Reading Beyond the Novel

This week, Middle School ELA students in Ms. Ruben's class are diving into nonfiction articles that deepen their understanding of the novel and the unit’s central theme. These readings help build background knowledge, strengthen content-area vocabulary, and give students a richer context for the concepts they’ll explore throughout the unit.

Fun, Games, and Yachid and Rabim!

In Upper School, students got creative while reviewing key Hebrew concepts! They designed their own interactive games to practice Yachid (singular) and Rabim (plural) as well as Zachar (male) and Nekeva (female). By using teamwork, strategy, and creativity they made learning both fun and memorable. Laughter and friendly competition filled the room as students tested their knowledge and cheered on their classmates, turning review time into an engaging, hands-on experience.

Finding Strength in a Pasuk

Morah Ester’s 4th grade class explored new meaning in a pasuk (phrase) yesterday! Students reflected on how this time of year is perfect for starting positive habits, like being kinder, or letting go of negative ones, like anger. Using the letters in the pasuk, students looked for patterns and discovered a hidden math connection: counting the letters gimel (3rd in the alef-bet) and dalet (4th) led to an equation totaling 28. The letters also form the word koach, meaning strength and ability, a fitting reminder that it’s always a good time to build positive habits.

Future Developers in Action



This week, Mr. Trevino's High School US Financial Literacy class is diving into an exciting project called "Build Your Own Development." Students are working in teams to design their own development projects, from apartment complexes to retail centers and mixed-use spaces. Each team creates a site plan, construction budget, marketing strategy, and explores financing options. They’ll pitch their projects to classmates acting as investors, with presentations scheduled before Thanksgiving Break. Visitors are welcome to join the class and see these creative projects in action!

Stories & Science Experiments

Lower School Montessori students concluded their reading of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren with a fun film viewing. They were introduced to Venn diagrams and explored the similarities and differences between the book and the movie, sharpening their critical thinking and comparison skills. In science, the class dove into functional geography, learning about the layers that make up the Earth. Students explored concepts such as density, gravity, and tectonic plates, observing how different liquids stratify in a graduated cylinder and discovering how Earth’s tectonic plates float on molten rock, much like sponges on water.

Estimate with Confidence

Mr. Simon's third grade students are sharpening their estimation skills to solve complex word problems. By applying rounding techniques learned in previous weeks, students are discovering how estimation helps them make smart guesses when exact numbers aren’t necessary. This hands-on practice is helping them build confidence and flexibility in math.

Flying Into Fall

This week, Morah Gila's third grade Hebrew students learned about the fall season and its characteristics. The students talked about changes in the weather, migrating birds, and the reasons for migration, why birds leave colder places and where they go. They also learned about resting spots and habitats of the birds on their way from Europe to Africa, and about the places where they stop along the journey. During the week, the students created paper migratory birds, colored and decorated them, and played Bingo games using all the new fall vocabulary words they learned.

Lessons in Kindness

Ms. Nicole has been working with our Lower School students on the importance of using kind words and reminding everyone that we should never make comments about other people’s bodies. She has already visited Kindergarten, first, and second grade, where the focus has been on understanding which words make us and others feel good and which words can hurt or make us feel “yucky.”

Together, the students practiced the idea: If you don’t have anything kind to say, don’t say anything at all. Our motto is: Choose kindness or choose silence!

In the coming weeks, Ms. Nicole will continue this important work with third through fifth grade and will keep reinforcing this meaningful message throughout the school year.

Celebrating Short Vowels

Last week, the first grade traditional class celebrated their mastery of short vowel sounds with a fun “Vowel Party.” Each snack corresponded to a vowel sound, candy and apricots for “a,” melon for “e,” gummy fish and chips for “i,” popcorn for “o,” and muffins for “u.” Students enjoyed finding and tasting the vowels in their treats, making for a sweet and memorable way to celebrate their hard work.

Rodeo Art

Rodeo Art is in full swing at RMBA! Students from Pre-K through 12th grade are busy creating their entries for the annual Houston Rodeo School Art competition. All completed artwork is due to Mrs. Duke by Friday, December 5th, and finalists will be chosen before Winter Break to advance to the next round at the Rodeo. Pictured is a finished rodeo-themed piece by Abigail Goldberg in 2nd grade.

Little Explorers

Morah Clara's class embarked on an exciting journey through the desert with Avraham! They packed imaginary bags, tiptoed like camels, and balanced “luggage” on their heads, practicing gross motor skills while following Avraham’s footsteps through the Midbar (desert). Every step was filled with laughter, teamwork, and movement as they learned how Hashem guided him on his journey. Fine motor skills were just as engaging. In the “What’s in My Luggage?” project, children colored, glued, and threaded yarn to pack their pretend suitcases, combining imagination with skill-building. They also created “Stars and Sand” crafts using glitter and real sand while learning about Hashem’s promise that Abraham’s children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Fall magic added even more excitement! The children explored the changing season by collecting colorful leaves and acorns and took a special trip to the Magical Forest, where nature and wonder came alive. Through stories, songs, and play, Hebrew words such as Lech Lecha, Avraham, Gamal (camel), Derech (path), Midbar (desert), and Kochavim (stars) came to life, helping children practice early literacy, Hebrew vocabulary, and sign language.

From Vehicles to Vibrant Colors

Morah Aviva's students explored the Transportation unit in connection with Parshat Lech Lecha. After explaining that the word “Lech” means “Go,” Morah led a lively discussion about different methods of transportation and introduced the vocabulary word “vehicle.” Students eagerly listed various types of vehicles, then had a wonderful time building roads and driving toy vehicles in the Blocks Center. In the Science Center, students experimented with color mixing using pipettes to fill in color equations and create watercolor illustrations with their new shades. Some also crafted colorful rainbows using clothespins and pom poms. At the Sensory Table, they observed water changing from clear to green and discovered what happens when shampoo is added, bubble fun!

Throughout the week, students also explored geometric shapes, practiced sequencing colored circles from largest to smallest, and enjoyed engaging letter “Ee” stations, featuring sticker tracing, an alphabet arc activity, and decorating the letter “E” with “eggs.”

Shapes, Stars, and Suitcases

This week, Morah Sandy's EC3A students learned in Parshat Lech Lecha how Avraham left his home because his father worshipped idols and how Hashem later promised him that he would have as many children as there are stars in the sky. To reinforce these concepts, the class integrated a unit on shapes and retold the story through a creative craft combining both themes. For sensory play, students sifted through sand and stars and made their own suitcases by lacing, helping to strengthen fine motor skills. They also added tote bags to the Dress-Up Center, where they had fun pretending to travel and “leave home,” just like Avraham did.

Excitement in the Library

Second graders were thrilled to check out books for the first time this year! Each student selected an exciting, unique book to take home for the week, and the library was full of smiles and eager readers. It was wonderful to see the students exploring different genres, discovering new authors, and sharing their excitement about the stories they couldn’t wait to read. This first library visit set the stage for a year of reading, curiosity, and a love of books.

Sensory Play and Aleph Bet Fun

In EC4B, Morah Aliyah and Mrs. Regina’s class have been hard at work exploring their parsha units and loving the sensory play that comes with them. The students are also moving and learning as they practice their aleph bet, using gross motor activities to connect how the letters look and sound. At the end of the year, parents will have the special opportunity to see the class perform their complete aleph bet song.

With the cooler weather, students have been spending more time outdoors and enjoying extra recess. Before heading outside, each child chooses a personal commitment to help keep the class safe and kind, another wonderful way to build responsibility and community in the classroom.

Professional Development

Mazal Tov! We are proud to share that Rivkie Gottlieb, Lower School Judaic Studies Principal, recently completed the two-year Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI), a program that brings together Jewish educators from diverse settings to learn, grow, and support one another. Throughout the program, participants build lasting professional friendships while deepening their skills as educational leaders. Rivkie joined other Houston-based Jewish professionals, including Chaya Sarah Kaufman from Torah Day School and Kerri Zerlin from Congregation Beth Israel.