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Chadashot Is For Grandparents Too! |
| Would you like for your parents to have a window into their grandchildren's SAR world?
Send their e-mail address to:
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| INTERESTING SAR FACT!!
The SAR field is approximately 100 cubits long.
How many SAR fields would it take to house Noah's tayvah?
(See the answer toward the bottom of the newsletter.) |
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A Message from Rabbi Krauss
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Dear Parents,
It was remarkable to have the whole school watch live on their classroom SMART Boards' Barack Obama be inaugurated as the 44th President and feel the significance of the moment. May Hashem allow him to fulfill his oath of office to "preserve, protect and defend" the constitution and people of the United States of America.
And it was beautiful to watch Kitah Aleph receive their first siddurim and see the love they have for tefilla and for being able to read, after having learnt the aleph bet, the tefillot. May they continue to experience that love every day, and may we all be reminded and inspired by their feelings.
I look forward to seeing you at our Dinner on Sunday night, as we celebrate a generation of SAR students. Mazel Tov to our honorees: Bettina and Spencer Waxman, Elissa Shay Ordan and Daniel Ordan, Abby Glass, and Nancy Lerea.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Binyamin Krauss
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| Mark Your Calendar |
Sunday, January 25th- SAR Dinner, 6PM
Monday, January 26th- Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat. Please dress in blue and white.
Tuesday, January 27th- 6th Grade Boys, Father/Son Bar Mitzvah Night, 7:00-9:00PM
Wednesday, January 28th- Grade 4 Colonial Day, 9:15-11:15 AM
Wednesday, January 28th- 8th Grade trip to Ottowa
Wednesday, January 28th- Musical Theater Play (performed by students in grades 2-4), 7:00-8:00PM
Wednesday, February 4th- 2nd Grade Chumash Play, Gym, 9:15AM
Monday, February 9th- Tu B'Sh'vat
Monday, February 9th-Monday February 16th- Mid-Winter Break
Tuesday, February 17th- 6th Grade Matan Bat Mitzvah Program, Lower Sixth Grade Area, 6:30-8:30PM |
We just celebrated the life of Martin Luther King.
Who is a hero to you? (See quotes throughout.) | |
~my Mom! . . . Elana Spievack
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?מה חדש
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The Inauguration
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On Tuesday, January 20th, as the United States of America made history by installing her first African American President, the students of SAR Academy watched from their SMARTboards, taking in the scene. There was a buzz among the Junior High students at the translation of the Shema, and the urge to stand with the crowds on the National Mall when Joe Biden and Barack Obama took the oath of Vice President and President, respectively. During Obama's Inaugural Address, the Junior High students were asked to check off when he spoke about certain issues and tally the number of times he used certain words and phrases. "That was a speech like you've never seen before" commented Shara Zierler-Feit.
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Our student Gavriel Scott (3Y) attended the inauguration with his family. They were standing well over a mile from the Capitol, and for nearly another mile behind them was a sea of people.
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Teacher In-Service
In-Service Faculty Days is the faculty's turn to learn. Numerous sessions were held throughout the day on topics including: 'Making Science Hit Home with our Students'; 'How our Biblical Text came to be: The History of the Text and the Tiberian Masoretes'; 'The Emotional and Social Development of our Students in the Age of Facebook'; Jewish Communities Around The World Planning Session; and Professional Learning Community Meetings. The enriching day provided inspiration and materials to bring back to the class areas.
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Storyteller Dvorah Telushkin Visits SAR
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Dvorah Telushkin came to talk to the fifth grade last week about writing and gave the students an opportunity to do some writing as well. Mrs. Telushkin, whose children have gone through SAR, recently published a memoir about working with Isaac Bashevis Singer. Her memoir came from notes written in journals over the years. In speaking to the fifth graders, she told stories that illustrated destiny and others that talked about free will. Through these stories, she challenged the students to think about which they believed in, destiny or free will. The students then had time to write in their own journals on this topic. A word of advice for writers out there: use details to describe characters' emotions without simply saying, "she felt sad".
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Learning To Look
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This month the children moved on from portrait paintings to landscapes. They looked at two paintings by Claude Monet, one of the leading members of the Impressionist Movement. Monet was most interested in capturing natural light. He was one of the artists to not only paint outside but more importantly to finish his paintings out-of-doors.
The children looked at Four Trees and then Garden at Sainte Adresse, one in his series on Poplars. They analyzed the speed in which Monet may have finished these works by looking at the brushstrokes and details in the paintings. They also looked at the paintings' overall composition to determine line and perspective. Finally, the children discussed the season, weather and time of day of the pictures by looking at the sunlight, shadows, colors and props Monet painted.
At the end of class, the children created their own paintings of four trees. To depict their version of Monet's trees the children used cray pas and water color crayons. The children made the trees and their reflections in true Monet style using a variety of colors and shades simulating the sunlight throughout the day.
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~Ilan Ramon . . . Alex Neugroschl
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| חדשות בכיתות : First Grade Siddur Play
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Smiling and proud in their crowns, waving to parents, and singing with great enthusiasm, the first graders enjoyed this wonderful milestone. "You are so ready to get your siddur," the first graders were told by Rabbi Krauss. "May you be as excited as you are today, every single day, to use your first siddur."
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~Avraham Avinu . . . Miki Hill
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Insights . . .
with Naomi Katz Cohen
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Kodaly and the Music Learning Process
from The Teaching Music Journal
As some recent exchanges in the pages of Teaching Music have shown, not all music educators use the Kodaly method the same way in their classrooms. But the great majority will tell you that the method itself remains highly effective. One enthusiastic Kodaly advocate is Naomi Katz Cohen, of the Salanter Akiva Riverdale Academy in the Bronx, New York. She says, "The Kodaly philosophy has worked for me because it is well organized while still allowing for creativity. I see Kodaly as my backbone, helping me structure what concepts to teach while allowing flexibility to use Orff and Dalcroze activities I have learned in those courses."
Katz Cohen's background as a trained opera singer had made her a natural champion of the method, which relies heavily on the musicality of the teacher. "Kodaly is a singing-based curriculum," she says. "The voice is the body's natural instrument, and in order to learn music well, children must learn to sing on pitch. Therefore the teacher must start by singing on pitch."
Working at a Jewish school, Katz Cohen has found Israeli and Yiddish folk songs, with their simple but evocative melodies, to be ideally suited for the Kodaly method. She introduces the musical concepts of each song through a variety of musical and physical games, initially without instrumental accompaniment. In doing so, she gradually takes the students from the known to the unknown. "I lead the students through the song by asking questions like, 'Is this note higher? Lower? What is the lowest note you hear? Is this faster or slower?' Music making is a physical activity, so at the same time, I have my students move around, with periods of high and low activity that correspond to the song."
Only after students have fully understood the concepts of a song does Katz Cohen show where its notes fall on the staff. In being taught sounds before notation, students gain a greater sense of pitch and rhythm, along with stronger musical memory. After they've seen the notation, Katz Cohen has the students use Orff instruments to play and accompany each other on the song. She finds that students are quite engaged throughout the process. "We sing, move, play singing games, use instruments, and have fun making music," she says. "Unlike what many critics of Kodaly think, we do a lot of composing and improvising once kids have learned specific concepts."
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~my parents . . . Leora Kroll & Rebecca Hyman
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When I first heard my mom tell me I'm going to donate my hair on Friday I didn't care. On my way to the hair salon I got nervous, I had so many thoughts juggling in my head such as; will the cut look good? Who will get my hair? The first thing the hair stylist did was brush my hair really long so it was straight. Then she put the ponies in my hair and measured how long it was. Before she cut it, I got nervous and the same thoughts came to my head. Then snip, my hair was gone and it surprisingly looked good. Then I went to get my hair washed and then got it evened and styled. Then different thoughts came to my head. I was thinking about the great mitzvah I did.
-Eva Rose Spier
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~Stan Lee . . . Akiva Hirsch
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| Spoken From The Heart . . .
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Dear Israeli Soldier,
My mother always tells me and my brother that when we turn 18 we are going to move to Israel and proudly join TZAHAL even if you don't live in Israel, so we can help the citizens of Israel and all the Jewish people.
I wish you weren't in Gaza right now, and you would be resting at home instead of fighting. I wish you good luck and please take care of yourselves and the citizens of Israel and Jews.
I think you guys really look cool in your uniforms. If you see my cousin, who is a soldier in Gaza, please send him regards. His name is Eitan Fedida.
Hashem should watch over all of you and thank you for helping and saving us.
Oh, my grandma in Israel says that if you read this letter, she would love to hear from you (her number 03-9440084 Esther), She is funny.
Dan Sonenblick, 3Z
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~my Grandmother . . .Ariel Katz
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בראשית : ELC News
. . . the beginning steps
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A beautiful bus ride through the snowy countryside brought the K classes to the Garbage Museum in Connecticut. The classes were greeted by 'Trashosaurus' (an enormous dinosaur made from a ton of trash, which is how much trash an average person throws away in a year) and patient, well-informed docents. The kindergartners saw a giant compost pile and viewed a recycling process from start to finish. They learned that the aluminum cans are recycled into new beer cans, and foil trays into new foil and that plastic becomes carpeting, fleece sweaters, and plastic wood for building. Glass is color-sorted and melted to make new bottles, and broken glass is used for landfill and road building. Hashem's other "recyclers" are the red wiggly worms who make compost into soil!
Now that we've seen how it really works, we are newly committed to be "reusers" and "recyclers"!
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~my family . . .Seth Rosenblatt
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| באמצע: JHS News
in the middle of middle school . . . |
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Eighth Grade Elective: Filmmaking
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Previews! The 8th grade filmmaking elective entitled, 'Names Not Numbers' has been preparing interviews by learning interviewing techniques from Mr. Gary Rosenblatt, Editor and Publisher of THE JEWISH WEEK. See images below of the students at the midtown offices of the newspaper.
To get background information on the time period, eighth graders toured the Museum of Jewish Heritage/ A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Their last stop was the Garden of Remembrance where they placed stones on a large memorial stone.
The film will "open" at SAR on March 3rd!
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~Moshe Rabbeinu . . . because he took us out of
Mitzraim . . . Solomon Weiser
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דבר תורה : Parashat Vaera
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By: Jacob Abehsera
Grade: K
"This week's parasha is Parashat Va'era. In the parasha, Hashem told Moshe to go to Paraoh and tell him to, "Let my people go!" because they were slaves in Mitzrayim. Moshe said, "Why should I go? I don't speak so well. Maybe someone else will be better". (Moshe had a problem with his tongue because when he was little Paroah put gold and coal in front of him and he was trying to touch the gold but a malach pushed Moshe's hand to the coal and he put his hand in his mouth and burned it. Hashem did this so that Paroah wouldn't be nervous about Moshe being very important when he is older). Then Hashem said to Moshe, "I am going to be with you. It's ok. Don't worry." It was really Hashem who was taking the Jewish people out of Egypt, Moshe was just telling Paroah, as Hashem's helper. It was important that other people wouldn't think that it was because of Moshe's words that the Jewish people were freed, but only because of Hashem. From this we can learn that Hashem is always with us in our lives, even if we are worried about something, or we think something might be hard for us, Hashem is always by our side. Hashem was also watching over the Jews during the makot that happened to the Mitzrim, which we start to learn about in this parasha."
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~my Mom because she helps me . . .Samantha Horowitz
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK! |
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"And SAR's letters are off to our chayalim!"
Morah Sarah brought our students' letters to Israel to be packed inside packages containing supplies for the soldiers. Then our letters were loaded onto an army truck and sent to Gaza. One soldier was talking on his cell phone saying to his friend, "You can't believe what these people did for us!" An entire army truck was filled!
(See a sample of an SAR student's letter in Chadashot above.) |
~my Mom . . . Ayelet Senderowicz
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| THIS WEEK IN SPORTS!
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Wednesday, January 21st: 7th & 8th Grade Girl's Basketball Team:
SAR girls varsity team played a great game against Ramaz. The Sting were led by the defensive tenacity of Sara Waxman, the inside and outside shooting of Samantha Hollenberg and Britt Henoch and the rebounding of Rebecca Siegel.
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~Yaakov Avinu because the Jews really started . . .Noah Nordlicht
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| INTERESTING FACT ANSWER:
3!!
The tayvah was 300 cubits long.
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| PTC NEWS |
SAVE THE DATE!
The Parent-Teacher Council of SAR is proud to present:
A PARENTING SEMINAR
Sunday, March 1, 2009
9:30am - 12:30pm
The PTC invites all SAR parents to participate in this morning of lectures and workshops covering a broad range of parenting topics, to be presented by leading experts and specialists. We invite parents to learn how to strike a balance in your busy lives and provide quality parenting in these challenging times. Learn from the experts, improve your parenting skills, and connect with friends.
This program is open to all SAR parents from ELC to High School
Child care will be provided for children ages 3 and up
Continental breakfast will be served
Program and further details to follow
Benay Meisels and Diane Hill, PTC Co-Presidents
Elissa Shay Ordan, Program Coordinator |
| Destination Israel Contest
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Babaganews is teaming up with Nefesh B'Nefesh to give you the trip of a lifetime!
Students in grades 4 - 7 are invited to create a logo
for one of Nefesh B'Nefesh's Aliyah planes.
 
What inspires you most about Israel? Is it the landscape, the people, the music, the culture, the religion, the history? Explain what being in Israel would mean to you by creating an original logo design for a Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah plane and the winner and guest will enjoy a 4 day/3 night trip to Israel.
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| Friends, Partners, and Allies of Israel
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The Israeli Consulate has launched a project of designing a stamp to honor Israel at 60. Students in grades 6 & up can submit designs representing the theme: "United States and Israel: Friends, Partners, and Allies."
The United States of America and Israel have been great friends and close allies ever since Israel's independence was established in 1948. Our two countries have many common attributes and share ideologies such as democracy, economic freedom and environmental preservation.
As a country formed on the basis of immigration, Israel can relate to American history and how learning to live together and realize one's dream is a driving force in life.
This year Israel celebrates her 60th birthday. This competition provides a great opportunity to express creativity through art and design, while also learning about the strong connections and similarities between our two countries.
Stamps are important symbols of a nation. They reflect the past, present and future, in a range of topics such as sports, culture, nature and politics. We invite you to design a stamp representing US-Israel shared values and accomplishments.
For complete details, visit www.israel60stamp.com
If you have any questions, please contact us-israel@newyork.mfa.gov.il or Dana
Erlich Project Manager, Consulate General of Israel in New York, at mailto:danae@newyork.mfa.gov.il or (212) 499 5427. |
| Community News |
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Tefillin For Sale
Two mitzvot with one act. Support Israel and purchase kosher tefillin from Israel at a wholesale price. All profits from the sale go directly to the sofrim and the tefillin makers in Israel. Contact Rabbi Drelich for details email drelim@saracademy.org or 718-548-1717 ext 1212.
Shabbat Shira Celebration
Saturday night Feb. 7th @ 7:30 at Sons of Israel 155 Elliot Avenue Yonkers (1 mile north of Riverdale/Yonkers border)
Interactive concert with Drum Cafe and Noah Solomon
Reservations online at www.soisrael.net
or call 914-7515246
$15 in advance $20 at the door.
RJC TEEN EVENT
ROPES CHALLENGE & ROCK CLIMBING!!
New Jersey Rock Gym is recognized as the area's premier indoor climbing center.
- Over 12,000 square feet of climbing terrain
- 4,000 square feet of dedicated bouldering
- 41 top Rope Challenge stations
When: Sunday, Feb. 22nd, 2009
Bus leaves RJC @ 11:30 AM.
Where: New Jersey Rock Gym
Who: Grades 8-12
RJC Youth Scouts
Sunday - February 1st @10 AM
The second Youth Scout meeting will be taking place next Sunday!
Thank you to the many parents/kids who brought much excitement to our first meeting.
If you were not able to make it, we strongly encourage you to join us next Sunday!
All youth meet in the gym for:
Special Scout's Skill Training Session,
Super Sports activity & much more!
Parents meet in the Hashkama for:
- Registration
- Discussion of 2009 Scouts Schedule,
- Learn more about what you can do as a volunteer for the Youth Scouts program
Tu B'Shvat Afternoon Program @ RJC
Enjoy Shivat Minim Tasting, stories, songs and more!
When: February 7th
Shabbat Afternoon 3:30-4:30
Who: K-1st, 2nd-4th
Sensational Sundays @ RJC
"THE STRIKING VIKING STORY SHOW" A sketch comedy which uses music, puppets, and comic actors in performing a hilarious one hour show! RJC Youth Members: $12 for 1, $15 for 2 or more Non-members: $15 for 1, $20 for 2 or more Date: 02-08-09 @ 11AM Where: Hashkama Contact: Rjcyouth@gmail.com
Junior Cong Presents:
Super Sunday Snow Tubing @ Campgaw Mountain
IF You love riding down steep snow slopes at super high speeds then this is the trip for you!
When: Sunday, Feb. 22nd, 2009 Bus leaves RJC @ 10:45 AM Bus returns to RJC @ 3PM Where: Campgaw Mountain Who: Junior Cong Trip (Grades 3-7) Cost: $40 before 02/11/08 $50 after 02/11/08 (Lunch and Bus fee is included) Please RSVP to Andrew Bochner @ dreman510@aol.com http://www.skicampgaw.com/index.html |
| Mazal Tov!! |
Mazal Tov to Morah Shira Willig on her engagement to David Claman.
Mazal Tov to our chef Chaim Dovid on the birth of a daughter.
Mazal Tov to Karen & Michael Raskas on the birth of a daughter and mazal tov to siblings: Elisheva (K4), Nili (3Y), and Sammy (8Y) on the birth of a new sister. |
If you are interested in sponsoring the Chadashot in memory or in honor of someone special, please call Sim Herring at 718-548-1717 ext. 1233 or email him at herris@saracademy.org.
If you would like to submit a Mazal Tov or a Condolence, or general Community News, please email chadashot@saracademy.org
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SAR Academy
655 W. 254th Street Phone:718-548-1717
Riverdale, NY 10471 Fax: 718-601-0082
www.saracademy.org | |
