Gesher
(Lerner's newly titled "Thursday Notes"; 
the "bridge" between Lerner and the community)
 
Board Edition

September 11, 2014        16 elul 5774        Parshat Ki Tavo        Shabbat Candle Lighting: 7:10pm



A Message from Tal
  

It's always good to try new things!

This year the Board is looking for new ways to communicate what is happening on the Board to parents, and how to best answer your questions and receive your feedback. We are starting with this Gesher newsletter; read on to learn more about:

  • Board-Parent Forums
  • Parent Association Liaison
  • Board Committee Opportunities
I hope to see many of you at the first Board Parent Forum this Sunday.

Wishing you and your families Shabbat Shalom,

Tal
Quick Links
Lerner Calendar

Board and Parent Forums

 

Board Parent Association Liaison

 

High Holy Days Activities at Lerner 

 

Parent Association Information

 

A message from Development

 

Wish Lists

 

Acknowledgements

 

Modeh Ani - New Beginnings

 

Community Connections

 

Images from Lerner

 

Fri. 9/12, 9:00 am: Preschool Kabbalat Shabbat

 

Fri. 9/12, 2:30 pm: Elementary Kabbalat Shabbat

 

Fri. 9/12, 2:45 pm: Elementary and Preschool Sing-a-Long  

 

Sun, 9/14, 11:00 am: Preschool Picnic at Trinity Park

 

Sun. 9/14, 2:00 pm: Board-Parent Forum about Governance, at Lerner

 

Mon. 9/15, 8:05 am: Havdalah

 

Wed. 9/17, 6:00 pm: Back-to-School Night

 

Fri. 9/19, 9:00 am: Preschool Kabbalat Shabbat

 

Fri. 9/19, 2:30 pm: Elementary Kabbalat Shabbat

 

Fri. 9/19, 2:45 pm: Elementary and Preschool Sing-a-Long  

 

Sun. 9/21, 10:30 am: K-2 Picnic at Duke Gardens

 

Wed. 9/24, 12:00 pm: Rosh Hashanah Picnic - Parents Welcome

 

Wed, 9/24: Erev Rosh Hashanah, No Afterschool

 
Forums
Board-Parent Forums

Want to know more about what the Board does? Then the Board-Parent Forums are for you! We look forward to answering your questions at the following meetings:

September 14, 2014, 2pm: Governance and the Strategic Plan
  • Basic corporate and governance structure
  • Board member roles and responsibilities
  • The Board-School partnership
  • Nomination and election procedure
  • Ammending the Bylaws
  • Strategic Plan: goals, tactics, and milestones

October 12, 2014, 2pm: Development (Fundraising)
  • General information about Annual Giving
  • The Case for Giving
  • The Parent Campaign
  • Fundraisers and Community
  • Endowment

March 22, 2015: Budget
  • First look at the 2015-16 Budget
  • Get your questions answered before the Annual Meeting
April 19, 2015: Meet-and-Greet with the Nominees
  • Meet the Committee on Trustees
  • Meet candidates who will be up for election at the Annual Meeting

Meetings will take place at Lerner!

PALiaisonA Message from Phillip Seib - Parent Association Liaison

Hello Fellow Lerner Parents!

 

As most of you know I am the proud parent of 2nd
grader Hunter and I am excited to be able to serve on the 2014-15 Lerner Board of Directors as the Parent Association Liaison. It is an exciting time to be involved with the school not only because of the arrival of Allison Oakes but also because of the Board's re-commitment to be open and responsive to the questions and concerns of all Lerner parents.  

 

Like you at times I have had concerns about the direction and focus of the board and at times it seemed difficult to make sure my concerns were heard by the appropriate people in a direct unbiased format. In an effort to be more accessible the Board leadership has redefined some of the responsibilities of PA Liaison's role to create an additional method for parents to express themselves to the board. This change is meant to be an additional point of access to the conventional methods that parents have traditionally used to engage the board. If you feel comfortable talking to a particular board member you already know, please continue to do so but my goal is to create a direct path for parents to voice their concerns to the board in the easiest, most accessible way. Approachability and trust are key here.  

 

In the coming weeks I will be working with the Board, staff, and Parent Association on new effective communication that focuses on ease of use for parents. Until we fully develop that method I encourage all parents to talk to me about their concerns. You can contact me via phone at 919-696-4932 or email me at [email protected] .  

 

 

Parents let me know what's on your mind!


 

We Need You!

Gemilut chasidim, acts of loving kindness, is what built Lerner.  Your volunteerism is what will move Lerner forward. It is expected that each Lerner family volunteer for a minimum of three events. All of our volunteers will be honored at an end-of-the-year honorarium. Sign-up here!
Join Us!
  • Have experience in marketing or know someone who does? Contact us about joining our Marketing committee!
  • Numbers and Finances your thing?  Then you are right for the Finance Committee!
  • Love Lerner and want to talk about it? Join our Recruitment Committee!
  • Know community members with great skills?  Let us know!
 

Shana Tova U'Metukah!
From all of us on the Board

Christy Brooks, Hollis Gauss, Richard Goldberg, Etan Gumerman, Andrew Janiak, Tal Lewin-Wittle, Gabe Liberty, Jon Lovins, Ram Miller, Amir Raichman, Renee Rausch, Elyza Richmon-Halev, Phil Seib, and Marlo Wilcox.

HolyDaysHigh Holy Day Activities at Lerner
Parents Always Welcomed to Attend

Rosh Hashanah:
Wednesday, September 24th - 12:00 pm: Rosh Hashanah Story Time and Picnic Lunch

Yom Kippur:
Tashlich during Judaic Studies classes

Sukkot:  Lunch in the Hut
Kindergarten and 2nd Grades: Monday, October 13th from 11:30 - 12:15 followed by 2nd Grade's Family program from 12:15 - 1:45pm.

3rd and 5th Grades: Tuesday, October 14th from 11:30 - 12:30

1st and 4th Grades: Wednesday, October 15th from 11:30 - 12:30

Alex's Lemonade Stand, benefiting pediatric cancer research, will be at each Lunch in the Hut!

 

Simchat Torah:

Students throughout the school will create flags depicting each students' favorite Torah story.  After marching with the flags, they will be pasted together to create a Torah quilt.

PAParent Association Information
Lerner's Parent Association

 

The Preschool picnic is this Sunday at Trinity Park

410 Watts Street 27701 Durham from 11:00 am -1:00 pm.

 

 

DevelopmentA Message from Development
Autumn Myrick - Development Associate

 Dear Parents,

 

I know that many of you completed Grandparent information on Gradelink, unfortunately, Gradelink did not capture all of that information.  We apologize for the inconvenience and we are asking that - even if you did fill out the details on line - could you please send us their contact information once again?  We invite grandparents to various school events including a special Grandparents Day in February, and we want to be sure that all grandparents are invited and have the opportunity to share the day with their special Lerner student.  Please complete the Grandparent Information Form and return to Lerner by September 30th   (feel free to drop it at the front desk or send it in your child's backpack), or you can email the information to Autumn at [email protected].  Thank you so much for your help! 

 

 

WishWish Lists
Please consider donating ...

For the Environmental Curriculum

  • Black-oiled sunflower seeds or Safflower seeds for the two bird feeders that are out front.

  • Birdbaths.  Either ground level or on short stands.

  • Hummingbird feeders and additional bird feeders for the pre-school playground as well as the back playground and rain garden areas.

  • Bird houses. (Blue bird houses that are constructed but the children can paint in art class.

  • Beads. Plastic, Ceramic, or wood to make wind chimes.

  • River rocks to decorate.

  • Fall plants for the pre-school box gardens and Wooly pockets.  (Mums, Pansies, Violets, Snapdragons,or Cabbage)

  • Compost containers for each of the classrooms (anything with a tight lid to reduce smells and fruit flies)

  • Bamboo cuttings for building in the natural trail area.

  • Bags of potting soil (Pre-school) or mushroom compost or soil enhancers that include Nitrogen, Calcium, manganese, or carbon (raised beds out back).

For the Third Grade

  • The 3rd grade class would love a fish tank (with the works so the fish won't die).
  • Watercolor paper - heavy weight watercolor paper and nice brushes.

AcknowledgeAcknowledgements
Thank you so much for your donations!

Donations have been made by the following people to the Lerner Fund:

  • The Lowe family in memory of Nathan and Estelle Krasno
  • The Lowe family in memory of Lawrence Orenstein

 

*Consider making a donation to the Lerner Fund in honor of a student, teacher, friend or family member.  To make a donation online, please visit www.lernerschool.org , or bring your donation to the front office.  Lerner will send an acknowledgement as well as recognizing your gift in our newsletter, Gesher. 

 


 

ModehAniModeh Ani - New Beginnings

Arielle Derby, Elementary Principal


 

This morning in T'fillah the 2nd and 3rd graders discussed the Modeh/Modah Ani prayer that begins our T'fillah.  Our siddur translates this prayer as "I am thankful to You, God who lives forever, for returning my soul to me with care.  You are very trustworthy."  After a volunteer read this translation aloud, I asked the children what these words meant to them.  Hands immediately shot up.


 

"It means God gives you a new soul each day so you can have a new morning."

"I think God gives you a good soul so you will wake up happy each day and not get up on the wrong side of the bed."

"It's about new things.  About each day being a new chance."

"When you're sleeping God holds your soul to keep it safe and in the morning you get it back so you can have a new life each day."

"I think your soul goes to your dreams at night."

"It means God keeps you safe all night while you sleep."


 

I then asked the children if this T'fillah about having a new beginning each day reminded them of a holiday that is coming up.  While many gleefully called out "Rosh HaShanah," one child raised her hand and said, "Shabbat."  Why?  "Because Shabbat is a new time each week."


I wish you all a restful and renewing Shabbat, and a Shanah Tovah!

                  

 

 

CommunityCommunity Connections

JCC After-School Classes

Did you know Lerner's own Julie Harris is teaching a JCC art class? Come Play in the Art Studio, Tuesdays at 4:30 for grades 1-7. Come and explore different media and let your creativity run wild!   Call the front desk at 919-354-4936 to register for Julie's art class, aerial, jujitsu, soccer, basketball, and more. Classes start Sept 10, 15, and 16. 

We pick up from Lerner!  Contact [email protected] to be added to the pick up list.

 

ImagesImages from the Week
 
Bees making honey for Rosh Hashanah
Math through games

5th grade is studying topography and land forms
Yanshufim visit the library

Dress-up imagination at work
Enthusiastic gardening

The Arts
Tools at work

Preschool in the gym
Kofim, aka Preschool 2s, creating a bar chart
Contact
The Lerner School
1905 West Cornwallis Road    Durham, NC 27705
(919) 286-5517
www.lernerschool.org
Stay Connected
Facebook   Twitter

At the Lerner School, we are committed to achieving the highest standards of academic excellence, fostering learning of Jewish values, culture and traditions, while building a diverse and caring community...one child at a time.