School Life and Community

The Shefa School is dedicated to providing an excellent educational program in a Jewish setting for students with learning disabilities. We educate the whole child by integrating a specialized academic program with social-emotional learning, a rich arts and music curriculum, and embedded opportunities for community service. A day in the life of a Shefa student is filled with learning, joy, and vibrant Jewish experiences in a warm and caring school community.

A Balanced Program

Our high-quality balanced curriculum encompasses the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of our students. Highlights include:

A robust arts and music program that engages children’s multiple intelligences and provides different access points and modes of expression
A thoughtful social-emotional learning curriculum that develops skills to promote self-esteem, caring relationships, and responsible decision-making, with community building integrated through daily Morning Meeting and throughout the day
Small advisory groups that meet daily in Middle School and provide a forum for social-emotional learning, organizational skill development, and discussion of developmentally relevant topics such as internet safety, bullying, and health education
An interest groups activity block, called chug, allows our students both to receive small-group language and/or occupational therapy intervention as needed and to participate in activities such as cooking, Lego, and drama
Lunch clubs, student government, overnight trips, and school-wide leadership opportunities for Middle School students
A physical education program that builds strength, coordination, and skills while fostering teamwork and resilience
A technology program that thoughtfully introduces students to keyboarding and other computer literacy skills and is integrated with daily learning
Executive functioning and organizational skills instruction embedded throughout the school day
Field trips that enhance our curriculum and expose students to a broad range experiences and communities

Jewish Life

For students at the Shefa School, Jewish life is woven into the fabric of each and every day. Through experiencing the rhythm and beauty of our Jewish calendar, thoughtful integration of Jewish content into subject areas, and a conscious emphasis on Jewish values, we foster a love and passion for Jewish life and learning. Examples include:

Joyful and interactive daily tefillah (prayer)
Torah study that brings relevance and meaning to our sacred text and gives students ownership and a depth of knowledge
Weekly school-wide Shabbat celebration featuring music, Torah, and curricular highlights from the week
Regular opportunities for tikkun olam (repairing the world) within the school and the broader community
Study of and connection to Israel

Active Family Partnership

Shefa families are actively involved in the life of the school. At Shefa, families come together around:

Celebrations of Jewish learning milestones and of student work
Holiday events that welcome families to learn and celebrate along with Shefa students
Parent workshops around a variety of topics
Monthly breakfasts with the Head of School
Parent-teacher conferences with an integrated team and ongoing frequent communication including in-depth student progress reports
Parents Association-sponsored events and meetings
Opportunities for grandparents and other family members to experience life at Shefa