Parent Handbook
This handbook explains our program, policies, and what to expect, so the year runs beautifully for your family and ours. Please read it through, and always feel free to get involved, ask questions, and keep in touch.
Welcome
We're so glad your family is part of Wilshire Hebrew School. Our mission is to nurture every child's Jewish identity and to give them a warm, positive, lifelong relationship with Judaism, their heritage, and the land of Israel.
Program information
Grades: Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 5th grade.
Hours: Tuesdays, 2:00 to 4:00 PM, September through May.
Drop-off and pick-up: in the front, at 741 Gayley Avenue.
Office and mailing: 919 Malcolm Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
Contact: 323-613-3663, [email protected].
Arrivals and pick-up
Drop-off and pick-up are both done in the front, at 741 Gayley Avenue. For everyone's safety, please pull up to drop off your child only once the security guard waves you to the front of the line. Kindly arrive on time at 2:00, and be prompt at 4:00 pick-up.
Attendance and punctuality
Consistency is the single biggest key to a happy, successful year. Friendships grow, Hebrew reading builds, and your child feels at home. Please try to schedule activities around Hebrew School, and if your child will be absent or needs to leave early, a quick text or email is always appreciated.
Security
Your child's safety comes first. We have security and a trained EMT on-site for every session, a teacher and an assistant in every class in addition to tutors, and clear procedures in place should an emergency ever arise, G‑d forbid.
Accidents and emergencies
A minor scrape is handled with care by our staff and on-site EMT. For anything more serious, G‑d forbid, we will reach you right away using your emergency contact information, so please keep it current.
Snack and food
We do not provide snacks. We encourage parents to sign up for our weekly Pizza Lunch, and if your child gets hungry, they may bring a kosher-certified snack. Please note we are a nut-free environment, with no tree nuts or peanuts.
Behavior and classroom culture
Learning Jewish values means living them, with kindness, respect, and care for others. We ask children to come ready to participate, listen, and treat classmates and teachers with respect. Hurtful behavior has no place here, and in the rare case a concern arises, we will reach out and work through it together, warmly.
Phones and personal items
To keep children present and engaged, phones stay home or in a bag during class. If one comes out, a teacher will hold it safely and return it at pick-up. To reach your child during class, just call the office. Please label outerwear and belongings.
What to bring
We provide all books and materials. Boys are welcome to wear a kippah, and we keep extras on hand. We also encourage each child to bring a coin or two for tzedakah, a small daily mitzvah that means a great deal.
Incentives and our Prize Store
We lead with encouragement, never pressure. Children earn Hebrew School dollars for effort, participation, mitzvot, and kindness, which they spend in our Prize Store, stocked with a large and exciting array of prizes. It's our way of making every child feel like a champion.
Our learning
Our program centers on Aleph Champ Hebrew reading, which lets every child climb the levels at their own pace, along with tefillah and the holidays, heroes, and mitzvot of our people through the CKids curriculum. New this year, an optional homework program helps children progress even faster, and your involvement at home makes a real difference.
Staying connected
We send regular email updates on what your child is learning and what's ahead, and we keep our website current. Please reach out anytime. We love a strong parent-teacher partnership.
We can't wait to share a meaningful, joyful year with your family.
Warmly,
Rabbi Menachem & Rikki Cunin