AGENCY NEWS

Issue 23 - November 1998/MarCheshvan 5759

Contents

• WE'VE MOVED
• SCITT'S IN THE BAG
• Dedication of refurbished ERC
• 'MY JEWISH BOOK CLUB' PROVES GREAT SUCCESS
• 'THE PERFECT JEWISH FAMILY?' A CHALLENGE FOR TODAY
• RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
• READ WITH ME
• NEW INSET, NEW INSIGHTS, NO MONEY
• SITUATIONS VACANT

WE'VE MOVED

Tishri saw not just the New Year but a new location for the Agency for Jewish Education. All staff are now located in Bet Meir, the building next to Schaller House on the London School of Jewish Studies campus (formerly Jews' College). Bet Meir is dedicated to the memory of Jonathan Fine, the Chairman of Governors of the Agency, who tragically died earlier this year.

All calls and mail to our previous offices will be forwarded for the next few months.

The Education Resource Centre remains in Schaller House and you will now find morc. books, files of ideas and article extracts readily to hand, together with all the usual facilities you have been used to such as photocopying laminating etc. Our video library is now readily accessible and, with Chanukah coming rapidly up on the horizon, there is sure to be a rush for such popular videos as 'Lights', 'Chanukah at Bubbes' etc. Now we are all on one site, we feel sure that we will be able to give you an even better service than to date. We look forward to seeing you or speaking to you soon.

SCIIT'S IN THE BAG

After many, many months of planning, writing, meeting and discussions, the Agency for Jewish Education is delighted to announce that, together with a number of primary schools in London, we have been designated as a Manager for the first Jewish School Centred Initial Teacher Training Programme - SCI'IT.

Director of Education, Jeffrey Leader. has been working with Training Programme Co-ordinator. Jacqui Menczer, and others to produce a schoolbased PGCE programme which will be validated by the University of North London. We would like to put on record our grateful thanks to the headteachers and senior staff of the Hasmonean Primary, Kerem, Michael Sobell Sinai, Naima Jewish Preparatory, Rosh Pinah Jewish Primary and Wolfson Hillel Primary Schools who have agreed to become partners in this first Jewish primary school SCITT and to the others 'waiting, in the wings'. Months of detailed work lie ahead but we are absolutely convinced that the Agency. tocether with its primary school partners, has made a major break-throuch in training the classroom teachers of the future. For further information on the SCITT. please contact Vivienne Metliss by email aje@brijnet.org or phone - 0181 457 9708.

'MY JEWISH BOOK CLUB' PROVES GREAT SUCCESS

Schools and Part-time Centres throughout the country rushed to take advantage of 'My Jewish Book Club'. The direct bookselling project is the first major component of the National Year of Jewish Reading, with book selections for both Under 8's and 8-12 year olds.

The next activity will be the Charity Readathon which begins in December, designed to encourage reading whilst raising money for your school or PTC, and a book publication project for children with special educational needs. Organised together with Kisharon School, schools will be sent information on the Readathon within the next few weeks.

'THE PERFECT JEWISH FAMILY?'
A CHALLENGE FOR TODAY

This is a major seminar for Jewish parents on the challenges of bringing up children as we approach the2Ist century. The Keynote Speaker is the Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks and the seminar is to be held on Sunday 15 November 1999 in Hendon.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

Early Years Education at the AJE offers three programmes, all of which have started with enthusiastic participants:

i) a series of Tuesday evening Inset courses for nursery teachers, details of which are in this year's Professional Development Programme

ii) the well established Diploma in Pre-School Practice (DPP) which offers initial training to newcomers

iii) the Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education (ADCE), completion of which provides 120 credit points for Higher Education. Students can take termly modules so entry is available in January and April 1999. The module for the Spring Term is 'Disability and Special Educational Needs' and for the Summer Term 'Observation and Assessment'.

For more information, contact Avelyn Hass aje@brijnet.org 0181 457 9705.

READ WITH ME

'Read With Me', LIFTs exciting new reading scheme, is a complete family education programme. The idea behind the scheme is to enable Jewish parents and children to share Jeish books and to talk about Jewish topics. This scheme also helps to forge links between the home and part-time centre/school/nursery.

Organisations can buy from a list of recommended books and LIFT will provide explanation cards for each book. Children taken home a book weekly to read with their parents. The cards provide ideas and activities for parents and children to do together.

The 'Read With Me' scheme costs only £20 per organisation, plus the cost of the books. If you would like a presentation on 'Read With Me', please contact Sandy Potashnick or Nicky Goldman aje@brijnet.org or 0181 457 9719.

NEW INSET
NEW INSIGHT
NO MONEY

The completely revised Professional Development Programme is now 'up and running' and the new style of programmes, with three or four week series of linked lectures and seminars as opposed to individual evening activities, is proving to be very successful. If you or your staff have not yet seen the Prospectus for this academic year, please contact Deborah Harris aje@brijnet.org or 0181 457 9713 to receive your complimentary copies. Members of the Agency for Jewish Education are able to attend as many courses as they like COMPLETELY FREE but non-members are more than welcome to attend for a small fee.

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MarCheshvan 5759/November 1998