Administration

Rabbi Hexter- Principal

Mrs. Sherman – Torah Studies Supervisor

Mrs. Horowitz – General Studies Supervisors

Mrs. Felder – Counselor of Students

Overview

Welcome to Bais Yaakov Middle School

We are anxious to partner with you in your child’s education so that through our collective efforts your daughter will grow as a Bas Yisroel.

The Middle School’s curriculum was developed with the needs of the growing adolescent in mind. The educational program is designed to not only maximize your daughter’s learning potential, but also to advance her sense of responsibility and organization. We educate the “whole child,” looking at her total needs so that as she becomes more competent, she will begin to feel more confident. The middle school experience will have thus been transformed from simply a place of learning to a place of growing – “a living lab.” Our Mission Statement articulates our general goal very clearly;

The Rabbi Benjamin Steinberg Middle School is to serve as that “confidence building” link between elementary and high school so that each student can grow academically, religiously and emotionally.

We give our students “space” to grow and to make responsible decisions. Can “Rochel” arrive punctually to class without a pre line-up (as may be the case in elementary school)? Will “Leah” remember to come properly prepared to class with the required books and supplies? Is “Shira” responsibly taking notes and doing her homework? Does “Tzipporah” practice appropriate self control? Will “Devorah” remember to wash and bentch before and after lunch? This is just a small sampling of the responsible decisions that our students face each day.

To help our students make the right choices, our young ladies need encouragement and support. This is a key part of our job! Our warm and professional staff understands the needs of our budding youngsters to experience structure and thus our teachers provide clear, precise direction coupled with reassurance and praise.

Guidance

A qualified school psychologist and counselor oversee the placement and progress of each student. Each grade has a counselor who interacts with the students and monitors closely the academic, emotional and religious progress of each child.

Auxiliary Services

1.      Learning Center – Our resource room is available for students who need additional academic support. It is common for students to join the Learning Center at the beginning of the 6^th or 7^th grade as the level of expectation increases and the need to organize one’s time become more critical.

We also provide tutors for children who perhaps may not need the Learning Center, but who require a modicum of academic intervention. In some situations it is determined that a student will benefit most from working daily in school with a tutor. Other times it is advisable to work at home with a homework buddy.

2.      “Big Sister” Mentor Program – Upon request, we pair students up with a post high school friend who will serve as a positive role model by spending one hour each week together. There are a limited number of volunteers and the number of “little sisters” is determined based on availability and need.

3.      “Girl Talk” – This group is designed to help students build friendships and to adopt positive communication skills. Small groups of students meet once a week for a period of six weeks, usually during lunch time. These sessions are facilitated by a Speech and Language Pathologist who is trained in this area.

4.      Organizational/Study Skills – A Series developed a series of workshops, (integrated into our regular program) has been designed to help our students develop solid organizational and study skills. These sessions train our girls to organize their work and space efficiently, including how to maximize the benefits of their Homework Assignment Book.

5.      “It’s All About You” – Our school nurse, Mrs. Laure Gutman, presents eight classes during the first half of the school year to help our maturing young ladies develop a positive self concept and a healthy body image. This program is integrated into the regular school day.

6.      Communication Workshop – our school psychologist presents five or six mini classes to our seventh graders sensitizing them to effective communication skills.

Library

A fully equipped Library, ranging from books on Judaic topics to novels and fiction as well as timely periodicals grace the Middle School. Complete resource material with a highly qualified Librarian is ready to assist any child in any aspect of her research.

Technology

Two complete computers laboratories with state-of-the- art computers satisfy the needs of our Middle Schoolers. Complete integrated classrooms direct the students to use their computer skills to design their research reports. Students make use of the fully equipped computer Labs not only during class time but during breaks as well.

1.      Art

The sixth and seventh grade have scheduled out classes in which to develop and enhance their artistic skills. Works range from creative assignments to free-hand drawing under the direction of our qualified Art director.

2.      Music & Drama

Extracurricular activities tap our student’s skills continuously. The sixth grades are involved in their Bas Mitzvah Performance (see Bas Mitzvah Dinner) which is held annually for mothers and female relatives. The seventh graders have an annual Shabbos in which they perform for close friends and mothers of the class.

Continuing to tap our students musical talents the eighth graders have a musical production each year open to the female public. Through all these activities our students non-academic talents are tapped as they develop their musical, dramatic and vocal skills.

3.      Creative Arts Program – C.A.P.

This is an after-school program directed by Mrs. Lapidus which fosters self-expression and allows the girls to choose an extracurricular activity. Past workshops have included: Papercuts, Embroidery, Basketball, Photo Magic and many others. Each C.A.P. session meets once a week extending over four weeks, with one round in the Fall and the other in the Spring.

4.      Physical Education –

Physical Education is an integrated part of our program which includes a complete exercise program directed by a licensed, exercise Instructor.

5.      Community Service

Each week two buses come from the local convalescent home to pick up a group of children who interact with the residents there. Teaching community responsibility in this manner develops young women who are sensitive and competent in working with people seven or eight times their age.

6.      Junior Achievement Biz Town Trip – Students experience economics first-hand by producing or selling products, receiving a paycheck, working as a member of a business team, shopping and managing a personal bank account. This end-of-year trip is preceded by a special classroom curriculum which is implemented during the second half of the year.

Educational Fairs:

7.      Eretz Yisroel Fair

Our 7^th graders learn the special relationship that a Jew has with Israel as they research various topics on ancient and modern Israel. The reports are artistically displayed for the community each year at our Eretz Yisroel Fair.

8.      Science Fair

Our 8^th graders scientific research skills are developed as they adopt creative projects and display them at our annual Science Fair.

9.      “How-To” Fair –As a culmination of the descriptive and technical writing skills, each sixth grader chooses “how-to” do something unique. This material is then placed on a poster-board and displayed at on our annual “How-To” Fair on a Sunday morning.

Bas Mitzvah Program 

We celebrate our students entering Jewish adulthood at the Annual Bas Mitzvah Dinner.

At this Mother-Daughter Dinner, each child is presented with a sefer from the Ladies Auxilliary as well as a certificate with her proper Hebrew name.

Each student participates in a concert performance which highlights the themes and middos which were studied in Project Yud Beis. The practices generally take place on Motzei Shabbos or Sunday Morning.

Family History Project – We feel that as a child enters Jewish adulthood, she should study her past family history in order to appreciate where she is coming from. Let each child appreciate the past struggles as well as the sacrifices and achievements of her ancestors. The students typically create a written portfolio describing their ancestors, as well as a pictorial display. This information is portrayed on a poster board, in a binder, on a computer presentation or any original creation. This project is displayed at the Bas Mitzvah Dinner and is open for viewing to the entire Baltimore community on Motzei Shabbos, prior to the Bas Mitzvah Dinner.

As an alternative to the Family History Project, a child may choose one Torah personality, past or present. Students should include a brief history of this person explaining his/her accomplishments and why she would like to emulate the life of this person.