TCHS has adopted three research-based frameworks to support students in achieving our school-wide Student Desired Learning Outcomes. Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 2024), the Shalom Learning Curriculum (Engaging Jewish values, 2025), and the Pre-AP Course Share (College Board, 2021).
These frameworks serve as specific curricular planning guides, enabling TCHS to help students develop the Desired Student Understandings.
TCHS’s curriculum is built using the Understanding by Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 2024) (UbD) Framework. This approach starts with the end goals or Desired Student Learning Outcomes. UbD starts with the outcomes in mind, and plans are created backwards to ensure specific content and skills are both taught and learned at the developmentally appropriate grade level.
All staff share responsibility for ensuring that each student reaches the Desired Student Learning Outcomes by the end of 8th grade. The curriculum covers all 9 years, focusing on age-appropriate content and skills that, when combined in 8th grade, enable students to meet the learning goals. Using UbD enables TCHS to develop a program that emphasizes understanding over memorization, thereby promoting deep engagement in real-life learning. While teachers provide targeted, explicit instruction, students are also expected to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create—internalizing knowledge and applying these academic skills and Jewish values to real-world problems.
When students move to high school, they will understand that:
The Shalom Learning Program (Jewish values, 2026) (SLP) is the framework for Jewish values, social-emotional learning, and character development at TCHS. The SLP begins in Kindergarten (K) and continues through 7th grade.
The curriculum provides engaging, developmentally appropriate Jewish Value lessons that incorporate both religious and secular examples, showing how Jewish and universal values can guide students’ moral decision-making and build self-confidence, whether or not they are Jewish. The curriculum spirals eight Jewish Value concepts through each grade level, providing an in-depth understanding of each value. Each grade level views the value through a different lens, for example, family, self, peers, and community.
The Shalom Learning curriculum is implemented by the students’ homeroom teacher each day during homeroom. In addition to instruction from teachers during homeroom, students also see the Judaica teacher, who provides more in-depth instruction.
TCHS staff work closely together to ensure continuity of instruction and to incorporate the Jewish values from SLP into all SEL and academic lessons throughout the day. The Shalom Learning Program is not limited to formal homeroom time; rather, lessons and values are built upon and implemented each day in each class.
Values such as justice and responsibility transcend religion and are integral to a student’s moral development. The eight values specifically covered include:
TCHS has adopted the College Board’s Pre-AP framework (College Board, 2021) because it provides a focused framework that ensures teachers provide each student with the necessary tools to succeed in rigorous high school Advanced Placement (AP) classes. AP classes are highly rigorous and culminate in an AP test that, if passed, may earn college credit at both private and public universities across the United States (2021). The Cherry Hill School’s course offerings include Pre-AP classes currently offered at local high schools. Pre-AP classes may also count towards high school graduation credits.
Through all grades and subjects, the Pre AP Course “Shared Principles (2021)” is implemented by teachers with developmentally appropriate instructional methods and with increasing intensity.
TCHS does not have a formal Special Education program. However, TCHS offers personalized instruction tailored to each student’s developmental needs. Students are not required to learn at the same pace as the entire class; instead, teachers differentiate instruction to support those who learn quickly or more deliberately. Teachers assist students in discovering the most effective learning strategies to ensure optimal learning.
TCHS emphasizes data-driven, explicit teaching combined with hands-on, student-centered activities appropriate to each student’s individual ability and growth level. Each student receives instruction customized to their skill level.
All students are welcome to attend TCHS. Students who enter the school with a diagnosed learning challenge will be required, at their parents’ expense, to provide a school tutor for at least 2 hours per week. After two months, the students’ teacher, admin, parents, and tutor can discuss the options going forward to ensure student success.
Jewish values: Hebrew education: About Shalom Learning. Shalom Learning. (2026, January 10). https://www.shalomlearning.org/about/
Wiggins, G. P., & McTighe, J. (2024). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). Echo Point Books & Media, LLC.
College Board. (2021). Pre-AP English 1 – pre-AP | college board. https://pre-ap.collegeboard.org/courses/descriptions. https://pre-ap.collegeboard.org/courses/course-descriptions/english-1