School Hebrew
Hebrew is the ancient language of the Jewish people and the only ancient language still spoken today.
Academy BJE commenced Hebrew language classes in state high schools in 1989 with an enrolment of 14 students. In 1990 the first primary school classes began at Vaucluse Public School with 32 students. Prior to that time, Hebrew had been taught to secondary school students only, and then after school through the Ramah Academy at BJE which, at its height, had some 40 students.
Today there are approximately 600 students learning Hebrew in 11 state schools and at BJE, either through insertion classes or before/after school programs. Academy BJE is recognised by the Modern Language Teachers Association NSW.
At which schools does Academy BJE provide Hebrew?
Hebrew is offered at the following primary schools before or after school time *: Clovelly PS, Lane Cove PS, Lindfield East PS, St Ives North PS and Woollahra PS.
Hebrew is also offered at Rose Bay PS at different times depending on the student's year level at school. For Years K-3, Hebrew is offered as an insertion subject (meaning it occurs during the school day). For Years 4-6, Hebrew is offered before or after school hours.
Each Hebrew lesson is one hour in duration and BJE attempts to ensure that all students have two hours of instruction per week (school timetable permitting).
Hebrew is offered at the following high schools during school hours: Killara High School and Rose Bay Secondary College.
All Hebrew classes are dependent on viable numbers of students being enrolled.
*Please note that both Bellevue Hill PS and Vaucluse PS offer Hebrew as an insertion subject and it is funded by the Department of Education and Training. Academy BJE supports the teacher and the curriculum, but the teacher is an employee of the Department and not of Academy BJE.
What do students learn in Hebrew lessons?
The Academy BJE Year K curriculum is the very successful Chalav uDvash ('Milk and Honey') Hebrew language instruction program designed for early childhood and Year K settings in the Diaspora (outside Israel). The curriculum also encompasses the Aleph to Tav booklet designed by Academy BJE specifically for letter recognition.
Academy BJE was first in the world to write their own Year 1 curriculum, Achshav Korim, which is based on progressing the student's oral language from the Chalav uDvash program. Students are also taught to read and write Hebrew (subject to timetabling constraints in individual schools).
Year 2 students undertake the Otiyot Korot curriculum, progressing to the Otiyot Kotvot curriculum in Year 3 (again, subject to timetabling constraints in individual schools).
Starting in Year 3, and continuing until Year 6, but again subject to school timetabling constraints, students undertake either the Yeladim Lomdim Ivrit or the HaKol Chadash curriculum.
Once students reach high school, they embark on a new curriculum entitled Ivrit meAlef ad Tav. This program focuses on grammar and reading comprehension and is geared specifically to follow on from the primary school syllabus. For students who qualify as native speakers of Hebrew, there is a special curriculum, Lashon al kol Lashon.
Is there a cost?
There is a fee for the Hebrew program which is paid in advance per term. We try to keep the fees as low as possible and fee relief is available.
How do I enrol my child for Hebrew with Academy BJE?
An enrolment form may be downloaded from this website; please note that it is not possible to submit the completed form online due to legal requirements. Instead, the completed form should be signed and returned directly to Academy BJE (detailed instructions are at the end of the form).
