School News

Student Council

Student Council is starting up again for the 2011-2012 school year. Forms have been handed out to students interested in running for executive positions.

• The president and vice president run together as a ticket creating a platform including a tzedakah project that the student council will support throughout the year. Candidates must be in 7^th or 8^th grade
• Communications officer is open to students in 6^th and 7^th grade
• Treasurer is open to students in 4^th and 5^th grade
• Secretary is open to students in 5^th and 6^th grade

Student forms (including parent signature and teacher recommendations), posters, and speeches are due on Tuesday September 20^th. Elections will be held on Friday September 23^rd. On Monday September 26^th each class will elective a representative to act as a liaison to Student Council.

We are very excited about the upcoming and look forward to hearing from all candidates!

Student Council Sponsors,

(Jen Helpern, Ronnie Oppenheim, and Lisa Rosenberg)

MAP is Back!

MAP, the Melnick Afterschool Program, is Gesher's series of enrichment classes offered for all our students.  There are three sessions, each 8 weeks long, and classes are either on Tues. or Thurs.  The fun begins at dismissal, when the children come to the library for a healthy, kosher snack from 3:30-3:45.  Then they go to their classes which run for an hour.  Parent pick-up is at 4:45. 

Due to the holidays this fall, the Tuesday classes will run from Sept 20-Nov 8, and the Thursday classes will go from Oct 27-Dec 22 (with no class on Thanksgiving).

As always, there are many great choices.  On Tuesday, beginning Sept 20, we have something new this year: Yoga (K-4).  This class will help children become calm and focused through yoga poses, games, stories and songs.  Mrs. Carol Ann Cohen is returning to lead Nature's Wonders (K-3), a chance for students to explore our rich campus and do nature-themed activities.  Our very popular Mountain Biking class (3-8) will be taught by our new PE teacher, Coach Russo.  House of Hoops will be teaching basketball again for grades K-6.  Rounding out the Tuesday schedule is the Fencing program, taught by former US Olympic fencing coach, Jun Liang-Smith.

The Thursday schedule beginning Oct 27, is just as varied.  Mrs. Cohen will teach our younger children about doing good deeds with Tzedakah Superheroes (K-3).  Dana Shwartz, who works with many of our students during the day, will stay to teach Intro to Dance (K-3).  Professional puppeteer Sandy Fuelner will show children some tricks for Bringing Puppets to Life (K-3).  Lots of great games will be played in Sports Spectacular (K-4).  Coach Chris will teach the long-time favorite Karate (K-6).  Jimmy Potter brings out hidden creativity in his Pottery (2-6) program.  Finally, our budding scientists have two great choices, Mad Science (K-4) and Robotics (3-6).

Most classes cost $120 for the 8 weeks.  Fencing, Mad Science, and Robotics cost $175.  Robotics is a 90-minute program, and ends at 5:15.

Make sure your child is in on the fun.  Click here  to see the full schedule, and registration form.  Don't delay! Sign up for MAP today!

Carpool Safety (Slight Emendation) 

When you are in the carpool line, do not pass the waiting buses when they have their "stop" arms extended.  The buses are actively loading passengers at this time and all cars must stop and wait.  However, when the "stop" arms are not extended, other cars may (carefully & slowly) proceed.   

P.E. Request 

Attention Parents: We are in need of old tennis or racquet balls for P.E. classes.  To donate, please bring them into school, or contact Rose Marie Russo for more info rrusso@gesher-jds.org.

Pictures of the Week:   

Mrs. Stern's Kitah Bet is hard at work!

Kitah Gimel students discuss a book with Mrs. Oppenheim.

3rd, 4th and 5th grade students blow Shofar during Tefillot.

Kitah Hay students pose in a silly picture with the beets they harvested from our Gesher garden.

Bluebirds         

Every year the fourth grade is tasked with monitoring our bluebird boxes in the spring.  Bluebirds, once as common as Robins, declined in the 1950's and were becoming very scarce.  Their numbers have come back, thanks to people building and caring for their nesting boxes.  During the summer, volunteer families continue caring for our birds.  This care includes opening the boxes, and watching the baby birds growing.  It is great fun, and very educational.  Our volunteers this summer were Jason E's family, Molly G's family and Mrs. H's family.

Thanks to everyone's efforts, the bluebird population here at Gesher can boast 11 new babies!  Mazal Tov!   

Stay in touch with Gesher through Facebook and our new Twitter Feed on our homepage at  www.gesher-jds.org  

Spread the word about our wonderful school and curriculum!  Invite your friends to join us at the following admissions events:

Gesher Jewish Day School Admission Open House Dates!

Sept 22, Oct 10, Nov 9

9:30-11:00

For anyone interested in Kindergarten or other grades, come learn about our school and curriculum.  Visit classrooms and see teaching and learning in action at Gesher.  RSVP to Debra Mendelson, Director of Admission 703-962-9216

Gesher Parlor Meetings in your neighborhood!

New to the area or just new to Gesher JDS?  Meet new friends and learn about our school at one of these informal and fun gatherings hosted by Gesher families: Sept 19th in Vienna at the Litman home, Oct 6th in Oak Hill at the Malakoff home, Oct 27th in Alexandria at the Albert home.  For more information, Debra Mendelson 703-962-9216 or dmendelson@gesher-jds.org

It may only be the second week of school, but our Braided Cord: Head, Heart, and Hand Program is already up and running.

In our elementary school classes this week, each grade will be introduced to their specific topic and mitzvah. As a class, they will create a poster that depicts their mitzvah, written in both Hebrew and English. Make sure you check out the display that will be put up after each class shares during Kaballat Shabbbat this week.

In our middle school, many students are in the process of running for an executive office position on student council. As part of the President and Vice President ticket, students must choose a platform to run on for our upcoming elections. Part of the platform involves choosing a charity or issue to select as the student council focus for the year. In our middle school classes the Head, Heart, and Hand themes all relate to the underlying concept of helping others.  By selecting a charity to sponsor and support for the year, the middle school will be well on their way to fulfilling their tzedakah projects.

Have you received the Summer Gesher Gazette?  If not, please email Rebekah and we'll be sure to mail one to you.  

Thank you for supporting Gesher and please be on the lookout for a package arriving in homes in the next week or so which will contain some goodies and special 30th Anniversary programs and announcements.

Mitzvah Coupons will appear next week.

The Washington Jewish Week is now available for purchase from the newsstand in the office for $1

Open Door: India.Arie and Idan Raichel Presented by Strathmore

Olam Tikvah Ice-Cream Party!  

Join Boy Scouts 

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.