School Hours
For students in Nitzanim (kindergarten), Ilanot (first
and second grade) and Bogrim (third, fourth
and fifth grades), school hours are from 8:15 AM to
3:30 PM Monday through Thursday. Beit Yeladim (preschool)
hours are from 8:15 AM to 3:30 PM (full day), 8:15
AM to 12:00 noon (mornings) and 12:00 noon to 3:30
PM (afternoons) Friday dismissal is at 3:00
in the fall and the spring and at 2:15 in the winter,
to allow families to prepare for Shabbat.
The After School Program runs from
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday.
Class Size
Current enrollment in the PS is 19; current enrollment in the Day School - Transitional Kindergarten - Fifth Grade is 44.
Multiage Classrooms and Flexible Grouping
At Sinai, we believe in the use of flexible grouping
as well as multiage classrooms to contribute to our
children’s academic and social development. The
composition of the classes and the grouping of students
are done taking into account the academic and social
needs of the children. Although our classes are organized
by grade, multiage classes, flexible grouping, and
some fluidity among the grades allow us to group the
children in different ways for different subjects,
in order to maximize their learning and social interaction
opportunities.
We are fortunate to be able to adapt our program to
the students we have, instead of having to adapt the
students to the program. As a consequence of this ability,
our class configuration may vary from year to year,
depending on the different constellation of students
involved.
School Year
School usually opens at the beginning of September
and continues through the second week of June.
Communication between School and Home
Keeping the lines of communication open between home
and school is crucial for the success of any educational
experience. Some of the ways in which this communication
is fostered at Sinai Academy include:
- Open house for parents and children before the
first day of school;
- Telephone calls from and to the teachers whenever
needed;
- Back-to-School Night early in the Fall;
- Progress reports sent home in December and June;
- Parent-Teacher conferences scheduled for November
and March;
- Weekly or bi-weekly letters from teachers and the
Head of School and monthly calendars to keep families
informed of special activities, field trips and other
news.
Beyond this kind of formal communication, we encourage
parents to contact us at the school any time with problems,
suggestions, need for clarifications or even if you “catch” us
doing something good! Sinai maintains an open-door
policy: parents are welcome to visit their children’s
classrooms at any time when the children are there.
Parents are also encouraged to take part in celebrations
and special activities.
Dress Code
Kippot (skullcaps) are mandatory for boys
and male staff during tefillah (prayer), mealtime and
Judaic studies. Girls and female staff have the option
of wearing kippot.. During the rest of the
school day, kippot use is encouraged but not
mandatory. A kippah will be provided, for
each student entering kindergarten.
Children are encouraged to wear a Sinai Academy shirt
or sweatshirt on Fridays and on field trips and designated
special occasions. Shirts and sweatshirts are for sale
in the office.
Children are expected to wear clothes that are appropriate
for a school setting, as well as for the weather. Shoes
and sneakers safe for playground use are required every
day, as well as winter gear when needed.
Kashrut (Jewish Dietary Laws)
Sinai Academy is a kosher facility. Food that is provided
by the school or food which is meant to be shared by
the students and staff must be certified kosher. Food
that is brought by an individual child for that child’s
sole consumption does not have to be certified kosher,
but must contain only dairy, fish (not shellfish),
vegetable, grain and fruit products. Sinai does not
currently provide hot lunches for our students.
Holidays
Sinai celebrates and observes all Jewish and American
holidays.
Bus Service
Beginning in September 2004, Sinai has arranged with
the Dufour Bus Company to provide round-trip bus service
between Great Barrington and Sinai Academy’s
home at 199 South Street in Pittsfield. The bus will
make stops in Lee and Lenox en route to Pittsfield.
For those families needing this service, the bus will
accommodate students in the preschool, day school and
after school programs. Arrival time at Sinai will be
8:15 AM. Pick-up and return trip times between Great
Barrington and Pittsfield are being formulated. Contact
us for transportation rates, schedules and
other information.
School Community
Sinai Academy is enriched by a diverse population,
with students spanning a broad array of ethnic, geographic,
socio-economic and religious backgrounds. Children
from immigrant families; children born outside the
USA; traditionally observant Jews; non-observant Jews;
children from intermarriages; children from non-Jewish
and children from across the economic spectrum, are
all extended an equally warm welcome at our school.
What unites the “Sinai family” is a commitment
to our ideals, and to the unique education we provide.
