mensch • men(t)SH/
Noun: 1. a person of integrity and honor. 2. The kind of person you want your kid to be.
Mensch Academy is inspired, down-to-earth Judaism for kids and families. At Mensch Academy, kids build character, confidence, curiosity and a sense of who they are as Jews in the world by engaging in serious Jewish learning, joyous prayer and Hebrew exploration through games and individualized opportunities. Respecting each person’s mind and spirit, Mensch Academy is a space where kids feel loved enough and safe enough to take risks and experiment with Jewish tradition, making it their own and becoming the best versions of themselves. Our professional facilitators and low student to teacher ratio help meet the needs of each student.
2020 – 2021 Virtual Program Details
At the beginning of each school year, we map out an arc for our learning by theme and text. Every year, that arc redirects and changes in response to our student’s needs and interests. We believe this ability to pivot and meet the needs of all of our students, wherever they are, is one of our greatest strengths.
It is with this in mind that we have decided that Mensch Academy sessions will meet virtually for the fall semester of 2020, with opportunities for supplemental in-person meet-ups, and special 1:1 check-ins with facilitators to foster deep relationships and trust.
Families who come out of Mensch Academy know that they are the newest and most important link in the chain of Jewish people and tradition, owning their identity, modeling what it means to be a mensch, and creating an empowered, educated, inspired Jewish future. This year, we are confident that we can continue to foster personalized, celebratory, and meaningful Jewish learning while ensuring everybody in our community is truly welcome and safe.
PROGRAMS BY AGE
Preschool Family Cohort (3-4 year olds):
Adults will have the opportunity to learn alongside their children, and also get to cultivate their own Jewish ideas with other parents. This is a virtual program, with children and adults participating in parallel sessions.
- One Sunday morning per month 10:00 am – noon (pre-k cohort with parents).
K – 1st Grade:
This drop-off program meets weekly on three different days. Families can choose from one session for the year.
- Mondays from 4:30 – 6:00 pm
- Tuesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
- Wednesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
2nd – 3rd Grade:
This drop-off program meets weekly on three different days. Families can choose from one session for the year.
- Mondays from 4:30 – 6:00 pm
- Tuesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
- Wednesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
4th – 5th Grade:
This drop-off program meets weekly on three different days. Families can choose from one session for the year.
- Mondays from 4:30 – 6:00 pm
- Tuesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
- Wednesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
- Additional 20 minute/week virtual Hebrew learning in groups of two.
6th – 7th graders:
We’ll explore social justice, the meaning behind prayers, dive into Jewish texts, and more! Students will focus on Hebrew learning and developing their own interpretations of Torah.
- Wednesdays from 4 – 5:30 pm
- Additionally, kids and their grown-ups will meet as a cohort on six Sundays in the Spring of 6th grade, and six Sundays in the Fall of 7th grade to take a deep dive into Jewish prayers (Spring) and social justice (Fall). The cohort centers around the BMitzvah experience for the whole family – building community with other families along the way.
Adults:
Adults are invited to attend four Family Showcases on Sundays when kids share their learning with their families.
At Mensch Academy we build community no matter where we are.
For the Fall Semester, we will meet virtually over Zoom to ensure safety, consistency, and accessibility. In doing so, we are able to meet the needs of all the members of our community, including immuno-compromised students and family members.
Our primary objectives remain:
- Prioritize the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community
- Provide Mensch Academy kids with a nurturing and celebratory Jewish learning experience that upholds our authenticity and the core principles that shape Mensch Academy
- Create a safe and consistent space for Mensch Academy students to be brave, curious, and relational during uncertain times
To enhance the (mostly) remote experience for families, we’ve made some adjustments:
- We will provide you with supply kits for each learning theme to enhance your remote Mensch experience
- Beginning in late August, there will be optional Mensch Meet-Ups in parks
- Your child can sign up for bi-weekly 1:1 check in meetings with their facilitators over zoom
- 4th-5th graders will have the option to sign up for weekly virtual Hebrew tutoring
And more opportunities to come!
Tuition and Fees
| Grade | Tuition | Family Level Buildership* | |
| Pre-K Family Cohort | $600 | $1920 | |
| K – 3rd | $1400 | $1920 | |
| 4th – 5th | $1500 | $1920 | |
| 6th – 7th | $1800 | $1920 |
*Family Buildership is a requirement to attend Mensch Academy however first year families can sign up at any level of Buildership. If you’re not a Builder, learn more here and sign up.
If cost is a barrier to you, please Rachel Cort to discuss tuition assistance.
Have general questions? Check out our FAQ’s or contact us!
A sample day at Virtual Mensch looks something like this:
4:00 — 4:15: Community Tefilah (Song and prayer). We gather as a community (kehilah) to welcome each other, and sing and pray together.
4:15: Zoom breakout rooms by age group
4:15 — 4:30: Welcomes, games, and check ins
4:30 — 4:45: Text study/Theme learning. This includes exploring Jewish ideas through music, art and dialogue. Mensch kids develop big questions and ideas that they express through designing and creating projects.
4:45 — 5:15: Exploration (Yitzirah)
5:15 — 5:30: Reflections, check outs, and close
5:30: Bye! See you next time! (l’hitraot).
In 2020-21, Mensch Academy will meet virtually from September 14 through the end of December (excluding Jewish and national holidays and school vacations). We will reassess meeting in-person for the Spring Semester beginning in January.
Safety permitting, Mishpachton (3 and 4 year olds and their grown-ups) will meet in small groups outdoors on dates TBD.
How to Register
- If you have attended a previous Mishkan program, follow this link to set your password. If you are new to a Mishkan program, you’ll need to register for an account.
- Click the gray boxes to update your information:
- “My Profile” to “view and edit” your contact information. Be sure to click the “Lifecycles” tab to enter your birthdate.
- “My Family” to add any of your immediate family members and make sure that their information is correct.
- Now you are ready to register for Mensch! Log-in to our school enrollment system and follow the instructions for registering your child(ren).