FAQ for Religious School - Temple Beth Shalom

Yes. Membership at Temple Beth Shalom is part of the school enrollment process for our K-12 learning programs.
Taste of Religious School (potty trained 4–5-year-olds) is the only offering open to non-members if space allows.
We warmly welcome everyone to attend a worship service or special programs to experience what our congregation has to offer.
To learn more, please contact our office at 512-735-8900 or via this form.

At what age should my child(ren) start Sunday School?

We believe it’s never too early to begin your child’s journey in Jewish learning! Our Sunday School program starts in kindergarten and continues through 12th grade, with a thoughtfully designed curriculum that grows along with your child.

That said, we know every family is different, and we’re here to meet you where you are. Whether your child is starting in kindergarten or joining later on, we’ll work together to help them feel at home and supported in their learning.

Planning for a B’nai Mitzvah? To ensure your child is fully prepared, we ask that they begin Religious School by fifth grade at the latest.

We’re excited to welcome your family into our community!

In what grade will my child(ren) start Hebrew School?

Formal Hebrew studies begin in 3rd grade and goes through 6th grade. If you would like to discuss alternative Hebrew learning plans, such as private tutoring, please contact our school at school@bethshalomaustin.org.

What days and times is Religious School offered?

We offer classes at various times throughout the week. Members can find the calendar and schedule here.

How do I enroll in Religious School?

The first step in signing up for Religious School is to fill out our Religious School Registration form. Our registration form allows you to pick specific sessions for Sunday School and Hebrew School, share information about your child(ren), request class placement with friends, and sign up for additional programs, like our music opportunities. This step needs to be completed to ensure that your child(ren) is in your preferred session, and it allows the full-time education staff to prepare for the upcoming school year. You can find the Registration Form in your online member portal under the School Enrollments section.

The second step: To ensure that your child(ren)’s registration is approved and for them to be officially enrolled in our Religious School program, you will need to renew your Membership beginning on July 1. At Temple Beth Shalom, we believe the most important thing is to be a part of our community. We reaffirm this commitment yearly by renewing our membership, and the link to renew can be found in your Member Portal. Once you renew, a member of the Religious School staff will be able to process your enrollment.

Religious School Tuition costs increase on August 11. Therefore, you must complete both steps—Religious School enrollment and membership renewal—between July 1–August 10, before Religious School late fees apply on August 11.

I see there are two different Religious School sessions. What are the differences between Morning Session and Afternoon Session?

Morning Session	Afternoon Session
Classes offered: ToRS-5^th grade	Classes offered: K-7th (6th and 7th grade classes are only offered in Session 2)
Class Times: All classes start at 8:45 a.m. and end at 10:45 a.m.	Class Times: All classes meet from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. K-2nd grade meets in a one-room schoolhouse model (with sufficient student enrollment).
Curriculum: All students are in grade-specific classes and follow a modified spiral curriculum (meaning they cover the same subjects every several years at increasingly sophisticated levels). For more information about what your children will be learning specifically, you can visit our curriculum pages. Unlike Session 2, no alternative tracks are offered for 3rd-5th grade.	Curriculum: K-2^nd grade curriculum is the same as the Session 1 curriculum. 3^rd-5^th grade students choose either the Omanut (Art) or Teva (Nature) track, exploring various aspects of Judaism through the lens of the class they are in.

There are so many options! Which do I choose to make sure that my child is enrolled?

Kindergarten - 2^nd Grade

Select one Judaic option, EITHER the AM Session (grouped by grade level) or the PM Session (one-room schoolhouse model), or the new Nisayon program.
2^nd graders have the option to add Kids’ Choir to their enrollment.

3^rd- 5^th Grade

Select ONE Judaic option (Sunday Morning Session, Sunday Afternoon Session, OR Nisayon) and ONE Hebrew option (Sunday Hebrew, Wednesday Hebrew, Online Hebrew OR Private Tutoring).
If neither Hebrew option works with your child’s schedule, you can choose either an online option through our partner, Shalom Learning, or private tutoring.
3rd-5th graders have the option to add Kids' Choir to their enrollment.

6^th& 7^th Grade

6th Grade will select ONE Judaic option (Afternoon Session OR Nisayon) and ONE Hebrew option (Sunday Hebrew, Wednesday Hebrew, Online Hebrew OR Private Tutoring).
7th Graders will select just a Judaic option (Afternoon Sessiono or Nisayon). We know that our 7th graders are working hard with their Hebrew tutors, and therefore do not have an additional Hebrew school class.
If the Judaic options doesn’t work with your child’s schedule, you can choose our new alternative program, Nisayon.
If neither Hebrew session works with your 6th grader's schedule, you can choose either an online option through our partner, Shalom LinkED or private tutoring.
6th graders have the option to add Kids' Choir to their enrollment.

8^th – 12^th Grade

Select your Sunday class.
Apply to be a part of our Hadracha Program here: https://www.bethshalomaustin.org/hadracha-leadership-program

I see Nisayon mentioned a couple of times. What is Nisayon?

Nisayon is our new, flexible learning track designed for families who need an alternative to our traditional Sunday School schedule. The word Nisayon means “journey” or “experience” in Hebrew, and that’s exactly what this program offers — a meaningful, hands-on Jewish learning experience that fits your family's lifestyle.

Nisayon blends independent learning, family engagement, and community gatherings to create a rich and personalized Jewish education. It's ideal for learners who thrive outside the classroom setting or who have scheduling conflicts on Sundays.

Whether your family is looking for more flexibility, a different learning style, or a new way to connect with Jewish life, Nisayon is a supportive and engaging path forward.

If you’re interested in learning more, we’d love to talk with you and see if Nisayon is the right fit for your family!

I see that that Sunday School and Hebrew school have separate registration fees. Which enrollment is required for my child to have a b’nai mitzvah?

The requirement for b’nai mitzvah is to be enrolled in Sunday school. Sunday school provides students the opportunity to learn about all the things they need to know to be competent and confident Jewish adults—things like holidays, the Torah stories, and the land of Israel. It also allows more time for creating community and getting to know the other children in their class.

While students will need to learn Hebrew to have their b’nai mitzvah, there are different ways that can happen. One of those ways is to enroll in Hebrew school classes at Temple Beth Shalom. We think it’s great to send your children to both Sunday and Hebrew classes at the temple because it does continue the community building that is happening in Sunday classes, but we also know that Hebrew classes often don’t meet our students’ needs for various reasons:

Hebrew school classes can conflict with other activities;
It’s hard to get to the temple on a weekday afternoon;
Students are tired after a long day of school;
Or there may be learning exceptionalities that make it difficult to learn in a large classroom atmosphere.

With that in mind, families may choose to hire a Hebrew tutor instead of enrolling in Hebrew classes, which allows for a personalized experience.

EXCEPTION: Students enrolled at the Austin Jewish Academy do not need to enroll in our Sunday School program. We do highly encourage their participation in our various engagement programs.

How much does Religious School cost?

Sunday School, Hebrew School and B'nai Mitzvah fees are paid during Membership Renewal/New Member sign-up. There are some additional fees that will be collected when you fill out the Religious School enrollment form.

Taste of Religious School (ToRS), 4 & 5 year old, Sundays in-person	$180 member/$375 non-member
Kindergarten-5^th Grade Traditional School, and Nisayon	$425 standard fee/$625 late fee*
3^rd-5^th Grade Omanut (Art class), Sundays in-person	$425 standard fee/$625 late fee* + $180 supply fee paid during the registration process
6^th Grade Judaic studies classes Judaic classes and Nisayon	$485 standard fee/$685 late fee* (includes the cost of the 6th & 7th Grade field trip) + $700 B'nai Mitzvah fee
7^th Grade Judaic studies classes Judaic classes and Nisayon	$485 standard fee/$685 late fee* (includes the cost of the 6th & 7th Grade field trip)
8^th-12^th Grade Judaic studies classes, Sundays in-person	$285
3^rd-6^th Grade Hebrew, Sundays or Wednesdays in-person	$345 standard fee/$480 late fee*
3^rd-6^th Grade Hebrew classes, online	$345 standard fee/$480 late fee* + $170 fee paid during the registration process**

*Late fees will be assessed beginning on August 11.

**The cost of the Shalom LinkED Hebrew program is $515. You will be assessed an additional fee to address the difference between our tuition and the Shalom LinkED tuition.

Why is there a separate fee for Hebrew School?

Temple Beth Shalom believes it is the responsibility of the entire community to educate our youth. Your portion of the Religious School fees covers approximately 50% of the costs for running a program that meets our community goals and expectations. Because of inflation and rising costs, in order to continue to maintain the percentage of our budget that fees cover, it is necessary to add a Hebrew School fee.

Why am I charged the B'nai Mitzvah fee in 6^th grade?

The B'nai Mitzvah fee is assessed in the 6^th grade year because this is when the B’nai Mitzvah process begins in earnest. This includes students receiving their B'nai Mitzvah binder and meetings with staff and clergy and special B'nai Mitzvah Cohort meetings.

Is there an attendance requirement?

Yes, there is. To help your child stay on track, we require at least 70% attendance for all students who are in the B’nai Mitzvah process, which begins in 5th grade.

Because Hebrew is an essential part of B’nai Mitzvah preparation, all learners planning to begin the B’nai Mitzvah journey must begin Hebrew learning no later than 5th grade.

We know life is busy and that many of our students are involved in sports, arts, and other activities. We’re here to support your family and will work in partnership with you to help your child succeed, even with a full schedule. Our goal is to make Jewish learning meaningful, manageable, and joyful for everyone involved.

If my child cannot come to an in-person class, can they participate via Zoom?

No. We do not have the resources to offer multi-access classes. If your child(ren) cannot make it to an in-person class, they will be marked absent. Please reach out to your child(ren)'s teacher to see if there are any materials so your child’s learning can stay on track.

How will the temple communicate with me about Religious School and Hebrew School?

Please check your email for the latest information about Religious and Hebrew School. Communications will come from the Religious School Bulletin and from your child(ren)'s teachers. In case of emergencies and school closures, the Religious School will use the Remind texting service to share this information immediately.

What if my spouse isn't Jewish?

We welcome all interfaith families!

Are you able to accommodate students with learning differences, social emotional needs and/or physical limitations, etc.?

We are committed to the inclusivity of all our exceptional learners. When parents partner with us and share all relevant information, we increase the likelihood of successful outcomes. Our goals are to inspire a love of Judaism through celebration, tradition, customs, community, and fun. Our team will work with you and your child(ren) to meet the goals established.

My child(ren) really wants to be in class with their friend. Is this possible?

We hope so! The sooner you complete your registration, the more likely we can help. If you fill out your enrollment form prior to August 1, we will ensure your child is with at least one of their friends.

Some students feel more comfortable and look forward to coming to Religious School when there is a familiar face in the room, especially when the class meets much less frequently than their full-time school. We do our best to accommodate friend requests, and we also take other factors into consideration.

My child(ren) don’t know the other kids in their class/I don’t know the other parents in my child(ren)’s class. What can I do?

Kehillah (community) is an important part of belonging to a temple, and we want to help everyone make a connection. Here are some ways we can partner in helping create a strong kehillah.

Send students to Sunday school regularly. It’s hard for students to remember who their classmates and teachers are when they don’t come regularly.
Sign your kids up for our Kids’ Night Out and our different Shabbatonim (overnights)! It’s a fantastic way for kids to spend more time together in a fun and social environment.
Join us for Shabbat services and Family Holiday Programs like our 2^nd Day Rosh Hashanah program, Mitzvahpalooza, or Purim carnival.
Volunteer to be a Room Parent/Class Connector and organize a class meetup after Sunday school.

Do you have an online option for Sunday and Hebrew School?

Yes, we’re pleased to offer online learning options for families who are unable to attend in person. We are partnering with ShalomLearning and the Atlanta Hebrew Connection to provide online Hebrew classes for students in 1st–7th grade.

We are still awaiting confirmation on whether online Judaic learning will be available through ShalomLearning this year. As soon as we have more details, we’ll share them with our families.

If you're interested in enrolling in the online Hebrew program or have questions about upcoming online options, please contact the Religious School Office for more information. We're here to support your family's learning needs in whatever way works best for you.

Thu, July 10 2025 14 Tammuz 5785

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