Education Overview

Welcome to Kadima Hebrew Academy where we believe that each child can achieve excellence in one or more areas, and our graduate’s accomplishments prove this. Our students are much more than outstanding, focused students, they are incredibly multi-faceted, caring human beings, because our program addresses academic, religious, spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Our school produces scientists, mathematicians, artists, and writers because a Kadima education requires that students demonstrate proficiency in scientific method, in problem solving, in visual and performing arts and in literary expression. Our students are also comfortable in the Jewish world of ritual and social action, and, through our Hebrew immersion program, children become fully literate bilingual communicators. Above all, we live character education – it is built into every interaction in this school – and everyone – staff, children and board members are held to the same standards.

Curriculum

Committed to excellence in all of its programs, Kadima Hebrew Academy educates students through comprehensive, fulfilling and outstanding Judaic, Hebrew and general studies curriculum. Our rigorous academic program exceeds State standards and provides students with a broad range of educational experiences in language arts, mathematics, social sciences, science, technology, fine arts and athletics. Kadima’s educators provide individualized educational experiences for our students in a caring and nurturing environment. We endeavor to enable students to achieve their highest potentials.

Kadima is a Solomon Schechter Day School. As a Conservative Jewish Day School, Kadima’s Jewish Studies program encourages critical thinking, and provides students with fluency and literacy in Hebrew language and Torah, as well as in traditional Jewish texts, skills, values and traditions. Kadima’s program provides students with the tools to live effective, committed, socially responsible, and motivated Jewish lives.

Kadima inspires its students to embrace a love of learning so they may grow into literate communicators, self-aware individuals, problem solvers, collaborative workers and lifelong learners.

Kadima seeks academic excellence. To that end, Kadima expects excellence and rigor from all members of its community: students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff. We expect the highest level of effort and performance because we believe that this deepens our graduate’s life experiences preparing them for a successful future where they can have a positive societal impact.

Our curriculum, and accompanying assessments, allows us to fulfill our educational goals. The curriculum details what we teach, ensures consistency, and permits us to vigorously review the effectiveness of our program. Our assessments assure that students achieve the mastery that the curriculum demands. Our curriculum seeks to produce graduates who are literate communicators self aware individuals, problem solvers, collaborative workers and lifelong learners.

Literate Communicators. The fundamental goal of our school is to provide a foundation of learning that will enable students to live successful and meaningful lives. Thus, Kadima graduates will: 1) speak fluently and listen effectively, 2) read and write clearly, competently, confidently and creatively; 3) process, evaluate and analyze critically; and, 4) demonstrate academic proficiency in a rigorous academic curriculum encompassing Hebrew language, Judaic Studies, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Sciences, the Fine Arts, Science, Technology, and Physical Education.

Self Aware Individuals: As a Solomon Schechter Day School, our program reflects the values of Conservative Judaism. We teach our students how to live Conservative Jewish lives, to act with moral sensitivity and empathy toward others, and to recognize that we have an obligation to engage in acts of Tikun Olam (repairing the world). Our students recognize, as committed and knowledgeable Jews, that they must respect themselves and others and contribute to their own community as well as the community at large.

Problem Solvers. Kadima teaches its students to think critically, draw conclusions, and apply that knowledge to real life situations. Kadima’s academic environment is rigorous – excellence requires nothing less. We teach our students to motivate and self-direct themselves so they may achieve their goals.

Collaborative Workers. Kadima is a community. Everything Kadima does stresses the importance of creating a vibrant, supportive community of parents students and educators. Kadima teaches its student to contribute to group projects as leaders, participants, evaluators, and observers. Kadima students, cognizant of the importance of community, learn how to balance the needs of the individual with those of the community.

Lifelong Learners. Fortified with their extensive and comprehensive education, Kadima graduates intrinsically value Torah L’shma (learning for the sake of learning). Kadima encourages its students to desire and seek knowledge throughout their lives, both within and outside the classroom; Kadima graduates recognize learning opportunities and actively pursue them.

Curriculum Highlights

SUBJECT	KINDERGARTEN	1st GRADE	2nd GRADE
LANGUAGE ARTS	Zoo Phonics Writers’ Workshop	Literature: short stories, poetry and small chapter books Writing: short stories with complete sentences and illustrations, Spelling and vocabulary, Phonics and word building	Literature: beginning novels and chapter books, Writing: complete paragraphs, creative writing Spelling and vocabulary, Phonics and word building
SOCIAL STUDIES	"All About Me, My Family, My Community"	"My Community, Neighborhood and Family" Introductory Map Skills: land forms, water, using a map key	"Family History and Traditions" Research report – "Ancestry" Map Skills: Identifying Continents and oceans
MATHEMATICS	Counting to 100 Measurement Sorting	Place value One-and-two digit addition and subtraction Graphs and charts Word Problems	Two-and-three digit addition and subtraction Word Problems "Marcy Cook Math" – problem solving and logic
SCIENCE	Living and Growing Five Senses	Matter and Magnets Earth and Sky	Plants and Animals Energy: heat, temperature, sound, light
HEBREW	Letter/sound recognition Holiday Rituals	Mastery of all Hebrew letters, including vowels Reading and writing sentences and short stories in present tense	Using the Hebrew alphabet to learn about Jewish values Vocabulary enhancement
TORAH	Bible stories and background	Basic prayers in song Introducing Five Books of Torah with main characters	Matok Program: Genesis -Creation; Cain and Abel through Noah.
ART	Artists and their style "Building Blocks of Art I"	Synagogue Project "Building Blocks of Art II"	Creation Project "Building Blocks of Art III"
COMPUTER	Creativity, problem-solving, open-ended drawing The computer as a tool – open files, shutdown Math challenge
PHYSICAL ED	Basic locomotor skills Jumping rope Nutrition	Recess games – handball, four square, hopscotch Nutrition	Advanced recess games – two touch, two square, simple gymnastics Nutrition