Middle School Programs (6th-8th grade)
6th Grade WNP (Wednesday Night Program)
6th Graders meet weekly for Wednesday Night Program (WNP). They begin by having dinner together and building social connections. They spend the rest of the evening dividing their time between Jewish History and Hebrew. In history, students learn about Jewish emancipation, the Holocaust, and the foundations of Israel. We also invite parents to a separate 6th Grade WNP Parent Track (see below).
Our year culminates with an overnight BE Mitzvah Retreat (5/21-5/22), the cost of which is covered in the tuition for this program. Students in 6th grade WNP do NOT need to register for an additional Hebrew class or tutoring (although they may be simultaneously in BE Mitzvah tutoring and WNP Hebrew if students have summer or early fall BE Mitzvah dates).
Date/Time: Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm
Tuition: $1390/student
WNP Parent Track
The 6th Grade WNP Parent Track gives parents the opportunity to join together for 5 sessions that focus on building community and learning about our BE Mitzvah process. Parents will receive additional support from PTBE clergy and staff. Learning sessions meet parallel to the 6th Grade student learning from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Wednesdays. Each session includes dinner and social time, so even if you have an older child who recently became BE Mitzvah, please join us for the community component.
Session Dates: October 21, December 2, January 13, February 3, March 10
Cost: $50/participant, to offset the cost of dinner.
To register for the WNP Parent Track, click HERE.
Mitzvah Corps (7th Grade)
Our rising BE Mitzvah cohort, together with their parent(s), engages in a fun, hands-on year of learning. The year focuses on mitzvot (commandments / values) and tikkun olam (repairing the world) through service learning projects for our community and meetings with local organizations with inspiring missions, such as Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), Samaritan House, and the San Francisco Center for Jewish Living (previously known as the Jewish Home for Aged). Students are challenged to embody meaningful Jewish repair of the world as they prepare to take on the honor of becoming BE Mitzvah - all while building their sense of community with their peers.
All Mitzvah Corps sessions are on Sundays except for volunteering on the Monday of MLK weekend. The first two sessions take place on Sundays from 11:30 am - 12:45 pm, but later sessions may be at different times depending on the service project. A schedule will be sent home at the start of the year so families can mark their calendars accordingly.
Day/Time: Sundays, monthly, 11:30am-12:45pm for cohort and parent learning, and hands-on mitzvah projects.
Session Dates for 2026-27 (Subject to change): 10/25, 11/15, 12/6, 1/18, 2/28, 3/21, 4/18, 5/2, 5/14
Tuition: $475
Madrichim in Training - M.I.T. (8th Grade)
Our 8th graders meet weekly during Rishonim to learn and observe what it means to be a leader at PTBE and beyond. There are 2 tracks that the 8th graders can choose between:
The Madrichim-in-Training (MIT) program is an essential prerequisite to our Madrichim program. Students learn how leadership relates to Judaism, as well as practical skills such as classroom management, child development, lesson planning, taking initiative, and how to be a dugma (role model) for our younger students as they take their place as leaders in the community. MITs have hands-on time with our Rishonim students as part of their training.
Songleaders-in-Training: As an MIT, students can choose instead to join the songleading program, working with Cantor Elana to learn the skills to become a songleader in the Madrichim program in 9th - 12th grades. These students meet at the same time as the MITs, but receive their own specific training. Songleaders do not need to play guitar. If your student would like to be a Songleader-in-Training, please contact Rabbi Janine for placement.
Note: 8th graders in the MIT program are also encouraged to sign up for Ruach.
Day/Time: Sundays, 9:00-11:00am
Tuition: $540/student
Ruach (8th Grade)
Ruach (which means “spirit”) gives 8th graders the opportunity to experience ruach by exploring different holidays and Jewish topics through cooking, games, social time, and conversation. In December, the students will go ice skating together in San Mateo Central Park. The 8th graders will also have the opportunity to share their wisdom as post-BE Mitzvah students with the 6th grade families. The program begins with dinner and is a perfect way for our younger teens to continue to build their Jewish friendships, strengthen their sense of community, and deepen their Jewish identity.
Note: Students in Ruach are also encouraged to sign up for the MIT program.
Tuition: $360
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 6:00pm - 8:00pm.
Session dates: 10/28, 11/18, 12/16, 1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 4/7.
Tuition: $360 / student