About Aleph Bet

Our mission is...

to nurture and challenge the growing minds and spirits of our children.

Our vision for the School is ...

to be the school of choice and a unifying force in our Jewish community.

We are committed to these core values...

• Maintaining an environment of academic excellence
• Celebrating the richness and diversity of Jewish tradition
• Challenging students to think critically and reflectively
• Nurturing individual interests and talents
• Fostering a sense of community

Our history

Aleph Bet was conceived in 1987 by a group of parents and rabbis from five area synagogues, representing the wide spectrum of Jewish belief and practice that characterizes the Annapolis community.  The founders’ dream was to offer local children an opportunity to pursue a challenging general studies program - comparable to the best of the area’s independent schools - while learning the history, values, and language of their Jewish heritage.   The School opened its doors to Kindergarten and First Grade in September of 1989, and the first class of fifth graders graduated in 1994.  In 2000,Aleph Bet earned accreditation by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS) and a Certificate of Approval from the State of Maryland.  The School’s AIMS accreditation was renewed in 2010.  Since 2007 Aleph Bet has been a member of RAVSAK, the international network of community day schools.

From the beginning, Aleph Bet has been a model of cooperation; families from diverse Jewish backgrounds have worked side by side to establish and maintain this unique learning community.  Students absorb the fundamentals of Judaism that transcend denominational divisions.  At the same time, they learn to appreciate and respect the variety of customs that distinguish home and synagogue traditions.

After more than twenty years of renting classroom space in Congregation Kneseth Israel, Aleph Bet will move into its own building in the fall of 2011.  In that new space - with a library-media center, an art and science lab, a multi-purpose great room, and bright, spacious classrooms - we look forward to building on the excellence of our academic program and bringing depth and clarity to our expression of Jewish life in twenty-first century America.