BIRS Policies & Procedures 2022

Policies & Procedures for Beth Israel Religious School (BIRS)

Last Updated 2/10/2023

Health Policies 

• Masks are strongly recommended, but not required for students at BIRS with class exceptions. Contact Heather Gale for details and exemptions to this policy.  

  • Masks should be surgical or greater protection (such as KN95, not cloth). 

  • This policy will be monitored and adjusted as needed. 

• Vaccinations are required for all who enter the building ages 5 and up.

• If your student is not feeling well in any way, please do not send them to school.

• Students must be fever free (no medication) for 24 hours before returning to BIRS.

• If a student is not feeling well during school hours, a parent or guardian will be contacted to pick them up early. 

Drop Off & Pick Up

• We have a drop off/pick up line at the BIRS entrance on the lower level on the Austin Street side of the building. 

• Cars will enter at the last Beth Israel driveway, near the playground, and pull up towards the sidewalk as far as they can.

• Cars should turn around and wait in the neighborhood, not back up towards Washtenaw Avenue. We have too many vehicles and a traffic backup on Washtenaw is very dangerous.

• When it is time for dismissal Heather Gale or Meg Bernstein will ask parents for their child’s name and call them via walkie talkie. 

• If another parent/friend/family member will be picking up your child please alert Heather via email (hgale@bethisrael-aa.org) or text (248-891-4914). 

• To pick up your student early, please come to the lower level BIRS entrance and ring the doorbell. Security will contact Heather Gale or Meg Bernstein who will retrieve your child from their classroom. 

• High School program pick up and drop off is at the 2010 building, next to the main Beth Israel building.

Cell Phones

• In general, we ask that students do not use their cell phones during class hours, including break times.

• If cell phones are seen, they will be confiscated by Heather Gale and returned at the end of the day after a discussion with a parent or guardian.

• There may be times that a teacher asks a student to pull out a phone if they have one, that is acceptable on a case by case basis.

Snack

• A light snack will be provided during school hours.

• If your student requires more than a light snack, please send them with a kosher nut free snack. 

School Cancelation

• School may be canceled due to inclement weather, or other circumstances.

• As a general rule, we follow Ann Arbor Public Schools. If AAPS is closed for the day due to inclement weather, BIRS will also be closed. 

• If BIRS closes on a Sunday, we will notify all parents via email. 

• We will also use Remind for school closings and other urgent matters. You will receive a notification from Remind in the coming weeks. Please accept this request if you would like to be notified via text message for school closings and other urgent matters.

If you need to reach Heather urgently, please call or text her at (248) 891-4914.