The Jewish Community High School of Gratz College is pleased to announce that the Rothbart Program is now the Gratz-JCHS Online Program
 
Combining Gratz-JCHS’s expertise in adolescent Jewish education and the latest technological resources, the Gratz-JCHS Online Program offers internet-based classes in various subject areas, open to English-speaking teens world wide.  Students may take courses for personal enrichment, to satisfy synagogue or community high school requirements, study requirements for Jewish camp or Israel experiences, or even to earn college credit while still in high school. Read on to learn more about the Gratz-JCHS Online Program for yourself, your teenage child, or for students in your Jewish educational program. Based upon the urgent need for providing quality secondary Jewish education across North America, the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College (JCHS) – the largest supplementary Hebrew High School in North America – is extending its nationally recognized program in the Greater Philadelphia Region, introducing:

Gratz-JCHS Online Program for Teens

This is the first on-line distance learning program focused entirely on Jewish adolescent education, and is available for English-speaking students anywhere in the world.

College credit is available for selected courses! 

Fall semester runs from October 4, 2010- January 23, 2011.

*Students who have not taken a Gratz-JCHS Online course previously will need to participate in a mandatory orientation session prior to October 4.  Details will be sent upon registration. 

Only juniors and seniors may receive college credits. As with all such credits, acceptance of transfer credits is subject to each college’s or university’s own requirements. In order to receive college credits, additional information and requirements will be mailed upon registration.

When are Classes Held?

Whenever it works best for the student! Our classes are available 24/7 with no requirement to be in a particular place at a particular time each week.

Is Special Equipment Needed?

No. A computer, internet connection and a word processor is all that is needed. Our virtual classroom is open 24/7, allowing students to access lectures, assignments and class discussions at any time.

What Does It Cost?

Tuition for most classes is $175 plus $50 technology fee.  Project Etgar partnership course has a $75 technology/materials fee. College credit courses are 2-credit courses. Please note: There is liberal financial aid available for deserving students both for those with financial need as well as for student with outstanding academic achievements.

New for 2010: 

Songs of My People: Partnership course with the Zamir Choral Foundation
Gratz-JCHS Online is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for teens who sing in HaZamir choirs around the country to earn college credit while completing online course work in addition to their choir activities. This year-long course is open to members of  Zamir Choral Foundation affiliated choirs.  Participation in Zamir rehearsals and performances, in addition to online coursework is expected. The course is available to 11th and 12th grade students for 4 credits for the year-long course.  College credit applies.

Hebrew Language Online
This interactive web-based course uses the latest internet technology and the excellent text Brandeis Modern Hebrew to guide teenagers in their learning of modern Hebrew language.  Unlike the other Gratz-JCHS Online courses, there is a weekly “live” session which will be held on Sundays, 5-6 PM Eastern Time, in addition to other review and independent work each week at students’ convenience.  There are also requirements of technology and materials in addition to computer and internet connections.  Students are required to have a webcam and microphone, davkawriter (a Hebrew word processor), and to purchase the textbook.  In the Fall of 2010 we will run Hebrew I (see course description page), with the prerequisite of being able to decode Hebrew.  With sufficient interest we will continue to offer additional courses through Hebrew IV in subsequent semesters.  

Institutional Partners

The following schools, synagogues, and camps are working in partnership with The Gratz-JCHS Online Program for Teens to provide additional resources for students.  Click on their names below to access their websites, or feel free to contact their director or the Gratz-JCHS Online director for details if you are a student, member, or camper at one of the partner institutions. 

• ATID: Alliance for Teens in Detroit
  
• Polsky Religious School of Congregation Beth Shalom, Overland Park, Kansas
• Beth El Synagogue, Omaha, Nebraska
• Camp Ramah in Canada
• Camp Ramah Darom
• Camp Ramah in the Poconos
• Ramah Israel Seminar
• Community Hebrew High School of New Rochelle at Beth El Synagogue Center
• Congregation B'nai Emunah, Tulsa, OK
• Temple Israel, Tulsa OK
• Union for Reform Judaism
• Talmud Torah of Minneapolis
• Zamir Choral Foundation
• Temple Sholom, Chicago
• B’nai Jehoshua-Beth Elohim in Deerfield, IL
• Lakeside Congregation in Highland Park, IL
• Beth Israel in Skokie, IL
• West End Synagogue, Nashville TN
• Congregation Micah, Nashville, TN
• Camp Ramah in California
• Ivry Prozdor at JTSA, New York, NY
• Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, Michigan

Gratz-JCHS Online Fall 2010 Course offerings:

Songs of My People (Hazamir members only) college credit
Torah’s Top 50 Ideas (required for Reform Teaching Certificate)
Hebrew I
Music of Israel
Israel Today
Why the Jews (college credit)

Gratz-JCHS Online Spring 2011 Course offerings:

Songs of My People (continued)
Hebrew II
Israel: Current Events and Controversies (college credit)
Dilemmas in Jewish History
Whole Megillah
Reform Judaism (required for Reform Teaching Certificate)

If you or a teen you know is interested in this program please contact our Project Coordinator, Michael Schatz, by or 800-475-4635 ext. 267.

If you are a Rabbi, Educational Director, Head of School, or Camp Director and would like to discuss what institutional partnership entails, please also call Michael Schatz at 800-475-4635 ext. 267 or contact him through email.