Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Jewish Day School and a Yeshiva?
As a Day School, Mazel is different than most Yeshivas in that both boys and girls attend classes together. In addition, as a Day School it is open for all Jewish children regardless of their level of religious observance. You will not be asked what you observe at home, nor will your child be told that they “have to” become more religious. Every family is respected for their own level of involvement in Jewish life. No one is made to feel uncomfortable and everyone is free to choose their own path. Children learn that Jewish identity is important for all Jews but “different families observe in different ways”. Another major difference between our day school and other Yeshivas is that the general studies program takes up 60-70% of the day (compared to 50% in other schools).
What Jewish denomination is Mazel Day School affiliated with?
All Judaic studies taught at Mazel Day School are aligned with traditional, Orthodox Judaism. However, students attending our school are from observant, non-observant or non-affiliated homes. Judaism is presented as vibrant, relevant and meaningful - while also open to any and every Jew whether or not they affiliate themselves with a particular "brand" of Jewish practice. Our philosophy is: labels are for clothes, not Jews!
If our family does not observe all Jewish traditions which my child will learn about at Mazel, won't this create a conflict between home and school?
At school, teachers encourage children to understand that "different families observe Judaism differently" and that each family is a wonderful and special Jewish family, for whom parents choose what level of observance is right for them. Our experience has been that as long as parents know to respond to their children's questions in a similiar way, there is no conflict. Suppose a child comes home and asks: "How come we do not observe Shabbos like my friend's family?" or "Why does Daddy wear a Kippa only when we go to Synagogue?" The best way for a parent to respond is to explain that "in our family this is how things are done; perhaps when you get older you will be able to choose to do things your way". This would be the same approach a parent would take if the child came home and demanded a later bedtime or a new toy that their friend has. Just as in that case, children can understand that parents make the choices for the "family rules". In general, at Mazel Day School, we encourage parents to seek out the school's support in cases such as these, or where their child is unintentionally placing pressure on the home environment to conform to Jewish observances which the parents may not be ready to undertake.
Won't putting my child in a Jewish Day School create an insular and "shtetl-like" environment that will not prepare them for life in the modern world?
Our students distinguish themselves as refined, compassionate, open-minded, and well-rounded young adults with an expanded view of the world. With character development placed on the forefront of our school program, alongside high academic expectations, our children learn to be both good students, as well as good friends and good people. By participating in numerous community service projects, they develop a sense of responsibility for our world, both Jewish and beyond. Our curriculum exposes children to various cultures and practices, as well as the fundaments of citizenry and American national pride. They emerge globally conscious, optimistic, and confident of themselves as citizens in the larger community.
How do students cover the same curriculum as public schools, when general studies are taught for only 60-70% of the day?
Many parents who are new to day schools have this same question. There are a number of factors that enable our students to not only learn the state's curriculum, but to actually surpass it in many areas. Educational success is determined by the way time is used and not by the time available, though our school days are a bit longer than most other schools, running from 8:45 am to 4:15pm. Our class sizes are significantly smaller than the average public school class, with our largest class having 15 students. This allows teachers to customize work for individual students to ensure that they are progressing in their studies. By doing so, our classes are able to move forward in content material in a shorter period of time than larger groups. In addition, our curriculum is at an advanced level to begin with. Each component of our academic program is carefully selected to be challenging and rigourous so that student learning time is maximized. In fact, numerous studies show that a dual curriculum is more beneficial than the conventional curriculum because the children are learning a second (in some cases third) language from kindergarten, exposed to different cultures and learning advanced text analysis. They develop strong and adaptable thinking skills and know how to apply knowledge across content areas. One only has to look at our “product” to see the results. (To see our state exam scores from last year, click here.)
As a private school, in what way is Mazel Day School held accountable for the quality of its education?
MDS is registered with the NYS Department of Education. Our school participates in all state-wide exams issued by the DoE. In addition, our students participate in other nationally recognized testing programs. These assessments enable us to evaluate our academic program on a regular basis, and make adjustments accordingly.
What is the difference between a Jewish Day School and a Hebrew Charter School?
Charter schools are public schools in the United States funded by the state that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Some charter schools provide a curriculum that specializes in a certain field - ex: arts, mathematics, etc. In the case of Hebrew charter schools, the Hebrew language and culture is the specialty. In contrast, Jewish day schools are privately funded, indepedent schools that integrate general education with Judaic studies. Because Jewish schools are not public schools, they can teach Jewish observances, students can study Jewish texts and Jewish values are transmitted throughout the school experience.
