Eighth, ninth and tenth grade students are part of the Kadima program. Each semester, in addition to the core classes for each grade, each Kadima student chooses an elective class based on personal interest and availability. Kadima also participates in an annual weekend retreat with the members of the youth group at Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Our Kadima students are to be commended for choosing to come to temple every week to challenge their minds, hearts and souls. They come to be with Jewish friends - to talk, discuss, argue and learn about Jewish issues in a comfortable place where they are free to explore their religious identity. The Kadima faculty understands that these special students deserve to be challenged, engaged and have fun while learning and they are hard at work planning to make that happen. Our Kadima students can look forward (kadima) to a very rewarding year.
Core curriculum
8th & 9th grade – Jewish Dimensions of Social Justice
This course will examine a wide range of social issues through the lens of Jewish
practice and belief. Students will look at the challenges from the Jewish
perspective of scores of urgent issues- from abortion to capital punishment and
from the Mideast peace process to religious pluralism.
10th Grade - God, Torah, and Israel, what’s there for me?
A special class with the rabbi focusing on crucial issues facing young Jews on the verge of their independence. Using a variety of texts and readings, they will explore Jewish identity and commitment as they relate to the three interrelated concepts of the Jewish tradition, God, Torah, and Israel.
Social Action
All Kadima grades will participate in the “Kadima Car Wash” which raises funds for an institution or endeavor of the students’ choice. In addition, Kadima students will dedicate two designated Sunday mornings during the year to help the community at large.
Madrichim Seminars
Many of our high school students work in our primary grade classrooms as Madrichim (teaching assistants). Madrich literally means “one who shows the way”. Madrichim serve as role models for our younger students by demonstrating appropriate classroom behaviors. By spending time at temple they show that learning and doing Jewish things is “cool”. Volunteering to be a Madrich gives our older students an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our younger students’ lives, and gain valuable experience in the process.
Madrichim seminars will provide the Madrichim training in child development, classroom management and lesson planning – skills that will be useful as they serve as junior teaching partners to the classroom teachers, and facilitate classroom management.
