Growing Within Syracuse Hebrew Day School opened 56 years ago with one English teacher and one Hebrew teacher off of the belief that the survival of Judaism relies on educating young Jewish children. The school now has 43 students. October 7, 2016. First-grader Tammy Greenblatt enjoys the bus ride to school on October 13, 2016. Students arrive at 7:55 a.m. to start the day off with an all-school assembly. Mrs. Rose reads a story to her kindergarteners, Samuel Vickery and Rafi Shenberger. Because of the small class sizes, the community is close-knit. The first and second-grade classes line up together after recess on September 19, 2016. Due to the dual curriculum with both general and Judaic studies, learning opportunities are vast. The dynamic program enables students to learn the Hebrew language as well as the history of the Jewish religion. Mrs. Zames helps first-grader Isaac Bloom follow along with the class as they chant prayers during Hebrew on September 23, 2016. Kindergartener Samuel Vickery sits in the class pet's play pin on September 27, 2016. The class pet guinea pig, Cutie, rarely gets to roam around the classroom, but Mrs. Rose feels it is important for the students to learn about responsibility and care through nurturing Cutie. During a field trip, Isaac Bloom plays with a dummy at the Dewitt Fire Station that firefighters use to teach CPR. Mrs. Rose comforts Samuel Vickery after he ran into a bench during lunch on October 7, 2016. Head of School Lori Tenenbaum comments that she never liked the new addition of the tables, but they were a parting gift to her from the former head of school. Julia Zames grows engrossed in a film telling the tale of Rapunzel. Second graders Jacob Fellman and Sydney Kanter close out the week by leading a prayer over the candles in a class Shabbat service on October 14, 2016.