MIVASERET MERCAZ
מבשרת מרכז
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Mercaz Academy students were so grateful to be supported in such a meaningful way by the Loaves of Love: Rise Up For Mercaz Academy Challah Bake. We hope we've offered great return on the investment with today's Shabbat Project Grandparent event, Matanot K'tanot: Little Gifts. We also elected student leadership, wrote, traveled, learned, and discovered. Scroll down to catch a glimpse of a week in the life of Mercaz Academy...
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A message from our principal, Rabbi Kalman Fogel |
הַחוּט הַמְשֻׁלָּשׁ לֹא בִמְהֵרָה יִנָּתֵק
A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
--Kohelet 4:12
Mercaz Academy grandparents and staff reveled in the quiet joy of Shabbat spirit that suffused us as we listened to our students sing "Matanot K'tanot."
Our Grandparents Shabbat Project has helped us to better understand and, as we welcome the Shabbat this evening, focus our own Shabbat tables on thankfulness for the "small gifts" that Hashem gives to each one of us.
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Shabbat Project Grandparents Program at Mercaz Academy: Little Gifts |
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Mercaz Academy welcomed grandparents and other special people to our Shabbat Project program, Matanot K’tanot: Little Gifts. Students greeted their grandparents and special people with excitement, posing for pictures with their guests at a photo booth set up to capture the memories of the day. Mercaz Academy students and grandparents were seated at beautiful Shabbat tables in the cafeteria, where they sang “Lecha Dodi” and the grandparents and special guests blessed the children...
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Fourth Grade United States Postcard Project |
Mrs. DeMeo’s fourth grade social studies class has been studying New York State, and they have done a great deal of research on New York’s geography, state symbols, state flag, and many other interesting facts about our home state. Wishing to share all their newfound information and serve as boosters for New York, they have started a United States postcard exchange project.
Mercaz Academy fourth graders send postcards with informative facts about New York to other states and request a postcard with information about that state in return. They plan to collect and display postcards from all fifty states, as well as a selection of United States territories. Fourth grade students are delighted to report that they have already received postcards from students in Illinois, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Nebraska.
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Don't Tell Anyone That Nursery Bet Plays Games on Computers |
Morah Jo’s Nursery Bet class has been enjoying using a new class computer lab, sponsored by the Gruss Foundation, to play games. However, unbeknownst to Nursery Bet students, these exciting games and entertaining videos are helping them learn math and reading readiness skills.
The computers, which are equipped with Waterford Reading Academy software, strengthen math and reading readiness interactively and are completely individualized. Each student moves through a series of math and reading training and assessment activities at his or her own pace. The data from these assessments is reviewed to monitor the progress of the students as they learn. The amount of fun they’re having requires no assessment and can only be described as “a lot.”
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Challah Bake Benefits Mercaz Academy |
On Wednesday night, November 9, many communities came together to support Mercaz Academy at a wonderful evening of kneading and baking, laughter and Torah. The Loaves of Love: Rise Up For Mercaz Academy Challah Bake--sponsored by the Young Israel of Plainview, the Sephardic Synagogue of Plainview, and the Mikvah Association of Long Island--attracted a full house of Mercaz students, parents, and grandparents, current and former teachers, alumni of HANC Plainview, and community well-wishers...
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Kindergarten Scientists Conduct First Lab Experiment in STEM |
Mercaz Academy kindergarten students have just launched their science exploration with their very first laboratory experiment. STEM teacher Mrs. Gonzalez-Spagnuolo discussed the scientific method with the kindergarteners and introduced them to the tools scientists use to conduct experiments. The kindergarteners wondered how many drops of water can fit on a penny. They formulated their predictions and recorded them in their STEM journals before getting started on the experiment.
Next week, Mercaz Academy’s young scientists plan to retest and compare the results with those of this week, as well as with their predictions. Kindergarten students would also like to report that, after discussion, they have decided that a penny can be categorized as a science tool for the purposes of this particular experiment.
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Student Government Elections at Mercaz |
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As the nation’s attention turned to the midterm elections, Mercaz Academy students held their own presidential contest to determine the next generation of leadership here at Mercaz Academy. In the U.S. presidential race, there is an age requirement for the highest office; here at Mercaz, there is a grade requirement. Only sixth graders can run for the top positions of student council president and vice president, while fifth graders are eligible to compete for the secretary and treasurer positions. However, the voting franchise extends down to the second grade. After a week of campaigning, the student electorate gathered in the auditorium on Monday, November 7, to hear presentations from the candidates...
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Candidates presented their platforms. |
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Ms. Leeper assists a voter with a polling station problem. |
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The moment the candidates learned the names of the winners. |
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Third Grade Takes Pen in Hand... |
Mrs. Laura Paul’s third graders have taken pens in hand and are now corresponding with new pen pals in another state–the third graders at Ben Porat Yosef, an elementary school in Paramus, New Jersey. Their first letters were sent digitally, along with pictures and information about their respective schools. However, the next round of letters will be sent the old-fashioned way, via “snail mail” (the United States postal service). The class is excited to get to know their new friends, and astonished to learn that everyone used to correspond with distant friends in this way. |
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Kitah Bet Observes Rachel Imeinu’s Yahrzeit at Kever Rachel (Virtually) |
Morah Tikva’s Kitah Bet class took a flight (of fancy) to Kever Rachel, our foremother Rachel’s gravesite, to observe her yahrzeit on the 11th of Cheshvan. Because the date took place on Shabbat this year, Kitah Bet decided to travel earlier, on Friday. After watching the El Al flight safety video, students fastened their seatbelts and enjoyed a remarkably swift and smooth flight to Israel.
Upon arrival, Kitah Bet proceeded to Kever Rachel, where they discussed Rachel’s concern for all Jewish children. Students learned that someday, with the help of Hashem, the Beit Hamikdash will be rebuilt in the merit of Rachel’s good deeds. Looking forward to this, Kitah Bet sang “Ani Ma’amin” (“I Believe”) before returning to the United States in time for dismissal.
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Counselor Corner: Kindergarten and First Graders Keep Their Hands to Themselves |
Kindergarten and first grade students have learned about the importance of keeping their hands to themselves when they are in school. The ideas of personal space and boundaries are challenging for many small children, but our Mercaz Academy students have been working on many replacement behaviors, such as “air high-fives” and waving excitedly. These young students enjoyed practicing these school behaviors with enthusiasm and vigor. |
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Election Day Professional Development |
While students enjoyed Election Day off, teachers were hard at work in the school building, developing their skills and learning new techniques to help their students excel. First, religious studies teachers met to discuss ideas and plans for the new Tefillah Initiative. At the same time, teachers of the secular subjects were trained in how to use assessment data from i-Ready, an online program in reading and mathematics.
Both groups joined Ms. Leeper to learn Kagan Structures, techniques designed to engage students. They also worked together to collaboratively establish lifelong learning skills for students to master. The groups split again to work out departmental plans for improved report cards. The day finished with a session on Reveal Math, a program designed to offer resources for differentiated instruction in small groups, as religious studies teachers further developed experiential programming.
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Monday, November 21
- Modeh Ani/Thanksgiving Tefillah program
Tuesday, November 22
Wednesday, November 23
Thursday, November 24
Friday, November 25
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No school, Thanksgiving break
Monday, November 28
- In-Person Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 30
- Google Meet Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, December 9
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