opened in 2003
Shalom Education Center
A place where children can feel at ease and learn
About us
Shalom Education Center is a place for families with Russian-Speaking Jewish background to become a community!
We are based in Rockville Maryland (at Bender JCC of Greater Washington).
Our center is opened on Sundays from 9.30 am till 2.30 pm.
Our center is opened on Sundays from 9.30 am till 2.30 pm.
Our center’s programming is generously sponsored by the Genesis Philanthropy Group and The Jewish Federations of North America.
We offer the following programs:
Program for volunteers (MCPS accredited, SSL hours).
We aim to find an individual approach to every student. This includes using English to help those children who are less than fluent in Russian.
Shalom Educational Center is more than a school. It is a place where families gather to become a community. The children learn not only the Russian language, Math, Music and Art, but also Jewish culture.
SHALOM
2024-25 schedule
Additional classes: individual math, individual online classes, Hebrew classes, Theatre, Plastilina clay, Felting, Knitting club, Yoga, Scratch.
B'NAI MITZVAH PROGRAM
This year long program will prepare young people for taking part in the traditional Jewish ceremony of transition from childhood to being an adult.
The program consist of three unified parts:
- Basic Hebrew reading and conversation,
- Jewish History and culture class,
- B'nai Mitzvah preparation.
The B'nai Mitzvah curriculum was devised to give the students the skills and confidence to help lead a service in a Synagogue. They learn the main parts of the service, the important prayers and blessings and each will be able to stand before the Torah for a personal Aliyah and chant from the text in Hebrew.
The Jewish history and culture class studying the Book of Genesis, discussing the life of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs and how the text has been interpreted throughout history. Each student is encouraged to ask questions and come up with interpretations that are relevant to them. This prepares them to write a speech on the specific portion they read from the Torah. They are also required to do a Mitzvah Project of their choice. The second part of the class discussed critical issues important to the students from a Jewish perspective.
The Shalom School B'nai Mitzvah ceremony takes place in early summer (end of May or June) and is done on a Saturday evening.
2024-25 school year classes
9.30am - HEBREW with Lucy
10.20am - B'NAI MITZVAH PREPARATION with Anna Dubinsky
11.10am - JEWISH HISTORY and CONTEXT with Anna Dubinsky
Robert Levy supervises this program. Regular meetings with Rabbi.
OUR CLASSES
with Natalia Nesterova and Svetlana Senkovskaya
Russian Language
The class is based on communicative approach: teaching language through interaction.
Classroom activities include role-play, interviews, shooting and watching videos, different kinds of games and creative tasks.
Classroom activities include role-play, interviews, shooting and watching videos, different kinds of games and creative tasks.
With Maria chernova
Russian Language
The class for 5-9 year-old children is using modern curricula designed for bilingual students living abroad, adapted to the students’ age.
With Lucy Dubinsky
Hebrew
Younger groups learn conversational vocabulary and phrases for everyday use. Older groups learn different themed units such as family, home, school, etc. Lessons are accompanied by learning packets that include vocabulary, explanations, and activities.
individual classes With Yakov Shtipelman, Ph.D.
Math and logic
Lessons focus on solving equations and word problems that depends on class level:
– Iinear equations,
– systems of equations,
quadratic equations.
– Iinear equations,
– systems of equations,
quadratic equations.
With Natalia Grishina
Math
The class is designed to review concepts students are learning in school or do not understand well.
The lessons are interactive with math games and activities to practice the concepts.
With Maria ChernovA and Svetlana Senkovskaya
Creative reading
The class is taught using Russian and Jewish classical and modern texts. Inspired by what they read, students spend time in class discussing the issues of the world and society, drawing, taking pictures, creating their own poems and putting on skits.
With Diana Yakobson
Reading
This class provides basic skills of reading (reading by syllables, words and sentences), by solving puzzles and riddles, reading poems and fairy-tails.
With Ekaterina Furtseva
Art
In this class will students explore methods, materials and techniques of visual arts, learn lements and principles of designs and practice basics of pattern, symmetry, space, and composition.
With Gersh Chervinsky and Ekaterina Anishchenko
Music
The class is based on Karl Orff approach, the developmental approach used in music education. It combines music, movement, drama, and speech into lessons that are similar to child’s world of play.
with Anna Dubinsky and Robert Levy
B'nai mitzvah preparation
In this class students study Jewish history and culture starting with the Book of Genesis, discussing the life of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs and how the text has been interpreted throughout history. Each student is encouraged to ask questions and come up with interpretations that are relevant to them. This prepares them to write a speech on the specific portion they read from the Torah.
With Lucy Dubinsky
Hebrew for B'nai mitzvah program
Learning basic Hebrew skills to decode prayers and blessings is essential part of becoming B’nai Mitzvah.
After taking this class students will feel comfortable coming to the Jewish sanctuary and opening a prayer book.
In this course students also learn traditions about main Jewish holidays and life-cycle events.
With Zina Segal
Teen Leaders
(Pizza hours)
Post B’nai Mitzvah teenagers come back to be a part of the Shalom family, volunteer and hang out with their friends.
Each year we pick a topic to learn, discuss and to create projects.
We hope our teenagers will grow into self-confident adults, who are proud of their Russian-Jewish heritage, feel connected to Israel and recognize the power and importance of Jewish Community.
Our school’s programs is generously sponsored by
