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Shabbat Shalom!

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, July 27: Bike Rodeo

Friday, July 30: Last Day for School Year/Summer Only Children

Monday, August 9: Talking About Gender & Sexual Identity Workshop

Thursday, August 19: Last Day for Year Round Children

News & Updates

Talking About Gender & Sexual Identity

Monday, August 9, 8-9pm. Registration required.

This workshop supports parents of young children and other caring adults in understanding the difference between identity and behavior, as well as the importance of talking with their children about sexual orientation and gender identity. This interactive workshop helps lay a foundation with terminology and moves beyond that to help parents craft messages of acceptance for their young people. Parents will understand why it is important to talk with young people about sexual orientation and gender identity and will learn the impact of young people receiving honest, ongoing, factual information from their parents/caregivers around the topics of sexual orientation and gender identity. Taught by Ran Courant-Morgan, M.S. (they/them), Manager of Parent Education, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Registration required.

Substitute Teachers

Just as we are with children, we are being extra cautious this year when symptoms arise in our faculty and staff, and that means we need more subs. We have been fortunate to find a few talented subs, who are now part of our regular team, so they know the children and classroom routines well. We are looking to add more subs to our roster. Our ideal sub has a background in working with children, a flexible nature, and availability at least two days per week. If you have anyone to refer, please encourage them to email us at jobs@tbsneedham.org

Health Updates

Antigen Testing Available

BinaxNOW antigen tests are available for the TBS community each morning. If you would like an antigen test for a family member, please register on our testing calendar and come to the main lobby at your appointment time. The cost is $10 per test and TBS covers the costs of these tests for all enrolled children and staff.

Sick Procedures

If your child is sick with any of the following symptoms, please keep them home and let us know:

Fever of 100°F or higher
Cough
Sore throat
Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
Gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)

To return to TBS children must be 24 hours symptom free with no medications AND cleared by a physician or a negative covid test. If you obtain a covid test at a testing site or pediatrician office, send the results to us at paperwork@tbsneedham.org. If you would like TBS to perform the covid test, please register on our testing calendar and bring your child to the main lobby at your appointment time. TBS covers the costs of these tests for all enrolled children.

If your child or a household member has a pending covid test due to illness or exposure, children may not attend school. Please let us know that your child will be out. They can return when the negative test results are received.

Travel for Household with All Adults Vaccinated

If all adults (and any children over age 10) in your household are vaccinated, you can be added to our approved travel list. Those on the list will no longer need to submit a travel form each time you travel out of state. If you have already submitted your vaccination record, you will be added automatically. To be added to the list, please email your vaccination record to paperwork@tbsneedham.org.

Travel for Household with Unvaccinated Adults or Unvaccinated Children Ages 10+

Complete this form before you travel out of state. TBS Travel Form. Email related paperwork to paperwork@tbsneedham.org or upload it on the form. Current travel requirements and relevant links are listed on the form.

Surveillance Screening Results

This week, we processed 30 PCR tested and 150 antigen tests and all were negative. Our screening included faculty, counselors, children and family members. For antigen tests, you will receive a notification via the Navica app. For PCR tests, you will generally only receive a notification from the testing lab if the result is positive.

More COVID-19 Health Resources

Around Temple Beth Shalom & the Community

Shabbat Sing Along

Friday, July 23, 5:15pm
Join Josh Shriber for a parking lot sing along as we welcome Shabbat. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair. Rain cancels.

Shabbat Jingle & Jam

Fridays, 4:15-4:50pm
Celebrate Shabbat with music, dance! Join Cantorial Soloist DJ Fortine for the perfect combination of Shabbat and music learning as we sing, dance, and play instruments together. Geared towards ages three and under, the whole family is welcome, including older and younger siblings. Meets outdoors, in the Temple Beth Shalom outdoor classrooms along Highland Ave. Park at Temple Beth Shalom or Three Squares. Register.

Tails and Tales Summer Reading Program

Runs through Wednesday, August 11
Designed for children ages 4 - 11
Read along with the Needham Free Public Library. Can you find a rare endangered animal? Will you save an orphaned baby rhino? Register here, read and log the time you spend reading. The more you read, the deeper you will journey into the jungle. Adventure and fantastic wild animals await you. Register here.