The name Netivot, pathways, reflects our school’s vital mission, to honor the path of every child. No two people are alike, and no two children acquire skills and internalize information in exactly the same way. To truly nurture a child is to allow their particular pathway to take shape. The Jewish Montessori method fosters an enduring love of learning by drawing on each child’s innate potential, taking into account their diverse learning styles, their different backgrounds and their social and emotional profiles.
At Netivot, academically gifted children are given the freedom to master new skills and content at the pace that is appropriate for them, with students frequently advancing well beyond eighth grade material before they graduate. Children with learning vulnerabilities are given the time to progress more slowly and methodically, with support and encouragement built into the classroom environment and supplemented when necessary through our Tomcheha program for academic support. All students are given the experience of working independently and developing the self-awareness and advocacy skills to become life-long learners.
Our curriculum includes all of the components of the classical yeshiva day school. We use Montessori methodology to teach Chumash, Navi, Mishna, Gemara, Halacha and tefillah, as well as language arts, math, science, geography and history. All aspects of the curriculum are carefully designed to interlace and complement one another, so that, for example, a study of Bereishit might coincide with science experiments about the composition of the earth, or God’s promise that Avraham’s progeny would be numerous as the stars might coincide with a study of the cosmos. Both general and Jewish Studies teachers are present in the classroom throughout the day, so that children may work in any discipline at any time and develop a sense of cohesion among all areas of study. In this way, we connect all subjects to limudei kodesh, because every aspect of the curriculum is related to Torah and Jewish values.
Within a school already designed to honor every child’s unique pathway, we have also recently added a specialized program for social-emotional success. Through the Darchei Noam program, all students at Netivot receive training in DBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, a leading psychological method designed to teach the skills of self-regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. At a time when studies have repeatedly shown that people of all ages are in need of tools for emotional wellness, Netivot has become the standard bearer for providing these skills within a yeshiva day school setting.
From the academic to the emotional to the spiritual, the value of a Montessori yeshiva education is unparalleled. From the standards we set for our faculty to the appearance of our classrooms to the manipulative materials we use to the support services we have woven into our program, there is no better formula for educating Jewish children today. We hope to welcome you to Netivot soon to see the magic for yourself!
For more information, please visit mynetivot.com, email Devora Hollander at [email protected], or call 732-985-4626, ext. 1.
