Ner Tamid Community Day School Launches 2017-18 Registration

Leaders of the Ner Tamid Community Day School in Sharon, now in its third year, are confident they are ready to take their school to the next level.

Ner Tamid (www.nertamidschool.org ) serves the region south of Boston, as far south as Providence. Head of School Nancy Hait says, “Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions parents can make for their children. We have big plans and so much going for us. Now is the ideal time to register for the 2017-18 school year.” (‘Ner tamid’ is Hebrew for ’eternal light’ – one hangs above the ark where the Torah is housed in every synagogue.)

Hait lists some of the school’s attractions:

• One of the only multi-age classroom Jewish day schools in the U. S.
• Small student: teacher ratio
• World-class faculty -- Primary General Studies teacher is a philosopher and highly- acclaimed artist.Head of School has a PhD in Education with specialization in curriculum and instruction.
• High-level Destination Imagination / STEAM programs – participation in regional competition
• Focus on secular and Judaic studies -- Hebrew and Judaics programs are personalized to suit children across the Jewish community in a Pluralistic approach (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox.)
• Individualized learning- each child learns at own pace, with peers of different ages
• Most affordable private school tuition in the region
• Scholarship / financial assistance -- some tuition relief opportunities are available.

“As with real estate, a major plus is our location since we hold classes in Temple Israel in Sharon, halfway between the center of town and Lake Massapoag,” Hait says. ”We’re an easy, traffic-free commute from so many surrounding towns as well as from Routes 1, 27 and I-95.”

Ner Tamid’s Board President Rob Vazanna, the product of a Jewish day school, says, “It’s a special feeling in a Jewish day school when your children learn about Yom Ha-Atzma-ut (Israel Independence Day) or Passover or Purim – and other special days in the Jewish calendar that aren’t treated as just another school day. When it’s Chanukah, you want your kids to feel it’s Chanukah all week long. You’re not going to get that in a public school. What better way to feel connected to the community?”

Hait recalls a story about a public school father whose “aha moment” came during a Passover seder, when he observed how his friend’s day school-educated kids seemed capable of leading the seder: “They see their friends’ kids, and they see they’re happy, excelling, building competency in Hebrew. They have the realization that unless you’re in this game, you can’t play beyond the beginner level.”

An older student said, “Watching a younger classmate solve a puzzle helps us appreciate how much we know, and a younger student said, “Watching an older classmate solve a problem helps us figure out how to do it in the future.”

Research shows that small schools and great teachers are the two factors that produce high achievement in students. The majority of our students score in the high achieving range on standardized measures of academic progress, motivated by our world-class faculty.

One parent said, “At Ner Tamid, my child is never bored. The individuality of the learning lets any child reach his or her maximum potential but at his or her own pace. The community atmosphere this creates among the children is phenomenal.”

Rob Vazanna says the multi-age, personalized learning approach has been very beneficial to his son, allowing him to receive more individualized instruction while challenging him to achieve more: “His teachers were able to quickly ascertain that his math skills exceeded his grade level early in the school year and are working to advance his curriculum so that he can continue to reach his full potential. “

As an indication of how Ner Tamid students learn to be leaders and to work toward tikkun olam – the ancient Jewish precept of helping to ‘repair the world’ -- eighth grader Morrissa Stecker recently received the prestigious Menorah Award from the National Jewish Committee on Girl Scouting. This award is given to Cadette Girl Scouts who have completed a series of meaningful activities designed to increase their knowledge and experience within the context of Jewish living. “Morrissa worked very hard to receive this award and we are so proud of her,” Hait said.

While Ner Tamid has an open enrollment policy in which new students can start at any time during the school year, Head of School Hait says it’s best for children to start a new school year with their classmates.

She asks rhetorically, “How do we know we’re doing a great job? Our students are so happy, they don’t want to leave at the end of the day.”

Ner Tamid is a member of Prizmah, the new entity created with the merger of five national educational organizations. For more information about admissions, scholarships, and/or making a tax-deductible donation, contact Head of School Nancy Hait: nhait@nertamidschool.org / 617-733-9661. Visit: http://nertamidschool.org/.

-- By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com