Shalom CAARS Families,

Our wonderful school year is drawing to a close — we are already looking ahead with excitement for what’s to come! CAARS 5787 is coming, and enrollment is now open at this year’s prices. Don’t wait — this offer closes July 15th!

The CAARS theme for 5787 is לַעֲלוֹת — la’alot — to rise. This year, we invite each student to rise: to stretch toward their fullest self, to grow in wisdom and in heart, and to shine as the unique Jewish neshama (soul) they are meant to be. Our hope is that every student will discover the depth of who they are, show up fully for themselves and for one another, and let this community be the place where they become more. Menches everywhere!  To our returning students, welcome home — we celebrate you and your presence lifts us all. And to those joining our sacred community for the first time, we cannot wait to rise together with you.

See below for a grade-by-grade outline of class days and times:

Please read until the end for FAQs!

Pre-K; Sundays 9:30-12:00 pm; Twice a month 

Pre-K is open to CAA members and non-members.

K-2nd grade; Sundays 9:30-12:00 pm

3rd-5th grade; 

• Sundays from 9:30-12:00 pm and
• Tuesdays 4:30-6:30 pm; Pizza included 
  • or Thursday CAARS in Lakeway 4:30-6:00 pm (To choose this option, please mark “CAARS Lakeway – Thursdays.”)

3rd-5th grades learn Judaics as well as Hebrew on both Sundays and Tuesdays. Tuesdays include community building over pizza dinner.

6th grade; 

• Shabbat Morning (Saturdays) 9:45-12:45 pm; Shabbat Kiddush lunch included; and
• Tuesdays 4:30-6:30 pm; Pizza included 
  • or Thursday CAARS in Lakeway 4:30-6:00 pm (To choose this option, please mark “CAARS Lakeway – Thursdays.”)

Students will meet in the sanctuary at 9:45 am on Shabbat morning and have the opportunity to either sit b’yachad, together, with a parent or with a teacher/madrichim helping them follow along during Shacharit and the first part of the Torah service. At approximately 10:15 am, students will go to their classroom where they will engage in our 6th Grade curriculum focusing on Parshanut, study of the weekly Torah portion with commentary, as well as Torah Trope.

Our Shabbat morning program strengthens our b’nei mitzvah students’ confidence with leading services and comfort in feeling a part of our beloved CAA community. By sharing lunch together each week, our students connect with one another and foster their love of Shabbat.

7th Grade; Shabbat Morning 9:30-12:45 pm 

Students will meet in the Chapel at 9:30 am with Rabbi Swedroe to explore personal theology, the meaning of the Torah service, and Jewish values and holidays through the study of Rabbinic Literature. At 10:10 am students will move to the sanctuary to participate in the Torah and Musaf services and support their classmates celebrating becoming B’nei Mitzvah. At the conclusion of services, students will have lunch together each week, reinforcing their connection to each other and to our CAA community.

3rd-7th grade Shabbaton*; Jan 22nd – 24th

We are so excited to continue the tradition of hosting a CAARS Shabbaton at CYJ! The Shabbaton is an integral part of our CAARS year. As we expect all students in 3rd-7th will join us for this fun and experiential learning opportunity, there will not be any CAARS that weekend. Please save the date now and plan for your child(ren) to attend! Reserve your spot for the Shabbaton during enrollment. Shabbaton payment is nonrefundable. Please note that cost should not be a barrier to attending. Anyone needing financial assistance should contact Lanie Bailey (lanie.bailey@caa-austin.org; 512-735-8410).

[*A Shabbaton is a programmed retreat over Shabbat. Our Shabbaton is held at Camp Young Judaea in Wimberley. Please see below for FAQs.]

8th-12th grade*; Sundays 12:00-1:30 pm (teen lunch 12:00-12:30 pm)

[*Please note that 10th, 11th and 12th graders will meet weekly this year in a combined seminar style class.]

Our “Minyan Mensch” program continues in 5787! Any PreK–5th grade student who attends Shabbat services at least 10 times during the school year — whether Friday night, Shabbat morning, Shalom Minyan, or Nachat — will be invited to a special end-of-year celebration. Students mark their attendance each week with a sticker by their name in a binder.

Youth Groups

We are thrilled to have Hillai Amar leading our youth groups again this year! Throughout the year, Hillai will offer fun and engaging activities tailored to each age group, from 3rd–12th grade. Be sure to enroll your child in youth group during registration — and spread the word! CAA synagogue membership is not required to participate.

• Chaverim (3rd – 5th grade)
• Gesher (6th – 8th grade)
• USY (9th -12th grade)

Please see the links below for the Enrollment Form and the 2026-27 Tuition Payment, along with the 3rd-7th Grade Shabbaton Registration Form and Shabbaton Payment. Families must be CAA members in good standing to enroll in CAARS.

We’d love to save you a seat! Enroll by July 15th to hold your student’s spot and enjoy this year’s tuition rate. After that date, pricing will go up — so the sooner you register, the better!

If you would like tuition payments to begin August 1, 2025, please select “Bill to My Account.” Email Lanie Bailey at lanie.bailey@caa-austin.org if you have questions or would like to make other payment arrangements.

Below are links to the electronic CAARS calendars. 

Pre-K 

K-2nd

3rd-5th

6th

7th

8th-10th

11th/12th

Chaverim (3rd-5th Youth Group)

Gesher (6th-8th Youth Group)

AAUSY (9th-12th Youth Group)

Bivracha (With Blessings), 

Tammy Stone

Director of Youth Education

Congregation Agudas Achim Religious School

FAQ:

3rd-6th Grade Tuesday 

*Is there an additional charge for my child to have pizza? What if my child has special dietary restrictions/doesn’t eat pizza?

No. There is no additional cost to families. If your child has dietary restrictions, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them. If your child does not eat pizza, they are welcome to bring food to eat that is dairy or pareve.

Shabbaton

*Will all students in a grade be in the same cabin? 

Students will be assigned cabins by grade. Depending on the number of students, other similar grade levels may be in that same cabin. 

*What adults will be in the cabins with the students.

An adult staff member will be in each cabin. In a few of the younger cabins we may have an extra madrich/a.

*Do you have a schedule of events for the weekend so I can prepare my student for what to expect while away? 

Here is a link to a previous schedule. The schedule for this year will be similar but will have a different theme and activities.

*Will kids be in their age group for activities?

Some activities will be by age group or by cabin.  Other theme activities will be in mixed age groups. We want our students to get to know each other.

*Will the cabins be heated/air conditioned?

Yes, the cabins will be heated/air conditioned. Depending on the weather, it is recommended to send students with a warm sleeping bag.

*What if my child has never been away to camp before?

For a number of our students, this is their first time away from home.  Our teachers are aware of this and are prepared to reassure the students.  We have found that our students have a blast and that they cannot wait to go again next year!

*Can I call my student to check in on them?

No. In order to be fully immersed in Shabbat and our CAARS community, the Shabbaton is a device-free experience.  We will call parents if an emergency arises.  Parents will also have a number to call in case of an emergency at home. Beyond that, please trust that your child is having a great time.

CAARS Vision:

We envision generations of confident, curious Jewish young people — deeply rooted in their identity, connected to Jewish community and Am Yisrael — who find joy and meaning in Judaism and are inspired to continue lifelong learning and to actively strengthen Jewish community wherever they live.

CAARS Mission:

At CAARS, we meet every child where they are — welcoming every question, celebrating curiosity, and building joyful, meaningful Jewish experiences that nurture the whole child. Through exceptional teaching, warm relationships, Hebrew literacy, Jewish values, and genuine partnership with families, we connect our students to Torah, to our community, to Am Yisrael (the Jewish people), to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel), and to their own unique Jewish journeys. We prepare them for a lifetime of engaged, purposeful Jewish living. Our deepest hope is that every student leaves CAARS feeling known, rooted, and proud to be Jewish.