High School Retreat

High School students enjoyed a fun-filled and meaningful retreat packed with learning, bonding, and adventure. The trip included ruach-filled (spirited) tefillah, team-building activities, games, and friendly athletic competitions, along with exciting experiences like Activate Games and the camp zip line. Students welcomed Shabbat together enjoying oneg and thoughtful learning, including Torah Fest and a Rabbi Q&A panel. On Motzei Shabbat students went head to head in the final Color War activities, with the Red Rockstar Team taking the win. Throughout the retreat, evenings were spent around bonfires with s’mores, music, and creative team challenges, making for a memorable experience that strengthened friendships, teamwork, and school spirit.

Leadership & Legacy Dinner

On January 10, Robert M. Beren Academy gathered at the home of Hon. Lee and Gary Rosenthal to honor Steven Mitzner with our inaugural Distinguished Leadership Award. The evening celebrated Steven’s steadfast commitment to Jewish education and the values that define RMBA, with a special conversation featuring Houston icon and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Craig Biggio. We are grateful to our hosts and the many donors who supported the evening helping to strengthen our community and advance our mission. Read the Houston Jewish Herald-Voice article and view the photo album capturing the evening.

Keeping Readers Hooked

This week, Ms. Ruben's Middle School ELA students are diving deeper into their novels. Rather than focusing on themes, they are analyzing and writing about how authors use suspense, cliffhangers, and relatable characters to engage readers and drive the plot forward.

Names, Not Numbers®



Our High School students began filming for the Names, Not Numbers® program, an impactful project dedicated to preserving the stories of Holocaust survivors. Through hands-on training, in-depth interviews, and guided reflection, students worked closely with survivors to document their experiences with care and respect. The week was filled with meaningful learning, powerful conversations, and moments of reflection as students took on the responsibility of ensuring these stories are remembered and shared. The screening is scheduled to take place on May 13 at the Houston Holocaust Museum.

RMBA Marathon Update

Rain, rain go away! You should have seen the disappointed faces on the Lower School students when they realized that the start of the RMBA marathon would be postponed. For safety reasons, we have to wait for dry conditions in order to run. One student came up to organizer Mirit Schneider, with a forlorn look and shared "I’m so disappointed!”

The good news is that the rain gives you more time to register your child to join us in running the RMBA Marathon. Sign up by filling out this permission form.

Animal Research Takes Shape

Fourth grade students are hard at work on an animal research project that blends science, writing, and creativity. Each student selected an animal to study and gathered facts from reliable sources, learning how to take organized notes and build a structured outline. Using their outlines, students are writing five-paragraph informational papers that explain habitat, diet, adaptations, and life cycle while practicing clear introductions, detailed body paragraphs, and strong conclusions. To bring their learning to life, students are also creating dioramas that showcase their animals in realistic habitats, along with fact sheets that highlight key information in a reader-friendly format. The project encourages research skills, responsibility, and scientific curiosity, and students are excited to share their finished work with the class.

Classroom Roach Ranches

Last week, the Lower School Montessori class received a hands-on lesson in animal care when Upper School Guidance Counselor Mr. Natan Verschleisser-Pittinsky visited to help set up a roach ranch. The class will be raising roaches to feed their tarantula and possibly support other community pets, giving students an up-close look at how animals are cared for in real scientific settings. As they learned about habitat needs, growth, and food chains, students asked thoughtful questions and made observations about how each part of the process supports the health of another animal. The project also encouraged responsibility and collaboration, since the roaches will need regular care and monitoring throughout their life cycle. By the end of the visit, the classroom was buzzing with curiosity and enthusiasm, and students were eager to take on the challenge of caring for their new colony.

Shaving Cream Science

Ms. Morrison's second grade students explored space through a sensory-rich activity that turned their classroom into a hands-on learning lab. Using shaving cream spread across their desks, students created scenes of stars, constellations, planets, black holes, and even the Big Dipper. Some connected stars to form constellations, while others experimented with swirling motions to represent galaxies and deep space. The activity supported sensory learning and helped reinforce key science concepts through movement and touch. Students were highly engaged, focused, and eager to share their creations with classmates. It was a joyful blend of science, art, and sensory exploration that quickly became a highlight of the week.

Expectations for the New Year

Students returned from break with a fresh start and positive energy in the Lower School Montessori class. To reaffirm classroom expectations, the class worked together to create a set of shared courtesies that serve as their guidelines for behavior. Then, students helped assemble them into clear tenets that reflect respect, responsibility, and care for their environment. They also participated in a photo shoot to illustrate each courtesy, making the expectations both meaningful and memorable. Their classroom courtesies included things like being patient, raising your hand, and using your indoor voice. Students also spent time reviewing routines, practicing their workplans, and receiving lessons to help everyone transition smoothly into the new year.

Hopping Into Parshat Bo

This week in Morah Sandy's EC3A class, students continued learning about the Ten Makkot (plagues) with a focus on grasshoppers from Parshat Bo. They used sponge-hopping techniques to paint pages for their makkot (plagues) booklets and then headed into the Magic Forest to dig for grasshoppers while exploring what lives below the surface.

A Week of Wonder

Although it was a short week, EC4A students in Morah Aviva's class stayed busy with meaningful learning and exploration. With Mr. Matt in STEAM, they investigated clouds, while hands-on, multi-sensory letter Kk stations sparked excitement and curiosity. In Mrs. Duke’s art room, students enjoyed collaborative time with manipulatives and table activities, and they proudly moved forward in the Alef Bet by learning the letter Kaf. The week began with thoughtful “I have a dream…” drawings honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., following a class discussion about equality. Students also learned an important message from his speech: “Love is the key to the problems in the world.”

Winter Wrap-up

This week, Morah Clara’s EC3B class wrapped up their winter unit and warmly welcomed the month of Shevat. The yeladim explored winter animals, cozy hibernation, and sensory snow play, while in Parshat Bo they learned about the last three makkot (plagues) and the first mitzvah given to Bnei Yisrael: the moon and the Jewish calendar. Fine motor skills were strengthened through printing and painting the phases of the moon, making the week both engaging and meaningful as students learned and grew together.