Shrub Oak International School recently organized a community outing to Bingo, a local kosher supermarket, to support Jewish students as they prepared for Purim, a holiday observed in the weeks leading up to Passover. The trip reflected Shrub Oak’s ongoing commitment to honoring students’ identities and supporting meaningful cultural, religious, and personal traditions as part of daily life on campus.
Purim commemorates events described in the Book of Esther and is traditionally celebrated with festive meals, charitable giving, costumes, and the sharing of food gifts, known as mishloach manot. Preparation for the holiday often involves purchasing kosher foods, treats, and items used to assemble gift baskets for friends, family, and community members. For many Jewish families, these preparations are an important and joyful part of the holiday experience. By facilitating this trip, Shrub Oak ensured that students could actively participate in those traditions in a way that was accessible, supportive, and aligned with their individual needs.
Bingo, often described as a kosher equivalent of a warehouse-style store, offers a wide range of certified kosher products, including packaged foods, snacks, baking ingredients, and holiday-specific items. For students, visiting a familiar community store provided an opportunity to engage in real-world decision-making, practice shopping skills, and connect the holiday preparations they may have experienced at home with their life at school. The environment also reinforced the importance of religious observance through practical, everyday activities, rather than limiting learning to classroom discussions alone.
The outing aligned with Shrub Oak’s transdisciplinary approach, which integrates academic learning, life skills, social development, and emotional growth. Students practiced functional skills such as creating shopping lists, budgeting, navigating a store, and interacting with staff, while also engaging in conversations about the meaning of Purim and the customs associated with it. These experiences support independence and self-advocacy, while grounding skill development in personally meaningful contexts.
Supporting religious and cultural observances is a consistent priority at Shrub Oak International School. The school recognizes that students come from diverse backgrounds and that honoring holidays, traditions, and beliefs contributes to a sense of belonging, respect, and emotional well-being. Whether through holiday meals, special activities, off-campus trips, or adjustments to schedules and programming, Shrub Oak works to ensure that students feel seen and supported in all aspects of their identities.
The trip to Bingo served as more than a shopping excursion; it was an affirmation of Shrub Oak’s dedication to creating an inclusive environment where students’ values and traditions are respected and celebrated. By making space for religious observances like Purim, the school reinforces the message that students’ cultural and spiritual lives are an important part of their overall development. These moments of connection help students build confidence, strengthen their sense of self, and experience their traditions within a broader, supportive community.
