Programs

School Trips

Students embark on field trips in order to bring the classroom curriculum to life. Students go to museums, zoos, parks, gardens, courthouses, parades, rallies, etc. to experience their studies and relate to practical practice. Students in 5th through 8th grade have the opportunity to go on overnight grade wide trips that foster bonding, camaraderie, and pride in their accomplishments as a group at SAR.

For example, the third graders visit the Museum of Natural History after learning about Native Americans in their classroom curriculum. The fifth graders study New York City and then have a full-day trip to Manhattan to appreciate many of the sites they learned about.

Overnight Excursions

Fifth graders embark upon a three-day, two night trip to Nature’s Classroom in which they learn the importance of protecting wildlife and saving the environment. The experience also encourages the importance of team building and cooperation.

The sixth graders travels to Camp Monroe for a program filled with nature, team building, tefilla, divrei torah and sports in a magnificent and unique setting.

Seventh graders travels to Boston and Rhode Island to take in the Touro Synagogue, Fenway Park, the Freedom Trail, Boston “Duck Tours” and Faneuil Hall.

Eighth Graders go on a four day shabbaton to Ottowa, Ontario which includes touring, sightseeing, winter sports and Shabbat with extra special Ruach. At the end of the year, the eighth graders travel to Washington, DC for a first hand view of our Capital. Sightseeing sites include the capital building, the Air and Space Museum, our capitol’s monuments, and the National Archives and Records.

Learning To Look

SAR’s "Learning to Look” art program has quickly become an integral part of our school’s K-5 general studies curriculum. The program uses an interactive approach to teach basic elements of art to young children. The program empowers children by teaching tools for looking at art, making it both accessible and exciting. Learning to Look focuses on a different theme each year - 18th and 19th century art, Impressionism, American art or Modern art.

Each class has 5 Learning to Look sessions throughout the year which are presented through an interactive dialogue and a hands-on project. At the end of the year, the students have an opportunity to visit a museum and further explore themes related to the works they have studied.

The Learning to Look program is unique in that the lessons are presented by trained parent and grandparent volunteers. No previous art history or teaching experience is required - just a love of art and a desire to instill a greater understanding of it in our children. Volunteers are given a detailed curriculum and may attend lectures in preparation for the teaching sessions. To volunteer for this program, please contact, Sarah Zitter Milstein or Tami Weitzman.

Additional Special Programs:

• Chesed Week: In honor of Parsha Va’yeira , SAR constructs a life-size tent to welcome all SAR students. Inside the tent each grade completes a chesed project in honor of different beneficiary organizations.
• Veterans Day: SAR honors US Veterans from within the school and Riverdale communities in a special school-wide program. After a school-wide tribute: Veterans visit the individual grades to relate their experiences; kindergartners visit with the Veterans at a special reception and present hand-made gifts. In addition, a Wall of Honor is created to honor each Veteran that is related to a SAR student.
• Yom Ha’Shoah: A school-wide memorial is held to remember those that lost their lives in the Holocaust. Throughout the day, names of SAR family members who perished in the Holocaut are read over the loud speaker.
• Yom Ha’Zikaron: A school-wide memorial is held to remember those that lost their lives while defending the State of Israel. A ‘siren’ signals a moment of silence to appropriately remember our loss. A special program created by selected middle school students is presented to the 4th – 8th graders.
• Yom Ha’Atzmaut: The students gather on the steps for a communal hallel and then the festivities begin! In the evening a joint Academy & HS bbq and celebration is held.