Essay Exploration

Students in Ms. Ruben’s middle school English classes are diligently working on their first Integrative Essay of the school year. This essay thematically connects all the sources studied throughout the unit to help students analyze, synthesize, and evaluate as they explore a theme from multiple perspectives.

Journaling Journeys

Students in Ms. Morrison's 2nd grade class are truly hungry for learning! Eager to explore new ideas, they’re diving into reading and jotting down their creative thoughts to share with others. To practice sentence structure, they’ve started writing in their journals regularly. Topics like their favorite pet, favorite food, and “What’s the Worst Thing Ever?” have sparked their imaginations, especially as they complement their “Worst Stories” books by Alex Willan. Through this activity, they work on brainstorming and inventive spelling, which not only boosts their writing skills but also strengthens their comprehension and phonics knowledge. At the end of each session, students share their stories with the class, eagerly stepping up to the front to read their creations. 

Voices of Valor

Ahead of their gala this week, FIDF brought in two soldiers to speak with our Upper School students. One soldier, a full-time commander, shared his powerful firsthand experience of the day of October 7th in Kfar Aza, describing his reaction to the attack and his involvement in rescues of hostages and recovery of bodies over the past year. The other soldier, a drone commander, spoke about his role in the Israeli military, working four days a week in reserves over the past year, and how drones are used to support troops on the ground. The students were captivated by these personal stories, gaining a deeper understanding of the soldiers' service and the challenges they face. After the talk, students had time to ask questions and reflect on the powerful experiences shared. It was an inspiring and meaningful experience for all involved.

Letter K Adventures

This week, students in Morah Aviva's EC4A class were busy exploring a variety of fun activities in their classroom centers. They practiced Alef Bet letter formation with playdoh and worked on new Chanukah puzzles in the Math Center. The class focused on the letter "Kk," decorating it with keys and using their early writing skills to write the word "Key." During Circle Time, students practiced tracing both uppercase and lowercase "K" with clipboards as part of their learning experience. The class eagerly listened as Morah Aviva introduced the Chanukah story, and then created their own dancing dreidels to decorate the classroom bulletin board. Finally, everyone participated in Share and Tell Letter "Kk," proudly showing off the items they brought for their classmates.

Road to Revolution

This week, third-graders in Mr. Simon's class explored the events leading to the Revolutionary War. They learned about the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years' War, a conflict between the British and the French. The war was sparked by the American colonists' desire to expand settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains, a region previously claimed by Robert La Salle for France. The students discovered how the colonists' westward expansion led to tensions with the French, resulting in the French and Indian War. The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris, where the British promised the French that Americans would not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. 

Tech and Teens

This week, Mr. Cell’s 11th-12th grade AP Psychology class wrapped up their analysis of Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation." They discussed the psychological effects of technology on teens, sharing their own personal experiences. The discussion was featured on Rabbi Silvestri's "Through The Looking Glass" podcast on Spotify (linked in the section above).

Chumash Celebration

Mazal Tov to our incredible 2nd-grade students who recently celebrated a significant milestone just before Thanksgiving Break with their Mesibat Chumash (Chumash Celebration). During this special event, each student received their first Chumash, marking their formal initiation into Chumash learning. We hope they continue to grow their personal libraries with Sefarim (Jewish books) and develop a lifelong love of learning. The heartfelt and impressive performance was a true reflection of their dedication—Kol Hakavod! We were all amazed by their newfound knowledge and growth. A heartfelt thank you to their exceptional teachers, Morah Chaya and Morah Roza, for their outstanding preparation!

Data in Action

To enhance her 4th grade students' understanding of data analysis, Ms. Morrison introduced a fun and engaging graphing and writing activity! Each week, the students vote on various topics, and the class records the data on a bar graph. This helps them identify graph components and compare different quantities. Some of the topics explored this week included "What is your favorite house pet?" and "What food did you like the most at Thanksgiving?" After creating the graphs, students write about their choices in their journals, adding personal details to explain why they selected their favorite pet or food. This activity is a great way for students to practice both data analysis and reflective writing!

Pathway to Success



Prior to Thanksgiving we were thrilled to welcome current 5th and 8th grade families to our Middle School and High School Information Sessions, where we offered an in-depth look at our dynamic programs and student experiences. In the Middle School session, families learned about our engaging academics, vibrant student life, and unique opportunities that make our program so special. The event featured insights from administrators, teachers, and current students, all sharing their enthusiasm for the RMBA experience.

The High School session highlighted a “Passport to Success in High School”, showcasing five key milestones that guide students through our college preparatory curriculum. From rigorous academics and leadership opportunities to values-driven personal growth, we outlined what sets RMBA apart in preparing students for future success. Both sessions concluded with interactive Q&A discussions, giving families valuable insights into how we support students’ growth and success at every stage of their education.

Miracles of Sarah

This week in Morah Sandy's EC3A class, students learned about the three miracles that occurred while Sarah, a tzedekes (righteous woman), was alive. They created a craft to represent Hashem's essence, symbolized by a cloud over her tent. Inside the tent, her challah remained fresh all week, and her Shabbat candles stayed lit.