On The Bridge February 2, 2012
Gesher Jewish Day School 9 Shvat, 5772
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| Shabbat Shalom | |
שבת שלום
Candlelighting: 5:14 pm
Beshalach
בשלח
Torah Portion: Exodus 13:17 - 17:16
Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Judges 4:4 - 5:31
Haftarah for Sephardim: Judges 5:1 - 5:31
Yasher Koach to today's Torah readers: Shoshana G., Rebecca M., Nina S.
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| Greetings! | |
This Shabbat is Shabbat Shirah - The Sabbath of Song. It is named for the Torah portion, Beshalach, in which the Children of Israel leave Egypt, cross the Red Sea, and sing Shirat haYam - the Song of the Sea - to celebrate their salvation on the far shore. Shabbat Shirah is associated with several special women: Miriam- who led the women in song at the shores of the Red Sea, Devorah- whose song and story of the great victory she led against Sisera and the Canaanites make up this week's haftarah, and Debbie Friedman, a modern composer and songleader who passed away this time last year and whose yahrzeit is commemorated at this time.
Debbie Friedman left a remarkable legacy of music and prayer. Hebrew Union College renamed its cantorial school in her memory. So many of the new Jewish songs which have "legs" are her gift to us. Tomorrow at Kabbalat Shabbat (1:45 pm) we will be celebrating Debbie Friedman's music. Please join us - timbrels optional.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Upcoming Events
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See our full calendar of events!
February 3 - Head of School Circle Breakfast
February 8 - Tu Bishvat
February 13 - Board Meeting, 8 pm
February 17 - No School: Faculty Work Day
February 20 - No School: Presidents' Day
February 21 - Parents' Meeting, 8 pm
February 24 - Kitah Hay Hallel Siyum, Rosh Chodesh Adar
February 26 - Admissions Open Gym, 10-11 am
March 1 - Read-a-thon Month Begins
March 3 - Kitah Bet Grade Havdalah Ceremony
March 6 - Kitah Gimel Purim Spiel, 2 pm
March 8 - 1:00 pm Dismissal - Purim
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| SCHOOL NEWS | |
Avi Chai Video Academy - Watch Our Video and Vote for Gesher to Win!
Here's what to do to vote:
- Click on this link: http://www.dayschoolvideoacademy.org/VideoView.aspx?MovieId=148
- Click on the triangular play button to watch the video
- Put in your name and a proper email address
- Rate Gesher's Video: 5 Stars!
- Type in the 5 numbers to prove that you are not a robot
- Press, "Submit"
- Forward this link to all your friends and contacts
Kitah Alef Kabbalat HaSiddur Ceremony Our first grade students led us in a magnificent Siyum Monday night. Yasher Koach to our students and teachers! Parent Survey Results The results of our parent survey are available on our website in "the Parent Corner." If you are a Gesher parent, simply log in, go to the Parent Corner and click the prompt for "Survey Results." The feedback is informative. It will prove helpful as we continue to advance our strategic plan and as our faculty works on our re-accreditation report for the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS). Many thanks to everyone who responded to the survey and to the parents who attended our Parents' Coffee on Friday, January 27. A second parent coffee will be held on Tuesday evening, February 21, at 8:00 p.m. We hope to see you then! 2012-13 School Calendar See next year's official school calendar. Gesher United Basketball Results Tuesday's games against Browne Academy went down to the wire and both teams were victorious! Gesher United girls won 19-17 and Gesher United boys won 39-36. Next up on February 14 is Burgundy Farm, right here in the Gesher Gym. Join us and cheer for the team! Looking Ahead to 2012-2013 As many of you know this is Mrs. Gabel's and Mrs. Uscher's "victory lap" in Kitah Alef. They will be retiring after the current school year and we will celebrate their many years of teaching at Gesher at our May 20th Gala. I'm happy to report to you that we have hired a wonderful teacher to teach Kitah Alef (gr. 1) General Studies for next year. Her name is Emily Sonenshine and she has been on faculty for eight years in gr. k & 2 at the Davis Academy, a Reform Jewish Day School, in Atlanta. Ms. Sonenshine comes with outstanding references. She has made a huge impression on Jo and me. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she has worked on mentoring, recycling, and the sunshine committee at her school.
Ms. Sonenshine will be moving up to Northern Virginia over the summer. Mrs. Gabel, Mrs. Uscher, Mrs. Gordon and I have begun to talk about how we can get her up to speed with our first grade program as she has some big shoes to fill!
On another topic, some of you may be aware that Jen Halpern will be bringing her son Ari to Gesher next year. Ari will be going into the fourth grade which Mrs. Halpern has been teaching. We hope to have two sections of fourth grade- but of course that will ultimately depend on enrollment. In any case, some adjustments to the teaching assignment will be made but Mrs. Halpern will continue to teach major aspects of the fourth grade and be our lead fourth grade General Studies teacher.
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| Development and Fundraising |
Like us? Then "Like Us!"
Please click HERE and rate our 30th Anniversary Spring Gala invitation video in a national challenge by the Avi Chai's Day School Video Academy contest. Also, when you're finished rating our video, please "share" by clicking on the Facebook (or other social media) icons right below the video to which you are a member and spread the word! We are celebrating 30 years and look forward to sharing a wonderful evening on May 20!
THANK YOU!
We Want You!
Grandparent Greeting
Alumni Greeting
Parent Greeting
Community Supporter Greeting
Business Ad Greeting
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| STUDENT COUNCIL | Jersey Day Tomorrow!
On Friday, February 3rd student council is having Jersey Day in honor of the Super Bowl! So remember, wear your favorite sports jersey and support your team. (The Gesher Dress Code still applies.) See the flyer.
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| PTO | |
Get Ready for a Bouncing Good Time....
Join the PTO at REBOUNDERZ in Sterling on Friday, February 17 from 10am-11am for some morning exercise. The cost is $13 per bouncer (non-refundable). Please make your payment in advance by check (made payable to the Gesher PTO) sent to the PTO mailbox. More information on REBOUNDERZ is located on their website at www.rebounderzsterling.com. We look forward to seeing you there. Any further questions? Please send Naomi Hutchins an email at neshicot1029@verion.net.
Get Caught Wearing Purple... Mazel Tov to Talia Scharf. She is the winner of the iTunes "get caught wearing purple" middle school raffle.
We Want You...to volunteer.The PTO is always in need of extra hands. If you are interesting in helping out, please go to the PTO section of the Gesher website to sign up.
Don't Be Deceived by Packaging!
Box Tops can be found on products with plastic wrappers too! So keep an eye on the products you buy for the Box Tops logo pictured above. Box Tops never stop, so please keep sending in those Box Tops!
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| Admissions | |
Stay in touch with Gesher through Facebook and our new Twitter Feed on our homepage at www.gesher-jds.org
Community Family Fun Mitzvah Day at Gesher!
SAVE THE DATE for Family Fun Mitzvah Day on Sunday, March 25 from 1-4pm. Enjoy the funky sounds of the Mama Doni Band LIVE and participate in a number of community service projects that will be geared to families with young children. What a great way to celebrate our 30th anniversary year by helping others! If you are interested in participating in the Family Fun Mitzvah Day planning committee and/or volunteering that day, we need you!
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The Mama Doni Band!
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| Mitzvah Coupon Donations | |
In memory of Malcolm Frame
Ellen and Ron Katz
Judy and Jon Gabel
Jeanne and Mark Leckert
In memory of Charles Holtzman
Judy and Jon Gabel
Jonathan and Libby Russler Saiger
Sarah Elpern and Bruce Waxman
In honor of Laura and Daniel Strouse's new baby, Abigail Esther
Ellen and Ron Katz
Jeanne and Mark Leckert
In honor of Robert Watts, Olam Tikvah Men's Club Blue Yarmulke Man of the Year
Steve Tursky
In memory of Stephen Book
Judy and Jon Gabel
In memory of Rose Marie Russo's mother
Judy and Jon Gabel
Jeanne and Mark Leckert
In honor of Abigail J. on receiving her Siddur
Alyssa Przystawik
Blaine Charak
A Refuah Shlemah (full recovery) to Steven Rose
Gesher Faculty and Staff
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.
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| Community Announcements | |
Please click on the links below to view each flyer.
The Washington Jewish Week is now available for purchase from the newsstand in the office for $1.
Ein Lanu Z'man Concert
Agudas Achim Congregation's house band, Ein Lanu Z'man, will explore traditional Jewish music, contemporary settings of our liturgy, as well as secular Hebrew melodies, including some of our favorite modern Israeli songs. Please join us for this lovely evening of music. The concert is free, although donations are encouraged.
Date: February 4
Time: 7:15 p.m., Agudas Achim Congregation, 2908 Valley Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
Embassy of Israel Cultural Calendar
Camp Ramah Parlor Meeting
Documentary Praying with Lior
The ReelAbilities Disabilities Film Festival is being presented for the first time in the DC Metropolitan area. The film festival is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.
The documentary "Praying with Lior" is being shown on Monday night, February 6 at the JCC (NOVA) at 7:30 pm. It is about a boy, Lior, with Downs Syndrome, who is approaching his Bar Mitzvah. It is a truly touching documentary, with sensitive and moving themes, including living with a disability and the death of a parent.
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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| Caring Community |
We wish a Refuah Shlemah to Steve Rose.
Visit Jconnect.org! Jconnect.org is the one place where you can go to find information on everything Jewish in the Greater Washington community. This new community site features a robust community calendar that's easy to navigate for both posters and users. Please check the website often as the site is ever-changing! 
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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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