Congregation Agudas Achim

Shalom CAARS Parents, 

We are looking forward to the CAARS 5786 school year! Register now before August 1st for best pricing!

The theme of CAARS this year will be Kesher  קֶשֶׁר (Connection)! The intention is for our students and families to feel connected to our people and our homeland. We want our students to feel at home in their Jewishness as we continue to build on our connections within our CAARS community.  We are so excited to have all of our returning students, and we look forward to welcoming our new students this year!

Our “Minyan Mensch” program will continue for 5786.  All PreK-5th grade students who attend Shabbat services at least 10 times during the school year will be invited to a special celebration at the end of the year. Students put a sticker by their name each week they attend any of the services including Friday night, Shabbat morning in the sanctuary, Shalom Minyan or Nachat.

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 (dependent on enrollment)
  • or Online Hebrew-Only option, time & day TBD (dependent on enrollment)

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

Alternatives to in-person Tuesdays:

• We will continue our CAARS Lakeway option on Thursdays from 4:30-6:00 pm for those families that find this location more convenient. To choose this option, please mark “CAARS Lakeway – Thursdays.”

• We understand that, for some families, extenuating circumstances may prevent students from attending in person on Tuesdays or Thursdays on a regular basis. For those who need an online only option during the week, please mark “Online Option – Hebrew only” during the registration process. The online option only includes Hebrew learning and requires additional fees. Days and times TBD depending on enrollment. 

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
  • or Online Hebrew-Only option, time & day TBD (dependent on enrollment)

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.

Alternatives to in-person Tuesdays:

• We will continue our CAARS Lakeway option, dependent on enrollment, on Thursdays from 4:30-6:00 pm for those families that find this location more convenient. To choose this option, please mark “CAARS Lakeway – Thursdays.”

• We understand that, for some families, extenuating circumstances may prevent students from attending in person on Tuesdays or Thursdays on a regular basis. For those who need an online only option during the week, please mark “Online Option – Hebrew only” during the registration process. The online option only includes Hebrew learning and requires additional fees. Days and times TBD depending on enrollment. 

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 16th-18th

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-10th grade; Sundays 12:00-1:30 pm (lunch 12:00-12:30 pm)

11th-12th grade; Sundays 12:00-1:30 pm; Twice a month (lunch 12:00-12:30)*

11th and 12th will be invited to join the 8th -10th graders for a teen lunch until 12:30 pm and will then meet with Rabbi Blumofe until 1:30 pm. 

[*Please note this is a change in time from last year.]

Youth Groups

Zoe Steiner, our Education and Engagement Coordinator, will be the advisor for our youth groups. Fun and engaging activities for each age group will be held regularly throughout the year.  During registration, please enroll your child(ren) in the youth groups 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 2025-26 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.

Please note early bird pricing for registration ends on June 1st. Late fees will be applied after August 1st.

If you would like tuition payments to begin August 1, 2025, please select “Bill to My Account.” Please 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.

*Will there be a weekday Judaics component available online?

No. Online weekday learning will be limited to Hebrew learning.

*What if my in-person student can’t make it one week but can join in online? Will they be able to attend an online class?

No.  The online groups are their own cohorts, similar to the in-person groups. We understand that students may sometimes need to be absent due to illness etc. Parents may contact their students’ teachers to find out what a student missed.

*Why are there additional fees for the online weekday option?

 CAARS offers the online option as a service to families to ensure all students have the opportunity to participate and learn. The fees are necessary to help defray the cost of the additional classes, which are subsidized. 

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.