Remembrance, Unity & Hope

On Monday, October 7th, we joined forces with 50 local Jewish organizations and gathered as a community at Congregation Beth Yeshurun to commemorate one year since the attacks in Israel. This meaningful event, spearheaded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, centered around the themes of remembrance, unity, and hope. A recording of the program is available for viewing online. Approximately 2,000 people attended in person, and an additional 1,000 joined by streaming the event online. Photos from the event can be viewed on the Federation's Facebook page. We were proud of our students who participated in the program, holding signs of Kibbutzim, and of our Bnot Sherut, Adi Radziner and Yael Kalef, who read a poem titled "The Hours."

Celebrating Excellence

We are proud to share that Robert M. Beren Academy has earned Gold recognition on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll, a prestigious distinction that highlights our commitment to academic excellence and student achievement. This recognition reflects our dedication to providing a challenging curriculum that prepares students for success in higher education and beyond. The AP School Honor Roll, established by the College Board, recognizes schools that have demonstrated a significant increase in the number of students participating in Advanced Placement (AP) courses while also maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams. Achieving this Gold status showcases our talented educators, engaged students, and supportive community, all working together to foster a culture of academic rigor. We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and determination and grateful to our dedicated faculty and staff who continually inspire and challenge our students. This honor not only reinforces our mission to cultivate intellectual curiosity but also highlights our commitment to preparing our students for the future.

Literacy in Action

This week, Ms. Morrison's 2nd grade class focused on decoding words through a fun and engaging strategy! Students learned to tap out sounds, write them down, and then "zap" them together to quickly say the words. Finally, they practiced writing the words in their best handwriting. This process not only strengthened their reading and spelling skills but also empowered them with effective strategies for literacy.

Critical Thinking

This week, Rabbi Ouzzan's high school Gemara students prepared for their test in study groups. They reviewed everything they have learned so far, specifically addressing the question of why the breaker of an item is not responsible for payment when tripping over that item in the public domain.

Yom Kippur Prep

This week, Morah Sandy's EC3A class prepared for Yom Kippur by participating in Tashlich (custom to cast away our sins) in the Magical Forest. They read the Book of Yonah, dramatized themes of apology and forgiveness, and then created a craft that used their fine motor skills to open and close the whale's mouth in the story of Yonah.

Giving with Love

Better to Serve high school students in Mrs. Rosenzweig's elective participated in their second Lunch and Learn event, featuring Rabbi Block as a guest speaker. Rabbi Block shared a beautiful message about kindness, kavod, and respect for elders. Students reflected on how their community service brings immense joy to their senior friends at the Medallion. Additionally, Mrs. Rosenzweig discussed the concepts of tzedek (justice) and tzedakah (charity), helping students understand that spending quality time with seniors is a form of giving tzedakah. Most importantly, they learned that tzedakah should be given with love.

Delicious Learning

Students in Mrs. Schneider's first grade class read a story titled Too Many Zucchinis for Zachary Beanie. In the story, a boy plants seeds and grows an abundance of zucchinis. He grows so many that his family decides to make zucchini bread and shares the recipe at the end of the book. The first graders were eager to use the recipe to make zucchini bread, and it turned out delicious!

Exploring Challenges

This week, Mr. Cell's 11th-12th grade on-level Psychology class studied the socio-psychological situation of at-risk youth in Houston.

Fishing for Knowledge



This week, Morah Aviva's EC4A class focused on Yom Kippur. In addition to learning about Teshuva and forgiveness, the students listened intently to the story of Yonah and the big fish. To reinforce the concepts of Teshuva, Tefila, and Tzedaka, they participated in a cooperative scale activity, exploring the ideas of heavy and light. Each student had the chance to weigh objects at the Science Table using a special Heavy and Light Chart, placing each item in the corresponding column. The class also enjoyed painting their own big fish plates and pouring “water” (Dawn dish liquid) into the belly of the fish. They designed their own slippers after learning about the prohibition of leather shoes on Yom Kippur. Additionally, they continued with their alphabet by focusing on the letter “Ff” and the Alef Bet letter Vav. The students had fun pasting feathers for the letter “Ff” and using dotters to create a “vered” (rose) for Vav. They are becoming adept at using their writing skills to label their work with the appropriate vocabulary words!

Profiles of Strength

Last week, some high school Chumash classes, led by Rabbi Chanania and Mrs. Baird, explored the concept of resilience as demonstrated by Bnei Yisrael in Egypt. They connected this historical perspective to modern-day resilience in the state of Israel by utilizing resources from Isresilience.com. As part of an in-class assignment titled "Profiles in Resilience," students worked in pairs to research various profiles featured on the website, including notable figures such as Natan Sharansky, Miri Eisin, Tal Brody, and Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, among others. Each pair was assigned a profile to investigate, focusing on key questions that encouraged deeper understanding, such as the individual’s biography, the challenges they faced, how they demonstrated resilience, and the impact of their resilience on the Jewish people. This engaging project not only fostered critical thinking and collaborative learning but also highlighted the strength and determination of individuals who have contributed to the resilience of the Jewish community throughout history.

Creative Celebrations

Shana Tova from the art studio! Last week, 4th and 5th graders crafted beautiful ceramic fish printed with fun textures. Upper school students in Ms. Rantz's elective created wood-burned cutting boards adorned with Rosh Hashanah symbols. Meanwhile, EC4 students made dancing apples, and 1st graders created monochromatic pastel drawings of a man blowing a shofar.

Engaging Book Talks

Middle School English Language Arts students in Ms. Ruben's classes are presenting their 1st quarter book talks. These book talks allow students to select an independent reading book that aligns with their interests and preferences. They then create a Google Slides presentation covering various aspects of the book and present it to their classmates. This assignment integrates all areas of language arts—reading, writing, speaking, and listening—in a creative and engaging manner.

Discovering Ecosystems

Mr. Simon's third-grade class, in collaboration with Mr. Matt from STEAM, is studying biomes. So far, the students have learned about aquatic and desert biomes. They shared information about each biome and asked questions regarding their climate, plants, and animals.

Light in Darkness

On October 7, students participated in a special Tefillah for Eretz Yisrael. This brief assembly focused on hope and unity, bringing the community together in prayer and reflection. Following the Tefillah, our 4th and 5th grade students attended an assembly which highlighted the inspiring story of Rachel Edri from Ofakim. Rachel became known for her remarkable courage in using food to distract Hamas terrorists holding her family hostage. In memory of the victims, students also planted flowers outside, symbolizing growth and remembrance. Middle School students in Mr. Duke's classes united in crafting memorial candles for the victims of October 7th. These candles will be lit on Simchat Torah as symbols of resilience and light. Meanwhile, High School students assembled candy bags that will be distributed on Simchat Torah, spreading sweetness and joy to our community during this introspective time.

Kapparot and Kindness

For Yom Kippur, Morah Clara's EC3B class learned about Kapparot (atonement ritual) and the sounds of the Shofar. Using their fine motor skills, the entire class crafted their own chickens and Shofars. They discussed the story of Yonah and the Big Fish, tracing fish outlines and painting plates to create their own Big Fish with Yonah on its belly. The class engaged in conversations about the importance of apologizing to friends and family before Yom Kippur, and they emphasized being kind and extra helpful to their parents during the fast.

Comparing Habitats

Ms. Morrison's 4th grade class explored the fascinating Biomes of the World! Students engaged in discussions about the unique characteristics of each biome and identified them on a world map. They participated in a fun activity comparing biomes by selecting one they’d like to live in and listing its pros and cons. One insightful response was, “I would live in the Tundra because there is a lot of snow, but it would be hard to get around due to limited roads.”

Kapparot Creations

Morah Tsippi's EC2B class learned all about Kapparot, the atonement ritual before Yom Kippur, and how one can use either money or a chicken. They created representations of both money and a chicken to practice the concept of ridding themselves of their aveirot (sins).

Share Your Insights

On behalf of the Aviv Foundation, Rosov Consulting will conduct focus groups this fall to explore what attracts individuals to or deters them from participating in content-rich Jewish experiences—those that engage with significant life questions through the study of Jewish texts, values, and ideas. The focus groups will be held via Zoom in October and November, lasting about 75 minutes. Participants will receive a $100 gift card as a thank you for their time. Whether you have participated in many such experiences, considered doing so, or have never engaged in this type of learning, Rosov Consulting would love to hear from you! To see if you are eligible and to share your availability, please complete a brief screening survey. Your input will help the Aviv Foundation and other organizations develop Jewish experiences that are accessible, attractive, and meaningful. Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute!