Thank you to all of the parents and attendees of the first NSHS/Har-El Parent Focus Group. It is very important for us to keep the conversation going, so I have started this blog. Some of the main ideas that were raised are as follows:
1. There needs to be seamless symmetry with North Shore Hebrew School so that:
a. Once a month a NSHS day is dedicated for youth group activities
b. On a regular basis there are youth group activities after a NSHS school day. This would be especially useful for marketing the youth groups as a whole.
2. There is a need to build a Youth Lounge where the youth want to hang out. How can we encourage them to be part of the building (and design) process?
3. Setting up an endowment for our youth now and in the future. What would this look like? Should there be a capital fundraiser?
4. How do we encourage the involvement of Har El youth group alumni? For example: Franki as a Youth Advisor, volunteerism, consulting Matt Goldberg on a regular basis for how we should move forward.
5. Creating a Junior Congregation & Tot Shabbat run by the USY Youth Group. Daniella, the interim Youth Director of Beth Israel explained that this is happening every week. Although we have Tot Shabbat every Friday, it should be expanded for Shabbat services as well to help them be more kid friendly.
6. We must promote our successes as the years go by and this requires consistency on behalf of the programming and staff.
A PROPOSED SOLUTION TO GET US GOING:
Creation of a North Shore Jewish Leadership School funded initially by municipal grants but eventually through consistent donations and/or an endowment. The NSJLS will be the umbrella that unites the youth groups, the NSHS Madrichim Program, Almuni reunions and young adult programming, nature Shabbatons and other leadership programs such as Outward Bound. The staff requirement for the 2013-14 year would entail the Youth Director and at least two youth advisers.
The immediate benefit of creating this school is that it would focus on the 6th-8th graders helping to solidify the community amongst the youth so that the youth programming can grow stronger. The school will be the bridge between North Shore Hebrew School and Congregation Har El to help with the amalgamation and to show our intention for working together.
1. There needs to be seamless symmetry with North Shore Hebrew School so that:
a. Once a month a NSHS day is dedicated for youth group activities
b. On a regular basis there are youth group activities after a NSHS school day. This would be especially useful for marketing the youth groups as a whole.
2. There is a need to build a Youth Lounge where the youth want to hang out. How can we encourage them to be part of the building (and design) process?
3. Setting up an endowment for our youth now and in the future. What would this look like? Should there be a capital fundraiser?
4. How do we encourage the involvement of Har El youth group alumni? For example: Franki as a Youth Advisor, volunteerism, consulting Matt Goldberg on a regular basis for how we should move forward.
5. Creating a Junior Congregation & Tot Shabbat run by the USY Youth Group. Daniella, the interim Youth Director of Beth Israel explained that this is happening every week. Although we have Tot Shabbat every Friday, it should be expanded for Shabbat services as well to help them be more kid friendly.
6. We must promote our successes as the years go by and this requires consistency on behalf of the programming and staff.
A PROPOSED SOLUTION TO GET US GOING:
Creation of a North Shore Jewish Leadership School funded initially by municipal grants but eventually through consistent donations and/or an endowment. The NSJLS will be the umbrella that unites the youth groups, the NSHS Madrichim Program, Almuni reunions and young adult programming, nature Shabbatons and other leadership programs such as Outward Bound. The staff requirement for the 2013-14 year would entail the Youth Director and at least two youth advisers.
The immediate benefit of creating this school is that it would focus on the 6th-8th graders helping to solidify the community amongst the youth so that the youth programming can grow stronger. The school will be the bridge between North Shore Hebrew School and Congregation Har El to help with the amalgamation and to show our intention for working together.
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