On The Bridge December 2, 2010
Gesher Jewish Day School 25 Kislev, 5771
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| Shabbat Shalom | |
שבת שלום
Candlelighting: 4:30pm
Miketz
מקץ
Torah Portion: Genesis 41:1 - 44:17
Maftir: Numbers 7:24-35
Haftarah: (Shabbat Chanukah) Zechariah 2:14 -4:7
Dvar Torah- Coby B. click here to read.
Yasher Koach to today's Torah readers: Sofia A., Arielle, Ianne
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| Greetings! | |
We're having a lot of Chanukah at Gesher right now! We are gathering daily to light the chanukiah and sing of the miracles of "these days at this time." We are adding the psalms of praise, Hallel, to our morning prayers. We are inviting in our community rabbis the better to learn with and to share the joy with. All of this לפרסם את הנס - lefarsem et hanes - to publicize the miracle. Follow this link to our many school activities and please come join us.
Tonight our makhelah (chorus), two of our talented instrumentalists, and our third grade singers, have been invited to entertain at the Congressional Chanukah party at the Library of Congress hosted by Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. What a lovely honor! And how wonderful is it to raise children at a time and in a country in which a Chanukah party in the very halls of government is an annual event rather than an extraordinary anomaly to be marveled at? By the standards of Jewish history, this in itself is a Chanukah miracle.
The Odd Potato, our Chanukah musical, evokes an immigrant era of less acceptance, more uncertainty, and more adversity. Yet hope was the currency then- and indeed the family depicted in the story pulls through. We hope you will enjoy the original story and music as we gather to light the blazing candles of the eighth- and brightest- night of Chanukah.
Prevailing despite all odds- this is the message and the miracle of Chanukah. We thank G-d for turning over the many into the hands of the few (the mighty into the hands of the powerless). We act for ourselves as we rely on Gd- the creative tension in this duality goes all the way back to the Maccabbees. We celebrate a tremendous victory as we proclaim with the prophet (in the haftarah of Shabbat Chanukah), "Not by might and not by power but by My spirit, says the Lord."
Chag Sameach!
Shabbat Shalom!
Zvi Schoenburg
Head of School
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| Upcoming Events |
See our full calendar of events!
December 2-8- Chanukah! See a full list of events!
December 3 - Kabbalat Shabbat, featuring the B-Boyz
December 8 - Chanukah Family Celebration! 7:00 pm
featuring The Odd Potato!
December 10 - Faculty Work Day, noon dismissal
December 12 - Super Sunday!
December 17 - PTO Family Kabbalat Shabbat, 1:45 pm,
featuring, Songs and Stories from the Jewish Tradition, All parents welcome!
December 20 - Board Meeting
December 22 - Shakespeare's A Twelfth Night, Kitah Hay
players
December 24-31 - Winter Vacation, School Closed
Office Hours: Dec. 27-30 8:30-3:30
January 3 - Back to School
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| School News |
The Odd Potato Poster
The Odd Potato Chanukah Musical poster has been selected for 2010. Our winning artist this year is Shana F., gr. 3. The selection, as always, was very difficult as so many beautiful entries were submitted. All are on display in the Chadar Ochel (cafeteria). See you at the Odd Potato on Dec. 8!
Want to buy a DVD of this year's Chanukah musical, The Odd Potato?
Click here to order!
Dear Parents,
We're all looking forward to this year's Chanukah Family Celebration with a performance of The Odd Potato, Wed, Dec 8. We will again have a Sweet Seats Raffle to benefit Head, Heart and Hand Tzedekah projects. One dollar buys you a chance for a pair of seats in the first 3 rows. Raffle tickets will be sold by our student council members that evening up until the drawing at 6:45.
As in previous years, we anticipate a full house. Please email dmendelson@gesher-jds.org by Monday, Dec 6th if anyone in your party requires wheelchair or assisted seating so that we can accommodate those needs to the best of our ability. Tripods other than the ones that will be used to make the official school video of the performance will not be allowed in the gym. Strollers can be left in the Merkaz during the performance, or there will be an optional stroller section in the house. Please note if babies or toddlers are out of strollers, they must remain with parents in arms or on laps for safety reasons.
Don't forget to reserve your lasagna dinner from Z-Tov. Reservations can be made at https://www.gesher-jds.org/rsvp.php
Here's the schedule for Wednesday's Chanukah Family Celebration:
5:45 pm Z-Tov Lasagna Dinner (reservations required) - Chadar Ochel
6:30 pm All performers (students) report to Gym (assigned parent volunteers please report at this time to help with costumes)
6:45 pm "Sweet Seats!" tzedakah drawing, Merkaz
6:50pm Sweet Seats and special assistance seating
6:55pm General seating
7:00pm Gesher choir performs
7:10pm The Odd Potato
8:00pm Candlelighting- The Eighth Candle!
Exit with a Gift Bag and a Sufganiyah from your PTO
Chag Sameach! Happy Chanukah!
Chanukah Doughnut Sale!
Today, Thursday, December 2nd and tomorrow, Friday, December 3rd, Student Council will be having a Chanukah sufganiyot/doughnut sale. The doughnuts will be sold during lunch and recess for $1 a doughnut. We will be raising money for student council events and to celebrate the holiday of Chanukah. There will be both Jelly and Glazed doughnuts for sale.
Nominate your teacher as My Favorite Teacher and win prizes!
If a Gesher student wins this Barnes & Noble contest, the teacher AND the school each get $5,000. Click here for more information.
The B-Boyz are Back for Chanukah 2010!
B, J & M Borenstein celebrate and share the joy and lights of Hanukkah with everyone with their own parody version of Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" Hit. Coming soon to your neighborhood. Share this YouTube Video link with your children and relatives nationwide to help them light up the holiday with joy and 100,000 video views! Click here, forward to your friends, and let's run up the Jewish score! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhulTPLd4rc
PS- The B-Boyz will perform the song at Kabballat Shabbat at Gesher JDS on Friday, December 3, as a L'dor VeDor Mitzvah.
Pictures:
 | | Gesher's Student Council members deliver food to a local food bank for Thanksgiving. |
 | Gesher's Student Council members delivering food for Thanksgiving.
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 | | Gesher's makhelah (choir) performed Chanukah songs at the Virginian. |
 | Sam shows the glazed doughnuts for sale during the Student Council doughnut sale.
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 | Arielle hands out doughnuts during the Student Council's doughnut sale.
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| Development and Fundraising | |
Save the evening and celebrate...ALL THE MAGIC THAT IS GESHER!
March 27, 2011
for an unforgettable night of Martinis and Magic.
We are thrilled to honor:
Meryl and Joel Goldhammer and Beverly and Neal Kramer
Our Bat Mitzvah Teachers and Staff:
Jo Gordon
Graciela Granek
Jeanne Leckert
Beverly Kramer
Alumni Tikun Olam Honoree: TBD
Please help us find our 2010-11 Tikun Olam Alumni Winner! Nominations are being accepted now through DEC 31, 2010. Please submit two brief paragraphs describing the work and life of an alumni deserving of our annual Tikun Olam honor. Email your nominations to Rebekah Dickinson: rdickinson@gesher-jds.org. The winner will be announced the first week in January.
Next scrip order!
The deadline for the next scrip order is December 9, and will be in by the winter vacation. Click here for more information, or contact Rochelle Goldberg at rdgoldberg@hotmail.com.
Giant Food Bonus Cards
Please register your Giant Food card. Giant cards need to be registered each fall. Gesher will earn cash from Giant Food every time you shop at Giant and use your card. This even includes Peapod purchases. So please register your card now. Our school number is 02238. See more grocery stores you can register with on Gesher's website.
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Gesher Green
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 Middle School and Gesher Green
Gesher Green had fun and interesting activites with Middle School recently. One of Mr. Gensler's classes spent a period working with cement. We mixed and poured the cement into forms and created over 150 small stones. Next, Ms. Wolin and Mr. Gensler will have almost every child in the school paint one of the stones. They are to be used as Border Stones to line the path through the meadow.
Later that same day, the 7th grade took their first field trip for their study of our local watershed. The question they hope to answer this year is "When it rains at Gesher, what happens to the water?" On the first step of that journey, water at Gesher gathers in an unnamed creek which flows into a stream called the Piney Branch. The field trip the 7th graders took last week was to test the water in the Piney Branch, and in a nearby pond. They tested for temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity (clarity), and acidity. We found our local water to be clean, with lots of oxygen and a neutral pH. It should support several life forms. In the spring, we will examine the creatures that live in the water to determine overall health.
Eagle Scout project helps Gesher Green
Just before Thanksgiving, Gesher was the site of an Eagle Scout project. About a dozen scouts came here over the weekend and helped develop and mulch a short path through the woods. We now have a lovely way to walk from the amphitheater (just down the hill to the left of the school building when looking from the parking lot) to the meadow. Gesher Green worked with the aspiring Eagle Scouts to determine the path the trail takes. It goes by some interesting trees that will make wonderful lessons on forests. Next time you have a few minutes, take the nice walk through the woods. Also, if you know any boy or girl scouts who are looking for projects, Gesher Green will be happy to work with them.
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| Admissions News |
Next Admissions Open House- Tell your friends!
Sun, Jan 9 from 10-11:30a (child care available in the Gesher gym for the Sunday Tour)
Refer a Friend Program
Help build enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year and save on next year's tuition through our Refer a Friend Program!
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| Head, Heart and Hand | |
Bar mitzvah project
Sam R. will be supporting the Providence Center for Medically Fragile Children for his Bar Mitzvah project. The Center cares for infants and children with disabilities and complex medical needs. Delicious kosher dairy home-made chocolate chip cookies are being sold to raise money. Click here for more information.
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| PTO | |
Happy Chanukah!!! Mischpachat Gesher (PTO) has gift ideas and dinner for you.
Gesherwear makes great gifts. Gesherwear will be sold tomorrow at pick-up (and every other Friday) and during the Chanukah musical next week. Buy Gesherwear now for your family, wear your Gesherwear to the Chanukah musical and show your school spirit and style!
Don't stress before the Chanukah musical on December 8. Let Z-Tov do the cooking for you. Come to the pre-show dinner at 5:45 pm coordinated by the PTO. The vegetarian meal is $10 per dinner. Register online in advance via this link https://www.gesher-jds.org/rsvp.php, or go to the Gesher homepage and click on "Chanukah Dinner" under Quick Links.
SAVE THE DATE: December 17
Family Kabbalat Shabbat at the Gesher Gym for Grades K-5
Mishpachat Gesher PTO welcomes all families:
Friday December 17, 1:45 PM
Gesher Gottesman Performing Arts Center & Gymnasium
Interactive show by Mark Novak and Renee Brachfeld: Songs and Stories from the Jewish Tradition
Winter break may seem far off but it'll be here before we know it. Take advantage of a PTO coordinated activity for your children in grades K-4 (siblings welcome too). Give your kids an afternoon of fun at Pump It Up (10110 Battleview Parkway Manassas, VA 20109, 703- 361-0731) on Tuesday, December 28, 1:15-3:00. Cost is $10 per child due in advance. Waiver forms must be signed and socks must be worn for children to play. A designated adult needs to be present and responsible for each child. To reserve your child's spot, please send check or cash to Amy Friedman via snail mail (see directory for address) or kiddie mail (via Rachel Friedman, Kitah Bet) with name(s) of child(ren) for whom you are reserving.
Turn in your box tops as the first submission deadline is coming soon. Gesher receives 10˘ for each submission, which totaled over $500 last year. Drop them off in the office or send them by Kiddie Mail.
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| Mitzvah Coupon Donations |
Mitzvah Coupon donations can now be made on-line through our secure website, www.gesher-jds.org. Simply log in and click on the Donate link at the top of our homepage.
In honor of Michelle and Steven Stravitz for a wonderful evening
Judy and Vic Tynes
In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Morah Melanie's son, Ben E.
Elizabeth Whisnant and Kevin Hopkins
Esther and Andrew Uscher
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| Community Announcements |
Light Chanukah Candles!
Come light Chanukah candles every night of the holiday! December 1st -December 8th at 7:00 p.m. (Except for Erev Shabbat on Friday, December 3rd) Click here more more information.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (suggested contribution of $5)
The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia
8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031 | 703- 323-0880
JCCNV during Gesher Vacation
Looking for something fun for the kids during school breaks? The JCCNV now offers Winter and Spring Camps for school-age children. All the excitement of a summer camp experience is now brought to you throughout the year! Our program, guided by Jewish values, is bursting with indoor and outdoor activities, swimming, cooking, arts and crafts, field trips and more!
Visit this link for more detailed information and the registration information. http://www.jccnv.org/documents/Base-Vacation-Day%28JCCNV%29.pdf Please contact Nori White, Director of School Age Services and Camp at noriw@jccnv.org or 703-537-3041 with any questions
JCCNV's Kids Night Out!
Kids Night Out: Pajama Party Palooza!
December 11th
6:30-10pm
Ice Cream Sundaes, Pillow Case Decorating
It's a slumber party without the sleep! Please contact Nori White, Director of School Age Services and Camp at noriw@jccnv.org or 703-537-3041 with any questions
Shopping for God... at Wegmans!
Join the Jewish Leadership Institute (JLI) for coffee and conversation as we explore the intersection of Jewish leadership and American popular culture. What can we learn from each, and how should they inform our lives? The Emmy award-winning TV show, Modern Family, will serve as our guide. Everyone will enjoy this self-exploration, regardless of background or experience. Pick up your coffee and let your curiosity lead you upstairs to the café! Thursday, December 2nd at 9:15am at the Fairfax Wegmans; Thursday, December 7th at 9:15am at the Leesburg Wegmans. For more information, visit www.shalomdc.org/jli or email jli@shalomdc.org.
What is your child doing this summer? How about Capital Camps?
Capital Camps, a pluralistic, Jewish residential camp located in nearby Waynesboro, PA, is hosting an information session on Tuesday, December 14th from 3:45-4:30pm at Gesher Jewish Day School for all Gesher families interested in exploring camping opportunities for summer 2011. Come meet Jon Shapiro, camp director and hear about the exciting plans for Summer 2011.
Capital Camps attracts more than 600 children in grades 3-11 who are interested in a quality Jewish camp experience emphasizing life-long friendships, individual challenges and personal expression all in a newly-renovated, natural setting nestled among the Catoctin Mountains.
Current campers also invited!
Israel 2011- JCC Maccabi Games, JCC Maccabi Artsfest
Give your family an unforgettable trip to Israel and watch your teen athlete/artist at the JCC Maccabi Games/ArtsFest! Spend time together and have supervised age-appropriate programs for young children. Click here for more information on trip 1, click here for information on trip 2.
The Jewish Federation Wants to Help! If you are in need of financial
assistance at t his time, or if you know anyone in the community who
is in need, please do not hesitate to contact the Jewish Federation's Warm Line at 1-866-950-4AID.
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We welcome your inquiries. To schedule a tour, or for more information about admissions or making a donation to Gesher Jewish Day School, please contact us at (703)978-9789.
Sincerely,
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Gesher Jewish Day School
4800 Mattie Moore Court
Fairfax, VA 22030
phone: (703) 978-9789
fax: (703)978-2668
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Address or Email Changes
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