Class Attendance Should be a Choice Video
Class of 2025 - Planning and Course Registration Class Attendance Should be a ChoiceDaniela AbramsReporter November 16, Expected attendance in periods such as Kabbalat Shabbat, advisory, Zman Kodesh and special assemblies do not serve a greater purpose and should be made optional for the sake of the students. Kabbalat Shabbat is typically an interactive assembly which serves as an opportunity for the students to welcome the weekend. However, the assembly has changed in an attempt to adapt to virtual school. Over Zoom, this block of time does not greatly benefit the students, and should not be a required period to attend. With the incoming weekend, students are rushing to get their schoolwork done, and the thirty-minute break that could occur without Kabbalat Shabbat would greatly aid them in doing so. Instead, students are expected to join Class Attendance Should be a Choice Shabbat in between their lunch and office hours, interrupting either their work period or their time to decompress. In addition, special assemblies, excluding Yom HaShoah, should be optional on Zoom.
Students do not gain anything from these assemblies and should be given time to sleep in, catch up on work or socialize instead. Students are also required to attend advisory meetings every Monday. These meetings serve as a time for students to talk with one another and discuss their workloads, or work strategies.
Definitions
While my advisory meeting is a sometimes helpful time to discuss student workload, my peers say otherwise. Most say that Class Attendance Should be a Choice is a period where they talk with friends in breakout rooms or sit silently while their teacher talks. This period could instead be used to give students more rest time, especially because Mondays are the first days of the week. The required period students feel most strongly about is Zman Kodesh. As a Jewish school, I understand that it is important for many to have time to pray and Cnoice however, those who do not value it see more not be required to attend.
Many kids who do not want Zman Kodesh will not put forth any effort into making the experience meaningful. In addition, most students already attend three classes that connect us to our Jewish roots.
WHY IS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IMPORTANT
Students have expressed concern that they are receiving little sleep each night. If Zman Kodesh became optional, students would be receiving an extra 30 to 40 minutes of sleep. This extra half hour would be of great benefit.
While the effort the administration has put forth to help make this school year as normal as possible is greatly appreciated, the mandatory special programs and classes often cause more annoyance than meaning due to the Claass school experience. If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a gravatar.
VA Outreach Events
Name required. Email Address required. Speak your mind. Harry DavidsonReporter. This event celebrates the success of the past alumni and the lessons JDS Sam Berns and Sophia Miller.
On Tuesday night, the senior and junior girls played their traditional powderpuff game, but with a twist.]
On your place I would ask the help for users of this forum.