31 Nadolny Sachs Pr.
613-722-0020
www.hillelacademy.ca
| November 26, 2010
Volume 3, Issue 80
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In this issue ...
- Important Notes.
- Sock drive.
- India Visits Grade 5.
- Teacher Profile.
- D'var Torah - Rabbi Blum.
- Looking for ...
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Coming Up ...
- Erev Hanukkah, Wed Dec. 1..
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Early Dismissal Dates:
Dec. 3 - 2:00
Dec. 10 - 2:00
Dec. 17 - 2:00
Jan. 7 - 2:00
Jan. 14 - 2:30
Jan. 21 - 2:30
Jan. 28 - 2:30
Feb. 4 - 3:00
Feb. 11 - 3:00
Feb. 18 - PD Day
Feb. 25 - 3:00
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From the Administration
We hope your kids are enjoying their day off today! We are all still hard at work, of course. We are focusing on the use of technology to support differentiated instruction. It is very important to understand that different students learn in different ways and, as teachers, we are always working on finding new ways to present class material that makes it easily accessible to all types of learners.
We are looking forward to next week, when we will be visited by 10 students and 2 teachers from northern Israel. Last year, our 8th grade students visited the region and stayed in homes with local Israelis. This year, we are getting a return visit from some of those kids - they will be spending Hanukkah with us! They will be staying with students in YRHS, and getting to tour Ottawa, but will be spending a lot of time at Hillel as well. They will be meeting the students and practicing their English while our students practice their Hebrew. You will see them at the Hanukkah celebration on the 8th, so say hello and practice your Hebrew too!
Shabbat Shalom,
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Some Important Notes
- The PTA needs a few parent volunteers for the Dec. 16th hot dog day. If you can spare some time at lunch time, please contact Linda Melamed.
- Please let your children know that our freetime library hours are Monday at lunch and Tuesday at first recess.
- The grade 8s started a fundraiser this week, selling school supplies and water bottles. They are selling stainless steel water bottles, to go along with their Green Projects - helping to keep our school 'green and clean'. Their table will be in front of the chapel on Tuesday and Thursday at all recesses.
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Hillel Academy and YRHS collected over 1200 socks to donate to the Ottawa Mission this year! Like last year, we joined with the 3 other schools on Broadview to provide clothing for the Mission. Members of the Student Council walked over to Notre Dame High School on Thursday morning, where students from the 4 schools stretched the entire length of the track with the donated items to demonstrate how much was collected. Above, Mr. Lamb with the Student Council and Mrs. McKay with 2 YRHS students, and a lot of socks.
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The students in grade 5 have been traveling to a different country each month. This month, they are learning about India. Mrs. Palmer-Dodds, who lived in India for several years, told the students what it was like, as well as bringing in clothing, drums and other items to demonstrate. Above, Diana, Ben and Soshana try Indian clothing while Ethan checks out the drums.
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Senior School Green Projects
Our grade 7 and 8 students are still working hard on their Green Projects for science. (Below, Joseph holds up a bag of aluminum cans he is collecting and Sarina holds the cardboard she is collecting.) Now is a great time to rid your house of old electronics and batteries - stuff that really should not just be thrown in the garbage. We have students collecting batteries, lightbulbs, cardboard and old electronics (such as computer equipment, phones, cameras, ipods, etc. If you have any questions about what can be recycled, you can check here.)
Please feel free to drop off any of the above in the bins outside the office.
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Teacher Profile - Darren Morenstein
When Darren Morenstein's students asked him last year why he moved to Ottawa from Montreal, he offered a piece of advice for the boys, "Always do what makes your wife happy." Mr. Morenstein's wife, a psychologist, wanted to open her practice in Ottawa, and so here they are.
Mr. Morenstein, pictured right with several of his students, says he is actually very happy to be here too. While he taught in public high school and private French school in Montreal, he is delighted to be teaching in a Jewish school. Even though he teaches general studies to grade 6 and gym to grade 7 and the high school students, he appreciates being surrounded by Jewish culture.
He grew up in Montreal and was educated there and in New York, receiving a Masters Degree in Education. After living in New Zealand for 2 years, Mr. Morenstein moved back to Montreal to start teaching. He's also been coaching sports for 16 years and coaches several of our sports teams. In the summer, he is an Assistant Camp Director at B'nai Brith of Ottawa.
In his spare time, Mr. Morenstein plays football and basketball in sports leagues, and fancies himself a fantasy football guru. He is also an avid skier in winter.
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There have been a lot of presentations going on in Extended French. Above, Josh and Ella give Zachary a hand in presenting the 'dangerous creature' he created. Below, Jamie Jaye and Arielle present their Canada project.
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D'var Torah - Vayeishev
In this week's Torah portion, Vayeishev, we read about Joseph's multi-colour coat and his famous dream, in which he and his 11 brothers were "binding sheaves in the field." This activity alludes to the Divinely-appointed mission of all of us (descendants of all the 12 brothers): to gather everything that we own within this physical world and elevate it to its Divine Source by using it for a Divine purpose. By using our material resources to serve G-d, we gather the disparate sparks of Holiness hidden within them and we unite them, just as separate stalks of grain are brought together and bound into a bundle. This mission does not only relate to our own personal resources, we also have the responsibility to go out into the "field" and spread Holiness wherever we go and unite the all world around the service of G-d.
Interestingly enough this story is always read from the Torah around Chanukah. On Chanukah,
the Menorah is placed at the door or window, allowing its light to illuminate the darkness outside. The intention and the message of the Chanukah lights is to spread the Menorah's sanctity throughout the environment, as far afield as its light will shed.
- Rabbi Menachem Blum, Ottawa Torah Centre |
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Looking For ...
- Morah Ruthie is looking for more empty yogurt, cottage cheese or margarine containers for painting. You can drop any you have off at the office.
- Morah Ann-Lynn is looking for Little People garages, towns and fire stations.
- Snowsuits and recyclables.
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Grade 1 enjoyed a party to celebrate finishing their first Ariot book this week. They got a surprise visit from Ariot in person (above, posing with grade 1B and their new Ariot books).
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