Let us introduce ourselves and share our
philosophy with you. Shalhevet Middle school is strongly committed to providing
the very best education to all of our students. We are the only Orthodox day
school which provides a philosophically consistent program from Kindergarten
through 12th grade! Once a family becomes part of the school community, they
take part in a curriculum that includes college preparatory classes, Centrist
Orthodox teachings, and moral development in one familiar place. We believe that
every student is an individual and aim to provide curricular and extracurricular
opportunities that allow each student to discover his or her individual talents
and let them blossom and grow.
We are very proud of the fact that the Administrative team as well as our
professional teaching staff has many years of experience in the education field.
In addition to being credentialed, many of our staff members hold Masters
Degrees in Education. Our curriculum follows California State Standards
throughout the school. Continuity is a cornerstone of the curriculum as one
grade builds on the other. We provide a rigorous curriculum of language arts,
mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, nutrition and health,
and arts. Our students learn about who we are as a Jewish Nation in our vibrant
Judaic and Hebrew language component. They experience a meaningful exploration
of Torah laws, values and customs as they progress through the years. Guided by
teaching methods that encourage questions and discussions, our students
understand and internalize those values that enable them to live as committed
Jews and maintain their Jewish identities in the modern world. Zionism permeates
our halls as the existence and growth of the State of Israel is deeply rooted in
Shalhevet’s culture, values and curriculum.
Our school is coeducational, providing equal Judaic and secular
education to both boys and girls. Throughout the coursework our
students develop skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and
working in groups, problem solving and critical thinking! Additionally,
with our small class size and low teacher-to-student ratio, we give our
students individualized attention in our programming.
Shalhevet School was founded on Kohlberg’s Philosophy of Moral Development. This
philosophy is fused with our Jewish morals and ethical values. Our program is
designed to appeal to parents and students who are seriously committed to
classical Jewish learning and to the rich traditions of Jewish laws, customs and
rituals. The school abides by Jewish law in areas of dietary laws, holiday
observances, prayer and social activities. As a whole, Shalhevet prides itself
on being a “Just Community” where students, faculty, and administration
demonstrate, exemplify and provide a mutually respectful learning environment
that promotes moral reasoning, ethical development in a democratic setting. The
warm and caring culture of the school encourages our students to discuss, and
resolve issues of fairness and justice as our students evolve into lifelong
learners.
Shalhevet offers after-school enrichment classes for students, such as karate
and magic. Additionally, we are very proud of our basketball teams for boys and
girls in third through eight grades. Our Middle School teams are a part of the
Jewish Day School league and play against other local schools. We also offer
classes for students and parents to participate and enjoy together, including
our very popular Mibreshit program. In this after-school class, parents and
children learn about the Torah portion of the week together through games,
songs, activities and stories in an informal setting. Our very active Parent
Teacher Association meets regularly and plans everything from fundraising
drives to social events.