| Mark Your Calendar |
Friday, October 8 - Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan-Please wear blue and white
Monday, October 11- Columbus Day No New Rochelle District Busing-No New York City Board of Ed Busing-Academy Staff Meetings-Early Dismissal 3:00 ELC; 3:15 Academy
Tuesday, October 12- New parent breakfast
Wednesday, October 20- Open House for prospective students, 7-9 PM
Saturday, October 23-ELC Night, 8:30pm SAR Academy Atrium
Monday, October 25- SAR Online Auction begins
Thursday, October 28- 8th Grade Picture Day
|
| In Our Community |
Mazal Tov
Mazal Tov to Yona Feit, Hilla Katz, and Shara Feit who were honored by Tfillat Esther, the Women's Tefila of Riverdale, as Kallot Torah this year. As representatives of the Middle School and HS, they are girls who have taken on leadership roles in the Tefila, volunteering to layn and lead davening quite often.
Mazal Tov to Barbara and Marv Goodman on the birth of a granddaughter, Lorelei.
Mazal tov to Erica & Kenneth Grau upon the birth of a daughter, sister to Richard in K-4.
Mazal Tov from fourth grade and all of SAR to Morah Dassi and Meir Lewis on the birth of a baby boy, brother to Tani (2Y), Liam (K2), and Liviah (3N1).
Condolences
Condolences to Jeffrey Gelfand on the loss of his mother Jean Gelfand, grandmother of Rachel (07), Shira (09), Yoni (Gr. 9), and Eli (Gr. 6).
|
|
SAR Academy is now on Twitter.
To sign up for SAR transportation alerts sign up to follow SARAcademyTrans.
To sign up for SAR News alerts sign up to follow SARAcademyNews.
To create an account go to www.twitter.com and click on the yellow Sign Up button.
Click on "Find People" and type in SARAcademyTrans and/or SARAcademyNews. Click on the person icon to follow and read the most recent tweets.
We suggest setting up mobile alerts for SARAcademyTrans. Under "settings" and "mobile," add and verify your phone number, then click on SARAcademyTrans and click on the cell phone icon to turn on text alerts.
Questions? Emailhorows@saracademy.org or call 718-548-1717 x1262.
|
|
Class Parents
Needed!
| |
Thank you to all who have already volunteered to serve as class parents this year. We are still in need of class parents for several classes. If your child's class is on the list below, please consider volunteering. With a minimal time commitment, you can make an important contribution to our school community! To volunteer or to ask any questions, please send an email to Stephanie Minkove and Jennifer Fenster at classparents@saracademy.org. Thank you!
The following classes are still looking for class parents:
N1 2Y 4X 4Y
5Z 6Y 7W 7Y
8W 8X 8Y
|
|
The Tefilla
Minute
In Grades 1-5 we are all teaching the same "one minute" biur tefilla. Each week listed here in Chadashot will be the tefillot discussed in class during the days prior.
Thank you to Rabbi Jeremy Spierer, faculty member of SAR HS, for preparing and sharing this beautiful curriculum.
This week you may want to ask your children about:
אשר יצר
Asher Yatzar
We are praising Hashem for all of His wondrous deeds. The beginning of the bracha thanks Hashem for creating us with wisdom, asher yatzar et ha'adam b'chachma, and the end of the bracha thanks Hashem for all the His wonders: mafli laasot, the shoresh of the word mafli is peleh, wonders.
Meaning and Mindfulness About Asher Yatzar:
~We say asher yatzar
every time we go to the bathroom.
~You do not need to say asher yatzar unless you use the bathroom. If you are there just to get a tissue or to wash your hands, and do not use the bathroom, you do not need to say the bracha. |
| SAR AUCTION |
Oct. 25th - Nov. 8th Make this SAR's best auction ever! Donate goods and services today! |
| SAR IS FOR GRANDPARENTS TOO! | | Would you like your parents to have a window into their grandchildren's SAR world?
To receive Chadashot send their e-mail address to:
|
|
|
30 Tishrei 5771 October 8, 2010
Candlelighting: 6:09 Havdalah: 7:12
Parashat Noach Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
|
|
A Message from Rabbi Krauss |
Dear Parents,
It was great sharing part of Sukkot with your children last week and to learn through the night at our Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabba with our eighth graders. Thank you to the Middle School Team for planning and organizing this meaningful event. Thank you also to the many families that generously offered to host us for Sukkot visits that we unfortunately couldn't attend because of inclement weather.
We are enjoying our first full week of school. In Israel, this time of the year is called חרף זמן, the long winter stretch during which routine is uninterrupted. As we too enter a period of routine, it is important for us to remember that just as we on Simchat Torah concluded the reading of Sefer Devarim and immediately began Sefer Breishit, we are never done learning Torah; we are never finished, we are always discovering, we are always learning, and we recognize that there is always more to understand and more to learn.
In this week's Parashat Noach, while Noach is called an ish tzaddik tamim hayah bedorotav, a righteous man of his generation, we find no evidence of his acting, talking, or praying on behalf of humanity as the world was being destroyed. Alternatively, we seek to be voices of action, to commit to improving the plight of others, and to consistently refine ourselves. As part of developing our theme of the year, Good Choices: In Deeds and In Voices, you will find in the "Bring It To The Table" section just below, a Good Choices conversation starter for your Shabbat table. Each week, it will provide the opportunity to consider a different aspect of what it means to make good choices as we relate to our peers, to the adults in our lives, and to the environment around us. I welcome hearing about what was generated in those conversations, and look forward in the months ahead to learning with you and with your children.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Binyamin Krauss
|
G
Making good choices . . . what's that?
(See quotes throughout.) |
| ?מה חדש | |
*Sukkot Retrospective*
Through the rainy Chol Hamoed days shifted our Sukkot plans, still, throughout the building we experienced Sukkot as Z'man Simchateinu.
Tefilla at SAR during Sukkot was especially beautiful.
On the first day of Chol Hamoed special gym activities were planned for grades 1-6.
Fifth graders creatively built sukkot out of food items.
Sixth grade had a Yom Iyun with various activities led
by their morot.
 
Eighth grade had a program at the High School yesterday where they had a learning session, listened to various speakers including Rabbi Levi Shem Tov, the local Chabad rabbi and his wife, Sara, speak about chasidism and its history, and their way of life. The students also enjoyed a pizza lunch at the High School "Cafe".   On Tuesday of Chol HaMoed Sukkot, all of our students enjoyed festive
chagigot led by Mr. Dovid Nulman, Chazan
Shim Craimer, and Mr. Jordan Hirsch and they also visited the "Inflatable City" built overnight at SAR High School. Students were all smiles as they climbed, slid, and jumped in the blown up houses and on the jungle gyms.   
First graders were able to enjoy lunch in our sukkah during a break in the rain.   Seventh and eighth graders went bowling.
Throughout the grades children were engaged in Sukkot related activities including:
-using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast an etrog with an apple -determining how many people are in a sukkah (and maybe even a pet!) if there are 12 legs in the sukkah -discussing the different names of Sukkot and the meaning of each name
-learning the halachot of the sukkah and the arba'ah minim as well as the significance of those mitzvot -and third graders collaborated across the grade to build twelve life-like sukkot. Many students in Kitah Gimel went outside to gather branches and leaves for their schach, roof, and then modeled their sukkot on the sukkah guidelines they learned in class.
 
When the short, yet full, school week came to an end, students understood the true meaning of Zman Simchateinu!
|
|
|
~trying to do the right thing and to think before you do . . . and helping yourself in life by choosing the right things that will help you . . . Reuben Major |
| Insights . . . by Dr. Jane Davidson | *Stepping Back Into School*
 Transitioning from summer vacation to the on-going routine of school is a unique experience for each parent and student. For most families summer schedules are more flexible and more relaxed than during the school year. Shifting back into the routines of school can be somewhat of a shock to the system.
During my years at SAR, I have often spoken to students about vacation-lag; when you change your sleep habits abruptly from getting up late to waking up at the "crack of dawn"--it's almost like changing time zones. Add breakfast, packing up, and getting out on time and you have a potential recipe for stress. Relax. This is normal. Transition time for many families is a challenge.
Now that we have celebrated the chagim and we are on a regular school schedule, here are a few tips and articles that might be helpful in navigating this time of year:
-Stay calm and be patient with yourself and your family. Depending on the style of each child and family the shift back into school routines can
take days, even weeks, to readjust.
-Build routine.
Setting up a time-frame for homework, downtime, and bedtime will be helpful.
-Designate locations
Agree upon a spot where backpacks and school materials will go so they don't get forgotten in the morning.
-Pre-game preparation
Do as much as you can with your child the night before. Pack up, pick out clothes, and
If you have concerns or questions please feel free to contact me. With the help of SAR's excellent guidance team, I look forward to working together so that the coming year will be a unique and special one for you and for your child.
Dr. Jane Davidson
School Psychologist
Davidj@saracademy.org
718-548-1717x1208
|
|
~being a good person . . . Lucy Hecht |
|
It's That "KIND" Of Week: Chesed Week Is Coming! | |
Choose Chesed: It's A Good Choice
Volunteers for Chesed Week:
You will have the opportunity to assist a grade as they come to the Chesed tent to participate in one project in the spirit of Parshat Vayeira. Please select a time that allows you to volunteer with your child(ren's) grade &/or best for your availability.
Week of October 18-22
1st and 2nd Grade: Thursday, Oct. 21 8:40-10:45
3rd Grade: Thursday, Oct. 21, 11:30-1:30
4th Grade: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 8:45-10:45
5th Grade: Monday, Oct. 18, 12:15-2:15
6th Grade: Wednesday: 12:45-2:45
7th Grade: Tuesday 12:30-2:45
8th Grade: Wednesday 10:30-12:45
Replies should be sent to Jessica Rezak Schwab (jessicaers@gmail.com)
Sponsorships: $180 per family will be recognized in the Chadashot and throughout Chesed Week
Checks can be made out to SAR Academy and sent to Chavie Wilner's attention.
Looking To Help Support Chesed Week?
Consider sending in some of the following items to be used for specific projects or to be donated to help others. Items can be brought in beginning on Wednesday, October 13 - look for the collection bins in the atrium:
· Beauty Kits for Teens [for Chai Lifeline] note: all items must be new/non-opened
o Small shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, bath gels (scented is appreciated)
o Sheer Lip gloss or nail polish
· Cozy Cups for Seniors [for Bronx Jewish Community Council]note: all items must be new/non-opened
o Individual tea bags, oatmeal packages, chap stick, individual/small sized tissue packs, travel sized hand lotion; AA batteries; sugar-free lozenges; sugar free hot cocoa packets (single servings)
· Cell Phones for Soldiers
o Old/non-working/working cell phones
· DVDs [for Mt. Sinai Hospital's Children's Zone]
o G/PG/PG-13 new or used DVDs
· Children's Books [for Reach Out and Read program at the Montefiore North Pediatric Clinic]
o New or gently used children's books
|
|
~doing what's right . . . Ariel Smith |
| בראשית : ELC News
the beginning steps . . . | |
 
The ELC and Grade 1 families gathered on SAR's field on Sunday, September 19th, a glorious
weather day, for a welcome back to school concert with Dafna and the Shir Fun Band.
* Sukkot in the ELC*
 
*And Getting Ready for Simchat Torah*
*Parshat Noach Play*
The ELC's very own playground is an architectural rendition of Noah's ark. Playing on it this week was particularly meaningful! So was building a tayvah in the block areas in ELC classrooms, and participating in guided and informal experiments at water play. Early childhood education is all about experiential learning!
|
| ~not messing up with people because instead you made a good choice . . . Devorah Cohen |
|
באמצע: JHS News
. . . in the middle of Middle School |
*Tikkun Leil Hoshanah Rabbah*
Following the idea that Hashem waits until Hoshana Rabba to see how people begin the year before sealing them into the Book of Life, it has become a minhag to learn Torah throughout the night. Bringing back an old tradition at SAR, the eighth graders were invited to school last Tuesday night for their own Tikkun Leil Hoshana Rabba to learn Torah together from 11P.M. Tuesday night to 5A.M. Wednesday morning.
They began their evening with mincha, followed by a good discussion on this year's theme, Good Choices: In Deeds and In Voices, led by Rabbi Krauss. Everyone enjoyed a dry meal in the succah of pizza and sushi and geared up for a night of learning ahead. The learning included large groups and small groups, prepared shiurim, and a chance to choose what they wanted to study and with whom they wanted to study. This latter group created a wonderfully intimate study session between one teacher and no more than five students. Teachers performed skits leading to an enthusiastic discussion of good choices in the classroom. In between sessions students played gaga and did a few laps around the school stairs. Early in the morning the students began their kumsitz, singing along with guitars. The mood was so beautiful that the students did not want to stop singing or acknowledge that their night of learning was coming to an end. As the sun rose, many parents joined the group for tefilla.
The students' enthusiasm and positive energy pervaded the entire night. It was a joy to watch them learn, discuss, sing, and pray together.  
*Matan and Chesed Fair*
 Matan is a Torah Institute for women in Israel, and among its initiatives, is the creation of a Bat Mitzvah program that is used by many schools in both Israel and the Diaspora. The Bat Mitzvah program meets once a month for ten sessions and its topic, "Jewish Women Leaders Who Impacted on the Jewish People" focuses on Jewish women role models from the Tanach and rabbinic literature through modern times. This program is significant in developing a girl's idea of what it means to be a female Jewish adult.
The program is also an opportunity for mothers and daughters, during the Bat Mitzvah year, to learn together in chevrutot. Through an eclectic, multi-disciplinary methodology incorporating serious text study along with drama, art and music, middot of the role models and their commitment to Torah study and mitzvot are highlighted. It is a unique and wonderful opportunity for mothers and daughters to study together in an experiential way about exemplary Jewish women throughout our history, and to explore our connection to the same values and traits they embodied.
This Matan course of study, taught by Morah Dina Najman and Mrs. Adina Steinberg started this past week with a formidable group of mothers and daughters.
  
Following the Matan session, was a B'nai Mitzvah Chesed Fair coordinated by Areyvut. Representatives from over eighteen organizations showcased ongoing chesed activities in which it is possible to participate as individuals and/or as families. In an informative and inspired presentation, the organizations featured opportunities related to animals, seniors, hunger, poverty, special needs, as well as a variety of Israel based chesed projects.
|
|
~not doing something silly in school like cheating on a test . . . Zachary Lent |
|
דבר תורה
|
Parashat NoachBy: Moshe WolfGrade: 4  Noach was a big tzadik and good in his generation. Noach had three children, Shem, Cham, and Japheth. Hashem saw that people didn't treat each other nicely. Hashem told everyone that if they didn't stop fighting there was going to be a really big flood. When Noach told everyone that Hashem said they should stop fighting or there would be a really big flood they said, "Who is this Hashem you are talking about? We could do anything we want." Then Hashem told Noach to build an arc.
Rashi asks: Why did Hashem tell Noach to build an arc when Hashem could have just made one for him in just one second? Rashi answers that Hashem asked Noach to build the tayvah, which took 120 years, so that while he was building it people would ask, "What are you building?" Noach would answer, "Hashem is going to bring a mabul to the world. The hope was that maybe they would do teshuva so that Hashem would not need to bring the flood. When Noach finished the boat, he took the kosher animals seven by seven and the nonkosher animals two by two.
Soon the storm started. It took forty days and forty nights. Months after the rain stopped and the water wasn't so rough, Noach sent a raven to look for land but the raven came right back. Then Noach sent out a dove. The dove came back with nothing. Then Noach sent the dove again and it came back with an olive leaf. Then Noach sent the dove a third time and it didn't come back because it found land. An important lesson that we learn from Parashat Noach is that we should try to do teshuva when we do something wrong.
|
|
~being nice to people and not being mean and fighting . . . if someone thinks they're right and you think they're wrong, say, "OK". . . Yael Berkowitz |
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
|
In Rabbi Rosenberg's class, 5Y,
a set of arbah minim:
Hadas Spivack, Arava Schwartz, and Tamar Cohen
holding an etrog!
|
| ~doing what you think is right . . . Jonathan Lederman |
| PTC News |
Catch the Spirit! SAR spiritwear - NEW Sting Slippers, Sting Kippot, SAR PJ Pants, SAR Sweatshirts, SAR Sports Bag, SAR Magnets and more. To order, click here to fill out form and return to Sally Oshins in the Business Office.
The Challah Program is coming soon! Check your emails, the first challah delivery will be Friday October 8 (through January 21).
The PTC would like to thank Dr. Miriam Dreisinger for an extremely interesting and
informative lecture on Wednesday night.
|
Community News
|
Read Hebrew America
The ideal way to learn how to follow synagogue services, be more involved in your children's education, or simply enhance your ties to Judaism.
Six free consecutive classes will be offered Sunday mornings 9:30-10:45am.
Begins October 10th 2010 at
Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation
15 Stewart Place
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
For more information call (914)242-7460 or email
Come learn about the Kosher Webelos Den
Sunday October 10, 2010: here in Riverdale! A great activity for boys 9 to 11 who wish to learn camping, outdoor skills, athletics, and citizenship in a Jewish, kosher environment. Oct. 10, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Parents only Webelos orientation at the Haimowitz home: 521 West 238th St (corner Riverdale Ave) call 718 432 1940.
Oct. 10, 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM -- First Webelos meeting of the year, at the Riverdale
Jewish Center gymnasium (237th and Independence Ave).
Drisha's four-session Bat Mitzvah Program
Starting this Sunday, October 10th at 10:30AM. The course, entitled "Our Mothers, Ourselves" is our flagship Bat Mitzvah program.
The cost is $360 for each learning pair. Jewish Women's Health and Wellness Forum Hosted by Congregation Shearith Israel, on Sunday October 17th. 9am - 5:45pm.This full day community-wide conference will feature prominent keynote speakers, Dr. Nieca Goldberg, Dr. Susan Lobel, and Dr. Peter Reznik.Attendees will also have eighteen smaller workshops to choose from. Includes breakfast,lunch and gift bag. Men are also welcome. $36 ($18 students) advanced registration$54 after October 10 ($27 students)Register online: www.JewishWomensHealthForum.com contact Alana.shultz@shearithisrael.org, 212-873-0300 x209 Dr. David Delmonico spoke to students and parents at SAR High School last year about issues of safety and responsibility involved in adolescent internet use. His workshops were deemed very informative and vital. Parenting in Our Technological World: Internet Safety and Developmental Concerns Keynote Speaker: David Delmonico, Ph.D. Panelists: Bruce Grellong, Ph.D. Barbara Gochberg, Ph.D. JBFCS Center for Child Development and Learning Monday, November 1, 2010 7:00-9:00 PM JCC in Manhattan, The Samuel Priest Building 334 Amsterdam Ave. 76th Street, 10023 For more information please contact Meredith Levine, L.M.S.W. 212-632-4668, mlevine@jbfcs.orgJewish Jr. Girl ScoutsAll 4th and 5th grade girls are welcome to join Riverdale's Jewish Jr. Girl Scout Troop #6112. First meeting and registration will be held on Sunday, Oct. 17, 5pm - 6pm at CSAIR (Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale) 475 West 250th St. A parent must be present at the first meeting. Please bring two checks for annual payment for troop dues ($100), and registration for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York ($12). Please RSVP with Jessica Hirsch-Hoffman jhirsch@bnkst.edu, Amy Jonas amyjjonas@yahoo.com, or Abby Pitkowsky abby.pitkowsky@gmail.com Tefilin 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. The Party Goes On!! From Your Simcha . . . To The Next . . . Enrich your simcha by donating your unused party items to others. SAR is collecting party giveaways (fun hats, glasses, wigs . . . ), item and craft projects to gift to the needy here and in Israel. Please drop off @ Zelda's office. Inquiries: dsnoble@pol.net HIR Clothing Drive Sunday OCTOBER 17 2010 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Please sort and bag separately men's, women's and children's clothing in sturdy garbage bags. Deposit clothing in the truck that will be stationed outside the HIR. Volunteers are needed. If you are able to help for even a short amount of time please call Steve Pretsfelder or Barbara Gochberg at 718-601-3586 or email spretsfelder@vanwagner.com |
|
SAR Academy
655 W. 254th Street Phone:718-548-1717
Riverdale, NY 10471 Fax: 718-601-0082
|
|
