Choosing a school is one of the biggest decisions a family makes. For Jewish families in Howard County, the search usually carries an extra question that other families never have to ask: how will Jewish learning and Jewish identity fit into the school day? If you are beginning to look at a Jewish day school in Columbia or elsewhere in Howard County, Maryland, here are the things worth paying attention to — and the questions worth asking on every tour.
How Judaic and General Studies Fit Together
The defining feature of a day school is integration. Jewish learning is not an add-on squeezed into the margins of the week; it is part of the school day itself. At Tamim Academy of Howard County, Judaic and general studies are integrated into one program, so a child is not living two separate school lives. When you tour any day school, ask how the two halves of the curriculum speak to each other. Do the themes, values, and calendar of Jewish life show up across the day, or only in one classroom period? The answer tells you a great deal about the school.
How Hebrew Is Taught
Ask this question directly: is Hebrew a subject, or is it a language of the school? There is a real difference. A subject is studied for a set period and then put away. A language learned through immersion is heard, spoken, and lived — in songs, conversation, and classroom routines throughout the day. Children absorb language the way they absorbed their first language: by using it. Tamim’s program is built on immersive Hebrew, and if Hebrew matters to your family, the method of teaching it should be near the top of your list.
Whether the School Sees Your Child as an Individual
Every parent knows that children learn differently. Look for a school whose approach is genuinely individualized, where teaching is shaped around the learner rather than the other way around, and where education addresses the whole child — academic growth alongside character, confidence, creativity, and kindness. On a tour, ask how teachers get to know each child’s strengths. Ask what happens when a child races ahead in one area and needs more time in another. Thoughtful answers here matter more than glossy facilities.
The Feel of the Community
A school is also a community — for your child and for you. Tamim is a Chabad-inspired school, and families often notice the warmth first: a genuine welcome for Jewish families of all backgrounds, and an atmosphere of joy around Jewish life. Whatever school you consider, pay attention to how the building feels when you walk in. Do the children seem happy? Do the adults know them by name? Trust what you observe; it is data, too.
The Practical Shape of the Day
Logistics shape family life more than we admit. A full school day — at Tamim, from 9:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon — means Jewish learning happens inside the day rather than competing with evenings, homework, activities, and family time. Location matters as well. A school in Columbia keeps the daily routine manageable for families across Howard County, and a manageable routine is one a family can sustain for years.
Questions to Ask on Any Tour
- How is Hebrew taught, and how much of the day do children spend hearing and using it?
- How are Judaic and general studies connected to each other?
- How do you learn each child’s strengths, and how does teaching respond to them?
- What does the week include beyond academics — art, gardening, time in nature?
- How do families become part of the school community?
There is no single right answer that fits every family. The right school is the one whose approach matches what you hope your child will carry into adulthood: knowledge, confidence, and a strong sense of who they are. If you would like to see what that looks like in practice, we invite you to visit Tamim Academy of Howard County at 770 Howes Lane in Columbia and spend time in our classrooms.