Table of Contents
Summary
Community at Strelitz International Academy extends far beyond sharing a classroom or attending the same school. It is built through personal relationships, Jewish values, inquiry-based learning, family participation, charitable action, and a shared responsibility to care for others.
By practicing Kavod, Kehillah, Tikkun Olam, Torah v’Lishma, and tzedakah, students learn how respect, community, repairing the world, love of learning, and charitable giving can influence their everyday actions. They also discover that even young people can make meaningful contributions to their school, their neighborhood, and the wider world.
Through these experiences, SIA helps children develop the confidence, compassion, and global awareness they need to become thoughtful members of every community they join.
A strong sense of community is an essential value in Jewish culture. At Strelitz International Academy (SIA), we foster this sense of community in all of our students. Through the core values we teach and the examples we set, students learn the importance of community. With the help of Strelitz International Academy, your child can understand their connection to the local and global community.
Teaching Jewish Values-SIA’s Core Values
At Strelitz International Academy, we believe that your child should have a strong foundation of faith, education, and community. Because of this, we chose to incorporate the Jewish values of Kavod, Tikkun Olam, Torah v’Lishma, and Kehillah into our core values. These core values are Respect, Community, Repairing the World, and Love of Learning. Through the lessons we teach and the example we set, our students learn the importance of these core values.
What Makes SIA’s Version of Community Different
At SIA, community is not treated as a separate lesson or occasional activity. It is woven into classroom learning, Jewish life, family relationships, charitable projects, celebrations, and the International Baccalaureate® approach to education. Students learn what community means and are then given meaningful opportunities to practice it.
SIA’s close-knit environment allows teachers to get to know each child’s interests, strengths, needs, and family. This personalized attention helps students feel seen and supported while enabling families to build meaningful relationships with educators and other members of the school community. With at least two community events and 10 SIA family events each year, families have many opportunities to connect, participate, and develop a strong sense of belonging.
SIA’s approach also connects learning with action. Students are encouraged to understand that respect, charity, and repairing the world are not simply ideas to discuss. They are responsibilities that can guide everyday choices and inspire meaningful contributions to the lives of others.
Fostering Philanthropy and Charity
At Strelitz International Academy, students learn to repair the world through charity and philanthropy. Within the Jewish culture, tzedakah (charity) is translated as the moral obligation to give to others. Students in the primary years program learn the importance of giving and how it can help the community and their own spiritual growth. They participate in activities relating to the act of giving charitably and learn how this can repair the world. Similarly, students at SIA discover how to act philanthropically by understanding how much, where, and why they should give. Through these projects and lessons, SIA fosters a core value of repairing the world through charity.
Creating a Community of Respect-Locally and Globally
In addition to repairing the world, students learn the importance of respect and community. This sense of community is set through the examples of their peers and mentors. With organized community events such as the SIA Family Pasta Dinner, Fall Festival, Hanukkah celebration, families are able to connect and build relationships beyond the classroom. Similarly, Strelitz International Academy works with a number of outreach programs to foster a sense of community in the local area. Students participate in projects such as restocking the Jewish Family Service food pantry and providing Hanukkah gifts to children in need. These projects foster a sense of responsibility to the local community and reinforce the value of Tikkun Olam.
In addition, students are encouraged to explore the global community and learn respect for others. Students discover how to read and write in conversational Hebrew and biblical Hebrew. This connects them to their Israeli culture and heritage. With a rich knowledge of Jewish history, these students can feel a connection to their faith and the global community.
How SIA Teaches the Importance of Community
At Strelitz International Academy, our students learn the importance of community through the International Baccalaureate® program. Students are introduced to the global community within the primary years program and understand their place within it. Through inquiry-based learning, students are encouraged to explore areas of interest and develop respect for democratic ideals. Students develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and tools to form their own opinions and take the initiative within each subject. With this program, students learn that their personal actions can have long-lasting effects that make a difference.
Key Takeaways
- Community helps children develop a sense of belonging, responsibility, empathy, and respect for others.
- SIA teaches the community through the Jewish values of Kehillah, Kavod, Tikkun Olam, Torah v’Lishma, and tzedakah.
- Family celebrations, charitable projects, and local outreach allow students to put their values into action.
- The International Baccalaureate® Primary Years Programme helps students understand how their decisions can affect local and global communities.
- SIA’s 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio supports personal relationships among students, teachers, and families.
Join the SIA Community
Strelitz International Academy is the best private elementary school in the Tidewater area. We take the time to imbue each of our classes with the core values we are dedicated to. With the inquiry-based learning approach provided by the International Baccalaureate® program, our graduates learn respect, community, repairing the world, and love of learning.
Are you interested in learning more? Check out our website to see how you can join our community. We are enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year and would love to welcome your family with open arms.
To find out more and schedule a campus tour, please call 757-424-4327.
Frequently Asked Questions
A strong school community gives children a sense of safety, belonging, and shared purpose. When students feel connected to their teachers and classmates, they are often more comfortable expressing their ideas, asking questions, collaborating, and taking positive risks in their learning. Community also helps children develop empathy, responsibility, communication skills, and respect for different perspectives.
SIA teaches Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world, and tzedakah, the moral responsibility to give, through classroom discussions, charitable projects, service opportunities, and everyday actions. Students learn why helping others matters and participate in experiences that allow them to support people in their local community.
SIA brings families together through events and celebrations such as the SIA Family Pasta Dinner, Fall Festival, and Hanukkah celebration. These gatherings give students, parents, teachers, and staff opportunities to build relationships, celebrate traditions, and connect beyond the classroom. Event schedules and activities may vary from year to year.
Students connect with the local community through service projects, charitable giving, family events, and outreach efforts such as supporting the Jewish Family Service food pantry. They develop a global perspective through the International Baccalaureate® program, Hebrew language learning, Jewish history, cultural exploration, and inquiry into issues that affect people around the world.
Prospective families can begin by scheduling a campus tour, attending an open house or eligible community event, exploring SIA’s programs, and speaking with members of the admissions team. These experiences can help parents meet educators, learn about the school’s values, and see how students and families participate in community life. To schedule a visit, call 757-424-4327.
