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Teen Leadership Program
Teen Leadership Program
Formerly the Madrichim and Merit Scholarship Programs
Now includes grades 8-12
The purpose of the Teen Leadership Program is to engage teens in a meaningful way while incentivizing the most critical aspects of their Jewish development. The Teen Leadership Program seeks to streamline and combine overlapping programs in a way that allows for flexibility of involvement.
Mark Kelln, Education Director
402-492-8550 - Work
mkelln@bethel-omaha.org
Caryn Scheer, School Board Committee Chair
carynscheer@yahoo.com
Teen Leadership Program Components
- USY Participation, Madrichim, Hebrew High, Shabbat's Cool/Shul-ins, Record Keeping
Teen Leadership Program Rewards
- Trip Subsidization, USY Discounts, Cash Rewards
2024-2025 Teen Leadership Program Application
Participants in the Teen Leadership Program will meet the following criteria each year to receive the full allotment of incentives/awards:
I. USY Participation (Participation in each of the following)
• Participate in at least 75% of BILU USY chapter events including helping to plan/facilitate at least 1 event. (Most of these are Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons - a few programs per month)
• Attend at least one regional or national USY convention (A variety are held throughout the year)
• Participate in the planning and facilitation of the Purim Carnival (January-March)
II. Madrichim (Active and skillful participation)
• 24 Sundays at BESTT (9:30 am to 12 pm)
• Assist in High Holy Days Youth programming
Or
• 12 Junior Congregations (Saturday mornings)
• Read Torah or Haftarah twice
• Assist in High Holy Days Youth programming
III. Hebrew High (Wednesday nights)
• Attend at least 75% of Hebrew High sessions
• Participate in the B’nai Brith Bible Quiz (December
IV. Shabbat's Cool/Shul-ins (Saturdays)
• Attend/assist at least one all day Shabbat’s Cool or Shul-in
V. Record Keeping
• Participants are required to keep their forms up to date, updated every week or so.
• Tracking forms will be kept in a binder in the school office, accessible to participants.Attendance must be counted as services are accrued.
Participants who fully meet the criteria for the Teen Leadership Program are eligible to receive:
• Highly subsidized participation in the 8th grade Chicago Holocaust Trip
• Highly subsidized participation in the New York “Roots” trip to be held their 10th, 11th, or 12th grade year.
• Significantly reduced rate for the 11th/12th grade community Israel trip, beyond the normal Beth El contribution.
• Free transportation to regional USY conventions and discounted transportation to national USY conventions.
• Discounted or waived fees for all BILU USY events.
• $100 bonus for Madrich/a of the year.
• Merit Scholarship awarded at the end of each semester in the following amounts:
- 1 Year of Participation - $100
- 2 Years of Participation - $300
- 3 Years of Participation - $350
- 4 Years of Participation - $400
- 5 Years of Participation - $450
Participants will get credit for years they have already participated as Madrichim. (Ex. An 11th grade student who has been a Madrich/a since 8th grade will start at level 4.)
Lower amounts for partially completed requirements may be awarded and/or alternate plans may be made for unique situations at the discretion of the Education Director in consultation with the BESTT committee chair and/or other Beth El representatives. If participation falls below around 50%, participants will not be eligible for financial incentives but are still welcome to participate in all Beth El teen events.
*This is a pilot year for the Teen Leadership Program. Changes to the program in subsequent years are to be expected.
Sun, February 9 2025
11 Shevat 5785
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