Jewish Education Leadership

Earlier this week, Houston was proud to host the Prizmah Heads of School Retreat, bringing together Jewish day school leaders from across the country for learning, collaboration, and connection. We were honored that Head of School, Rabbi Jordan Silvestri, participated in this meaningful gathering, and especially grateful for the opportunity to welcome visiting heads of school and Prizmah leadership to RMBA for a campus tour. It was a true pleasure to showcase our learning spaces, values, and community, and to host distinguished guests including Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah. We are proud to be part of a national network committed to strengthening Jewish education and leadership.

Help Sweeten Candyland

Candyland is almost here, and we’re inviting our community to contribute Silent Auction items that will help make the evening truly special. Experiences, event or sporting tickets you’re not using, restaurant gift cards, services, jewelry, and unique items are all welcome, and every donation directly supports RMBA’s students, faculty, and programs through our 2025–2026 Annual Campaign.

Submit a Silent Auction Donation for Candyland

Interested in joining the celebration?

Purchase tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities for Candyland

Thank you for helping make Candyland a night of community, generosity, and impact.

Ecology, Ethics, and Israel’s Trees

In Dr. Arnold's AP Environmental Science class, students combined Tu BiShvat celebrations with their coursework. Working in pairs, they researched the environmental impact of a tree species native to Israel, exploring both its ecological importance and strategies to protect it from human threats. The lesson integrated ethical considerations from a Jewish perspective with rigorous scientific analysis.

YUNMUN XXXVI

This week, RMBA High School students had the incredible opportunity to participate in Yeshiva University’s National Model United Nations (YUNMUN), representing the Luxenbourg on the international stage. Joining approximately 300 students from around the country in Stamford, CT, our team did an outstanding job showcasing true diplomacy alongside months of research. The team is excited to build on what they learned as they prepare for next year. We are proud of Eleventh grade student Jonathan Kluger who earned the prestigious Honorable Mention award and was thrilled to see both of his resolutions pass. Overall, the students had a fantastic experience at YUNMUN, honing skills in research, public speaking, and global awareness.

Building Strong Informative Essays

Middle School students kicked off their informative writing unit this week by selecting a sport or hobby to research. They are gathering facts from reliable sources, organizing their findings into outlines, and drafting five-paragraph essays with cited evidence. Next week, students will revise, proofread, and add a works cited section before completing their final drafts, learning that strong writing takes planning, organization, and thoughtful editing.

When Geometry Met Rainbows

On Monday, Mr. Gomez's eighth grade Pre-Algebra students explored light refraction through a hands-on activity using prisms, including triangular and triangular pyramid prisms, to observe how light separates into a rainbow. The lesson also connected geometry concepts as students identified polyhedrons by their faces, edges, and vertices, deepening their understanding of prisms and pyramids through real-world science applications.

Learning From the Trees



Morah Roza's Lower School students have been engaged in meaningful, hands-on learning centered around nature and trees. Last week, second grade students explored the outdoors, studied the parts of a tree, and collected natural materials as part of their learning. Fourth graders took a deeper dive, studying the laws related to trees and their sources in the Torah. Their learning sparked thoughtful dialogue about the many gifts trees provide and an engaging discussion on whether life could exist without them. Earlier this week, both second and fourth grade classes came together to make a delicious fruit salad, celebrating the bounty of the season and connecting their hands-on learning to Tu BiShvat.

Racing to Master Multiplication

Ms. Morrison's fourth grade students are wrapping up their multiplication unit and finishing strong. This week, they reviewed their 0-12 multiplication facts through a fun race against time that challenged them to think quickly while staying accurate. These timed activities helped build both confidence and fluency with multiplication facts. Students also completed a quiz covering multiplication facts 0-12, showcasing how much growth they have made since the beginning of the unit. Throughout the chapter, students practiced strategies such as breaking facts into known facts, using patterns, and checking their work for accuracy. As the unit comes to a close, students are showing increased speed, accuracy, and confidence, skills that will support them as they move into more advanced math concepts.

Marathon Update

Students at RMBA are excited to celebrate a milestone in the RMBA Marathon, having officially reached mile 5! To mark the achievement, students received their first well earned prize, and their enthusiasm continues to shine as they work toward their personal goals.

A heartfelt thank to Tanglewood Foot Specialists, Crossfit Central Houston, Dr. Von Slate DDS FAGD PC, and Masters in Dietetics LLC! Their support of this program and help make these milestones possible!

Building Confidence in Math

This week in Mr. Simon’s third grade class, students are reviewing division and strengthening their understanding of the process step by step. Through guided practice, class discussions, and hands-on problem solving, the class is becoming more confident and fluent in their skills. Students are proud to demonstrate what they have learned and are beginning to explain their thinking using clear strategies and math language. The focus on division is helping build a strong foundation for future math concepts, while encouraging persistence, collaboration, and confidence in the classroom.

Measuring Up

Ms. Morrison's second grade class has begun an exciting new math chapter focused on measurement. They are learning about both imperial and metric units and how each is used to measure length. Throughout the week, students have measured objects around the classroom using rulers and other tools, compared lengths, and recorded their results. The class also practiced strategies for accurate measuring, including starting at zero, lining objects up carefully, measuring in a straight line, choosing the correct unit of measure, and double checking results. Through this hands on learning, students are building patience, focus, and confidence while applying math skills to real life situations and strengthening their foundational understanding.

Art Meets Culture

This week, Lower School students in Ms. Duke's art classes explored the vibrant traditions of Chinese New Year, drawing inspiration from dragons, fireworks, and lanterns. 2nd and 4th grade students focused on learning how to draw dragons, practicing shapes, patterns, and colors to bring their designs to life. Meanwhile, 5th graders took their creativity a step further by sculpting dragons out of clay, experimenting with texture and form. Through these projects, students developed their artistic skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for cultural traditions and the symbols that make Chinese New Year so unique and colorful.

A Cloudy Week of Creativity

Last week, Morah Eliana’s second grade class read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and completed a creative project inspired by the story. The students explored the book’s themes and brought their ideas to life through hands-on activities. Their week of learning and creativity culminated in a fun celebration, where the class enjoyed watching the movie together!

Fruity Fun & Torah Tales

Morah Sandy's EC3A students celebrated Tu BiShvat and explored Parshat Yitro. The class brought Tu BiShvat to life by practicing the Bracha Ha’etz (blessing over fruits of the trees) while enjoying a fruit charcuterie board and a citrus taste test, making funny faces with lemons and limes and savoring sweet oranges. For Parshat Yitro, students created a craft depicting the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai, including a class picture as they reflected on how the Torah was received.

Traditions and Tasty Learning

Both EC4 classes have been busy working together and exploring new concepts! They began the week with a joyful Tu Bishvat Seder, discovering the Shivat Haminim (the seven spices) through hands-on sensory experiences like taste, touch, listening, and observation. Students also made fruit kebabs with clementines, bringing learning to life in a fun and meaningful way. In Morah Aviva's EC4A class, students completed a special bracha (blessing) packet reinforcing nutrition, the five food groups, and which blessings to say on different foods. They also enjoyed letter “Mm” multisensory stations and math and manipulative centers for playful skill building. Morah Aliyah's EC4B kicked off the letter M with a fun Share and Tell on Wednesday and is excited to continue learning as they start their Money unit next week.

A Week of Growth & Discovery

Morah Clara's EC3B enjoyed a joyful Tu Bishvat week filled with hands on learning and discovery. The class explored fruits and vegetables, learned where food grows, and practiced the Ha’etz and Ha’adamah brachot (the blessings over fruits of the trees and the ground) while making fruit salad, decorating a chocolate tree, and engaging in sensory play, music, and movement. Students also learned about rain and the groundhog tradition through a creative shadow art project. Jewish learning continued with Parshat Yitro, as students learned how Bnei Yisrael said “yes” to Hashem at the mountain, practiced Hebrew vocabulary, explored the Shivat Haminim (the seven species), and played a matching game with the Aseret HaDibrot (the Ten Commandments). It was a meaningful week of discovery, teamwork, and celebrating Hashem’s beautiful world.

Camp Kochavim

If you're looking for something fun for kids entering EC2–6th grade, Camp Kochavim offers fun, engaging activities in a warm, ruach-filled environment. Campers love spending their days on RMBA's beautiful campus!

Registration opens February 11! 

For more information and to register, visit the camp website.

Email Eileen Silvestri at esilvestri@berenacademy.org with any questions.

Growing Roots

Students in EC15 had a wonderful time celebrating Tu Bishvat with a special visit from RMBA's Early Childhood Director, Hadassah Brown, who read Tu Bishvat Is Coming! by Tracy Newman. Through the story, students learned about the meaning of the holiday and our connection to trees and nature. After story time, the class enjoyed a festive snack of apples and bananas while discussing fruits that grow on trees. It was a joyful and meaningful celebration for these little learners, and the school community loved getting a glimpse into these sweet moments of learning and connection.