Makom ATID 2018-2019

Makom ATID (Afterschool Torah Im Derekh-Eretz) is Makom’s brand-new, innovative approach to serious Jewish learning and bar/bat mitzvah preparation.  Makom ATID offers classes in Jewish learning, Hebrew language, and synagogue skills (prayer and Torah/haftarah chanting) to students in grades 5-8 in downtown Toronto.

Makom ATID’s Educational Goals

• Engage students in deep and meaningful Jewish learning
• Provide broader, foundational knowledge of Judaism and Hebrew
• Offer continuing education for Makom Afterschool students and educational opportunities for students coming from different Jewish day or supplementary schools or with no prior Jewish education
• Encourage Torah lishmah – Jewish learning for its own sake – with a secondary focus on the bar/bat mitzvah ceremony
• Create downtown Jewish peer community
• Develop future opportunities to engage in volunteering, outdoor experiences, downtown Jewish history, etc.

We seek a dynamic, creative, and energetic teacher who has fluency in Hebrew and experience working as both a Hebrew teacher and tutor (one-one and with small groups).

The Makom ATID Hebrew Teachers will:

• Teach children in grades 5-8 (grouped by learning level) every Monday from September to June, 4-5pm (Intermediate and Advanced classes) or 4-6pm (Beginners class)
• Teach Hebrew with a focus on reading & conversing
• Inspire a passion and appreciation for the Hebrew language and its importance to the Jewish People

Job Requirements

• Hebrew fluency
• Experience as both a Hebrew teacher and tutor (one-one and with small groups)
• Experience with classroom teaching, lesson planning, and pedagogy
• Commitment to children’s social and emotional development 
• Desire to grow and learn professionally 
• Passion for working with children and teens
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with experiential education methods
• Training or experience in formal and informal Jewish education
• Experience with differentiated classroom, teaching multiple ages at once
• Knowledge of child development and ability to apply it to lesson planning and instruction

In addition to base salary, the Makom ATID Hebrew Teachers will receive vacation pay and paid sick leave, as well as CPP and EI benefits.

Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume to rabbi@makomTO.org.

Resumes will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

For more information, please visit our website: www.makomafterschool.org

Makom Afterschool 2018-2019

Makom Afterschool is an innovative, pluralistic, Hebrew-immersion Jewish after-school program for children in JK through Grade 4. Founded by parents in 2011, Makom Afterschool enables children to attend their local neighbourhood school while gaining high-quality Jewish and Hebrew education and a warm Jewish peer community. We have three sites, at public schools in Kensington Market (College and Spadina), Seaton Village (Bathurst and Bloor), and Hillcrest Village (St. Clair and Christie).

We are looking for experienced, creative, and energetic teachers for Makom Afterschool for the 2018-2019 school year.

We are looking for Hebrew Immersion Teachers to:

• Teach children in grades JK through 4 every Monday and Wednesday from September to June
• Teach Hebrew (literacy and conversation) in an immersive environment (Ivrit B’Ivrit), following a set curriculum with space for individualized planning and approach
• Teach Hebrew through play-based and experiential models of education
• Teach Jewish values, culture and traditions in a pluralistic and inclusive fashion

Job Requirements

• Hebrew and English fluency
• Expertise in one or several of the following: Early Childhood Education, teaching Hebrew as a second language, Experiential and/or Informal Jewish Education, differentiated classrooms or classroom management
• Experience with classroom teaching, lesson planning, and pedagogy
• Background in Jewish studies and tradition
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to children’s social and emotional development
• Desire to grow and learn professionally
• Passion for working with children

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with experiential education methods
• Familiarity with child development, and ability to apply it to lesson planning and instruction
• Training or experience in the Early Childhood setting
• Experience with differentiated classroom, teaching multiple ages at once

Hebrew Immersion Teachers teach on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:10-5:40 pm, including picking up students from their local school classrooms, recess, snack time, and 1.5 hours of prepared lesson.  We follow the TDSB school calendar and meet from the second week of school (September 12, 2018) to the second-last week of the public school calendar (June 15,, 2019).

Hebrew Immersion Teachers will be paid $25/hr for 2.5 hours of class plus 1.5 hours of preparation per class ($104/class total). All Makom Afterschool staff members receive 4% vacation pay as well as CPP and EI benefits. All Makom Afterschool staff members are eligible for a 10% end-of-year completion bonus. Makom Afterschool staff members also attend monthly staff meetings for an additional $30/meeting.

Teachers will have access to professional development opportunities throughout the year in the areas of Jewish education, child development & classroom management.

Please submit resumes to familyed@makomTO.org.

Resumes will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

For more information, please visit our website: www.makomafterschool.org

Job Opening:  Teaching Assistants
Makom Afterschool 2018-2019

Makom Afterschool is an innovative, pluralistic, Hebrew-immersion Jewish after-school program for children in JK through Grade 4). Founded by parents in 2011, Makom Afterschool enables children to attend their local neighbourhood school while gaining high-quality Jewish and Hebrew education and a warm Jewish peer community. We have three sites, at public schools in Kensington Market (College and Spadina), Seaton Village (Bathurst and Bloor), and Hillcrest Village (St. Clair and Christie).

We are looking for experienced, creative, and energetic teaching assistants for Makom Afterschool for the 2018-2019 school year.

We are looking for Hebrew Teaching Assistants to:

• Assist the lead teacher with classroom management
• Assist the lead teacher with parent/teacher communications
• Pick up students from their school and walk with them to our Afterschool location
• Help the lead Teacher to teach children in grades JK through 4 to speak, read, and write modern Hebrew (working 1-1 or in small groups)
• Help the lead Teacher to teach Hebrew language in Hebrew (“ivrit b’ivrit”)
• Use experiential education models and play-based learning
• Engage children in the arts and play (song, dance, visual arts, games)
• Help to create and maintain the Hebrew immersive program environment

Job Requirements

• Hebrew proficiency; fluency preferred
• Experience with classroom teaching or camp counseling
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to children’s social and emotional development
• Desire to grow and learn professionally
• Passion for working with children
• Background in Jewish studies and tradition

Our program employs both 2-day and 5-day Teaching Assistants.

• 5-Day Teaching Assistants teach Mondays through Friday from 3:10-5:40 pm, including picking up students from their local school classrooms, recess, snack time, and 1.5 hours of prepared lesson (TA’s help to implement the lesson but are not responsible for planning it). We follow the TDSB school calendar and meet from the second week of school (September 12, 2018) to the second-last week of the public school calendar (June 14, 2019).
• 2-Day Teaching Assistants teach on Mondays and Wednesdays only, as described above.

Teaching Assistants will be paid $18/hr ($45/class). All Makom Afterschool staff members receive 4% vacation pay as well as CPP and EI benefits. All Makom Afterschool staff members are eligible for a 10% end-of-year completion bonus. Makom Afterschool staff members also attend monthly staff meetings for an additional $30/meeting.

Teaching Assistants will have access to professional development opportunities throughout the year in the areas of Jewish education, child development & classroom management.

Please Submit resumes to familyed@makomTO.org.

Resumes will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

For more information, please visit our website: http://makomafterschool.org          

See this job posting as a pdf

Employment Opportunity: 

Director of Education and Family Programming

Full-time, permanent position

Application Deadline: May 6, 2018

Start Date: June 25, 2018 (flexible)

Location: Toronto, ON

Organization Overview

Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism is a grassroots Toronto community fusing Jewish tradition and progressive values through spirituality, learning and culture.  Makom creates inclusive space that inspires diverse participants to explore together how Judaism can meaningfully enrich our lives.

Makom Afterschool educates, inspires, and creates community among diverse Jewish children in downtown Toronto.  Now in its seventh year, Makom Afterschool is a growing, substantive five-day-a-week after-school program of Hebrew language immersion and Jewish learning for 70 children in JK through Grade 4, hosted in three public schools during the school year.

Makom ATID is an innovative program for Jewish pre-teens and teens to discover the wisdom Judaism holds for their maturing minds and bodies in today’s world.  Students in Grades 5-8 gather twice a week for nuanced, pluralistic Jewish learning; Hebrew conversation and literacy; investigating philosophies and structures of prayer; Torah and haftarah chanting skills training; and hanging out with their peers.

Position Responsibilities

The Director of Education and Family Programming will advance Makom’s mission of connecting diverse downtown Jewish children and families with high-quality Jewish education, meaningful Jewish experiences, and vibrant Jewish community.  Reporting to and working closely with Makom’s Founding Rabbi/Executive Director, s/he will grow Makom Afterschool’s and Makom ATID’s student bodies and strengthen Hebrew and Jewish learning, as well as expand the reach and deepen the impact of Makom Families programming.

As the Director of Education, the successful candidate will oversee all operational and pedagogic aspects of Makom Afterschool and Makom ATID, including:

• Formulating strategic plans in collaboration with lay leaders and the Executive Director;
• Forming positive relationships with students and parents and helping them connect with Jewish life and Makom;
• Recruiting and retaining students and families in Makom Afterschool and Makom ATID;
• Hiring, supporting, and supervising teachers, teaching assistants, and specialists, e.g., reviewing lesson plans, observing classes, providing guidance, and conducting regular meetings with staff;
• Researching, writing, updating, and purchasing curricula and curricular materials;
• Designing and overseeing implementation of student learning assessments and program evaluation;
• Liaising with Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and host-schools’ faculty and staff;
• Marketing and communications, including recruitment materials and Makom Afterschool and Makom ATID newsletters
• Preparing and managing budgets and finances;
• Researching, applying for, and reporting on grants; and
• Working with lay leaders to fundraise for Makom Afterschool and Makom ATID.

Additionally, as the Director of Family Programming, the successful candidate will:

• Form warm relationships with families and help them connect with Jewish life and Makom;
• Develop and run monthly for Makom Families;
• Plan and lead Family Services for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and occasional Shabbatot;
• Market Makom Families programs and recruit participants; and
• Maintain and expand existing community partnerships.

Qualifications

• Mission-driven and passionate about Jewish learning, Hebrew language, and helping diverse Jews of all ages connect with Judaism and Jewish community
• Creativity and enthusiasm to try new approaches
• Excellent relational skills – ability to form collaborative bonds and communicate well with parents, teachers, TDSB principals and teachers, families, lay leaders, and Makom staff members
• Strong leadership skills and experience running educational programming
• Experience hiring, managing, and supervising teaching staff
• Ability to foster a pluralistic approach to Jewish education for diverse students and their families
• Success in student recruitment and retention
• Strong professional skills – ability to work quickly, independently, and with accountability
• Attention to detail and ability to produce high-quality written and media materials
• BA in Education, Jewish Studies, or related field/experience; Masters degree preferred
• Two or more years of teaching experience in formal and informal education
• Fluency in English; strong knowledge of Hebrew and Judaism
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Proficiency in or ability to learn quickly online applications (e.g., Facebook, MailChimp, WordPress)

Compensation

$50,000-$60,000, plus performance bonus

Benefit package includes professional development and paid vacation days and statutory holidays.

To Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to aaron@makomTO.org by May 6, 2018.

Makom: Creative Downtown Judaism | 402 College St. Toronto, ON M5T 1S8 | 416-546-6043 | info@makomTO.org

Fridays, Apr 13, 20 & 27
7:45-8:45am 
@ Makom – 402 College St
PWYC | $10-20/session
RSVP required

Neyshev. Let’s sit. Chanting, meditation instruction and sitting. Everyone is welcome. No previous experience necessary.

Led by meditation teacher, musician and prayer leader Aviva Chernick.

Please arrive before 7:45 to set up. There are chairs for sitting in. Please feel free to bring a cushion for the floor and a blanket to wrap up in for warmth and comfort. Registration required; please email Aviva.