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Shabbat Shalom!

Upcoming Dates

Monday, May 17: No School- Shavuot

Monday, May 31: No School- Memorial Day

Friday, June 11: Kindergarten End of the Year Shabbat, 2-2:30pm

Tuesday, June 15: Pre-K End of the Year Ceremony, 5-5:30pm

Wednesday, June 16: Last Day of School & Early Closing. See below.

Monday, June 21: First Day of Summer Program

School Year/Year Round Calendars School Year/Year Round Calendars

News & Updates

Kindergarten End of the Year Shabbat

Friday, June 11, 2-2:30pm
The kindergarteners invite their families to this special end of the year celebration! The children will join Emily Perlman and Rabbi Todd in leading us in songs and prayers. Please read the full details and register on the sign up form.

Pre-K End of Year Ceremony

Tuesday, June 15, 5-5:30pm (note date/time change) in the TBS parking lot
Nahar, Shemesh, Kohavim, Geshem, and Ruach classes will have a special ceremony to bless our young learners on the completion of a wonderful year. Each class will share a song or dance they have prepared. Please read the full details and register on the sign up form.

Last Day of School Pick Up

Wednesday, June 16
The last day of school is a half day as planned. The Shalom Party & Picnic originally planned for that day have been cancelled due to gathering restrictions. We hope to bring them both back next year! Meanwhile each class will be creating a special end of year experience for the children to enjoy during the regular school day.

Please read carefully for pick up details:

If you typically pick up from 11:30am-11:45am, please pick up as close to 11:30am as possible.
If you typically pick up at 1:00pm, please pick up from 11:35am-11:45am.
If you typically pick up at 2:30pm, please pick up from 11:45am-12:00pm.
If you typically pick up at 4:00pm, please pick up from 12:00-12:15pm.
If you typically pick up AFTER 4:00pm, please pick up from 12:15-12:30pm.

We will not be eating lunch at school this day, so please send a hearty snack to tide your child over until a later lunch.

Health Updates

Travel for Household with All Adults Vaccinated

If all adults (and any children over age 10) in your household are vaccinated, you can 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 Households 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.

Changes to Health Protocols

Based on the latest science on virus mitigation, the Department of Early Education has slightly loosened the health protocols, including the following:

In-person services such as speech therapy will resume, after visitors have completed the health attestation and visual screening.
Mixing classes on a limited basis, for example a child from one class joining another class for the early morning program, will also resume.

These measures will be slowly and carefully phased in at TBS, allowing us to better meet the needs of children and families while still keeping children and faculty healthy.

The Department of Early Education has also emphasized the importance of our continued focus on three specific virus mitigation strategies:

Using outdoor spaces
Increasing ventilation and circulation of fresh air through the upgrades made to the TBS HVAC system last spring
Mask wearing

These strategies are all solidly in place, with even more outdoor time made possible by the warming spring weather.

Parties & Playdates

Let's have some fun outside! With low virus rates in the community, many adults vaccinated, and the spring weather, this is a good time to gather for small outdoor parties and playdates. For the health of the community while our children remain unvaccinated, we ask that, whenever possible, you limit social gatherings to those that meet the following criteria 1) small groups 2) all individuals ages 2+ are wearing masks 3) held outdoors and 4) short durations.

Surveillance Screening Results

This week, we processed 229 antigen tests. Our screening included faculty, staff, children and family members from the Children’s Center and Mayim Tamid. All tests were negative. This low positivity rate in our TBS community and our local community is encouraging.

More COVID-19 Health Resources

Around Temple Beth Shalom & the Community

It’s a Challah-Day!

TODAY Friday, May 14, 9-10:00am & 4-5:00pm
The aroma of freshly baked challah is in the air! Follow your nose to the TBS front parking lot and pick up a challah to take home for your Shabbat table--a gift from TBS. No need to sign up in advance, just come by. We have plenty of both plain and chocolate chip. While you are there, say hello to your favorite rabbis and TBS staff, too--they'll be outside distributing challahs. We can’t wait to see you!

Path to Well-Being Community Support

If you are (or someone you know is) struggling with anxiety or depression, or seeking re-employment services and support during these challenging times, There are free, confidential, and easy-to-access resources available. Path to Well-being is a new joint initiative of McLean Hospital, Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), and Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS). Don’t hesitate to reach out! More details.

Race to the Top of Mt Sinai Challenge

Continues through this Monday, May 17 (Shavuot)
Join with your TBS community as we run, walk, bike, row, push a stroller, Peloton, wheelchair, skateboard and swim from Temple Beth Shalom 5,614 miles to the top of Mt. Sinai. Log your miles and keep an eye on the map. Each trip there or back unlocks a special prize for our racers. Click here to sign up.

Book Drive: Spring Cleaning for a Cause!

Tuesday, May 18 at morning drop off
Join TBS Social Action as we collect Gently Used Books for More Than Words. This local nonprofit, online retail book store employs and provides job training, education assistance, housing assistance and career planning for vulnerable youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness, have dropped out of school or are in foster care.

Clean out your book shelves for a great cause! We will accept gently used or new donations of paperback and hardcover books of any genre as well as in foreign languages. We cannot accept torn or damaged books or encyclopedias. Sign up HERE! Questions? Contact us at socialaction@TBSNeedham.org