Star Icon Program of- Gross Schechter Day School
Our lower school consists of students in grades Kindergarten through Fourth grade. The halls of our Lower School are alive with the sounds of students engaged in meaningful learning activities that provide them with a comprehensive education outstanding in both general and Judaic studies. Our team of dedicated teachers is committed to developing each student’s individual strengths and to maximize each child’s potential.
Janna Dorfman, Director of Admissions
The classroom environment encourages students to explore new ideas, practice new skills, be kind to one another and treat each other with respect. Technology is woven into all aspects of the curriculum, ensuring that students become proficient a variety of programs and research methods. Art, Music, and Physical Education classes complement and enhance the students’ experience at school.
Lower School Curriculum
Gross Schechter’s program is based on the new Common Core Standards of the State of Ohio. It consists of Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. The program provides the students with the foundational skills needed to become proficient readers able to understand various types of texts. In their math classes, the students learn strategies for problem solving and critical thinking, while the social studies and science strands of the curriculum help the students understand the world around them.
The program comes alive with activities such as the Wax Museum of famous Ohioans created by the students and “Dress-Up Like an Ancient Egyptian” Day. Visits to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Cleveland Natural History Museum and Shafran Planetarium, Columbus, and concerts at Severance Hall extend the program beyond the walls of the school.
In our Judaic Studies classes, the students are exposed to Hebrew as a living language and Judaism as a vibrant part of their daily lives. Students learn to speak, read and write Hebrew, study Torah, engage in tefillah (prayers) and learn about the Jewish holidays while developing strong emotional ties to Israel and a sense of pride in being Jewish.
Beyond the classroom activities, students’ Jewish connections are enriched through a wide variety of programs such as visiting sukkot of our Gross Schechter families, pressing olive oil for Chanukah, making personalized Havdalah candles, baking matzah, creating an Israeli restaurant, preparing and participating in a delicious Yemenite Seder and taking a multimedia virtual tour of Jerusalem.
