THE BAIS YAAKOV PHILOSOPHY

In the age old history of traditional Jewish education, the Bais Yaakov concept is relatively new. Yet from its modest beginning in Poland in 1918 and the inspiration of a prophetic Sarah Schenirer, Bais Yaakov has become an integral part of the ever-growing Day School and Seminary movement in America and throughout the Jewish world.

The first Bais Yaakov School outside of New York City was established in Baltimore in 1942, with a kindergarten class of two girls. From its very inception, Baltimore’s Bais Yaakov has been dedicated to the education of Jewish girls from all backgrounds in the Jewish community, in the spirit of firm commitment to Torah ideals and observance.

Bais Yaakov is a Jewish girls’ school with a comprehensive academic program, serving students from pre-school through high school. The student body is comprised of girls with varying intellectual, social, and economic backgrounds. Bais Yaakov is committed to meeting the widely varying needs of all its students, recognizing those with special needs by ability grouping, modification of the classroom program, tutorial, remedial, and enrichment programs.

Bais Yaakov seeks to develop the total personality, and to provide its students with opportunities to acquire the social and citizenship skills of the ideal Jewish woman, the mother of tomorrow. The program is devised to provide a well-rounded educational experience that takes into account not only the intellectual, but also the emotional and social development of the students.

Bais Yaakov is dedicated to inculcating in its students an appreciation and love for the tradition of Torah and Halacha (Jewish Law), loyalty to America and respect for its democratic ideals, as well as a love for the land of Israel.

Bais Yaakov subscribes to the educational creed that maximal achievement for each individual is attained when students are intrinsically motivated and embark on a discovery approach to learning. Teachers are to act as facilitators of learning, and it is their function not only to teach specific skills, but also to arouse student curiosity and to provide experiences which will lead students to further explore, discover, and analyze. Bais Yaakov’s gauge of its educational success, therefore, can be measured by the degree to which a student is committed to Torah values and to furthering her education after leaving school.

Preschool Department 

The pre-school department includes Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Kindergarten. The program is designed to create a sense of personal identification with Torah and Jewish practices through an informal setting with emphasis placed on hands-on learning in all areas. The Kindergarten provides reading and number readiness experiences in both Hebrew and English, which will adequately prepare the child for the first grade. Emphasis is placed on developing listening skills and on the ongoing process of socialization. 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  GRADES 1-5

Hebrew Department

The Hebrew Department aims to develop the Torah-oriented personality. Lessons focus on the beauty and importance of cultivating middos tovos/fine character traits, a vital component of the complete Bais Yaakov young  lady.

Mastery of reading and translation skills occupies a place of prominence in the primary grades. T’filah and the study of the Siddur are pursued throughout the elementary  program. Chumash is begun in first grade and remains central to the curriculum in all grades. The study of Rashi is introduced in the fourth grade and Nach in grade five. The study of Laws and Customs and Hebrew language are other areas of major importance.

General Studies

The general studies program in the elementary school emphasizes language skills and mathematics. Science and social studies are also taught in all grades.  Each grade level is provided with multiple texts to allow for individualization of the reading program. The development of basic skills and sound study habits are stressed throughout the curriculum.

Remedial reading is provided when deemed necessary.  Computer Science is a formal part of the curriculum in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Arts and crafts are woven into the general curriculum. Physical education classes and library are scheduled at all grade levels.

SPECIALS

Art and music are integrated into all areas of the program from preschool until fifth grade. Additionally, there are “specials” in these areas as well as in other areas:

Art – from nursery through first grade, there is a formal art program

Music – the third grade serves at the school choir presenting a repertoire of songs at different occasions
Library – every class in the school has a regular library session

Computer Science – starting with the third grade, each class has a weekly session learning computer science skills. The children learn keyboarding, Microsoft word and in the fifth grade, how to make a power point presentation. The second grade classes have biweekly sessions beginning in January.

Physical Education – every class has a formal physical education period once a week. In addition, our four magnificent playgrounds give the opportunity for the children to exercise during their recess breaks in a meaningful manner.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

The extra-curricular activities program includes school trips to points of interest near and far. Dramatic presentations in both the Torah and general studies areas are annual events which enjoy prominence on the school calendar. Torah Fairs and similar activities in the general studies area and the display of work by the students are also significant events in the educational program. In order to foster community awareness, students frequently visit area nursing homes and hospitals and present performances there. Annual tzedakah campaigns further heighten the girls’ sense of communal responsibility. Assemblies featuring special guest speakers are regularly scheduled events.

Remedial Programs 

The school makes available tutorial assistance to students who require reinforcement in the basic skills of reading, writing, mathematics and translation of texts. Over the years, special tutorial programs for students from Israel, Russia, Iran and other foreign countries have been instituted. The goal of these programs is to mainstream these students and facilitate their integration in the regular school curriculum. Special education resources are available through Shemesh which sponsors the school’s Learning Center. The special educators from Shemesh are meeting the learning needs of children throughout the school.

Testing and Guidance

A testing program providing adequate means for evaluating a student’s progress has been instituted at various levels in the school from kindergarten through fifth grade. Standardized tests administered to the students include Stanford Achievement test, as well as benchmark screening that is administered three times a year in each grade level.

ADMISSIONS POLICY

Bais Yaakov admits female students of the Jewish faith. The Bais Yaakov School for Girls admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs.

Likewise, the Bais Yaakov School for Girls does not practice discrimination based upon race, color, national or ethnic origin in the employment of faculty and administrative staff.

Children applying to the pre-nursery school must be three (3) years of age  by August 31 of the year they are entering school. Children applying to the nursery must be four (4) years of age by August 31 of that year. Children applying to the kindergarten must be five (5) years of age by December 31 of that year. Those applying to enter first grade must be six (6) years of age by December 31 of their first year of formal schooling. Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, students entering kindergarten must be five (5) years of age on or before September 1 of the year they are entering school. Parents considering Bais Yaakov for their preschool child are welcome to visit the classes and meet with the preschool supervisor. The acceptance process requires a meeting of the parents with the principal.

Parents of children applying to Bais Yaakov in grades 1-5 must provide a transcript of the full record of all former schooling. Determination of acceptance and placement is based on past performance, an informal evaluation by the Bais Yaakov supervisory staff and an interview with the principal. Upon acceptance, parents will be provided with an application form which should be completed and returned to the office in a timely fashion. By requirement of the Baltimore County Department of Health, immunization records and health forms must be in the possession of the school before the student is admitted to class.

Re-enrollment forms for pupils already enrolled in the school must be submitted to the school office in the spring of each year.