Within five minutes of meeting us, you’ll probably hear about “our children.”
We are Ben Moses and Romy Pecullan, seniors at Shrieber High School, long-time teen assistants at Synagogue School, and members of the faculty for the past three years. As our journey at school (not at RSNS!) winds down, we wanted to share some reflections on what it has all meant to us.
For the past three years, we’ve had the pleasure of leading our own classroom at RSNS’ Synagogue School. What started as a nice way to stay involved in the synagogue became one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.
We began working for the synagogue as madrichim in 8th grade (2021), assisting in a classroom. Our sophomore year (2023-2024), Morah Rebecca asked us to spearhead a new Hebrew language learning approach, centered around small-group, sensory-based learning. We were beyond lucky to get to know almost 40 incredible 3rd and 4th graders (now 5th and 6th graders), learning how to teach in a captivating way that made them excited to learn with us. As lifelong RSNS members and Synagogue School alumni, we drew on our own experiences and tried to create meaningful programs that engaged our students while simultaneously building a class community. We quickly instituted a mifgash (meeting) at the start of each of our classes. Each day we did something different. Whether it was a quick game, a daily question, or a recap of our weekends, we got to know every one of our children as people, rather than our students. As the year went on and they got more comfortable with us, we got to hear such wonderful insight that taught us new ways of thinking and new ways to approach the classroom.
The next year (2024-2025), we got to be with many of the same kids, as we moved up to only 4th graders. They already knew us, and we knew them, so we were able to dive right in and continue learning Hebrew letters and vowels. That year, we were in a new space and had more time together, so we were able to run the classroom more mindfully. We arranged the chairs in a “U” formation instead of rows, and assigned different seats to each class so everyone could learn something new about their classmates. With some more teaching experience under our belts, we got more creative with our lessons. We did escape rooms, jeopardy games, poster making, and Hebrew yoga, and came up with so many fun (and funny) tricks to remember the letters together.
This year (2025-2026), our last year, Morah Rebecca challenged us with a new curriculum. We teach about G’milut Chasadim, or acts of loving kindness, with the 5th-grade class. We explore what it means to be a part of the Jewish community, or any community, and how our actions play a role in building or breaking these spaces. We use games and interactive experiences to understand these important and complex values, and we are so enamored by the insight the kids have to share with us. An important lesson for us has been going over the Jewish value of solidarity, and each day we emphasize the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive community. We’ve seen this firsthand as we have now been with many of these students for three years and have witnessed them grow from a group of little kids into a community of caring friends who support and respect each other.
Over the years, we have also built community through the wonderful Ashokan experience and running our Jewish Camp Games elective. At our Ashokan retreat, it has been so meaningful getting to know all the kids outside the classroom and bonding with the other madrichim. Through Ashokan and regular synagogue school, we have loved watching our former students grow and become madrichim themselves. We like to refer to their students as our grandstudents.
Over these wonderful three years, our students have helped us to realize how important it is to have safe, joyful, and meaningful spaces. We think we’ve become more patient and empathetic people, skills that will translate to any interaction we may face in the future. We want to thank all the parents who have shared their fantastic children with us.
Most of all, we want to thank Morah Rebecca, who has played such an immense role in our growth as teachers and people. She has both challenged and supported us every step of the way, and we would not be who we are today without her.
As we get ready to graduate and go off to college (Ben to Cornell, and Romy to Tufts), and move on from teaching at Synagogue School, we feel comfortable leaving, knowing the community we built with our students is strong and will stay with them as they continue to grow and learn together.
So, when we talk about “our children,” we are not just sharing stories; we are sharing the part of our lives that brings us the most purpose and pride.
Ben Moses and Romy Pecullan
