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For Your Calendar
Wednesday, Dec. 23
Rogow Middle School Annual Ice Skating Party
Monday, January 4, 2016
Classes Resume
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
PA Meeting
Monday, January 18, 2016
Save the date:
Prospective Student Visiting Day
8:45-10:45 am Taste of Kindergarten
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Important Reminders
Please note the following important reminders about after school activities for the rest of our days leading up to vacation:
Today 12/18:
No math club
Monday 12/21:
Boys' basketball practice is ON.
No Robotics
Tuesday 12/22:
Girls' basketball practice is ON. No Maker Space
No Mad Science
No Young Actors Club
Wednesday 12/23:
NO after school activities.
* Aftercare will keep regular hours on Monday-Wednesday. Please call or email in advance if your child will be visiting aftercare so that we can arrange the proper staffing.
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Solomon Schechter Day School extends heartfelt condolences to...
Eileen McMurrer, and her children, Schechter alumni Leah and Aidan Kaminer, on the loss of their beloved brother and uncle,
Robert Patrick McMurrer
,
and also their beloved father and grandfather,
Lawrence McMurrer.
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David Kruger and Riva Lewinter, and their children, Schechter alumni Ben (2004), Joel, and Sophie (2010), on the loss of their beloved father, father-in-law, and grandfather,
Sam Kruger.
Shiva will be held
on Sunday, December 20 at 7:30
pm at the Kruger/Lewinter home
,
73 Sycamore Road in West Hartford.
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המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
May God comfort you among the mourners
of Zion and Jerusalem.
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Mazel tov to...
Elizabeth and Eric Goldberg on the occasion of their son
Yonah becoming a Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat at The Emanuel Synagogue.
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Join Our List
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A Request from the Art Director, Rhiannon Van Bindbergen
Hello Everyone,
I am trying to collect egg cartons (any size and material), shoe boxes, tissue boxes, and any other boxes you might be able to donate instead of throwing out. I am hoping after winter break to start the students on their recycled materials mixed media 3D sculptures, and would love lots of things for them to start with!
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News from the Parent Association (PA)
Save the Date for the next Schechter Shabbat Share-
Friday, January 15, 2016
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Community Events
The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Theater,
Hartt School, Univ. of Hartford
200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford.
Come and see Schechter students Daniella Medvedovski, Sivan Reznichenko
, Olivia Boustani, and Raviv Harel-Sibelman dance in this beautiful performance.
For Tickets:
Phone: (860) 768-4228
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Saturday, December 19
11:00 am-noon
Beth El Temple
Tumbling With Torah (up to age 5).
Come see why this is a hot place for tots. Children are invited for stories, songs and special activities.
Shabbat Family Experience (grades K-2).
This Shabbat service is filled with prayers, songs and stories led by Adrian Durlester, aka Mr. D. Parents are encouraged to join their children for a meaningful Shabbat experience.
Shabbat Zone (grades 3-6)
Experience Shabbat in a fun and interactive way. Snacks, prizes, games, and fun.
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Please save the date, January 24, 2016 for the Annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Click here for more information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Anna Huttner
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Shabbat Shalom
Parashat Vayigash
Candlelighting 4:03 pm |
December 18, 2015
6 Tevet 5776
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| A Message from Andrea |
From Dreams Imagined, Mountains are Climbed
Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a 6-word novel. The 6-word novel is a powerful structure to succinctly communicate complex ideas.
My 6-word novel about Schechter is, "From dreams imagined, mountains are climbed". It aptly captures the founding of the school and specifically captures the first semester of this year. It offers a balance between two ideas, both aspirational and fraught with challenge. A year and a half ago, I was brought on as the Head of School to lead the dream of what Schechter could be and articulate that dream in an exciting and compelling way. Dreams are aspirational, that's their purpose and they propel us to work hard to make them real. When we dream big, we have to climb mountains, sometimes with our packs filled with rocks to achieve them.
We are in that climb at Schechter this year. We have a map to reach the top articulated in our strategic plan. As we climb, we encounter all sorts of situations. There are pathways that are overgrown causing us to recalibrate and forge a whole new direction. There are boulders that roll out of the way and reveal a pit, and there are those boulders that roll out of the way and reveal surprising and unplanned for opportunities. We are sometimes joined by new travelers that have to be brought into the dream and convinced of the climb;there are experienced travelers that sit in exhaustion; as well as those who run ahead with excitement. There are loyal supporters that put in guide ropes and there are the visionaries that illuminate a stream we hadn't seen. There are those who the climb tires-out and those who are fed by it daily. As we continue the work and the climb we have moments for rest and reflection, moments when self-doubt creep in and moments that we are asked, "isn't it easier to go back down?" There are times when we feel at a loss for how to answer and navigate conversation and there are times when we are fueled by the potential and shout it from rooftops.
I share these metaphors because I feel the range of emotions along with you; we climb this climb together, not because it is perfect and not because it is easy. We climb it together because in the climb we become stronger, clearer and better. We climb it together because we realize that despite the challenge and the occasional frustration we bring something to each other that doesn't exist anywhere else. We offer a an education driven by wisdom, community and good heartedness and while we are not perfect, we live everyday guided by these values.
Schechter is going through a time of big transition - leadership, curriculum, community profile, and the road is sometimes bumpy. Here is the thing, here is why we move ahead with confidence. Regardless of an issue here and there each of which is being addressed and takes time to make great, we offer the most important aspect of any learning environment. We offer a place where every child is seen and known and matters. When children know they matter, they are open and when they are open, they ask questions, grow, and learn.
This journey takes conviction. It takes courage, heart, resilience, and patience. This journey is worth every step of the way.
Join our climb.
Shabbat Shalom,
Andrea
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3rd Grade Chumash Presentation
The Joy of Learning |
 The Chumash Presentation is a highlight of the third grade year at Schechter and a culmination of months of Torah study. This year, students began with the study of Creation and each person's role in the world. Judaic studies teacher Mrs. Nancy Rosen deftly wove into the curriculum the core values of Schechter: wisdom, community and lev tov (a good heart), literally taking the lessons off the page and into the streets.Third grade students walked to the Jewish Community Living (JCL) group home on Brookmoor Road to rake leaves. Commenting on this activity, Jeremy Eisen stated, "When I raked leaves at the JCL group home, I felt like I really made a difference in the world. When God gave the world to us, God told us to take care of the earth, and that's what we were doing."
Later in the month, Heather Pilarcik of the South Park Inn Homeless Shelter came to school to talk to the students about life in the shelter. After seeing a video and photographs and asking many, many questions about the children living there, the class had a good understanding of life  in a shelter as well as a greater appreciation for their own homes and families. The following week, students visited Build-a-Bear Workshop in Westfarms Mall and stuffed bears for the children living in the shelter. While placing beautiful red hearts into the bears, the students gave voice to their hopes for the children, wishing for them new homes, better times and the knowledge that someone cares about them. Liel Harrari noted, "When I went to Build-a-Bear, I felt like I did a mitzvah by making a bear for a child who doesn't have something to cuddle with. We took our time so they'll appreciate what we did for them. It connects to Chumash because God made us to be in charge of the world and to be in charge of ourselves. We are being in charge of our species by giving the children something to cuddle and enjoy."
On Giving Tuesday, the students made 72 peanut butter and jelly  sandwiches for the shelter. In reference to making the sandwiches, Eli Gold commented,"We learned in Breishit that God wants us to help the world and be in charge of the world. I am helping the world by making sandwiches for hungry people."
This past Wednesday, the third grade students brought all of these pieces together at the Chumash Presentation. During the first part of the program, the students took turns teaching lessons that they had gleaned to their parents and guests. One example of these extraordinary insights was taught by Jeremy Eisen. "God loved Shabbat so much because this was the first day that everything was there, and it was just so beautiful. You could feel that little breeze in the air, and you could see the small twinkle in the sky from the stars.
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת־יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because God  stopped all of God's work of creation on that day.
God gave us Shabbat as a present, the one day of rest at the end of the week. God didn't just make it for resting, but for looking at what we have done in this past week. Let's return the favor by appreciating this day and thanking God for it."
Following the teaching, pairs of students described their service projects to the guests. Before viewing the animoto that documented the students' participation in study and service projects, the parents engaged in learning as well. They added their thoughts to those of the students, completing the sentence "I show that I am created in the image of God when I..."
Class Rabbi Jim Rosen addressed the group, sharing a quotation from Psalms that highlighted the their participation in tikkun olam (repair of the world): "May God's favor be upon us and establish the work of our hands." Head of School, Andrea Kasper, then presented to each of the students, an Etz Hayyim Chumash, a beautiful guide for a lifetime of learning.
What a powerful celebration of learning, teaching and giving.
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| Schechter Parent Jill Dulitsky Demonstrates Math in the Real World |
"The favorite part of my job is figuring things out. I love algebra because it's the tool that lets me do it." That was the message that Jill Dulitsky, parent of Carly (5th grade) and Brady (6th grade) presented to seventh and eighth grade math students on last Friday. Mrs. Dulitsky shared her experiences about how she uses algebra in the car dealership that she owns and operates. Using videos and personal experiences she engaged students in a lively conversation about how math is important for so many things in life. Seventh grade student Atara Harrari said she realized that "Math isn't just about jobs. I hadn't thought about all of the other things math can be applied to, like dance, for example." Aaron Rotter, a seventh grade student, liked the video that demonstrated how algebra can be used in basketball. "It was cool how one of the videos showed that practicing is important, but you can also use math to help out."
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| Israeli Relish |
Today's
ReLiSH featured
Mrs. Lilach Grupper's seventh grade Hebrew
 language students. The students learned many new Hebrew songs and reviewed some previously learned songs. Students wrote and presented introductions for each song in Hebrew. There was a feeling of joy in the Beit Tefilah as the students in grade K through 8 joined together in song. Many students, with arms around each other, swayed to the new melodies. Students, parents, and teachers joined together at the end to encircle the room in song.
Kol Ha'Kavod to the seventh grade, Mrs. Grupper, and Mr. D. for a spirited Israeli ReLiSH.
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| Heard Around the School |
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This past week, some amazing things were heard in the fifth grade classroom. In Chumash class, fifth graders were analyzing a very mysterious phrase in the book of Exodus. When Moshe asked God what to say when the Israelites asked about God's name, God responded,
"Ehyeh asher Ehyeh", often translated as "I am that I am." Generations of scholars have struggled with these words. However, this fifth grade class was bursting with suggestions.
Molly Lerner offered, "I am what I am. You can't change me."
Maya Patt suggested, "God is not an 'am'. God is an essence. They will know that this is God because the God that they know speaks in riddles."
Carly Dulitsky added, "I am that I am (can apply to both Moshe and God). God tells Moshe to tell
Bnai Yisrael "I am that I am," this is who I (Moshe) am. Trust me." Or, it can refer to God, "I am that I am. Trust Me." According to
David Wolf , "It says "that I am." God is a "what", not a "who." It also gives Moshe the freedom to say what he thinks God is."
Elliot Shani
offered, "I am what you believe me to be. If you believe that I am this great God who can help you take them out of slavery, I can be there for you. But if you don't believe, I won't be able to take them out of slavery because I won't have your help. I'll have to find someone else."
Finally,
Lilian Ehrlich
commented, "I am what I will be there (in Egypt). I am no different now than I will be there so take this knowledge and tell them when you're there."
Morissa Kranc
said
, "
There's no definition for me."
Alyssa Temkin offered, "You can't do anything to make me different."
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Creative Learning in Third Grade
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 Students in
Mrs. Helen Schwartz's third grade class participated in two very creative learning activities this week. As part of their study of their Earth Science unit on landforms and bodies of water, students used playdoh to create individual models of the layers of the earth. The red center represented the hot solid inner core, the next layer was orange which was the upper mantle. Next was yellow to create the lower mantle and then almost the top layer, the crust, which created a challenge for the students as they experimented with different colors to create a brown.
The last layer  was a mix of blue (water) and green (land) and then at last they were able to "cut" the world in two using dental floss and reveal the layers they built. Students were truly amazed at the beauty and the hidden layers.
In math class, students are learning the concepts of division. Students used jellybeans to demonstrate division with remainders. They sorted groups into equal piles, connected the multiplication fact with the division fact, and were able to visualize the remainders. Using this sweet manipulative was incentive for the students to understand and conceptualize the equation. Afterwards, they got to eat the jellybeans!
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| Fourth Grade Readers' Workshop |
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Recently, the fourth graders began their Reader's Workshop unit on nonfiction books. They have compared the difference between fiction and non-fiction novels with these books and have learned what text features can appear in nonfiction books including a table of contents, photographs, headings, captions, and labeled diagrams. They are enjoying this unit and have participated in activities such as "turn and talk," a technique in which students can share a book with their neighbor.
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| Schechter Alumni Make Fall Honor Roll |
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Mazel tov to our Alumni for their academic achievements this semester
Hall High School:
Maximum Honors: Talia Feldman, Emily Gershman, Jacob Gershon, Matthew Berson, Brocke, Gabrielle Gershon, Noah Sobel-Pressman, Sydney Weiser, Ariel Bykoff, Sossi Bykoff, Rebecca Gold, Dylan Landau, Matthew Patchen, Madeline Pliskin, Noah Silverman, Ahna Bielik, Zachary Goldberg, Samara Gordon-Wexler, Joseph Kornman, Claire Peikes, Izabella Raviv, Olivia Rotter.
General Honors:
Abigail Selig, Jonathan Kaback, Jonathan Peikes, Jason Buckman, Jacob Diamond, Hannah Pliskin, Casey Greenbaum.
University High School of Science and Engineering:
High Honors: Samm Smith-Rapaport
Honors: Noah Ehrlich
Ellington High School High Honors:
Aron Mondschein
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High Honors:
Rachel Fiedler
The Loomis Chaffee School:
Isabella Epstein, Benjamin Rosenblatt, Gabriel Epstein, Benjamin Shani
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Susan Kurtis, Editor
Lara Lakenbach and Audrey Sobel, Asst. Editors
Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford |
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