Teens @ Am Shalom offers flexibility and directed learning for our 9th-12th grade students. The learning year is divided into three trimesters, and learners are invited to an all-you-can-learn plan – we’ll share the options with the teens and help them choose the learning that is most engaging for them!
More information about the 2026-27 school year is coming soon. Here’s a peek at the 2025-2026 offerings.
Teens @ Am Shalom is our learning program that offers flexibility and directed learning for our 9th-12th graders.
The learning year is divided into three trimesters, and learners who register for our teen programs will be invited to an all-you-can-learn plan – we’ll share the options with the teens and help them to choose the learning that is most engaging for them!
Confirmation Seminar for 10th Grade This is our traditional Confirmation program, culminating in the Confirmation ceremony in May. Our teens are, more than ever, confronting issues and definitions of their own identities. This culminating learning experience helps to synthesize where Judaism fits into those identities. Students will affirm and confirm their place in our community. To facilitate this intensive look at the self, we have a unique “God Talk” extended day and conclude with the Confirmation ceremony.
Confirmation Ceremony: May 16, 2027 at 3:00pm
High School Advocacy Trip: Using Our Voices to Advocate for Reform Jewish Values (Washington, D.C.)
This will be a 7 week course, including travel, for the Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Seminar for High School Students.
*Note that there is an additional cost for the trip.
Trip dates: February 19 – 22, 2027
Yisrael v’Ani: “Israel and Me” – an opportunity for our students to find the balance between an ideal and a real Israel.
Our classes and seminars aren’t the only way to work towards confirmation. There are SIX different ways for a student to accrue credits toward Confirmation:
In order to be eligible for the Confirmation Seminar (and participate in the Confirmation ceremony at the end of the 10th grade), learners will need to accrue 3 credits each year. (So – 3 credits in the 9th grade year, and 3 credits in the 10th grade year, including the Confirmation Seminar, which is required for Confirmation. Eighth grade is a separate program, your student may register for our 8th grade program, work as a madrichol and/or go on the Chicago IsraelNow trip.)
Teens @ Am Shalom also includes learning opportunities for our 11th and 12th grade students to continue the conversations. Previous participation in Confirmation programs is not required.
11th/12th Grade Additional Opportunity:
11th/12th Grade Seminar – We are so happy to be able to again offer our 11th & 12th graders an opportunity to continue their Jewish development through thoughtful conversations about the many topics that matter to them such as environmentalism, community health, civil rights, and how do we think of Israel in today’s world. 11th/12th Grade Seminar will meet in person once a month October-May for a total of 8 sessions. We will meet on Wednesdays after Hebrew School (6:00 – 7:30pm) – dinner will be provided.
There is no cost for this program but we do require registration.
$675 for Religious School for 8th-10th Grade (Full Year)*
*additional charge for any travel may apply
If you have questions regarding school registration, please contact Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, our Director of Congregational Learning, at 847-835-4800 or phylliss@amshalom.com.
[REMEMBER TO ADD GRAPHIC]
Sunday School CLASSROOM MADRICHOL (9:15am-11:30am on Sunday mornings) Often our religious school madrichol work with their teachers to teach part of a lesson by reading a story to their students, explaining an art project or running games during a break.
Sunday School THIRD GRADE MADRICHOL (9:00am-11:30am on Sunday mornings) Our third grade program is unique in that all of the classes are run by teen madrichol. Each team of two supervises their own “troop” of third graders, and the whole program is overseen by a team of 3-4 adult educators. This is a wonderful opportunity for teens who are looking for leadership experience. *Note: the pay is slightly higher reflecting the early arrival.
Sunday School OFFICE MADRICHOL (8:30am-11:30am on Sunday Mornings) We have a wonderful crew of madrichol who help run the school behind the scenes! They collect tzedakah and handle school-wide attendance. They help our teachers un-glitch tech and help students throughout the school get to where they need to be. Sundays would not run as smoothly without them!
Sunday School PROJECT MADRICHOL (9:15am-11:30am on Sunday mornings) If working in a classroom is not your thing, we’d love to help you find a place here at Am Shalom in a different capacity. We’d love photographers, bloggers, techies, artists, etc. Let’s chat about creating a different role for you!
Hebrew School CLASSROOM MADRICHOL (4:00pm-6:00pm on Wednesday afternoons) Our Hebrew school madrichol often work with students one to one outside of the classroom, and/or teach games/activities in the classroom.
Hebrew School ONLINE MADRICHOL (4:50pm-5:30pm on Wednesday afternoons) Our online Hebrew school madrichol play an important technological role in their zoom classroom spaces. You do not need Hebrew capabilities to be an online Hebrew madrich. The partnership between teacher and madrich really helps make this virtual experience meaningful for everyone.
Madrichol are expected to attend 75% of the classes and must be in regular communication with their teachers. On a day that they cannot attend they must let their teacher and Rabbi Anne know.
If you can only attend part of the year/some of the weeks, we would love to still find a role for you. Please apply and chat more with us about this!
There will be paid madrichol trainings about three times during the school year.
Once you’ve submitted your application, we will contact you to set up a one-to-one meeting. Please let us know if you have any questions!
Tikkun Olam is the Jewish value of repairing the world. Our Tikkun Olam Fellowship provides an opportunity for 9th-12th graders to develop skills to help them help the world!
Now in its inaugural year, the program consists of three parts:
This fellowship can also count towards community hours and looks great on a college application or resume.
For more information, please contact Jenna Solomon, Youth Program Associate, at 847.835.4800 x 303 or jennas@amshalom.com.
