All summer long, the Elementary School teachers have been planning and preparing for the 2017-18 school year. Classrooms were set up, charts hung, and bulletin boards filled. During the week prior to the arrival of the students, faculty members had a variety of meetings and engaged in professional development.  Excitement built, and on the day before the start of school, students came to meet their new teachers and see their new classrooms.  The fifth graders had the special privilege of painting welcome banners for the next morning.

And then the moment we had all been waiting for finally arrived on Wednesday morning! Students were welcomed into the building by their teachers and principals, Kindergarteners and first graders were escorted to their classrooms by fifth graders, and the entire Elementary School gathered together for our first morning program.

Students in 1st - 4th grade marched through the aisle leading to the gym, flanked by rows of enthusiastic 5th graders waving and holding welcome banners. Once seated on the floor in a large circle, we all sang some familiar Hebrew songs to the accompaniment of music teacher Mr. Andrew Malkin.  Principal Rabbi David Saltzman welcomed new students and teachers. Then Associate Principal Reena Slovin called up those with birthdays this week, and these students led the Pledge of Allegience and Hatikva.  Our new Israeli shlichot, Avigail and Renana, introduced themselves, and our lovely morning ended with a surprise Maimo Movement video starring the Elementary School faculty, directed and filmed by first grade teacher Dani Carrus. The students were quite amused by this and joined in the movement fun.  

Following the morning gathering, new parents were invited to a special breakfast where they were introduced to one another and to key Elementary School staff members.  It was a delightful way to start the school year.

To see more images from the first day, please check out our   video . 

Hot lunch is available on Monday  through Thursday . There is still time to sign up! Please click here to register your child. Once you complete the form, please drop off your form and check at the Elementary School office. New orders will begin receiving meals the following week.   

 

 

On Thursday afternoon, the 5th graders participated in the shofar factory.  We spent the first part of the program learning about what makes a kosher shofar.  A kosher shofar is hollow and curved.  We learned that we cannot use a bull's horn because of the golden calf.  Then we started to make our own.  The first thing we did was saw off the tip which was very difficult.  Then we stood in line to have it drilled to make it hollow.  Then we moved into a line where the tip was sanded.  Some of us had our shofar sanded even more, so it had ridges.  Finally, we applied shellac to make it shiny.  Our favorite part was blowing the shofar at the end.  We would like to thank the PTA for sponsoring the program.  We want to wish everyone a sweet and Happy New Year.   

Bring your family and friends to the first Family Learning of the year! This year our theme will be the chagim, and the first session will focus on Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

For Rosh HaShana we will learn why we eat apples and honey, and taste test different types of honey. The Yom Kippur station will focus on not wearing leather shoes and learning the difference between leather and other materials. Bring your shoes to see if they pass the Yom Kippur leather test! Finally, we will learn about various shapes, sizes, and forms of sukkot and assess our understanding through a sukkah scavenger hunt. You don't want to miss it! And there will be food and prizes! What could be better?

We hope to see you a week from Sunday from 10:15-11:30 a.m. in the Brener gym.

 

We welcome our shlichot for this year, Avigail Averbach and Renana Yarhi. Please watch this video to learn more about them.

 

 

 

Even if you have a bamboo mat, consider adding some authentic and fresh smelling

s'chach to spruce up your sukkah this year! Our PTA s'chach fundraiser makes it easy to order your s'chach while helping the school at the same time.

 

Minimum order is $52 for two bundles, $26 for each additional bundle (it generally takes 4-6 bundles to cover an 8' x 10' sukkah). Orders must be received and pre-paid by Wednesday, September 20. Pick-up is scheduled for Sunday, October 1 from 10 - 11 a.m. at Saval campus.

 

Please click here to place your order!

 

 

 

We are three days into the school year and have already collected a small display of lost items.  Please take a look to see if anything looks familiar and retrieve it.  If you label lunchboxes, water bottles, and clothing, we will be sure to return them to your child directly.

 

 

Our fifth Yom Chesed is scheduled for Sunday morning, November 5. Yom Chesed is an all-ages community service initiative for our entire Maimonides community.  Our past Yom Chesed events have each involved over 500 participants (parents, students, faculty and alumni!) helping a broad range of community organizations. 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, please join us on Thursday, September 14 at 8:15 a.m. in the conference room in the Saval building (34 Philbrick Road) for a planning meeting. Special note to ECC parents: Please feel free to join the meeting after your drop-off (it's an informal meeting and we'd love to see you). 

 

 

It is not necessary to attend this meeting to help out with Yom Chesed.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact one of our parent coordinators - Stef Mishkin, [email protected], Alissa Muzin,  [email protected] , or Risa Gewurz,  [email protected]  - to learn how to get involved.

There's so much going on here at Maimo! Be sure to check out our social media to get the inside scoop (with lots of great photos) on happenings at school.  

 

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