4 May, 201212 Iyyar, 5772

MJCDS Maggid/Teller

 

the weekly newsletter of

 Madison Jewish Community Day School

 
Shalom! 

It's hard to believe it's already May, and even harder to believe how much we have going on through the end of the school year.  Check out the calendar below to see what I mean!  

 

The Science Fair is this week, and children at every age will have a chance to share some of what they have learned either through an independent experiment done at home or through guided exploration with classmates at school.  

 

Some of my favorite moments from this past week:  

 

*Singing along when a group of MJCDS students requested and then belted out Hatikvah at "Gomeroke" at Sunday's Yom HaAtzmaut event.  (Thanks, Maya and the Gomers!)

 

*Watching K-4 students paint sculptures this morning with Kathy Mazur that incorporate both Jewish ideas and a variety of artistic styles (e.g. art deco, abstract expressionism) to be displayed at Sharsheret Festival in a few weeks.

 

*Owl pellets.  See below.

 

Shabbat Shalom!
In This Issue
3-4 Science Disgustingly Awesome
Announcements
Community Events
Calendar
Science:  "Disgustingly Awesome!"

"Disgustingly Awesome!" This is how many of our third and fourth grade students summed up this week's science project, in which students dissected owl pellets. 

 

"Wow, this bird sure had a big appetite," shouted one student, as each person in the class sorted through the remains of an owl's meal. Students identified, counted, and graphed various types of bones from rodents, birds, and other small creatures. 

 

The lesson focused on the idea that energy can be traced back through a food chain from carnivores, to herbivores, to plants, and finally back to the sun. 

 

This activity launched a study of Life Science, in which we will explore How Living Things Depend on Their Environment, How Adaptations Help Living Things Survive, and How Living Things Interact with Their Environment.

 

-Geri Goldman

School Announcements

MJCDS Science Fair, Tues. May 8, 5:30-6:30 pm

This year's fair will take place on Tuesday night, May 8 from 5:30-6:30.  That's this Tuesday! 

 

Students Perform at Sharsheret Dance Festival

Sunday, May 20, 2-4 pm, Middleton Performing Arts Center

MJCDS students will perform as part of the Sharsheret Dance Festival this coming May and will also display artwork alongside works by fellow students from across the area. We hope you and your friends can join us for this community-wide celebration of the arts.

 

Parents--Some Updates for your Calendar:

Please take special note of the following upcoming programs.  We have so much going on over the next month and a half!

 

If you have dates marked on your calendar for Mother's or Father's day Shabbats, please delete those and replace them with the Dor L'Dor program on Thursday the 24th, when all parents will be honored through a special morning program.

 

*Dor L'Dor Parent Morning, Thursday, May 24:  Parents, we hope you can join us from 8 - 10:30 am for tefillot and for a special pre-Shavuot program with your children. 

 

*Grandparent and VIP Day, Friday May 25

 

*SMART night, Thursday May 31  Sandwiches, Music and ART night.  We had so much fun eating, singing and sharing artwork at our last SMART night. We'll do it again at 5:30 pm on Thursday the 31st of May.  

 

Jewish Lens Artwork (Third and Fourth Grades) to be displayed at Tikkun Leil Shavuot, Sat. May 26, 7:30 pm, Beth Israel Center

Kathy Mazur has been working with our third and fourth graders using the Jewish Lens curriculum, which helps students to explore Jewish identity through photography. Some of their work will be on display at a community-wide Tikkun Leil Shavuot, an evening celebration of learning held by Beth Israel Center's adult education program, and co-sponsored by Congregation Shaarei Shamayim and Temple Beth El.  This year's theme for learning: truth. See community listings for more details.  

Community Announcements

Israeli Wine Tasting

Sunday, May 6, 7:00pm, UW Hillel, 611 Langdon St.

Celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut with a festive Israeli wine tasting program. Come on a palatable tour of the Israeli wine industry and all the flavors it has to offer. Hear Israeli music played by Uri Vardi, hear speaker Marla Gamoran, founder of Skilled Volunteers for Israel, and finish the night with an Israeli sing along. Co-sponsored by UW Hillel. 

 
Registration Open for Camp Shalom & the Hilde L. Mosse Gan HaYeled Preschool 
Visit www.JewishMadison.org  for more information or to register or call (608) 278-1808.

 

Community-wide Tikkun Leil Shavuot

Saturday night, May 26 at 7:30 pm , Beth Israel Center, 1406 Mound.

Join us for an evening celebration of Jewish learning and Torah study, led by Madison's rabbis and community members!  Dairy delights to keep learners sharp throughout the evening will be served!  A program of Beth Israel Center's Adult Education Program, co-sponsored by Congregation Shaarei Shamayim and Temple Beth El.

 

This year's theme:  TRUTH.   What is it?  How do we know it when we encounter it?  How do we distinguish between truth and "truthiness"?  What do we mean when we say the Torah is true?  These questions and more will be examined through a variety of teachers and approaches. If you are interested in teaching, please contact Rabbi Rebecca Ben-Gideon at rbengideon@gmail.com.  Topics creatively related to this year's theme are encouraged, but all ideas are welcome!  

Photos of the Week
 

 
Upcoming Events
Mon. May 7:    K-2 Library Trip
 
Tues. May 8:   Science Fair Night, 5:30 pm
 
Thurs.  May 10:  Lag BaOmer:  special Field Day at Wingra Park in the afternoon, 
                           weather permitting. (Our coaches from the Y will come to us to facilitate.)
 
Fri. May 11:      K-2 Shabbat, 8:10 am
 
Tues. May 15:  K-2 Field Trip to the Overture Center (Lily's Purple Plastic Purse); 
                         3-4 students visit the Wisconsin Historical society
 
Fri. May 18:      Kabbalat Shabbat together, 1:30 pm

 

Sun., May 20:  Students perform at Sharsheret Festival 2-4 pm.

 

Mon., May 21:  3-4 Field Trip to Old World Wisconsin

 

Thurs. May 24:  Dor L'Dor Parent Program 8-10:30 am

 

Fri. May 25:      Grandparent and VIP day 

 

Sat. May 26:    Jewish Lens student work displayed at Tikkun Leil Shavuot, 7:30 pm BIC

 

Sun. May 27-Mon. May 28:  SHAVUOT-NO SCHOOL

 

Thurs. May 31:  SMART night (Sandwiches, Music and ART!) 5:30 pm

Let's stay in touch!  Keep the lines of communication flowing with your child's teachers by calling school at 608-204-9900 or by emailing them at:

Jodi Harris  jodi.harris@madisonjewishdayschool.com
Marla Becker marla@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Geri Goldman geri@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Meisha Leibson meisha@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Rabbi Ben-Gideon rabbi@madisonjewishdayschool.com
 
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