We are currently developing a middle school program at Beit Rabban, the core values of which will rest on the same foundation as The Gan at Beit Rabban and the elementary school: academic excellence in an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary, and integrated environment, serious engagement with Jewish life and learning, a cultivated sense of respect for various perspectives, and a commitment to community building and community service.

Students at the Beit Rabban Middle School will be contributing members of a vibrant, passionate, and diverse Jewish community, developing a binding connection to Jewish life and Jewish values, and equipped to be valuable participants and leaders in the Jewish world. Students will further develop their sense of identity as Jews and as young adults — and will be encouraged to make responsible decisions about ritual and practice, informed by relevant traditional and modern sources — by questioning and sharing ideas, and by engaging in open, honest and creative discussions. Families will be encouraged to work with their children as they prepare to make decisions about Jewish life and practice at home and at school.

In tandem, middle school students will continue to learn as they always have at Beit Rabban: in an environment fostering inquiry, problem solving, critical thinking, exploration, and authentic study. Students will be given opportunities to explore their own interests and their passions. They will have the opportunity to learn in both subject-based and interdisciplinary classes, and to participate in both individual and group projects within their grades as well as across grades and throughout the school. Beit Rabban's approach to text and Hebrew immersion from the elementary school continues throughout the middle school years and Hebrew is the language of instruction for all Judaic subjects. The curriculum will also include a strong social action and community service component as well as a program for the development of leadership and collaborative skills.

A student graduating from Beit Rabban in 8th Grade will have:

• A deep knowledge of Jewish tradition, practice, and classical texts and comfort and confidence with his or her own personal Jewish practice
• Hebrew fluency
• Strong knowledge of content and methodology across disciplines, and in line with New York State standards
• Strong writing skills and reading comprehension, literacy, and critical analysis skills
• Familiarity with research and report methods
• Excellent management, organizational, research, and study skills
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, and an ability to form and support opinions
• Comfort in the use of computers for word processing, research, and presentations
• A familiarity with his or her own personal learning style and needs, and confidence and a positive sense of self
• A feeling of empowerment towards making change in the world, along with leadership skills and an ability to work collaboratively with others