Community Advocate

Congratulations to Rabbi Silvestri for being voted onto the board of Texas Private Schools Association, an agency that advocates on behalf of Texas private schools to fulfill their unique missions and meet the diverse needs, and voted in as the newest member of the Houston Rabbinical Association (HRA), an organization devoted to cultivating the vitality of Jewish life in Houston. Rabbi Silvestri will be the first Jewish Day School head representative in both of these organizations as he represents Jewish Day Schools in Texas - RMBA in particular - focusing on creating a stronger sense of community amongst our school population and focusing on legislation such as the upcoming sessions on School Choice. 

Chemical Creativity

In high school chemistry, Dr. Arnold’s students explored the creation of new products by combining various reactants. Some students observed chemical changes, while others focused on physical changes.

Inspiring Inclusivity



This week, we celebrated Start with Hello Week, a national initiative inspired by the Sandy Hook tragedy that emphasizes empathy, kindness, and recognizing social isolation. Our Middle School students participated in a presentation highlighting the impact of their words and actions, fostering meaningful discussions about how small acts of kindness can create a positive ripple effect in our community.

To further model these values, several High School students visited Lower School classrooms, sharing insights about kindness and leading engaging activities. It was inspiring to see them encourage younger students to think about how they can show kindness in their everyday lives. As part of this initiative, teachers distributed  "RMBA is KIND" bracelets to students who were observed demonstrating kindness and inclusivity, aiming to cultivate a culture of kindness within our school community.

David’s Dilemma

Rabbi Ouzzan’s 8th grade Navi class is learning the Book of Shmuel, volume two. The focus of their study was King David’s discovery that an Amalekite had killed King Shaul, his father-in-law. Despite Shaul spending years pursuing David with the intent to kill him, David demonstrated genuine love and admiration for Shaul nonetheless. Students were tasked with writing an essay analyzing David’s decision to have the Amalekite killed for Shaul's death, even though Shaul had been dying and had asked the Amalekite to end his life. Were David’s actions justified in having the Amalekite killed, considering he was simply following orders?

Poetry in Focus

Middle school students analyzed poetry this week.  They explored poetic devices such as tone and personification which poets use to express underlying meaning.  When connected to the thematic unit, the poems provide a different perspective on a universal theme.

Artful Spelling

In Ms. Morrison's 2nd grade class, students recently enjoyed a fun and creative way to practice their spelling words through painting! Each child created a unique artwork that incorporated their spelling words, blending creativity with learning. The excitement in the room was palpable as the kids proudly concealed their words within their colorful designs. This engaging project not only reinforced their spelling skills but also allowed for self-expression through art, making it a fantastic way to integrate creativity into their curriculum!

Methods of Inquiry

This week, Mr. Cell's 11th-12th AP Psychology class focused on research methods and protocols, helping students understand how to construct and interpret social science experiments.

Graphing Success

This week, 8th grade students in Ms. Rosenzweig's math class worked hard studying for their first chapter test. Students learned about linear functions, including how to graph equations from standard form and slope-intercept form. They also learned to write equations from graphs and sets of ordered pairs, illustrating how the variables interact. Additionally, students solved word problems by translating real-world situations into linear equations, helping them see the practical applications of these concepts.

Exploring Emotions

In Mr. Simon's third grade class, students learned about emotions by listening to a book read by Mr. Natan. "Human Being" explores our nervous system and how we react to different situations. Mr. Natan explained that sometimes we feel uneasy due to external factors that cause our nervous system to respond. That reaction could be experienced as various feelings, including "butterflies" in our stomach, tingling sensations, or even the urge to run away. The class learned that these responses are normal and discussed appropriate ways to respond, such as walking and speaking with an adult about their feelings. Understanding emotions is the first step toward creating positive outcomes.

Apple Adventures

EC4A students in Morah Aviva's class became little scientists this week! They engaged in apple observations, closely examining the interior and exterior of four types of apples: Pink Lady, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. Afterward, they participated in an apple tasting activity, discussing which apples were juicy, crunchy, tart, sweet, bitter, or sour. Morah Aviva then graphed the children’s favorite ways to eat apples. The students also observed how salt absorbs water while creating their own apple saltwater color paintings, with fascinating results as the salt bubbled up and mixed with the watercolors. In the Art Center, they used apple sponges and other Rosh Hashanah symbols to paint beautiful apple plates for their tables. Additionally, they worked on the next letter in their alphabet—E—practicing writing “Elephant” and “Ear” after pasting them onto the letter itself. Finally, the children focused on the letter Hey in the Alef Bet and enjoyed reviewing Hey words on the word wall.

Cellular Connections

AP Biology students in Dr. Arnold's class tested their knowledge of cell structure by creating a matching game. They are currently studying the structure and function of cellular processes.

Apple Crafting Fun

This week, Morah Tsippi's EC2B class focused on apples! The children worked hard to decorate their own apple-shaped honey jars. They also glued tissue paper and foam onto an apple for their Rosh Hashanah art book.

Life-Saving Ethics

In Rabbi Ouzzan’s 8th Grade Halacha class, students were presented with a monetary dilemma scenario and asked to choose sides. After splitting into "teams," they engaged in an incredible debate, arguing their positions, with the winning team earning gift cards. The dilemma was: Is a savior liable for damages caused to another while saving someone’s life from a pursuer?

Rosh Hashanah Crafts

In Morah Sandy's EC3A class, students have been working hard learning all about Rosh Hashanah, highlighting the symbols of the holiday by creating tote bags using various techniques—apple printing, gluing, stamping, and applying stickers. The kids are excited to show off their bags at shul next week!

Diplomatic Discussions

Last week, we were privileged to host Neil Lazarus, a prominent commentator and educator specializing in Israeli politics and society, public diplomacy, and effective communication training, thanks to the generosity of the Houston Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Neil spoke about the current situation in Israel and the regional challenges posed by Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. He discussed the sentiments in Israel regarding the struggle to find the best path to bring the hostages home.

All About Apples

It was all about apples this week in Morah Elisheva's EC4B class! Students learned about the lifecycle of an apple—did you know that apple flowers need help from pollinators like honey bees to turn into apple fruits? Through dissection, the students discovered the different parts of the apple. Morah Elisheva then placed the seeds in a damp towel to hopefully germinate in the refrigerator. The class conducted an apple taste test, where they selected their favorite apple before tasting, then chose again after tasting, and again after a blind taste test to see how visual stimuli can impact flavor preferences. They also engaged in sensory apple washing and went “apple picking” in the bushes. After all that hard work, nothing beats a picnic with healthy treats from Hashem (aka apples)!