The year at religious school has flown by, and it is hard to believe that we are planning for the end of school on May 18.

Students in the school have had many wonderful and varied learning opportunities in the past couple months. In March, Rabbi Neal Katz brought his guitar and gave the entire school a concert. Most of the songs he sang were songs he had composed. Rabbi Katz explained when and why he had written the songs, which gave us a different perspective and understanding about the music.

The sixth grade classes, led by teachers Morah Henia and Rachel Socia, put on a Purim play for their parents and fellow students. The costumes were great, the script silly, the treatment educational.

The school is looking forward to a "museum" about the immigration of Jews to America, which the sixth grade is preparing for May 11.

Students in the first and second grades had lots of fun making and baking matzah before Passover. It may not have been totally prepared in 18 minutes, but it looked and tasted exactly like matzah. Several grades enjoyed chocolate Seders. All students in school talked about the gift of freedom, and how we as Jews have to work to make freedom a reality for all people today.

Second grade students continue to learn about Torah, and to make their own Torah scrolls. They will parade around the sanctuary with their very own Torahs on the last day of school.

Fourth graders, with the assistance of stuffed bears, are studying the Jewish life cycle. On May 4, the bears took part in a wedding ceremony in the sanctuary. Several parents have come in to share the stories and pictures of their weddings.