Rockstars VS Royals

This week, Color War spirit swept through RMBA as the Rockstars faced off against the Royals. High School students arrived each day decked out in their team colors, blue and red, ready to cheer on their side and show support. Hallways were decorated with creative displays that matched the energy of the competition. The week was packed with nonstop activities including fencing, painting, dance competitions, and trivia games that ranged from general knowledge to Judaic and Israel themed questions. Cooking contests added another layer of excitement as students created their own waffles and other delicious dishes, while other events had students navigating blindfolded obstacle courses and teaming up in physical and creative challenges. Throughout the week, students also had the chance to earn Brownie Slips, small notes handed out when a student showed kindness, helped a friend out, etc. Students collected these slips to contribute to their team’s total score, making good character a meaningful part of the competition. It has been a spirited and memorable week that brought students together through teamwork, friendly rivalry, and school pride, culminating this weekend at the annual High School Retreat.

Milestone Gemara Learning

Chavruta learning has been in full swing in Rabbi Ouzzan’s seventh grade Gemara class. The students recently reached an exciting milestone, completing their very first page of Gemara. Through careful study and thoughtful discussion, they explored the concept of Hefker and examined when the finder of an item may consider it ownerless. This accomplishment reflects their growing skills in text learning, partner study, and applying halachic concepts to real situations.

Color War Meets Gemara

Rabbi Ouzzan transformed his High School Gemara class into a spirited Red vs. Blue challenge of Stump the Chump. Each team selected representatives to present arguments and defend their positions on a variety of Jewish themed ethical dilemmas. The lively debate brought learning to life and showcased thoughtful reasoning, teamwork, and plenty of competitive energy.

Bubbles in Action

In AP Environmental Science, High School students explored population dynamics through a hands-on lab using bubbles as their “species.” They measured how long the bubbles lasted and how far they traveled under different conditions, including with and without external pressure. After collecting their data, students created survival plots to analyze the statistical effects on their bubble populations.

RMBA Marathon Update

It’s RMBA Marathon time again!  Beginning January 20th, students will lace up their running shoes and take on an exciting challenge, running one mile each day during recess as they work together toward the incredible goal of 26.2 miles, a full marathon! The RMBA Marathon is about much more than running; it builds perseverance, confidence, healthy habits, and a strong sense of accomplishment. Each mile brings students closer to discovering just how capable they are.

We encourage parents to support this empowering experience by signing up their child using this permission form. Let’s cheer our runners on as they step up to the challenge, one mile at a time!  

Learning About Space with Frank Hughes

This week, Mr. Simon’s third grade class had a visitor this week, Frank Hughes. Hughes, a veteran NASA figure, became Chief of the Space Flight Training Division. Hughes worked for NASA for 36 years, including the Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle missions. Mr. Hughes shared stories about NASA and taught us about the planets, their atmospheres, and moons. It was an exciting day for us in third grade!  

Healthy Habits With Nurse Lauren

Nurse Lauren wasted no time jumping back into Health and Wellness with students after winter break. Early Childhood and Lower School classes reviewed healthy habits including handwashing to prevent the spread of germs, making nutritious food choices, drinking water to stay hydrated, and staying active. Students also learned about playground safety, the importance of speaking with a trusted adult if they feel unsafe, and how to use their words to express big feelings such as anger or sadness. The session wrapped up with a demonstration on proper tooth-brushing, and everyone took a turn brushing the large mouth model. Each student received a fun goodie bag for their enthusiastic participation.

Penguins and Parsha

Students in Morah Aviva's EC4A class began their unit on penguins. The students learned about several types of penguins, the climates they live in, how strong their swimming abilities are, and many more interesting facts. During their research, they discovered that the Emperor penguin can grow over three feet tall. As a result, the children asked to be measured against a life-size drawing of an Emperor penguin to see who was as tall, taller, or shorter. This turned into a valuable mathematical lesson on measurement, using rulers, and number identification. Additionally, classmates were eager to continue in their Parsha series with Parshat Va'era. They learned about seven of the makkot (plagues) that Hashem sent to King Pharoah and the Mitzrim (Egyptians), and concluded the lesson with a Tzefardeya (frog) art activity connected to the second plague. Students observed several types of frogs and noticed their color and size differences. To round out the week, the class moved on to the letter Jj in their alphabet curriculum and decorated their letters with jackets.

Celebrating Differences

This week, EC4B students in Morah Aliyah's class explored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They discussed differences within their own classroom and why those differences are worth celebrating. The class read the book Sulwe, a story about a young girl learning to love the skin she is in, which helped reinforce the idea that everyone is created uniquely and with purpose. Students created unity bracelets with uplifting messages about how they hope to make the future brighter. The class also continued their Winter Unit with hands-on activities that included polar bear lacing and building igloos out of sugar cubes.

Penguins, Cocoa & Parsha Play

Morah Clara’s EC3B class enjoyed a lively winter adventure filled with movement and curiosity. They waddled like penguins, learned about cozy winter animals, and discovered how creatures such as bears, owls, and squirrels sleep and stay warm during the cold months. The class explored different temperatures using hot, warm, and cold cocoa, sang and moved along to the “Motion I'm a Little Snowman Song,” built a snowman together using a dice game, and greeted their new snowy friend. For Parshat Va’era, students made colorful stackable cups to represent the Makkot (plagues) of Dam (Blood), Tzfardea (Frogs), and Kinim (Lice). They learned that Hashem used His mighty arm to show Pharoah and all of Mitzrayim (Egypt) that He loves, protects, and will help Bnei Yisrael become free.

Sensory Parsha Adventures

This week in Morah Sandy's EC3A class, students explored Parshat Va’era through engaging fine motor and sensory activities. They began creating a booklet of the Ten Makkot (plagues) by spraying paint, dotting, and dabbing with Q-tips to bring each plague to life. Sensory play included searching for fish and shells in the blood-red Nile, pressing hopping frogs, and scrubbing the lice off the Mitzrim (Egyptians) using soap and water. It was a hands-on and meaningful way to connect with the parsha.

Professional Development

In December, Early Childhood Director Hadassah Brown participated in a professional development program through the Jewish New Teacher Project for administrators in their Year 1 cohort. The full day sessions in both New York City and Los Angeles focused on the Observation Cycle and navigating difficult conversations. Participants praised the program for offering practical tips and breaking down the supervision process into manageable steps. The cohort represented 26 schools nationwide.