8th Grade
WRT’s clergy, professional staff and lay leaders collaborated as part of the Teen Task Force to revisit and reinvigorate all WRTeen programming and opportunities on our campus and beyond. We are excited to announce several changes and additions to the 8th Grade program for the 2023-2024 year.
Welcome to the WRTeen Passport
Designed to maximize choice and flexibility of schedule, the WRTeen Passport is centered around leadership, learning and social action: We are striving to meet each teen where they are.
8th Grade Core Initiatives
Periodic Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:15 pm
The Table (for 8th-9th Graders)
These sessions will include dinner; some will take place at a restaurant; registration in JLL is required to participate.
- 9/6/23
- 10/11/23
- 11/1/23
- 12/13/23
- 1/17/24
- 3/6/24
- 3/20/24
- 4/10/24
- 4/14/24
- 5/15/24
- “Jew” York City (for 8th-9th Graders)
Each of these programs are a stand alone event. Sign up for one or all!
- 10/16/23 – HUC Soup Kitchen
- 11/5/23 – Lower East Side Walking Tour
- 12/17/23 – Broadway Show (Show TBA)
- 1/28/24 – The Jewish Museum
- 3/2/24 – Midnight Run
- 5/5/24 – Museum of Jewish Heritage
- Madrichim Intensive Training (8th-9th Grade)
Developed as an opportunity for teen leadership, our Madrichim (student leaders) support and inspire the children in the lower grades of the JLL. Multiple points of entry exist for this cohort of student leaders, from weekly teaching opportunities to monthly mentoring, and dreaming up new ways to share your talents with others.
- 10/25/23
- 11/8/23
- 12/20/23
- 1/24/24
- 2/28/24
- 3/13/24
- 5/8/24
In addition to our WRTeen offerings, the WRTeen Passport has multiple avenues of engagement for every type of teen. Students can choose to commit to Confirmation and/or engage in a myriad of other learning experiences.
- Teen Travel
8th Grade travel includes opportunities such as select local day trips and the annual 8th Grade Civil Rights Trip. This 8th grade trip takes students and their parents to Atlanta to visit important historical sites in the fight for African American civil rights. By the end of the trip, we will have a deeper understanding of why Jews—as a people who have known oppression—must care and act when others are oppressed.
- Social Action
Monthly social action opportunities (mostly on Sundays) will allow for programming with our WRT community and community partners, such as J-Teen, BBYO and more. Programming will be both on and off the WRT campus.
- Expanded Madrichim Program
Our Madrichim (student leaders) support and inspire the children in the lower grades of the JLL. Multiple points of entry exist for this cohort of student leaders, from weekly teaching opportunities to monthly mentoring, and dreaming up new ways to share your talents with others. Madrichim also meet once a month to share and learn together!
- Rosh Chodesh and Shevet
Be a part of monthly single gender gatherings for safe conversations and discussions on important issues.
- BBYO Partnership
Hudson Valley Region BBYO provides exciting opportunities for Jewish teens to connect with one another, make a difference, celebrate their Jewish heritage, and travel the world together. Teens gather every other week (on non-Core evenings) on our WRT campus to take part in teen-created and teen-led programming. More information can be found at https://bbyo.org/bbyo-near-you/regions/hudson-valley-region.
- Pop-Up Initiatives
Watch for assorted Pop-Up Initiatives, such as Taco Tuesday and Saturday Night Cinema with the Clergy and JLL Team!
Schedule Options
Periodic Wednesdays from 7pm – 8:15pm PLUS travel opportunities (to be announced).
