their appreciation to teachers by contributing to the Yachad-sponsored class gifts organized by the room parents. Families wishing to give more than the suggested amount are encouraged to contribute the additional amount to the class gifts. Some families choose to make a donation to Rashi in honor of a teacher. Rashi asks that families not give a personal gift to the teacher, but write a note of appreciation instead.
Privacy Access to and release of a student’s permanent record will occur only with the written permission of the student’s parent. Only parents or a legal guardian will have access to a student’s records. Student searches may be made based on reasonable suspicions of a violation of school rules and/or state or federal law. Contraband and other property not permitted on school property or at school events or programs will be seized. Lockers or cubbies are the property of the school and are assigned to students for school use. Students have no expectation of privacy in these areas or in any other school property. The Administration has the authority to search all school property at any time without notice and to seize any property prohibited by school policy or law. Students are not allowed to share lockers with other students.
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS The school nurse, Mary Beth Stone, is available from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Her responsibilities include medication administration, administering first aid, and overseeing the health needs of all students. Children who are in school are expected to take part in all activities unless specific instruction is provided by a doctor.
Physical Examinations All students are required to have a copy of a current physical exam (within the last 12 months) and immunization record on file in the health office prior to the first day of school. In order for a student to participate in the interscholastic sports program, he/ she must have a copy of a current physical exam on file. Please check with your child’s physician before the start of school to be sure that physical exams and immunizations are up–to–date. Health registration is done entirely online via Magnus Health Records.
Immunization Requirements Rashi requires that all students be adequately immunized against all of the preventable childhood diseases as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Non–immunized students must have documentation of medical or religious exemptions. All susceptible students (those who are not fully immunized including those with medical or religious exemptions), are subject to exclusion according to Massachusetts law in situations in which one or more cases of vaccine–preventable disease are present in a school. Please check your child’s vaccination record or consult your child’s physician to ensure that all of the required immunizations listed below have been provided and are up–to–date. In accordance with state law, we will be unable to allow your child to attend classes until all of your child’s health documentation is submitted. Immunization Requirements Full immunization is required before starting school under the Massachusetts General laws (C76, S-15). A signed immunization certificate from a doctor or clinic must include the month, date, and year of the following immunizations: DPT/DpaT (diptheria, whooping cough, tetanus/DT or Td (DT, adult) : Kindergarten: 5 doses DPT/DTaP Grades 1-6: 4 or more doses DPT/DTaP or 3 or more doses of Td Grades 7 and 8: 4 or more doses DPT/DTaP or 3 or more doses of Td; PLUS 1 dose of Tdap
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OPV/IPV (polio): Kindergarten: 4 doses Grades 1-8: 3 or more doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella/German measles): Kindergarten-Grade 8: 2 doses Hepatitis B: Kindergarten-Grade 8: 3 doses Varicella: Kindergarten-Grade 5: 2 doses Grades 6: at least 1 dose Grades 7 and 8: 2 doses TB (Tuberculosis): Kindergarten-Grade 8: TB risk assessment (one documented risk assessment since birth) Lead Screening Kindergarten entry: Documentation of blood lead screening Vision Screening Kindergarten entry: Certification that within the last 12 months the student has passed a vision screening; for children who fail a vision screening, proof of a comprehensive eye exam performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist shall be provided.
Absence Due to Sickness Parents must email mainoffice@rashi.org or call 617-969-4444 in the morning if a child is going to be absent that day. You will be asked about the nature of your child’s illness and the expected duration of absence from school. If it becomes clear that your child will be away from school for longer than originally expected, please telephone the school to explain any changes as soon as possible. Please call Mary Beth Stone in the Health Office 781-355-7337 if you have questions regarding whether you should send your child to school. Listed below are school attendance guidelines pertaining to some of the more commonly occurring illnesses. Fever Any temperature greater than 100°F is considered a fever. Children must be fever–free for 24 hours without using fever–reducing medications (Tylenol, Motrin, Advil) in order to return to school. This rule applies even if the underlying
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cause of the fever is non–infectious, such as middle ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, etc. Children with a fever do not usually feel well enough to participate in school activities. It is recommended that they be given 24 hours to recover from the fever before returning to school. Please note that a child who exhibits symptoms of illness without a fever may be sent home if the nurse feels this is in the best interest of the child or the child’s classmates. Colds Children with an upper respiratory infection without a fever may attend school if they feel well enough to do so. It is helpful in preventing the spread of illness if children learn to cough or sneeze into their sleeve or use tissues to cover sneezes and coughs, and wash hands after contact with secretions. Infections Any child who has been on antibiotic therapy for 24 hours is no longer considered infectious and may return to school. This includes infections of the eye, nose, skin, and strep infections. (Pink eye is the exception because not all doctors treat this condition, so the doctor or nurse will decide if exclusion is necessary to protect others from being contaminated.) Diarrhea Children with diarrhea should remain home until they are symptom–free for 24 hours. The only exception is if the diarrhea is the result of a chronic condition; then a note from the doctor is needed indicating that the diarrhea is not infectious. Vomiting A child who has vomited in the morning before school or the prior night should remain home for that day.
Common Childhood Diseases Children diagnosed with chicken pox, measles, or any other known untreatable contagious disease must be kept home until they are no longer contagious. For most common childhood diseases, the period of contagion is known. Consult your physician/nurse for information.
Return to School After Surgical Procedures A student returning to school after surgical procedures requires a doctor’s note stating their activity restrictions. No student should return to school while taking narcotic pain medication.
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Medications Taken at School Sometimes students need to receive prescription and certain over–the–counter medications while at school. You may sign a standing order to give permission for the nurse to administer acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Benadryl to your child. All other medications that require administration during school hours must be accompanied by a physician’s order form. These forms are available on the Magnus Health Portal. To ensure safety and effective monitoring of unauthorized medications or drugs, students may not carry or self–administer any medications during the school day. There are circumstances when exceptions can be made, such as inhalers for treatment of asthma. These individual situations should be discussed with the school nurse. Any medication taken during school hours must be left with the school nurse in its original pharmacy container labeled with the student’s name, doctor’s name, name of the drug, dosage, and time to be administered. Taken at Home If your child is on medications at home but not at school, please let Mary Beth Stone, the school nurse, know. Many medications cause unusual or undesirable side effects that can be mistaken for other problems.
Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis About eight percent of school–aged children are affected by food allergies. At least half of these children have a high risk of developing a life–threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. More than 15% of school–aged children with food allergies have had a reaction in school. Rashi works in partnership with parents of children with food and other allergies to reduce the risk of an anaphylactic reaction. Teachers and administrative personnel receive training each August on how to recognize the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction and use an EpiPen. If your child has a food allergy, you must inform the school nurse at the beginning of the school year and provide an emergency health care plan that has been completed by you and the physician. • If an EpiPen is prescribed, provide the school nurse with two EpiPens in addition to the emergency health care plan. • We encourage parents of children with life–threatening food allergies to instruct their children to eat only food brought from home. Please see the Food section of this Handbook for our nut policy.
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Head Lice Policy Pediculosis is a common problem in school–aged children that poses no real health risk to the population. However, we understand how much of a nuisance head lice can be and how much anxiety it can cause among parents of children with head lice. At Rashi, our goal is to minimize the disruption of education by teaching parents and students how to identify and eliminate head lice as quickly as possible. If a student is found to have evidence of head lice infestation, the parents will be notified and the student must be picked up immediately. Upon dismissal, the school nurse will provide the parent/guardian with further information about the management and treatment of head lice. After the treatment, the child may return to school with a parent/guardian. The student must be checked by the school nurse before re–entering the classroom. While data does not support school exclusion for nits, a “no nit” policy may be instituted by the school nurse in the case of a persistent infestation or evidence of lack of treatment. Parents must tell the school nurse if their child has head lice and what treatment option was chosen—chemical or non–chemical. While parents have the primary responsibility for the detection and treatment of head lice, we will work in a collaborative manner to assist all families to manage head lice effectively. More information about our pediculosis policy and procedure and treatment suggestions can be found on the Rashi website in the health section.
Medical Equipment There are times when students, due to injury or other medical situations, require the use of medical equipment or assistive devices while in school. While this is usually a temporary situation, it involves restriction of certain physical activities and limits the student’s ability to participate in physical education and recess. The use of medical equipment in school poses a safety concern for students and staff. To ensure your child’s safety here at Rashi, it is our policy that any student who is in need of medical equipment while at school must have a note signed by his/her physician. The note will include documentation of need for medical equipment, estimated length of time that equipment is necessary, and any activity restrictions/limitations. A physician’s note is also required for students to use the elevator.
Concussion Guidelines and Protocol A concussion is defined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as “a complex disturbance in brain function, due to direct or indirect trauma to the head, related to neurometabolic dysfunction, rather than structural injury.” It is a common, yet serious, injury occurring in youth sports that requires the proper recognition, education, and management compliance of individuals participating and those involved with extracurricular athletic programs.
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Concussion Education All Rashi fitness staff and athletic coaches are required to be trained annually through the Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports Program available through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. A printed certificate declaring that the individual completed the course should be given to the Athletic Director and kept on file. Concussion Recognition A concussion can occur from a direct blow to the head or face, or a hit to another area of the body causing a jarring of the brain. A collision with another athlete is a common way for a concussion to be sustained. The student may exhibit the following symptoms: • Appearance of being stunned or confused. • Clumsiness or loss of balance. • Personality or behavior changes. • Glassy look in eyes. • Trouble with memory recall. • Headache or pressure inside head—Nausea and/or need to vomit; • Blurred or double vision; • Dizziness or light-headedness; • Sensitivity to light; • Ringing in ears; • Confusion or not remembering what happened; • Sluggishness, grogginess; wants to go to sleep; • Increase in thirst; will want to drink lots of water; or • Generally not feeling right. If a student exhibits or states any of the signs and symptoms listed above, he / she will be removed from play and may not return that day. If the injury occurs during an athletic event, the team coach assumes this responsibility and reports any suspected concussions to the Athletic Director. If suspected concussion occurs during any other school activity, the attending staff member assumes responsibility of reporting to the School Nurse. The Athletic Director / School Nurse will notify the student’s guardians that day and ask to have the student evaluated by a primary care physician (PCP) or to go to the emergency department within 24 hours of the injury. The School requires documentation stating that the student was seen by a physician, which includes follow-up information regarding care. The student cannot participate in any fitness or athletic activities until a physician allows the student to return to normal activities.
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Management Post-Concussion The student is to follow up the next day and provide the appropriate documentation to the School Nurse. This documentation should include the ruling out or diagnosis of a concussion, any restrictions the student has in regard to school and athletic participation, and a follow-up plan of care. No documents without an official letterhead and physician’s signature will be accepted. Returning The Student To School Following A Concussion A health care professional can make decisions about a student’s readiness to return to school based on the number, type, and severity of symptoms experienced by the student. The health care professional should also offer guidance about when it is safe for a student to return to school and appropriate levels of cognitive and physical activity. Students can begin a return-to-play protocol once they are medically cleared and symptom free for a week. Students will be monitored by their fitness instructors and coaches during this period. Return-To Play Protocol Step 1: Light Aerobic Exercise (Days 1–2) 5-10 minutes on an exercise bike, walking, or light jogging. Step 2: Moderate Exercise (Days 2–4) Reduced practice time. Includes moderate aerobic activity and weight lifting. Step 3: Non-Contact Participation (Days 3–5) May participate in moderate to intense aerobic activity and weight lifting. Non-contact sports drills are also allowed. Step 4: Practice (Days 4–6) Able to participate in full contact practice. Step 5: Return to Competition (Days 6–7) Able to participate in competition without restrictions. If the athlete demonstrates any concussion symptoms during the return to play progression, the athlete will be removed from athletic participation and will be requested to see his or her health care provider.
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Fitness & Health Program Rashi’s Fitness & Health Program promotes skills development, knowledge and confidence, and prepares students for life–long physical activity filled with enjoyment, fulfillment, self–expression, and social interaction. The Fitness & Health schedule is as follows: • Kindergarten–Grade 1: three 25–minute Fitness & Health classes per week; • Grades 2–4: two 50–minute Fitness & Health classes per week; • Grades 5–8: one 50–minute Fitness & Health class and one 50–minute Fitness elective each week. Please send sneakers with your children on F&H days. See the Athletics section in Academic Programs for more information.
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FOOD Food is an important part of the life of the school community. Our food policy is intended to keep all members of our community safe and to be sensitive to the eating customs of our community. Our food policy takes into account both kosher laws and nut allergies.
Kosher (Kashrut) Policy Rashi is a kosher–style facility. It is our hope that a Rashi education helps each student cultivate a personal understanding of Judaism and make decisions as to how to incorporate Jewish practice into his or her life. Additionally, Rashi works diligently to create an atmosphere of community in which people of any background or religious observance level feel respected and comfortable. Nowhere is this more evident than in our community kashrut policy. The kashrut policy strives to balance a healthy respect for diversity and personal choice with a desire to share and break bread together as a community. If you have any questions about kashrut at Rashi, please don’t hesitate to contact Rabbi Jodi Seewald Smith at jsmith@rashi.org. In order to understand the rules governing the food that is brought into the school, it is important to understand certain terms and ideas about kashrut in general. The origins of the laws come from the Torah and have been expanded, debated, and changed over time. There are certain foods that are not permissible in Jewish law and at Rashi: • Items containing foods that come from pigs (bacon, ham, pepperoni, sausage, etc.); • Seafood that doesn’t have fins and scales (lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, etc.). Rashi observes the Jewish law that teaches not to mix meat and dairy dishes: • Meat includes poultry and beef (but not fish); • Dairy is anything that contains even a drop of dairy; • Items that don’t contain any meat or dairy elements are known as pareve and have a neutral place in meals: they can be mixed with either meat or dairy items.
Food Provided by the School (At School or Other Locations): Food provided by the school will generally be dairy or pareve. If meat is served, it will be from a kosher caterer. At events outside the school, kosher food will be made available for those requesting it.
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Hosting the Rashi Community In Your Home If you are hosting a school event in your home, please keep the kashrut policy in mind so that everyone attending will be able to partake. Do not serve pork or shellfish and do not serve both meat and dairy. Additionally, please include some items that are strictly kosher for those who choose to eat only these items.
Hosting Birthday Parties Please consider kashrut when planning your child’s birthday party to ensure that every child attending the simcha (joyous event) will be able to partake.
Food Allergy and Nut Policy About eight percent of school–aged children are affected by food allergies. At least half of these children have a high risk of developing a life–threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. More than 15% of school aged children with food allergies have had a reaction in school. Care must be exercised regarding any food coming into the classrooms and the school. Any food brought into the school for general consumption must be approved in advance by the school nurse. When food is provided by the school for holiday celebrations, a list of ingredients is provided in advance. The school staff and Yachad receive a list of all students who have food allergies so they can plan accordingly. When possible, allergen–free options are offered. There may be occasions when parents of allergic children are asked to provide a safe option for their children. If your child has a food allergy, please see the Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis section. The Chadar Ochel Has Nut Tables. The Chadar Ochel, where the students eat lunch, has designated nut tables where students who bring nut products eat. Students who consume any food with nuts are reminded by staff to wash their hands. Students are instructed that there is no sharing of food while in school. The Kindergarten Through Grade 5 Classrooms Are Designated Nut–Safe. No nuts of any kind or food items containing nuts may be brought into the K–5 classrooms. Please do not pack snacks for your Kindergarten through 5th grade students that include nuts: snacks are eaten in the classroom. If nuts or nut products are packed for lunch, please indicate this with a label.
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Packing Lunch and Snacks for School When packing food for your child to bring to school, please: • Do not send pork or shellfish; • Do not mix meat and dairy in lunch or in snack. It is permissible to pack a dairy snack and a meat lunch or vice versa. They may both be placed in the same lunch box. Pack snack and lunch in two different bags or two separate sections of your child’s lunch box. Suggestions for School Lunch and Snack A dairy (meat–free) lunch or snack might include yogurt, cheese, vegetable lasagna, cheese pizza, or bagel with cream cheese. A meat lunch or snack might include a deli sandwich but then cannot include cheese crackers, milk, or yogurt. Either dairy or meat meals can include pareve items such as fruit, vegetables, potato chips, juice, and water.
Pizza Thursday Pizza Thursday is a fundraising program sponsored by Yachad. Every week, a pizza lunch including fresh fruit, carrots, water, and a nut–free dessert is distributed to those students who have ordered and paid for it in advance. Please note that while only cheese pizza is served, the pizza is not from a kosher restaurant.
Environmentally Friendly Lunches Preserving our resources is both a Jewish value and an environmental priority. To that end, we consume our resources carefully and pack mindfully with the goal of disposing of less and reusing more. We recommend the following: • Pack sandwiches and main dishes in a reusable lunch container; • Pack fresh fruit and vegetables in a reusable container; • Pack reusable utensils; • Pour drinks into thermoses or other reusable bottles; • Bring a reusable lunch box; • To maximize recycling, pour yogurt, pudding, etc., from the container at home into a reusable container for school; • Use reusable water bottles.
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EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS Student Behavior Expectations Derech Eretz, Jewish Ethical Behavior Our rabbis teach us that derech eretz preceded Torah (Lev. Rabbah 9:3). Derech eretz is how we conduct ourselves as individuals and in our communities. At Rashi, our core values of Kehillah, Limud, Ruach, Tzedek and Kavod guide our behavior. The following behaviors will not be tolerated on school grounds, at school– sponsored events, activities, athletics games or programs: • Lying • Cheating • Plagiarizing • Defacing or damaging school property • Stealing • Acting or speaking abusively • Excessive tardiness • Truancy • Illegal use of substances or possession of weapons
Consequences of Behavioral Infractions Being a member of a kehillah (community) comes with privileges and responsibilities. At the discretion of the professional staff, there is a policy of progressive discipline. In Class (assigned by the teacher) • Task to “make it right” (write a letter of apology, complete the task again correctly, clean up a relevant space, complete a related task) • Loss of a privilege (choice time, reading a favorite book) • Time out • Lunch and/or recess detention Outside of the Classroom (assigned by a school administrator) • Task to “make it right” • In–school time out • Student calls parent to explain behavior • Student may be asked to leave for a day, particularly in cases of physical aggression • Student may lose privileges of attending a school social event, program, or activity • Student may be asked to leave the school permanently
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Bullying The School will not tolerate any form of bullying, nor will we tolerate retaliation against any person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying. (“Retaliation,” for these purposes, means any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment directed against any such person.) We are careful to use the term “bullying” in the legal context and do not characterize all interactions which can be unkind, mean, thoughtless, or hurtful with this label. We acknowledge that these are teachable moments in which growing students need to understand the reciprocal impact of their words or behavior on someone else. In appropriate circumstances, however, we will impose discipline up to and including dismissal from school or, if bullying is perpetrated by an employee, separation from employment. To view Rashi’s complete policy visit: www.rashi.org/bullying.
Dress “Array yourself in beauty, O my people!” (from the lecha dodi Shabbat prayer). Students are expected to dress appropriately for school, at school–sponsored events, and on school trips. If necessary, more suitable clothing will be provided. The following are not permitted: • Clothes with references to drugs, alcohol, or sex or which contain derogatory or provocative illustrations or words are inappropriate. • Low-cut tops or clothing that exposes a student’s underwear or midriff; • Excessively short shorts and skirts • Flip–flops (for safety reasons). Hats and jackets may not be worn inside the school. (Middle School students have the privilege of wearing hats in school). Sneakers (no black soles) are required for gym and recess.
Backpacks Students must have backpacks that fit into their cubbies or lockers. Kindergarten cubbies measure 14” wide, 29” high and 13” deep. Lockers in Grades 1–8 measure 12” wide, 28” high and 14” deep.
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Electronic Devices Personal electronic devices may not be used during school hours of 8:00 AM through 3:00 PM or during the After School program other than for teaching and learning purposes. Students must place these items in their lockers during school hours and will be reminded of this by their teachers. Should a student be found using his/her personal device during the school day, it will be confiscated. If this happens repeatedly, the device will be kept overnight. Electronic devices may be used on the bus, prior to school, following school (except in the After School Program), and at other times outside of school hours. The computer use policy set forth in the Appendix applies to the use of iPads. All policies regarding electronic devices remain during Rashi’s After School program.
Toys Students may not bring toys to school unless they are being used as part of an educational or programmatic experience and a teacher makes a request to parents in writing. This includes toys that involve trading. Trading cards require negotiation skills that are beyond the developmental level of elementary school students. Unsupervised trading creates issues that permeate the social and educational lives of the students. The only exception is electronic games for students to use during their bus ride. Once at school, students must place these items in their lockers. Toys must remain in a student’s backpack or locker during After School. Students may not bring toy guns or weapons to school.
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ACADEMIC PROGRAM Curriculum Our website details explicit learning standards for every grade level in all ten subject areas (Language Arts, Mathematics, Jewish Studies, Science, Social Studies, Hebrew, Spanish, Fitness & Health, Art, and Music). These standards also appear on our report cards and reflect the content and skills all students are expected to master by the end of the year. Our curriculum is reviewed on a cyclical basis to ensure that we are current with best practices in teaching and learning.
Homework Rashi balances the benefits of homework with the emerging research around its costs, recognizing the differences among students’ developmental stages. Meaningful homework presents opportunities for reinforcing, extending, and enhancing classroom learning; developing responsible, independent work habits; and strengthening the parent–school partnership. Depending on the grade, homework may be assigned in Science, Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, Jewish Studies, Hebrew, and Spanish (for Middle School students). Students are expected to complete all homework assigned: if a student develops a pattern of not handing in homework, teachers will contact the parent. Homework increases as the school year progresses, as teachers raise expectations and students gain efficiency. Likewise, homework increases from grade to grade. Individual teachers have specific homework guidelines, including time expectations, which they share with the students at the beginning of the year and with parents at Back–to–School Night. Time spent on homework will naturally vary among students. Overall, we try to adhere to the homework guidelines outlined below. Should you feel that your child is spending an unmanageable amount of time on assignments, please discuss the situation with your child’s teacher. Rashi does not expect students to do homework on Shabbat or chagim (major Jewish holidays). Homework is posted on HomeworkNOW, which is accessible on the Parent Portal of rashi.org and from Rashi’s Moodle page http://moodle.rashi.org. Through HomeworkNOW, parents may subscribe to receive a daily email with their children’s assignments.
Daily Homework Guidelines (including independent reading) Grade 1: up to 20 minutes Grade 2: up to 30 minutes Grade 3: up to 60 minutes Grade 4: up to 75 minutes Grade 5: up to 90 minutes
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Grade 6: up to 120 minutes Grade 7: up to 150 minutes Grade 8: up to 150 minutes
Placement Rashi makes decisions about class placement through consultation with teachers, learning specialists, and administrators who bring expertise and knowledge about your children. A great deal of thought goes into placing children in classes each year: the process is time–consuming and focuses on each child’s needs. Homeroom and Team Placement Families will be informed of class assignments in the summer. Every effort is made to place each child in a classroom learning environment in which he/ she will be the most successful. This learning environment incorporates several factors and balances gender, academic achievement, student relationships, and class size. One of our goals is to see that children experience interaction with all of the other children in their grade over time. Parents can help by being positive and encouraging to their children in this process. Hebrew Placement Grades 3–8 Rashi makes Hebrew placement decisions based on reliable data gathered during the school year, including: scores on quizzes and tests, completed homework, whether or not students ask questions when they don’t understand content, the nature of these questions, the nature of students’ classroom behavior and Hebrew language proficiency. Information shared by other teachers, such as learning support teachers, is also considered. Occasionally Rashi may change a student’s Hebrew placement during the school year based on current data. Math Placement Grades 6–8 Rashi makes math placement decisions based on reliable data gathered during the year, including: scores on quizzes and tests, completed homework, whether or not students ask questions when they don’t understand content, the nature of these questions, the nature of students’ classroom behavior and mathematical persistence, and ERB scores. Information shared by other teachers, such as learning support teachers, is also considered.
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Athletics Rashi offers students in Grades 5–8 the opportunity to play on an interscholastic sports team: students practice as a team and compete both home and away versus a variety of area independent schools. Every student who chooses to be on a team has an equal chance to participate in all team activities. Factors determining student playing time are not based solely on skill and knowledge but also on effort, commitment, respect, and teamwork. Rashi Sports Are: • Soccer in the fall; • Basketball in the winter; • Baseball/Softball in the spring. Grade 5-6 • 5th and 6th grade students compete either in single grade-level teams or in a combined grade-level team, depending on participation. Teams are single-gender. • Practices are every Tuesday from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM and during the once weekly in-school fitness elective block. • Most games take place on Tuesday and Thursday. Grade 7-8 • 7th and 8th grade students compete either in single grade-level teams or in a combined grade-level team, depending on participation. Teams are single-gender. • Practices are every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM and during the once weekly in-school fitness elective block. • Most games take place on Monday and Wednesday. Students who plan to play on a team should be available for every team activity. Every attempt has been made to limit all after-school commitments to the designated days so that parents can more easily plan around sports. There is a fee of $80 to participate on an interscholastic sports team in Grades 5-6, and $100 to participate on an interscholastic team in Grades 7-8. Playing Up There is the possibility that some 6th grade students will be asked to play “up” with our 7th/8th grade teams. In this case, the 6th grade student would be asked to practice and play after school with the 7th/8th grade students on Mondays and Wednesdays, but remain with his/her grade for in–school practices. This decision is at the sole discretion of the coach and athletic director and will be based on what is best for the student–athlete and the team.
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After School Program Rashi’s general After School Program provides child care coverage MondayThursday from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM. There is no After School on Friday. The Core Program The After School Core Program provides Creative Works, Organized Sports & Games, Study Hall, and Homework Club for Grades K-8. Enrichment Classes After School enrichment classes include a wide variety of offerings each day. All classes run on minimum enrollment and are determined before the start of each session. Registration information will be listed in Daf Kesher and can be completed once logged into rashi.org. There is a one-week drop period once each session begins for all After School enrichment classes. After this, there will be no refund. Students have the option to join the core program in the event that they are unable to participate in their enrichment class. We strongly encourage children to complete any class they begin. Enrichment classes run anywhere from 5-15 weeks. Additional Camps Adventure Camp is offered to students in Grades K-3 during parent/teacher conferences. Each camp runs from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. These camps run on a minimum of 15 students. Rashi Theater and Arts Camps are for grades K-3. They run 1-2 weeks following the end of the school year depending on enrollment. Student Expectations Expectations and rules for students (including behavior, dress code, electronic devices, and toys) during After School are the same as for the regular school day.
Field Trips In order for students to participate in field trips, parents must submit the Parent Information and Permission Form through the Magnus portal on rashi.org. This form provides blanket permission covering all field trips that your child’s class takes throughout the school year. You will be notified in advance of all trips and/or walking excursions. Additional adult supervision may be provided when children leave the building for a field trip. We appreciate when parents are able to fill needs for chaperoning trips. When parents are chaperoning field trips, we ask that they: • follow the teacher’s lead • focus on the students at all times • refrain from using cell phones.
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Family Education Family Education is parent/child programming offering parents the opportunity to study important aspects of Judaics together with their children. The dates for these programs are published in the online calendar over the summer.
Plays and Performances Theater is an integral part of the Rashi curriculum. Performance dates are published in the online calendar in the summer. In addition to the curricular plays, students have the opportunity to participate in theatrical productions through our After School drama elective. • Grades 2–5: Drama performance in December and a musical in the spring. • Grades 6–8: A play in the fall, a musical in the spring, and the State Drama Festival in the spring.
Curriculum Enrichment Yachad, Rashi’s Parent Teacher Organization, sponsors many enrichment programs to enhance the curriculum in every grade throughout the year. Programs range from the artistic (a week–in–residence from Shakespeare & Co., a visit from a poet, a session with a stop–motion animation artist) to the scientific (a visit from some live owls and the Discovery Museum’s Simple Machines program).
Mitzvah Makers Mitzvah Makers is a volunteer group of students in Grades 2–5 who spend an afternoon each month visiting with residents at NewBridge. They have monthly lunch meetings at which they plan their upcoming visit. Parent chaperons are welcome. For more information, contact Stephanie Rotsky, Social Justice Coordinator, at srotsky@rashi.org.
Rashi Purim Tamchui Tamchui is an annual two–week tzedakah tradition that takes place at the Purim holiday, a customary time for giving in the Jewish calendar. Each year, Rashi selects five non–profit organizations that address the needs of children and their families. Students learn about the organizations, meet representatives, and think about how the organizations meet the needs that they are addressing. Parents are asked to donate money to the Rashi Purim Tamchui Fund and then children allocate the funds across the organizations and in the process become educated and empathetic young philanthropists. There is opportunity for parent involvement in the organizational stages in the fall as well as during the two–week–long program. Contact Stephanie Rotsky, Social Justice Coordinator, at srotsky@rashi.org.
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Library Our library is your child’s source to print and online materials, and we hope that he/she utilizes its services frequently. The library hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM - 3:15 PM and Friday under a teacher’s supervision. Grades K-4 attend weekly library classes, and Grade 5 attends bi-weekly. Middle school students can select recreational reading at any time, and the library is always open to them for research. All books have a two-week checkout period and may be renewed for an additional two weeks. To access Rashi’s extensive library resources from the Rashi website, visit Academics > Library > Library Resources. Here, families can search the Library Catalog (including both books and pre-screened websites through WebPath Express); Research Databases; Encyclopaedia Britannica; and World Book Online. To access World Book from home, the username is “rashi” and the password is “12345”. The research databases provide our students with online access to thousands of magazine/journal articles, encyclopedias, and reference books, as well as Boston Globe articles. Rashi also provides our families with a subscription to TumbleBook Library (www.tumblebooklibrary.com), which includes animated talking picture books, electronic story books, and read-along books. Our username is “rashischool” and the password is “reads”. Finally, our families have access to the animated educational sites BrainPOP (www.brainpop.com) and BrainPOP Jr (jr.brainpop.com), via the username “rschool” and the password “rashi.”
Learning Support Our goal is for all Rashi students to gain the knowledge and skills in our curriculum at a pace that is at once comfortable and challenging to them. To this end, there are numerous resources available for students who need learning support. We have learning specialists on staff to support students in reading, writing, spelling, math, Hebrew, organizational skills, and subject–area learning. Additionally, we have a Learning Team that meets with parents to discuss accommodations for students’ learning. Learning Team members include the Assistant Head of School, the School Psychologist, and learning specialists. Teachers, administrators, parents, learning specialists, and outside consultants are invited to these meetings to create a plan to best meet students’ needs and share results from any testing that may have occurred outside of school. If parents request a Learning Team meeting based upon test results, in order to have sufficient time to process results and meet about findings, test reports must be submitted by mid–May. Any reports submitted after that date will be discussed in the fall of the following academic year. The school also partners with Gateways, a Jewish organization which provides learning support to students both in and outside the classroom. If you are interested in Gateways services for your child, please contact Dave Rosenberg, Assistant Head of School, at drosenberg@rashi.org.
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School Psychologist Rashi has a full–time psychologist, Darcey Angelo, on the staff. In addition to working with students, she serves on the Learning Team and supports teachers and families. Darci may contact parents to discuss an issue. Parents may also be referred by a school administrator to our school psychologist.
Tutoring The Rashi School supports the classroom teacher as the primary agent in the learning process and the only resource necessary in most cases. However, from time to time, outside tutoring may be advised. If you feel that your child would benefit from additional tutoring, please contact Dave Rosenberg, Assistant Head of School, at drosenberg@rashi.org. Please note the following: • Rashi teachers may not be hired to tutor students enrolled in the same grade in which they teach. • With rare exceptions, teachers may not be hired to tutor students in the grade below or in the grade above. • Rashi teachers may not be hired to tutor students between 7:45 AM and 3:15 PM.
Assistant Teachers Throughout Grades K–5, we have assistant teachers who are supervised by the classroom teachers. They range from recent college graduates to experienced, certified teachers with advanced degrees.
Student Leadership Our middle school encourages and enlists the support of our students in improving the policies and procedures in our community. All students are welcome to join the student leadership team known as student government. The only requirement for participation is commitment to regular attendance. The Dean of Students serves as faculty advisor to student government. Middle school students elect officers every spring for the following school year. It is the responsibility of the student government to discuss the policies and procedures of the middle school in consultation with their classmates and to make recommendations to the Head of School.
Standardized Testing We administer the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) CTP 4 test to students in Grades 3 through 8 each spring. The results of the tests are used to assess classroom curricula and performance at each grade level and over time. Test results for students in Grades 4 through 8 are included in academic folders. Results for Grade 3 students are for internal purposes only; they are not included as part of any permanent record.
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Computer Use Members of the Rashi community are responsible for their behavior while using Rashi computer and network resources including but not limited to school–issued internet accounts, Moodle, and Google Apps, just as they are in the classrooms and hallways. While we have taken precautions to screen students from offensive and inappropriate material they may find on the Internet, it is impossible to block every site from view. As the network is an extension of the school, our school–wide derech eretz policy applies to the use of our school computers and networks. We take the use of computers and the Internet very seriously. Periodically during the year, teachers will discuss responsible, safe, and ethical computer use (see the Appendix for details on the Computer Use Policy).
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RELIGIOUS LIFE Please see Kashrut Policy in the Health, Wellness and Food Policies Section.
Jewish Community Our students come from a wide variety of Jewish backgrounds. We respect the varied religious backgrounds and beliefs of our students and their families. Children and parents are always welcome to discuss religious ideas and to ask questions that stem from other religious traditions. The focus of our program is our connection to our Jewish heritage. Our tradition places great value on community. We encourage Rashi families to affiliate with synagogues and other local Jewish institutions and we will do what we can to help our families make a connection to a supportive local religious community. Rabbis, cantors, and educators from the Boston area visit our school and work with our children in a variety of ways.
Interfaith Families at Rashi No two Rashi families are the same in their religious practice, conviction, and rationale. Rashi welcomes all children who are being raised Jewish no matter what the religions of their parents.
Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) Prayer is an important part of what happens at Rashi. During services, children and adults develop a sense of spirituality, sing, and connect with the larger community. Once a week, we open up our services to parents and siblings. We invite you to join us at Lower (K-5) School Kabbalat Shabbat on Fridays from 2:25 PM - 3:00 PM. To ensure that Kabbalat Shabbat is imbued with holiness and joy, as well as decorum and community, we ask that you: • Arrive at Kabbalat Shabbat by 2:15 PM so that we can begin promptly at 2:25 PM. • Turn off your cell phones. This is an opportunity for us to be present for our children. • Join us in song and worship. You are your child’s biggest role model. • Learn something new. Fuel your own soul before Shabbat. • Stay with us until the end. Kabbalat Shabbat ends just before 3:00 PM. • Parents are invited to sit with their children in their classes’ designated section or any undesignated seat. Middle school students welcome Shabbat as a community during the same time block on Fridays. At various times during the school year, we gather the entire school together for Kabbalat Shabbat and begin at 2:10 PM.
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Kippah and Tallit Policy All students (boys and girls) until the age of 13 are required to wear a kippah (head covering) during tefillah (prayer). Students are encouraged to bring in their own kippot from home, but are also able to use those provided by the school. Upon becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, students may choose whether or not to wear a kippah. Tallitot can also be brought from home and are available to borrow in the Beit Midrash. Tallitot are worn when called to the Torah.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Bar/Bat Mitzvah is an integral part of a Rashi student’s Middle School experience both inside and outside of school. It is an exciting time as students prepare for and celebrate their Bar/Bat Mitzvah in their congregations as well as and with their Rashi kehillah. We strongly encourage students and their families to affiliate with a congregation well before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah year. Rashi hopes that every child and family feels joy and pride surrounding the moment in which they become an adult in the Jewish community. To help coordinate and make sure things run as smoothly as possible, Rashi maintains a list of B’nei Mitzvah dates on the Secure Parent Area of the website. We encourage parents to enter their child’s date as soon as it is received. Additionally, synagogues will have access to a similar calendar so that they can have knowledge of when Rashi students B’nei Mitzvah have already been scheduled. If two B’nei Mitzvah are scheduled for the same day, please see the “Shared B’nei Mitzvah Dates” section below.
In-School Middle School Minyan Minyan is an integral part of Jewish life in the Middle School. On weeks when a student is becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the student will lead Middle School minyan and chant some or all of his/her Torah portion. The Rashi minyan is a chance for the student to lead peers and chant Torah in a supportive school environment. It is a lovely and relaxed ritual that students universally enjoy. Parents and family members are most welcome at the minyan and siblings in other grades will be dismissed from class to attend. Under the guidance of the Middle School Rabbi, students choose friends and classmates to help lead the service. The student also receives a gift from the whole class and Rashi provides bagels and cream cheese after the minyan as an oneg (a celebratory meal). If a student has a Saturday morning Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, the Rashi minyan typically falls on the Thursday prior to the service. If a student has a Saturday afternoon/evening date, the Rashi minyan typically falls on the Monday following the service. This is because the Torah portion chanted on Saturday afternoon is actually the portion for the week that follows, and we strive to remain in line with Jewish tradition whenever possible.
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If two students have the same Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, they can either share the same minyan at Rashi or, when possible, one student can celebrate during our Monday minyan and one can celebrate during our Thursday minyan.
Celebrating Bar/Bat Mitzvah outside of Rashi The rabbis taught that parents are obligated to bless their children and provide a meal in celebration of the rite of passage of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Beyond that, the details are up to each family! Though Rashi does not prescribe the way that a Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration should happen, we will happily consult with you, sharing lessons learned from previous experience. When planning the food at your celebration, please keep in mind the Rashi Kashrut Policy that you can find in the Health, Wellness and Food Policies Section.
Shared B’nei Mitzvah Dates Knowing that students celebrate B’nei Mitzvah with so many different congregations outside of Rashi, there are times when two students are assigned the same Bar/Bat Mitzvah date. If you want to try to change a date, please contact your synagogues immediately. When two students do share the same B’nei Mitzvah date, the two families have an opportunity to come together and model communication and compromise. The first key to success is early and open dialog between the families. You may wish to consider scheduling celebrations at different times on Shabbat or even scheduling them for different days. And, when two services and/or two celebrations do happen simultaneously, it is important to work together on the parent level to ensure that the children feel positive about their own experience.
Class Gift and the Rashi Book Gift The class gift is selected by the students in Grade 6 prior to the B’nei Mitzvah year. The same gift is given to every student. This means that individual students are not obligated to give gifts to one another. The School Rabbis also select a book to be presented to students on behalf of The Rashi School at the in-school minyan.
Invitations Families are expected to invite the entire grade to the Bar or Bat Mitzvah service and to the reception. Families may, but are not obligated to invite staff members with the understanding that the staff members are not obligated to attend and are not attending as staff but rather as guests.
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Bar/Bat Mitzvah Resources Rabbi Sharon Clevenger is the key contact for B’nei Mitzvah at Rashi. She will help your child plan and lead the Bar/Bat Mitzvah minyan at school. She and Rabbi Smith both have years of experience as both congregational rabbis and school rabbis and can share advice and direction with Rashi families around Bar/Bat Mitzvah both inside and outside of school. The Rashi community also has numerous books and other resources that may be helpful in preparing for your simchah (joyous event) and in finding ways to make the Bar/Bat Mitzvah increasingly meaningful. Finally, social Justice is an important component of Bar/ Bat Mitzvah. Synagogues often offer rich and rewarding social justice programs for B’nei Mitzvah students. Rashi students may also choose to work with our Social Justice Coordinator to find an authentic way to incorporate social justice into their celebration.
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PARENTS AT RASHI Rashi sees relationships with parents as essential to the work of educating our students. We see the building of those relationships as going both ways. At the heart of that project is strong, timely, respectful communication between parents and the school. We want to know what parents are hearing at home, and we want to make sure parents hear from teachers and from the school about classroom and school events and their child’s learning. Parents are also partners in their volunteer work on behalf of Rashi; parents put in innumerable hours contributing to making Rashi successful, through serving on the Yachad Board, participating in Pizza Thursday, volunteering for committees, and other meaningful roles. Parents are essential ambassadors for Rashi in the community as well. We recognize that it can be hard to know whom to contact with a question or concern about one’s child’s learning. We ask that parents always start with the teacher, even—or especially—when the question lies with a choice the teacher has made. Please see the Key Contacts section of this handbook for a more detailed guide. And just as we love to share the progress and triumphs we see from our students, teachers both learn from and appreciate hearing what is going well. Two resources we highly recommend to parents: In her excellent book The Gift of Failure (HarperCollins, 2015), Jessica Lahey includes a rich chapter for parents on parent-teacher partnerships. An older but also useful book is Should I Go to the Teacher? (Heinemann, 1996) by Susan M. Benjamin and Susan Sanchez.
Chaperoning Field Trips and Classroom Volunteer Opportunities We appreciate when parents are able to fill needs for chaperoning trips or volunteering for special programs at Rashi and NewBridge. When parents are assisting in these areas we ask that they: • follow the teacher’s lead ; • focus on the students at all times; • refrain from using cell phones.
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YACHAD, RASHI’S PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION The mission of Yachad (Together) is to support the school’s mission, faculty, students, and parents for the benefit of the Rashi kehillah (community). Yachad’s fundraising efforts and parent volunteerism enable it to provide enrichment programs to every grade, implement holiday/ritual celebrations, host school and community events, as well as fund teacher grants to enhance curriculum. Fundraising efforts include such programs as Pizza Thursday and the book fair. Yachad is dedicated to strengthening the parent community by providing social and educational programming. Some examples include community Shabbat dinners, educational speakers, book groups, and coffees. Yachad welcomes and builds relationships with new families and supports families going through significant life events through the Simchas and Sadness program. Additionally, Yachad organizes room parents from each grade to communicate with parents, act as teacher liaisons and help build community. Find out more about Yachad at www.rashi.org. If you are interested in getting involved with Yachad, please contact co–chairs Jess Carroll and Rosa Franck at yachad@rashi.org.
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DEVELOPMENT OFFICE A Rashi education is paid for by two sources: tuition and fundraising. The Rashi Development Office raises funds on an annual basis—through the Annual Campaign—to support Rashi’s ongoing operations. Additionally, funds are also raised for capital uses (most recently, the creation of Rashi’s new home in Dedham), as well as to build Rashi’s endowment and other special initiatives as they arise. In connection with many of these endeavors, there are many ways in which parents and members of the Rashi kehillah (community) can get involved through volunteer opportunities.
The Annual Campaign Rashi relies on the generosity of Board Members, current parents, alumni parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty and staff, community members and friends to enable us to provide the very best education for your children. As is the case with most Jewish and independent schools, tuition dollars alone do not fully cover the costs of educating Rashi’s students. At Rashi there is a gap of approximately $4,400 per student. Therefore, approximately 12% of the cost of running our school must come each year from philanthropic contributions in order to cover our operating expenses. Contributions benefit every student through improved academic programs, tuition assistance, enhanced teacher salaries, and professional development opportunities. Rashi’s Annual Campaign raises funds through its annual appeal, personal solicitations, tribute gifts, and several fundraising events. Contributions to the Annual Campaign have ranged from $18 to $80,000, and each year we strive for 100% parent participation (an important metric for many foundations and other funders). Each gift, no matter the size, is appreciated as a meaningful expression of your support of Rashi. As a beneficiary agency of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Rashi also receives funding for each student.
Matching Gifts You may be able to double or triple your gift if your employer matches charitable giving. Please check the Rashi website to see if your employer matches gifts, or check with your employer's Human Resources department for availability or details.
Tribute Gifts Rashi's Tribute Gift program provides the opportunity to make a gift in honor or in memory of someone special. Some common tributes including honoring a teacher, marking a yahrzeit of a friend or loved one, celebrating a birthday, B'nei Mitzvah, life cycle event or other special achievement such as graduation. A tribute card is sent to the person or family you indicate noting your meaningful gesture.
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Capital and Endowment Giving We seek to maintain the sustainability of our school and the excellent education that it provides. Opportunities will be available to help in this endeavor through contributions to capital support, as well as through support of our institutional endowment.
Special Events Special events at Rashi are an important way for us to communicate with the Rashi community and our extended community about the mission of the school. These events bring together the Rashi community and demonstrate tangible examples of the value of a Rashi education, while raising vital funds to benefit our Annual Campaign, the cornerstone of Rashi’s fundraising endeavors. Numerous volunteer opportunities exist to assist in the planning and execution of these events and programs.
The Limud (Learning) Celebration At the Limud Celebration, held annually in the fall, we celebrate Limud — learning and teaching, one of our core values. At this event, we honor a Rashi faculty member who has worked at least ten years at Rashi and exemplifies Rashi’s core values, as well as our mission of providing a dynamic, child–centered program of academic excellence. The event brings together parents, faculty, alumni, alumni parents, and friends for a fun, relaxed evening of dinner, dancing, and raffle to benefit Rashi’s Annual Campaign.
The Annual Dinner The Annual Dinner is our largest and most important fundraising event of the school year. This spring tradition draws more than 500 Rashi supporters, Board, and community members from the greater Boston area. At this wonderful event, our Dinner honorees are presented with the Kehillah Award for their outstanding dedication to Rashi. We also recognize two outstanding alumni with the Tikkun Alum Award for their strong commitment to, and continued practice of, the social justice lessons learned as a student at Rashi. This event has taken different forms over the years and provides an opportunity for many in the Greater Boston community to experience the essence of Rashi and learn more about our school. Rashi parents and other family members purchase tickets and often sponsor tables with friends from other Rashi families.
Generations Day We welcome the grandparents and special friends of our students for an afternoon, typically held on a Friday in October, to experience Rashi first–hand. Guests are invited for a luncheon program and a visit with the students in their classrooms and are asked to actively participate in their learning projects. We conclude with a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat, where everyone can feel the true ruach (spirit) of Rashi!
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Alumni Association Once you attend Rashi, you are a life–long member of the Rashi family. Through our Alumni Association, Rashi strives to maintain a strong relationship with our alumni and alumni families. Many alumni and alumni families return often to Rashi for our annual events and reunions, as well as to assist with special projects and programs. We encourage alumni to contact the Development Office with family news (engagement, new job, awards, etc.), as well as to update contact information.
The Sheldon A. Cohen Grandparents Association This important group provides opportunities for Rashi grandparents to connect with the school and the activities of their grandchildren. Mr. Cohen, for whom the association is named, was a dedicated volunteer who set a strong example for unselfish service and dedication to Rashi. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available for Rashi grandparents, and grandparents serve on committees as well as the Board of Trustees. For more information, please visit the Development Office on the first floor, Suite 114.
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APPENDIX: ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AGREEMENT FOR COMPUTER USE Students at The Rashi School have access to the internet. Internet access is an important part of Rashi’s core value of Limud (Learning) and its use must always take place with our core value of Kavod (Honor) in mind. Members of the Rashi community are responsible for their behavior on the school computer networks, just as they are in the classrooms and hallways. While we have taken precautions to screen students from offensive and inappropriate material they may find on the Internet, it is impossible to block every site from view. Please note that computers are only for student and staff use. As the network is an extension of the school, our school–wide derech eretz policy applies to the use of our school computers and networks. We take the use of computers and the Internet very seriously at Rashi. Periodically, during the year, teachers will discuss the policies outlined below with students. Any violation of the regulations listed below may cause access privileges to be revoked, school disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action to be taken.
School Network Policy • Users are responsible for the use of their individual accounts and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from being able to use their accounts. Under no condition should a user provide his or her password to another person. • Users will immediately notify the Technology Coordinator if they have identified a possible security problem. Users will not go looking for a security problem since this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access. • Users will use the network only for educational purposes. • Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the school’s network or to go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person’s account or access another person’s files. • Users will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt any computer system or destroy data. • Users will not use the school’s network to engage in any other illegal acts. • Students are not permitted to install software on any School computers or workstations.
Computer Use Policy Vandalism, which is any malicious attempt to harm or destroy the computers or data stored on School computers, will not be tolerated.
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Internet Use Policy • Our network is for academic use only. • Students will not post personal contact information about themselves or others on the Internet. • Students will not access the files of other users. • Rules of “netiquette” will be followed which includes being polite, never using inappropriate language, never disrupting other users, and never harassing other Rashi or non–Rashi Internet users. • Rashi’s cyber-bullying policy also applies to social media. • Unless part of a specific classroom assignment, students shall never communicate with people who are not related to the school community. • Users will not use the Internet to gain access to material that is inappropriate for school including pornography, material advocating illegal activities, or material advocating hatred and discrimination. • If a user INADVERTENTLY accesses such information as described above, he or she should immediately inform a teacher, who will then speak to the school’s Technology Coordinator. • Students will immediately inform a teacher if they receive a message or access a site that makes them feel uncomfortable. • Users will not re–post a message that was sent to them privately without the permission of the person who sent the original message.
Copyrights and Plagiarism • Users will not plagiarize works they find on the Internet. Users will document the sources of their work in a bibliography or notation. • Users will respect the rights of copyright owners. Users will obtain permission to use the work of others and document that permission in their work.
Mobile Devices • All policies above apply to tablets and cell phones. • Cell phones must be kept in lockers during the school day. • No student may use their cell phone or tablet for texting during the school day.
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Valuable Links for Parents and Educators Common Sense Media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Safe Kids Online – A terrific resource that includes the article “Child Safety on the Information Highway”: http://www.safekids.com Parents’ Guide to the Internet – U.S. Department of Education website with information and resources: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/internet/ If you have any questions/comments, please contact Lisi Sesnovich Director of Finance and Operations, 781-355-7301 or lsesnovich@rashi.org or Mike Papadopol, Technology Coordinator, 781-355-7334 or mpapadopol@rashi.org.
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The Rashi School is an accredited member of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the Progressive Association of Reform Day Schools (PARDeS) and a beneficiary of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP).
The Rashi School | Boston Area Reform Jewish K-8 Independent School 8000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, MA | 02026 | 617-969-4444 www.rashi.org | rashi@rashi.org