January 10th, 2020 ~ 13th Tevet 5780
Events at a Glance
Sunday, January 12th - 10:30 am to 12:00 pm -   FroYo with Friends
Wednesday, January 15th - 5:15 pm-6:15 pm  A Taste of Silver
Thursday, January 16th - 10:30 am -   F ield trip to the Whitaker Center to see "Think Outside the Drum" featuring Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion.
Saturday, January 18th - 7:00 pm  PTO Game Night
Saturday, January 18th - Friday, January 24th -  Scholastic Book Fair
Monday, January 20th -   Mitzvah Day
Wednesday, January 22nd - 5:00 pm-6:30 pm A Sample of Silver
Wednesday, January 22nd -   Science Fair
A Message from the Head of School
Each week our school has a Middah, a Jewish value, on which we focus incorporating into our lives. Monday morning begins with an introduction to the weekly Middah that includes a discussion of both what it means and a challenge for the week that encourages students to practice living that Middah. Friday mornings begin with a review of the Middah and a chance for the students to share how they responded to the week's challenge.

Our Middah this week was Histapkut - contentment. During our introduction on Monday, we considered the Pirke Avot passage "Who is happy? The one who is happy with their lot." For their weekly challenge, the students were asked to "Notice something you have with which you are not satisfied. Now, change your mind and be positive about it!"

This week we also discussed that we need to find balance with our Middot. There are many things in our world that we can not, and should not, be content to leave as they are. On a small level, we should not be happy to walk past trash we see on the sidewalk. On a larger level, we should not be happy with allowing injustices we see to continue. We are often able to take action to help make things better; we can pick up trash and we can speak up if we witness something unjust.

Our children love to play outside, even in the winter. We know that not all children are fortunate enough to have everything needed to stay warm outside, and our students are not content to stand by and do nothing about it. When we learned from Mr. Ellis Rosenberg that many of the students in Mrs. Roseman's 4th grade class in the Harrisburg School District walk over a mile to and from school without hats, gloves and warm socks because their families struggle to afford them, we decided we can do something to help. We can hold a collection of those items to give to her class, and so we are. All families are asked to bring a donation of new hats, snow gloves, scarves and warm socks for children sizes 10-16. We invite our Silver Academy community to join us in our collection. Items can be brought to a bin outside the school office through January 20 (our annual Mitzvah Day) and our students will make sure that they get to Mrs. Roseman's students.

At The Silver Academy, we are fortunate that we are able to learn Jewish values and consider how we can incorporate them in our daily lives! We encourage our Silver Summary readers to join our weekly challenge as stated above and hope that you will also join us in our winter collection.

Shabbat Shalom,
Samara Sofian
Head of School

A Peek Inside Our Classes
Kindergarten General Studies
Mrs. Carpenter

Kindergartners have learned almost 40 sight words by now, and they put these words to good use on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during our Kid Writing sessions with our volunteer Writing Guides.

Right now we are focusing on short autobiographical stories that we call “Special Moments”. In early December students wrote about the fun they had with their families and friends over our long Thanksgiving break.
Our most recent writing project is called Winter Fun, and the stories will be going up soon on the bulletin board beside Mrs. Sofian’s office. Please come in and check them out!
Upcoming Events
FroYo with Friends
Join PJ Library and The Silver Academy for a morning of FroYo with Friends on Sunday, January 12th from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at Bamboo Frozen Yogurt. Enjoy delicious frozen yogurt, hear a PJ Library story led by Aviva Woodland, Silver Academy's Kindergarten Judaics teacher and do arts and crafts. This program is FREE and for children ages 5 and under and their adults. Register by Friday, January 10th at  Froyo with Friends Registration
A Taste of Silver
 Join the Silver Academy on Wednesday, January 15th for A Taste of Silver from 5:15 to 6:15 pm , for an Open House for prospective Ganeinu, Kindergarten and 1st Grade families. Prospective families will enjoy dinner together in the Wolfson Cafeteria and then have a chance to explore the school, meet the teachers and connect with other families. RSVP by Monday, January 13th to Niema Schertz at nschertz@silveracademypa.org or 717-238-8775.
PTO Game Night & Havdalah
Come socialize and have fun with other Silver Academy families at the PTO's Game Night on Saturday, January 18th from 7:00-8:45 pm. Bring your own games! Check out the Scholastic Book Fair! RSVP by Tuesday, January 14th to the school office at aroberts@silveracademypa.org or 717-238-8775.
Scholastic Book Fair
January 18th-January 24th
JCC Cafe Area 

  • Saturday, January 18th - Special first night held for the families of The Silver Academy during the PTO Game Night from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

  • Sunday, January 19th: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

  • Monday, January 20th-Friday, January 24th: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm


"Think Outside the Drum"
On Thursday, January 16th Kindergarten through Eighth grades will be going on a field trip to the Whitaker Center at 10:30 am to see "Think Outside the Drum" featuring Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion.
Mitzvah Day
Monday January 20th
While most schools have a  day off on Martin Luther King Day, The Silver Academy has Mitzvah Day! It has been our tradition to have the students spend this day participating in various mitzvah projects.
One project that is already underway is our Hat, Glove, Scarf and Sock Drive running from January 3rd - January 20th. We are collecting new warm hats, snow gloves, scarves and socks (sizes 10-16) for children in Mrs. Roseman's 4th grade Harrisburg School District class.
A Sample of Silver
Join the Silver Academy on Wednesday, January 22nd for A Sample of Silver from 5:00 to 6:30 pm , for an Open House for incoming 2nd-8th Grade families. Families will enjoy dinner together in the Wolfson Cafeteria and then have a chance to experience the classroom, watch the 8th graders present their science fair projects and connect with other families. RSVP by Friday, January 17th to Niema Schertz at nschertz@silveracademypa.org or 717-238-8775.
Alumni Corner
Alumni: We really want to hear from you! We are updating our alumni records and need your help! Please take a few moments to fill out  this  survey to tell us how you are doing. Thank you!
Todah Rabah - Thank you!
  • Thank you to our Kid Writing Writing Guides, Cynthia Graeff, Danielle Houser and Kimberlea Konowitch for volunteering their time to help our Kindergarten students develop their writing skills.

  • We're grateful to our PTO for sponsoring a special Oneg Shemesh concert right before our Winter Break. The students really enjoyed the concert and hosting the ELC's Pre-K class. What a treat!

  • Thank you to Grace, Eli and Kris Novak for fixing our mini foosball table. The students really enjoy using it during indoor recess and are glad to have it back in working order.
Ways to Support The Silver Academy
smile.amazon.com  - The Silver Academy. 

  • The Silver Academy will get .5 percent of each eligible purchase.

  https://shop.shopwithscrip.com/Login/Enroll    Code: 5417A14L62452 

  • Raise money for our school by using gift cards where you are already shopping! Buy egift cards, physical gift cards and reloadable gift cards at face value and use for your everyday shopping. Easily pay online and earn a rebate between 2%-16% that goes right to our school.
Order your Challah!
Challah With a Twist 

Offers Weekly Challah Order and Delivery To Students and Teachers

  • Order your challah by 8:30 pm Thursday evening at challahwithatwist.com. The fresh baked challah will be given to your child to take home on Friday.
  • To pay, please send an envelope with your name on it to the school office, including cash, or a check payable to Challah with a Twist, or use Paypal or Venmo.

Challah With a Twist, (a.k.a. Varda Challah), has been providing home baked challah to the Harrisburg community for over 24 years.
For any questions, please call or text Varda Gewirtz at  717-919-1358  .
Support The Silver Academy!
Contributions to The Silver Academy are always appreciated and every dollar makes a difference for our students!

Looking for a way to celebrate a birthday or special occasion? Do you have someone you would like to honor? Do you want to make a donation in memory of a loved one? Consider making a donation to The Silver Academy. We will send them a lovely card to share with them that a gift has been made in their honor.
You may contact the school's office to make a contribution or do so online here .

Community News
Our community is Powered by You! Support Jewish life in Harrisburg through the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg's Annual campaign. This year's Annual Campaign will take place from February - April 2020. Visit  jewishharrisburg.org/give  or call 717-236-9555 to support our community. 
Silver Snapshots