On The Bridge December 9, 2010
Gesher Jewish Day School 2 Tevet, 5771
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| Shabbat Shalom | |
שבת שלום
Candlelighting: 4:29pm
Vayigash
ויגש
Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18- 47:27
Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-37:28
Yasher Koach to today's Torah readers: Ben L., Emmett, Daniel
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| Greetings! | |
Our students have been working hard this semester, mastering new skills, exploring new realms, solving new problems, creating new ideas. At Gesher, our students advance in their academic standing in reading, math, social studies, and science while they celebrate Chanukah and Thanksgiving and a full calendar of Jewish and American events with great joy and feeling.
Each spring our students take the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Comprehensive Testing Program IV (CTP-4) standardized tests. Our results from Spring 2010 again demonstrate consistency and excellence. The average Gesher student (understood as a student who does as well or better than half the other Gesher students, i.e., a student in the fiftieth percentile among Gesher students) does as well or better than over ninety percent of the his or her peers nationwide! This is a remarkable result and a consistent one over the past four years! The following chart shows the results since 2007 in the full range of ERB subtests:
Of equal, or perhaps greater note, are Gesher students' results in more selective comparison population groups. Compared to students of a similar socioeconomic demographic to ours (referred to as the suburban norm group), over all the tests, the average Gesher student outscores 70% or more of his or her peers. Compared to students enrolled in other independent schools, over all the tests, the average Gesher student outscores 65% or more of his or her private school peers.
These results raise a which-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg kind of question. Do our students perform so well in these areas of what we call General Studies because of their comprehensive study of Torah and Hebrew Language or despite it? Chicken or egg, because of Jewish learning or despite it, our students' achievement gives us much to be proud of!
Shabbat Shalom!
Zvi Schoenburg
Head of School
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| Upcoming Events |
See our full calendar of events!
December 10 - Faculty Work Day, noon dismissal
December 12 - Super Sunday!
December 14 - Student Council Pajama Day!
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 |
Elementary School NewsIn grades 3-5, we have introduced Words Their Way to Gesher's language arts curriculum this year, a program created by experts in the field of literacy instruction from the universities of Nevada, Virginia, and North Carolina. Gesher's general studies teachers in these grades are digesting a large body of theory about word study to enrich our program further. At the end of the year, we will assess this pilot program and, if it is the success we expect, we will extend it across the grades and even across the disciplines for maximum effect. Word knowledge is just one component of literacy, but word-level skills are foundational to other literacy skills, such as reading fluency and comprehension. As students move up through the grades, vocabulary knowledge is widely considered the best indicator of a student's ability to read with comprehension and to succeed in school. Words Their Way is a powerful language program that helps students build content-area vocabulary with hands-on activities that keep them enthusiastically engaged. Students learn how words work, their origins, why the same word can have different meanings, why we don't always spell words the way they sound, the meaningful features of words such as prefixes, suffixes, bases, and roots, and more. What makes Words Their Way unique is that instruction is targeted at student needs, so it can be differentiated meaningfully and across content areas. This program is about word consciousness, with students exploring words and the concepts those words represent in compelling ways. Learning about language is exciting - imagine that! Want to buy a DVD of this year's Chanukah musical, The Odd Potato?
Click here to order!
Pajama Day!Come to school in your pajamas on Tuesday, December 14th! Click here for more information.
Our Rabbis Bring Us Chanukah LightWe are grateful to the following community rabbis who came to Gesher to visit, to tell stories, to teach, and to press oil, during Chanukah: Rabbi Ita Paskind (Olam Tikvah), Rabbi Lia Bass (Etz Hayim), Rabbi Shlomo Adler (Chabad Lubavitch), Rabbi Michael Holzman (Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation), Rabbi Amy Schwartzman (Temple Rodef Shalom), and Rabbi Bruce Aft (Adat Reyim). Rabbi Jack Moline of Agudas Achim will be joining us next week on Tuesday!
Student Showcase Each quarter, we highlight the creative expression of our students on our website in our Student Showcase. A faculty committee selects nine pieces to highlight our talented student efforts in many areas including visual arts, creative writing and even scientific observation! On the left of our homepage, www.gesher-jds.org, go to the menu for Academics, and click on Showcase, to see which student poems, stories, and works of art will be on display! Or follow this link: www.gesher-jds.org/showcase.php. Yasher Koach (well done) to all our talented student writers and artists!
Winter MAP is coming!
The first session of MAP ended last week. The winter session will begin when we return from winter break. Once again, there are many great classes to choose from. Several favorite classes from last session are returning. For K-3 there is Arts and Crafts with Mrs. Cohen as well as the very exciting Mad Science. K-4 has Sports Spectacular with Overtime Athletics. Karate with Coach Chris will be offered for K-6. Fencing is returning for grades 3-8 with the former US Olympic fencing coach, Coach Liang. All of these popular classes welcome new and returning students.
There are several new offerings this time, too. There will be 2 different dance classes, both taught by Ali Summers, a senior at GMU. For K-3 she will teach Intro to Dance, and for 3-8 she offers Jr. Jazzercise, an international program of dance and fitness. Puppeteer professional Sandy Feulner will lead a puppetry class for K-3. Mrs. Cohen will help the children (K-3) do good deeds in Mitzvah Mavens. Mrs. L. (Jan Lippold), our ABC director, offers Brain Gymnastics for K-3. All students grades 1-6 are welcome to join the Friendship Club with Gesher mom Jennifer Riccardi where they will learn good social skills.
Finally, we are shifting from the usual MAP schedule for 2 new classes. On Thursday we are adding a Lego Robotics class led by Fairfax Collegiate which will be 90 min long, 3:45-5:15. And on Monday we will have basketball for everyone. House of Hoops will lead this class, and they will divide the group by skill level. Click here for the full brochure with dates, prices, and a good description of each class.
Pictures:
 | Gesher's makhelah (choir) and kitah gimel students sing Chanukah songs at the Library of Congress.
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 | | Gesher's makhelah (choir) and kitah gimel students sing Chanukah songs at the Library of Congress. |
 | Kitah hay visits Folger's Theatre.
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 | | Kitah dalet works on a science experiment with cups and string. |
 | | Kitah bet sings a song with Miryam during this year's Chanukah play, "The Odd Potato". |
 | | Arielle and Jared sing with the gan during this year's Chanukah play, "The Odd Potato". |
 | | Mitchell, Jared and Natalie sing with kitah gimel during this year's Chankuah play. |
 | Miryam sings with kitah hay during this year's Chanukah play.
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| Development and Fundraising | |
Save the evening of March 27, 2011 for ALL THE MAGIC THAT IS GESHER!
Click here to see all our wonderful honorees.
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- DEADLINE IS TODAY!
The deadline for the next scrip order is today, 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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New Club Forming for Grades 2-5 Beginning in January, there will be a new science opportunity for your children. Students in grades 2-5 will be invited to join the Eco-Brigade science club. The club will meet on Thursday during their lunch and recess period. The focus of the group will be to work on sustainability. We will be working through an international program called Eco-Schools. The American sponsor of the program is the National Wildlife Federation (www.eco-schoolsusa.org). The program begins when we select a "pathway to sustainability." These path options include energy, water, consumption and waste, climate change, and others. Once we select our topic, we will perform an audit of the school's policies and usage. Then we develop a plan for improvement. Finally, we monitor and evaluate our progress. If we are successful in our efforts, we can apply for an Eco-Schools award. One of the requirements of this program is that it be student led. It will be an opportunity for the children to engage in active citizenship, build critical thinking skills, learn to be leaders, and do some real science and math within the environmental ethics. They will also learn important skills in conserving resources and reducing waste. Plus, it will be lots of fun! Click here to view the flyer, and please encourage your child to consider becoming part of the Eco-Brigade!
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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 | |
Mazel tov to all the students for their amazing performance in The Odd Potato Chanukah musical, and to Shana F. on her winning poster illustration. Thank you to our wonderful faculty and administration who were instrumental in bringing this musical to fruition, especially Cantor Adina Ackerman and Debra Mendelson. Thank you to the parents who gave of their time and talents to make this performance possible. And thank you to all the families who supported the pre-show Chanukah dinner and to Z-Tov for catering. A special thank you to Paul Mendelson for designing the on-line dinner form. We had a great turnout!
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
Come out of the cold and jump into Pump-It-Up fun! Winter break may seem far off but it'll be here before we know it. Give your kids in grades K-4 (siblings welcome too) 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. Take advantage of this PTO-coordinated activity and reserve your child's spot today. Send check or cash to Amy Friedman via snail mail (see directory for address) or Kiddie Mail (via Rachel, Kitah Bet) with name(s) of child(ren) for whom you are reserving. Questions? Email Amy Friedman at amyafriedman@gmail.com.
Keep the box tops coming. 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 Avi S.'s Bar Mitzvah
Rebecca Goldin and Giorgio Ascoli
Jane and Marc Shichman
In honor of Moira J.'s Bat Mitzvah
Jane and Marc Shichman
In honor Ben E.'s Bar Mitzvah
Rebecca Goldin and Giorgio Ascoli
Amy Melnick Scharf and Jeffrey Scharf
Jane and Marc Shichman
In honor of Andi Dorlester's Exam Prowess
Rebecca Goldin and Giorgio Ascoli
In honor of Lynne and Don Sandler for a lovely evening
Amy Melnick Scharf and Jeffrey Scharf
In honor of Ben L.'s Bar Mitzvah
Amy Melnick Scharf and Jeffrey Scharf
In honor of P'nina McCabe for all of her work with the choir
Vicki and Simon Fishman
In memory of Louise Gabel, Judy Gabel's mother-in-law
Michal Colella
Jodi and Danny Pick
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| Community Announcements |
Wizards Jewish Heritage Night
Tuesday, January 11, 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center.
The Wizards will take on the Kings, featuring Israeli-born player Omri Casspi. Discount tickets available for the Jewish community! Sponsored by the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning, Gesher Jewish Day School, and 23 other local Jewish organizations. For event details, click here or visit www.pjll.org A group from Gesher is being organized by Rob Goldberg and David Goldstein. To purchase tickets, log on to www.washingtonwizards.com/JHN and use special offer code JHN. Questions? Contact Jordan Schwartz at 202-292-1974 or email jschwartz@monumentalsports.com
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
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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