To help parents to make an informed decision to send their children to Hatikvah, below are answers to the most common questions we have received:
1. What kind of school is Hatikvah International Academy Charter School? Hatikvah is a charter public school opening in September 2010 for grades K – 2. Like any public school, Hatikvah will be tuition-free. Hatikvah’s mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young citizens to promote a more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Its curriculum will be integrative, theme-based, and transdisciplinary, allowing the children to make connections in their learning across the traditional subjects. Through an in-depth study of a foreign language, Hebrew, the school will continually develop and implement an innovative, child-centered curriculum. A key goal is that children from all cultures, religions and ethnicities will make up a school community while maintaining individual identities and pride. 2. When there are such strong public schools in East Brunswick, why do we need a charter school that offers an integrative, theme-based curriculum and partial-immersion foreign language program? One of the tenets of charter schools is to provide choice. What distinguishes Hatikvah from the local public schools is its unique curriculum. Above and beyond teaching our students the required New Jersey Core Curriculum, we will also offer academic excellence by implementing a curricular framework that features inquiry-based lessons and holistic learning, where concepts are examined across the range of traditional subjects. Through such an approach, your children will be challenged to cultivate their creativity and develop into innovators and risk takers. In addition, as the students grow within the school, programs will begin to be delivered in a partial-immersive foreign language environment to ensure fluency of the second language, Hebrew. Research shows study of a foreign language at an early age correlates with higher academic achievement and SAT test scores as well as increased cognitive development and problem-solving abilities. The culmination of this unique curriculum is an education that is sought-after by the world’s leading universities. 3. What grades will Hatikvah serve? We will open in September 2010 with space for 108 students in grades K-2. The Kindergarten program will be a tuition-free full day program. There will be 2 kindergarten classes serving a total of 44 students, 2 first grade classes serving a total of 44 students and 1 second grade class serving 20 students. Each year we will add another grade with 44 students until we are a K-8 school with spots for 372 students. 4. Is there a cost to attend Hatikvah? No. As required by the State of New Jersey, Hatikvah will be tuition free. Charter Schools receive ninety percent of the funding that a public school receives from the state. The remaining funding is provided by grants. 6. What does the study of Hebrew culture include? Hebrew culture 7. How do I register my child? As a dual-immersion foreign language school incorporating an integrative, theme-based teaching method, we hope to enroll students from a wide range of backgrounds in Hatikvah and have already received inquiries from families of diverse backgrounds. If you would like to register your child, you can click on the "Register Your Child" link. Complete the online lottery application form there and fax a signed copy of the form to 732-698-0675, or scan a signed copy and e-mail it to registration@hatikvahcharterschool.com. You will receive a confirmation email to let you know when we have received your signed lottery registration form. 8. Do I have to live in East Brunswick to attend Hatikvah? Students are selected for enrollment using a random lottery. Two separate lotteries will be held – one for children who live in East Brunswick and one for students who live outside of East Brunswick. First preference will be given to students who live in East Brunswick or have siblings who already attend the school. If Hatikvah receives fewer applications from East Brunswick residents than available seats, it may accept student applicants from outside East Brunswick. 9. Can you really teach Hebrew without teaching religion? Public schools in the United States have been doing this for many years. Hebrew is a distinct language, and, like any other foreign language, can be acquired outside of the realm of religion. Public high schools around the country, and public universities, such as Rutgers, teach Hebrew language and Hebraic studies separate and apart from the study of religion. 10. Will the school observe Jewish holidays? Hatikvah will follow the East Brunswick public school calendar. Therefore, the school will be closed during the Jewish high holidays and also non-Jewish holidays which are observed by East Brunswick public schools. If parents ask to keep their children home in observance of other holidays, we will accommodate their requests just as other East Brunswick schools would do. 11. Will you offer a before/after school program? Yes, there will be a before/after school program available, run by a separate entity.
5.What kinds of cultural activities will be associated with the Hebrew-language curriculum?
Children will learn about the history, literature, art, and music of many different communities of Hebrew speakers in Israel and around the world and will also learn about the impact that other cultures and languages have had on the Hebrew language. In addition, Hatikvah children will become true "Global Learners" by learning how to situate themselves locally, nationally, and internationally as speakers of English, Hebrew, and any other languages they may speak.
includes Jewish culture, history, art, music, Israeli culture as well as the impact that other cultures and languages had on the Hebrew language.
12. Where will the school be located? Hatikvah's temporary home will be at 367 Cranbury Road. The school building will be located in the rear of Trinity Presbyterian and next to Central School. Within a year or
less, however, Hatikvah will join the Campus for Jewish Life, formerly known as the YM-YWHA of Raritan Valley, to build a permanent home on CJL's Dutch Road property. Hatikvah students will have access to all of
the facilities on the 10.5-acre Dutch Road site, including athletic fields, tennis courts, new playground equipment, and a pool. Read more about this exciting development in a recent article in the Sentinel:
"Hatikvah Charter School Announces Building Plans."