The Power of Collaboration

At B’nai Shalom, a fundamental element of our educational philosophy is the power of collaboration. As we strive to provide the best possible educational experience for our students, we believe that collaboration is not just important; it is the heartbeat of our community. Collaboration takes many forms within our school, encompassing student-student, student-teacher, and teacher-teacher interactions. We have seen time and again how these various collaborations contribute to the development of our students in both profound and subtle ways. 

The beauty of collaboration lies in its ability to foster growth in our students' minds in developmentally appropriate ways. Whether it's our third graders building team skeleton projects, working in Hevruta (Partnered Torah Study) groups in Judaic Studies, or our eighth graders creating fidget boards for the movement room, collaboration encourages creativity, critical thinking, and empathy. It teaches our students not only to share ideas, but to respect the ideas of others- an invaluable skill for life.

At B’nai Shalom, collaboration happens outside of the classroom, too. This October, our Upper School students had the privilege of experiencing the transformative effects of collaboration during their time at Camp Weaver. The outdoor learning environment presented them with new challenges and experiences, such as conquering the high ropes course and navigating the waters while canoeing. These shared adventures not only built strong bonds, but provided opportunity for students to build self-confidence as they lent support to their classmates looking to do the same.

2nd-8th grade students participated in a Global Virtual Misheberach with other Jewish Day School students from around the world. Together, students offered prayers and shared reflections. They heard from an Israeli classmate who had his Bar Mitzvah last Shabbat. Because his father is in the Israeli military, he was unable to attend, but the student shared the power of community in making him feel honored on his special day, even with the absence of his father. In addition, B’nai Shalom students heard from IDF soldiers, one of whom had letters from students across the world taped to the outside of his tank. They also heard from a Rabbi and two Jewish Day School students who were at the Western Wall. Students from around the world were able to witness prayers being placed in the wall, then they sang together the Misheberach in Hebrew and English, followed by Hatikvah. This shared experience was incredibly moving and exemplified the power of collaborative thought in times of heartache.

At B'nai Shalom, we firmly believe that the gift of collaboration is the backbone of our community.