Religious School

CBI’s Religious School is a PreK- twelfth grade Sunday program designed to incorporate Jewish values, Hebrew, and life cycle events into the lives of our members and their children. Each week, students have the opportunity to build community into their classrooms and explore Jewish themes through arts integration courses like visual arts, music, dance, or theatre!

Family based programming is also an integral part of annual curriculum. Each grade will have one to two family based programs with text study, art, and experiential learning for both parents and students throughout the year. Family programs help bring parents into our joyful Jewish learning as well!

CBI Religious School follows the URJ’s Chai curriculum and uses supplemental materials from Behrman House Publishing.

Enrollment

We are currently open for Early Bird enrollment in our Sunday Religious School from May 5 through June 30, 2024. Early Bird Enrollment offers families a $50 discount from tuition.

Beginning July 1, 2024 all enrollment will be seen on a rolling basis and families will be charged full tuition amounts.

Finances should never be a barrier for CBI members and families who are investing in their child’s Jewish education. With the generous support of the Holzman Family, we are able to offer scholarships to families in our Religious School program. If you are interested in receiving scholarship, please indicate as such on your enrollment form.

Enrollment for CBI Religious School is only open to CBI members (with an early bird discount early bird discount for families who enroll before June 30). If you are interested in learning more about membership and Religious school, please connect with our Education Coordinator.

Schedule

CBI Religious School follows both Portland Public Schools (PPS) and the Jewish calendar for school breaks.

Feel free to download our 2024-2025 all school calendar, or a grade specific calendar that can be downloaded directly to your phone!

Our Programs

Lower Elementary School (Pre-K-Second Grade)

Lower Elementary School (Pre-K – Second Grade)

Sundays, 9:30AM-12:15PM

Our youngest students experience Judaism within the flow of our Jewish calendar. In our arts-integrated Religious school, students discover the meaning and joy of the holidays through visual art, drama, dance, and music. During age-appropriate hands-on activities and experiences, kids learn Hebrew vocabulary associated with the holidays, celebrate together and with their families, and become familiar with holiday blessings, songs, foods, and crafts. Through stories, students learn Jewish values. Additionally, First grade students explore a yearlong theme of discovering myself in the Jewish Story. Second Grade students engage in a yearlong theme of I am part of the Jewish people, and begin to learn Hebrew letters and sounds. Each session begins with a spirited musical Mishpacha, Minyan, family service, led by our CBI Clergy, Educator, and musicians.

Upper Elementary School (Third Grade-Fifth Grade)

Upper Elementary School (Third Grade – Fifth Grade)

Sundays, 9:30AM-12:15PM

Upper elementary students continue to participate in the arts specials and holiday celebrations, and begin their Hebrew language and prayer studies in earnest. Students participate both in person on Sundays and virtually during the weekday in a short, small group Hebrew lesson. Yearlong Jewish studies themes for these grades include Holiness, Being part of a community, and Reform Judaism. Each session concludes with a special participatory T’filah, learning service, led by the CBI teachers, Clergy, and staff.

Middle School: Midrasha and B'nei Mitzvah Program (Sixth and Seventh Grades)

Middle School: Midrasha & B’nei Mitzvah Program (Sixth and Seventh Grades)

Sundays, 9:30AM-12:15PM

*Middle School Midrasha Learning Service from 10:30-11:00AM

6^th and 7^th grade students get the best of both worlds as they prepare for their upcoming B’nei Mitzvah and learn more about their Jewish identity.

Core Learning Classes focus on applying Jewish values on a larger scale through Mini Mitzvah projects, creating a class Tallit, and visiting the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE).

During the week, students who are preparing for their B’nei Mitzvah have the opportunity to work with one of our Cantor-approved Hebrew Tutors in a Virtual Hebrew session! These virtual sessions are included in your student’s Middle School tuition and comes at no extra cost. For more information about our Virtual Hebrew sessions, connect with Elisabeth Pierson.

High School: Midrasha (Eighth Grade-Twelfth Grade)

Sundays, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

8th grade and High School students are ready for the next step on their Jewish Journey, and to begin establishing their leadership within our community. They start their day with lunch and socializing with friends and then break off by grade to explore subjects such as Jewish identity, comparative religions, Jewish history and social justice.

In grades 8-12, there is advanced study of what it means to be on a Jewish Journey and the emergence of becoming a Jewish leader in the community.

Topics include dealing with social and religious ethics, open discussions with clergy and teachers on political issues and other items of concern to Jewish teenagers today.
Beginning in 8th grade, students may choose to work as Madrichim (classroom aides) in lower grades to gain valuable background and experience that can be applied to future roles in education. Students are required to complete the Madrichim In Training course led by our Education Director prior to working in the classroom.
- If your student is interested in working as a Madrichim, connect with Elisabeth Pierson on how to sign up for this training course!
Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Seminar to Washington D.C. is offered to students 10th grade as well culminating the end of the year with the Confirmation ceremony during the festival of Shavout.
11th and 12th grade students are eligible to participate in a trip to the South where they get a taste of southern Jewish life, learn about the Civil Rights Movement and solidify their lasting relationships as well as becoming eligible for scholarships to travel to Israel on teen NFTY trips.
A beautiful Graduation service created and led by seniors takes place at the end of the grade 12 year.

Family Learning

Details on our year-round opportunities for families to learn together coming soon!