Middle School Programs (6th-8th grade)
6th Grade WNP (Wednesday Night Program)
Our 6th graders have an important year where they begin to prepare for upcoming BE Mitzvah. They have graduated from elementary school but are not yet ready to join our teen programming. Our goals for 6th grade are to gather students from different elementary programs into one connected community prior to their BE Mitzvah year. We also want to challenge them with learning that introduces our Jewish history and helps motivate them to stand up for justice.
6th Graders meet 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 will also invite families together for four sessions to focus on upcoming themes of BE Mitzvah, including a BE Mitzvah orientation Shabbat service in early December.
Our year culminates with a weekend BE Mitzvah retreat at Walden West (4/17-4/18), 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.
Date/Time: Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm
Tuition: $1350/student
WNP Parent Circle (Newly Revised!)
The WNP Parent Circle is an opportunity for parents of participating 6th graders to meet for dinner and conversation, and engage in focused information sessions with our clergy and staff around all aspects of the BE Mitzvah process.
Session dates: Wednesday, 6-8pm: September 10, November 11, January 28th, February 4, March 4, April 15
Cost: $60/participant, to offset the cost of dinner. To register for the WNP Parent Circle, 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 about mitzvot and tikkun olam through service learning projects for our community, and meetings with local organizations with inspiring missions. Students will be challenged to embody meaningful Jewish repair of the world as they prepare to take on the honor of becoming BE Mitzvah. We begin our year with a weekend BE Mitzvah retreat at Walden West Retreat Center and then meet monthly on Sunday mornings. Timing may change based on the need of the mitzvah project. Mitzvah Corps also includes regular opportunities to dive into ritual, prayer, and Jewish meaning-making. Frequency: 1/month for cohort learning on Sundays. In addition, we expect our BE Mitzvah students to attend a Friday or Saturday Shabbat service monthly. Tuition includes fees for the Fall retreat. Led by Rabbi Janine Schloss and Rabbi Rebecca Hecht.
Day/Time: Sundays, monthly, 11:30am-12:45pm for cohort and parent learning, and hands-on mitzvah projects
Session Dates for 2025-26: 10/26, 11/16, 12/7, 1/19 (MLK Day of Service), 2/8, 3/1 (Purim Carnival), 4/12, 5/3
Tuition: $1160
Madrichim in Training - M.I.T. (8th Grade)
Madrichim serve many important functions in the religious school classroom. They help with concrete tasks like taking attendance and collecting tzedakah. They support learning through leading activities or helping students focus. However, the most important role of the madrich/a is to help every student feel welcome and included. It is powerful to witness madrichim taking ownership, and realizing that it is in their power to help younger students feel connected in a time when we are all struggling with connection.
Our 8th graders will meet weekly during Rishonim to learn and observe what it means to be a leader at PTBE and beyond. They will learn how leadership relates to Judaism, as well as practical skills such as classroom management, child development, lesson planning, taking initiative, how to be a dugma (role model) for our younger students, and more skills in becoming a leader in the community. MITs also have an opportunity to teach electives in the spring, based on their own interests and expertise.
Ultimately, this training year of experience will not only help our students become future Madrichim, but also future camp counselors, sports coaches and teachers. Our Madrichim program makes impressive experiences on college applications and can lead to paid positions working in our Education Programs.
Day/Time: Sundays, 9:00-11:00am
Tuition: $525/student
Ruach (8th Grade)
Ruach means spirit, and we are happy to offer our 8th graders this opportunity to continue their class ruach through celebrating Jewish holidays and themes together. Each of the six sessions will explore a different holiday or Jewish topic through cooking projects, games, and conversation. On each of the Wednesday evenings, the program meets from 6-7:30, beginning with a dinner in Fellowship Hall. This is a perfect program for our younger teens to keep building Jewish friendships, community, and learning on the way to Confirmation. (Note: This course is also open to interested 9th graders). Led by Alison Levy
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, session dates: 10/22, 11/19, 12/10, 1/28, 2/25, 3/25
Tuition: $300 / student