All year long, Grade 1 students have been paired with Grade 2 mentors during tefillah. The older students coached the younger ones in learning the prayers and songs, as well as how to navigate through the siddur. At their culmination, Grade 1 led tefillah for their families, spoke about their year and their dreams for the future, sang, and danced. They received their first siddurim from their Grade 2 tefillah buddy. As is the CJDS tradition, the siddurim covers were beautifully decorated and designed by the Grade 1 parents. 

This ceremony also culminated a year-long study and theme of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). Throughout the year, students took a deeper dive into what it means to be a community helper. They studied fictional and non-fictional community helpers, wrote their own fiction stories about them and, importantly, discovered that they - themselves - can be community helpers!

We are so proud of Grade 1 and wish them a huge Mazal Tov!!!