School Philosophy / Mission Statement

Overview

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School is a Jewish, co-educational college preparatory school; its purpose is to educate Jewish students from preschool through high school. The student body is diverse, including families with varying religious, economic, and social backgrounds. Since its inception, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School has been unique in philosophy and curriculum, stressing the values and traditions of our rich Judaic heritage and American democratic ideals, while preparing students to meet the challenges of contemporary society.

Shaping the next generation

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School is committed to a modern approach to traditional Judaism and welcomes children from a broad range of backgrounds and beliefs, recognizing and respecting the spiritual dignity of those beliefs. Emphasis is placed on Torah, the love of G-d and love of humanity in an atmosphere that encourages social consciousness, community leadership, and a commitment to the highest standards of ethical behavior. Beth Tfiloh Dahan's responsibility to the Jewish community is to educate generations of American Jews who are committed to Jewish practices and beliefs, knowledgeable about their heritage, and devoted to the Jewish community and the State of Israel.

A commitment to academic excellence

We strive to combine the best General and Judaic Studies education possible in a quality program which develops each individual's intellectual capabilities. There is an emphasis within the curriculum on skill development, content mastery, critical thinking, fostering creativity, acquiring self-knowledge, encouraging good interpersonal relationships, and developing independence within an environment that is nurturing and supportive. The school offers a balanced education, including an emphasis on Judaic Studies and Hebrew language, providing each student with the fundamental skills essential to future learning. It is the goal of the school to develop in each child a love of learning. The school provides opportunities to grow as an individual, to reach one's full potential, and to interact effectively with peers. To this end, a comprehensive arts program and athletics program are integrated into the school day, with technology supporting and underpinning the academic offerings.

Focusing on the individual

At Beth Tfiloh Dahan, the needs of the individual are paramount. The school recognizes differences in learning styles and meets individual needs through ability grouping and modification of its programs when needed. It provides individualization, remediation, and enrichment to answer the needs of its student population. A faculty of trained and caring professionals is available to see to the personal concerns and general growth and development of each student. Small class size allows for advanced placement, honors and college prep, as well as special needs groupings, and a variety of electives in both Jewish and General Studies help to tailor the educational program to the needs and interests of each student.

A flexible program to serve a diverse community

Beth Tfiloh Dahan believes that Jewish education is the birthright of every Jewish child, and a flexible program allows students from every Jewish background and training to grow and to achieve. Children are encouraged to explore and study their Jewish heritage and traditions, as well as American democratic ideals. It is the mission of the school to prepare our students to confront successfully the rigors of daily life while they maintain their commitment to the Jewish community and the community-at-large.

Commitment to the State of Israel

We strive to enable our students to build a strong emotional connection to Israel, and to make Israel an integral part of
their identity.
 
We encourage students to internalize the deep-rooted Jewish spiritual and historical connections to the Land of Israel,
which derive from its holiness, its role as our Jewish homeland and its centrality in contemporary Jewish life.
We view the Hebrew language as an essential tool in connecting to Israel, its culture and its people. Therefore, we
strive to bolster students’ academic study of Hebrew as a living language while integrating Hebrew study with an
engaging and comprehensive cultural experience.
 
We strive to provide our students with comprehensive information about the history and current state of the Arab-
Israeli conflict and the multi-faceted nature of Israeli society to better enable them to formulate educated opinions and
advocate for Israel’s interests outside of Beth Tfiloh.
 
We endeavor to educate students to actively demonstrate their commitment to Israel by giving of their energy,
resources and attention to the state, the land and its people.
Back

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School

Learning together. For life.
Baltimore’s only Jewish independent preparatory school serving PreSchool through Grade 12.