About Shalom School
The Shalom School at Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose provides a warm, friendly, creative and interactive learning environment where students can explore their Jewish identities, acquire Hebrew reading skills, and develop an understanding of and a love for being Jewish and the State of Israel. We are fortunate to have knowledgeable and dedicated teachers who carefully plan their lessons according to our school curriculum. Our classes are large enough for engaging group activities, and sufficiently small to provide excellent individual attention.
2026 – 2027 Shalom School
Shalom School Starts September 27, please make sure to register for Shalom School!
The 2026 – 2027 Registration deadline is August 28. Please help us plan for the new school year by registering before the deadline! Late registrations (after September 2nd) will be charged an additional fee of $30. Register today!
Note that a deposit of $150 is due upon registration; 1/2 the balance is due by the 1st day of school and the remainder is due January 1st, 2025.
All Shalom School dates and events will be discussed with parents at a Shalom School Orientation Meeting on the first day of school. Please plan to attend. You can also find the most up to date Shalom School calendar information here and on the public TBS Calendar.
Note that a deposit of $150 is due upon registration; 1/2 the balance is due by the 1st day of school and the remainder is due January 1st, 2025.
| GRADE | DAY | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| PRE-K – | SUNDAY | 9:30 A – 11A |
| KINDERGARTEN/1ST | SUNDAY | 9:30 A – 11A |
| 2ND | SUNDAY | 9:30 A -11A |
| 3RD | SUNDAY | 10:30A – 12:30P |
| 4TH & 6TH | SUNDAY | 10:30A – 12:30P |
| 7TH | To Be Scheduled |
3rd-6th students will also sign up for individual/small group Hebrew tutoring sessions, typically on Monday or Wednesday afternoons. Sign-ups for specific times will be sent separately after you have completed this registration form. Additionally, 3rd-6th graders will participate in a shabbaton (shabbat retreat) and 4 other Friday afternoon programs throughout the school year. Students will have a group learning activity followed by dinner and community services which will start at 6pm. For the shabbaton, students can stay overnight at the Temple and then there is a full day of programming on Saturday. (There is no additional cost, the retreat is included in tuition.)
Teen programming and other teen opportunities will be announced throughout the year.
Throughout the year, our Education Co-Chairs, Masha Khiterer and Vered Jona, will work closely with Cantor Marc and Rabbi Jessica to support the Shalom School. If you haven’t already had the chance to meet them, be sure to introduce yourself at the Shalom School Orientation Meeting! In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them at [email protected]. They’d be happy to answer your questions, and they can also help you connect with our Families with Young Children WhatsApp group, so you can stay informed and get involved.
We look forward to welcoming your family to the Shalom School for the 2026-2027 year!
As always, if you have questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Your Shalom School leadership team,
Cantor Marc, Masha, Vered, and Rabbi Jessica
Payment
Here are the rates for the 2026 – 2027 school year:
| GRADE | COST PER YEAR |
|---|---|
| Pre-K | $725 |
| Kindergarten – 2nd Grade | $750 |
| 3rd – 6th Grade | $1050 |
| 7th Grade (plus B’nai Mitzvah Tutoring) | $1800 |
Teen Program- AD HOC
Activity donation of $25 for all grade levels is appreciated.
Pay by check or Venmo
Please contact the Financial Secretary @ [email protected] to make payments, payment arrangement or to discuss alternative options. Payment agreements are done on a yearly basis. Please confirm payment plans each year.
Help us update our files and contact the financial secretary with any address, phone, email or other contact information changes.
All forms (modified or not) should be mailed with your first payment to:
Temple Beth Shalom
c/o Financial Secretary
21 E. Foster Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Questions? Contact our Financial Secretary at [email protected]
*Please use VENMO where applicable where no fees are assessed.
Curriculum
This year’s PK-6 curriculum will focus on Jewish identity and history, and what it means to be a part of Am Yisrael–the Jewish people.
Students in younger grades will learn what it means to be Jewish through home and synagogue practices and by celebrating Shabbat and holidays. They will also learn about Jewish traditions in some different Jewish communities around the world.
The middle grades will examine how Jews were a part of the ancient world through the lenses of archeology and of our stories and learn about specific major communities such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews. In addition, these students will deepen their understanding of how Judaism is practiced both in daily life and to mark important life-cycle events.
Our oldest students will learn more historical details about the kingdoms and temples of Ancient Israel, Jewish migration in the middle and early modern ages, and how Israel and America emerged as Jewish population centers in the modern world. We’ll also consider how Jewish peoplehood has united us in good and bad times, along with how new movements and expressions of identity have shaped Jewish life today.
This curriculum is part of a planned three-year cycle, incorporating parts of our curriculum from the past two years, that will include learning centered on Jewish values and study of our sacred stories in the Tanakh (Bible). Over the years, students will develop knowledge in each of these areas at age-appropriate levels. The goal is to make students proud of their Jewish identity and prepare them to live Jewishly in the 21st century both at TBS and wherever they go in life.
Our program will continue to include community tefillah (prayer) each Sunday for all grades, and individual weekly Hebrew lessons for grades 3-6.
In Grade 7, students will join Rabbi Jessica to review prayers for their B’nai Mitzvah at the beginning of the year. They will also use the Facing History and Ourselves curriculum to learn about the Holocaust. The second half of the year will focus on living out Jewish values through different volunteering opportunities.
Safety Procedure
Please do not park or idle on E. Foster street- either park in the parking lot or on Leonard Street.
For 3rd-6th grade midweek Hebrew lessons/tutoring at the Temple, a parent or caregiver must stay in the building during their student’s lesson.
SHALOM SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Cantor Marc Stober
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal
EDUCATION CO-CHAIRS
Mariya Khiterer and Vered Jona
B’NAI MITZVAH TUTOR
Dennis Fischman
Please do not park or idle on E. Foster street- either park in the parking lot or on Leonard Street.
EDUCATION DIRECTOR
Cantor Marc Stober
EDUCATION CO-CHAIRS
Marlena Smith Millman and Mariya Khiterer
B’nai Mitzvah Tutor
Dennis Fischman