This Week at Yavneh Academy

March 19, 2026 | 1 Nisan 5786 | ויקרא

PARSHAT HASHAVUA

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Today, Ganon A had a grape exploration! We tasted grapes in many different forms and discovered which ones we like best: red grapes, green grapes, raisins, jelly, and grape juice. Everyone had the chance to try each one and share their favorite!

We also watched a short video about a vineyard in Israel and learned how grapes are turned into grape juice and wine. It was amazing to see the journey from the vine all the way to the bottle!

To connect our learning to Pesach, we talked about how the grape juice we drink at the Seder comes from grapes that grow on vines, just like the ones we saw. Now when Pesach comes around and we drink our 4 cups of grape juice, we'll know exactly where it comes from!

As part of our Pesach learning and discoveries, Gan Aleph began in depth learning about Ancient Egypt. While reading If I Were a Kid in Ancient Egypt: Children of the Ancient World, we have been gathering information about what life would be like if we were kids growing up in Egypt. Gan Aleph learned about what clothes children wore, hairstyles children had, what jobs their parents would have, (farmers, scribes). We even learned about Egyptian hieroglyphics and have been practicing our storytelling by drawing symbols as words!

LOWER SCHOOL

3C had an exciting time taking on the Mystery Science “Bobby Dropper” challenge! Students designed creative paper inventions to help a falling bobby pin land safely without crashing. Even when their designs didn’t work at first, they kept trying and improving like real inventors. We learned that making mistakes is an important part of learning and helps us succeed in the end!

Star of the Week in 2nd Grade! Each week, our class celebrates a new “Star of the Week !” Throughout the week, our special star leads the class in a variety of engaging activities. They share a personal presentation about their life - introducing their family, favorite places they’ve visited, hobbies, and more.

The student also teaches the class a favorite Israeli song, and to wrap up the experience, they create a fun Kahoot quiz based on everything they shared - everyone is excited to see who will win!

One of the most meaningful parts of the week is presenting a favorite place in Israel. At the beginning of the year, each student received a large map of Israel. Every week, our star teaches the class about a place they chose. Using pictures, videos, and even songs, they spark curiosity and excitement. Then comes the challenge who can find the location first on the map and mark it with a special glowing sticker?

By the end of the year, our second graders will have learned about so many places across Israel and will be ready and excited for their next visit! This activity creates a deep sense of curiosity and a meaningful connection to the Land of Israel, which we love so much.

A big thank you to all of our wonderful stars and to KKL for generously providing the beautiful maps!

After weeks of practice, our fourth-grade finalists competed for a chance to represent Yavneh at the Paramus Rotary Spelling Bee. We are so proud of all our finalists, who showcased their impressive skills at Yavneh’s first Spelling Bee. We also want to thank our semifinalists, who served as honored judges at today’s event. Each received a special certificate for reaching this level of the competition.

Mazel tov to our Grade 4 Spelling Champions!

We wish them hatzlacha at the Paramus Rotary Spelling Bee next week.

On Wednesday, twenty eight members of the Yavneh Opera Club attended the final dress rehearsal of “La Traviata” at the Metropolitan Opera. While there is much concern in the performing arts world about the decline of interest in opera, enthusiasm for the art form is alive and well at Yavneh, and trips to the Met are greatly anticipated. Many Met patrons complimented the students on their engagement and overall behavior, creating a true kiddush Hashem for the Yavneh community.