Pasadena USY and Kadima

Far West Leadership Training Institute

Save the date! LTI, a FREE weekend of fun, learning, and leadership, will be August 19-22 on Zoom. Registration requires signing up BOTH in RegPacks and over Zoom. First time using RegPacks? Email Emily and she can help walk you through it!

LTI is mandatory for PJTC USY Chapter President and Chapter VPs. It is suggested for other PJTC USY Chapter Board Members. If you are in 8th-12th grade and interested in attending LTI but are not currently a board member, please contact Emily.

A reminder that you must be a dues-paying member to attend regional events (such as LTI).

Judaism in the Home

Join us August 29th for Judaism in the Home!

Enjoy a free Kona Ice to wish you a sweet new year, pick up a kit with supplies to help you make meaning this High Holy Day season, stay to do some socially-distanced art projects with us, and enjoy learning opportunities with our clergy and educators!

Want to know more? Click here to read all about Judaism in the Home and this month's projects.

Ready to participate? RSVP here!

USY Opening Event

Kadima Opening Event

Kadima Block Party (Outdoors)

9/12/2021 at 12:30PM 3rd-6th Graders Bring a lunch to eat after religious school! Masks required except when eating and distancing required at all times.  Free for members, $8 for non-members.  PJTC USY registration AND and RSVP by 9/9 required.  See below for details on registration, RSVP by texting or emailing Emily (818-922-5218 or emily@pjtc.net

USY International Convention

International Convention will be Sunday, December 26 through Thursday, December 30 in Washington, DC! IC is USY’s unparalleled annual flagship event—a unique opportunity to do something new, innovative, and different with your winter break. Each year, hundreds of Jewish 9-12 graders from across North America come together to engage in Jewish learning, develop meaningful bonds to peers and mentors, actively participate in community service, and develop leadership skills that extend beyond the bounds of convention. To read more about IC or register, please click here. You must be a dues-paying member of PJTC USY to attend International Convention and be eligible for scholarships.

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USY & KADIMA REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION:

To participate in our regular academic year programming, you must fill out a set of permission/liability forms each year. Click HERE to register for USY/Kadima through our ShulCloud system.  

Logging in to ShulCloud: If you are a member of PJTC, please log into ShulCloud before filling out the registration. If you registered for religious school at PJTC this year or last year, use the same password you used then. If you have forgotten your password, or if you are a new PJTC member and have not yet signed up for ShulCloud, follow this link, enter your email address, and click "email password." This will allow the payment process to run smoothly when you register. 

If you are not a member of PJTC (many of our teens are from families that are members at other nearby synagogues), you can still register as a guest in the system. There is no need to log in first.

USY/KADIMA MEMBERSHIP DUES:  Kadima is pay-what-feels-right, between $40-$80 per member. USY is pay-what-feels right, $60-$100. This fee subsidizes the costs of programming supplies and staffing. Those who can pay more will help those who cannot, especially in these difficult times. (Additional donations are always welcome!) Once you become a member, the programs you attend will be free or at a lower cost to you than to non-members. 

WHAT IF I JUST WANT TO TRY IT OUT FIRST?  Sure! We'll still need a parent/guardian to fill out the permission forms, but you are welcome to attend local youth group events without becoming a dues-paying member. That just means you might have to pay more for the first few local events you attend before you are totally hooked and realize you should just become a member :-). When you go to the registration page, just leave the donation lines blank.

HOW TO PAY: Through the same system where you register, you will have the option to pay by credit card, bill your account (if you are signed into your ShulCloud account), or read the instructions for sending a check. 

Questions? Contact Emily Fischer, emily@pjtc.net

JOIN TEAM MADRICHIM!

Like kids? Want to work as a teaching assistant at our religious school? Join Team Madrichim! Open to 8th-12th graders, our madrichim (teaching assistants) are one of the most integral pieces of the LBSRS community. Working in a classroom is a great way to earn some money or community service hours, give back to PJTC, and create relationships with the next generation of Jews.

Religious school begins in-person on Tuesday, September 7 at 4PM at the LA Arboretum. After that:

• Sundays are in-person, 9:30AM-12:30AM (PreK-7th grade)
• Tuesdays are over Zoom, 4PM-5PM (3rd-7th grade)

This opportunity requires that you fill out an application form and complete an interview with our new Assistant Director of Youth Engagement & Education, Emily Fischer.

Ready to get started?

1. Click HERE to fill out your application, and then,
2. Click HERE to set up an interview time with Emily.

We're low on interview slots, so if you don't see a time that works with your schedule please email me (Emily) and I'll be sure to accommodate. Please also feel free to email me with any questions you may have as well: emily@pjtc.net

SAVE-THE-DATES

I know many of you are eager to learn what's next! We try to plan at least one Kadima and two USY events per month during the academic year, plus we'll advertise events for the whole family. We're still finalizing the calendar for the year, but here's some events you can already pencil in for next school year, with much more to come. Please note that events in bold are additions or changes to the calendar from our last update.

• August 19-22: USY Leadership Training Institute (Regional Event, 8th-12th Graders, Virtual)
• August 29: Judaism in the Home—High Holy Days Edition—Kona Ice, Art Projects, Learning (All Ages, Hybrid)
• September 11: USY Movie Night (7th-12th Graders, PJTC)
• September 12: Kadima Block Party (3rd-6th Graders, PJTC)
• September 19: USY Great Sukkah Pop Up (7th-12th Graders)
• September 30: USY Zoom Lounge Night (7th-12th Graders)
• December 26-30: USY International Convention in Washington, DC (9th-12th graders)
• January 17: USY Into the Day (Full Day of Community Service Throughout LA)
• January 21-23: Kadima & Jr. USY Kinnus at Camp Ramah (Regional Event, 3rd-8th Graders and USY Madrichim, TBD)
• January 30: Pop-Up History Museum/Café (Whole Families Welcome!)
• February 4-6: Federation Shabbaton at Camp Bob Waldorf (Grades 3rd-8th and Teen Counselors)
• March 12-13: USY & Kadima Purim Sleepover (Grades 3rd-12th)
• April 3: PJTC's 100th Birthday Party (Whole Families Welcome!)
• May 6-8: PJTC Community Kallah (Weekend Retreat at Camp Alonim, Whole Families Welcome!, Separate Bunks for Kadima/USY)
• May 27-30: Far West USY Regional Convention (8th-12th Graders)

For those who enjoyed our Minecraft Mini Camp last spring, we are working on bringing it back THIS FALL and will certainly let you know when we have more details!