THS News: Welcome Back!

PSSM, Rachael Davila

Dear Preschool Parents,

A special welcome back to all my returning families! A welcome to any new families reading this newsletter. I look forward to introducing the jewish holidays to your preschooler with crafts, music and fun!

L'Shana Tova,
Rachael

K/1, Lori Bunshaft

Hello,

I am Lori Bunshaft and it is an honor to be your child's Torah School Teacher. I have so much fun being able to interact with the K/1st graders on Sunday mornings. We will have fun learning about Jewish Holidays, traditions, Torah Stories, the temple and about what it means to be Jewish.

I have 25 years experience working in the public schools as a kindergarten teacher and truly enjoy the learning process in the primary grades. We will be busy with art projects, songs, dances and activities that further our learning.

I am looking forward to meeting all of you and being part of your child's first experience at Temple Emanu-El Torah School.

~Lori Bunshaft

1st, Jessica Daniels

Hi Torah School Families,

I am SO excited to have such a multifaceted roll at Temple Emanuel this year!

To my first graders and their families: we are going to have a BLAST learning about the Bible stories this year, and doing art projects that involve what we read and study!

In addition, I will be introducing Hebrew to the class, using kinesthetic, visual, and auditory teaching approaches to welcome this new language into these young, bright minds! I also plan to visit the Kindergarten and 2nd grade classes for Hebrew a few times a month too!

Finally, I have the amazing opportunity to facilitate Family Education this year, and have been working all summer with Cathy to put a fresh, exciting new spin on the program! Get ready for hands on fun, as well as class and family reflections based on group discussion!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your new school year and I cannot wait to see returning faces and meet new families!

Le Shana Tova!
Jessica

2nd, Shelley Sloan

Hello to my Second Grade students and their families:

Yes, it is me, once again!!! I had such a wonderful time with the First Grade last year that I was asked to move up with them to the Second Grade. What a joy for me.

This year, we are going to study and concentrate on two different books - Let's Explore Being Jewish and The Great Israel Scavenger Hunt. It's going to be very exciting using these as guides to a year of learning and exploring.

Orientation is Sunday, September 12th at 9:30. After the presentations take place, I would like to invite all of you (parents and students) to come back with me to the classroom. I have a handout with facts about Israel that I would like to give to you. I am hoping that you will read this along with your children and learn some new information too. As always, my door is open to you for questions, comments or just to say hello.

L'Shalom,
Shelley Sloan

3rd, Lindsay Spector

Hi 3rd Parents!

I hope you all had a wonderful summer! I am so thrilled to have another exciting year with this group of students! This year we will be learning about Bible stories and God. We will spend time learning a lot of new things but as always having fun while learning!

You are always welcome to ask me questions and speak to me about anything related to the class or your children.

Can't wait to see you!
Lindsay Spector

4th, Leslie Friedman

Fourth grade is one of those transition years for children. By now, they have the basic skills of reading and writing. In our class, we will use these skills to delve deeper into our beautiful heritage.

My emphasis will be helping them to learn about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other through the lessons in the Torah. We will also take a closer look at the Jewish Holidays as to how they enrich our lives.

My goal is to have your children continue to feel that Temple Emanu-El is an extension of their home and family, and that the Temple is a place to extend their knowledge of their heritage.

Leslie

5th, Barbara Birenbaum

Hello 5th Grade Families,

I'm very excited to meet you when Torah School opens on September 12 and invite you to come to our classroom after the program for a brief but important orientation. I'm eager to introduce myself personally and share a few key ideas about how to make the most of your Torah School experience.

Israel is our primary subject in 5th grade and I'm planning an assortment of focus areas including it's varied geography, complex history, advanced technology, rich diversity and just enough politics to clarify misconceptions.

In addition, of course, we'll expand understandings of Jewish holidays, rituals, values and Torah throughout the year. I'm looking forward to learning with you and your child.

B'Shalom
Barbara Birenbaum

6th, Michael Bailund
Hello and Happy New Year to all of my 6th graders and their parents!

I'm Michael Bailund and I will be your child's Torah School teacher this year! I'm very excited to meet all of you, this is my first year teaching at Temple. I am however, an alumni of Temple Emanu-El Torah and Hebrew School programs.

This year, when not at Temple teaching or advising our newest Temple Youth Group OYE, I work in the Special Ed. Dept. at Clairemont Performing Arts Middle School, a new spot for me.

The last 3 years I may have been with some of my new students where I taught RHR (race, human, relations) at the Old Town Program with S.D Unified- a 4th grade program.

Your 6th graders will be learning a variety of subjects, but primarily we will be studying and reading about Jewish History from Masada to the end of the 19th century. May sound a little dull- nah- I promise to keep them all interested! We also will be singing (music), and of course dancing.

Some dates to remember:

Sunday Sept. 12th orientation- a good time to meet each other.
Sunday Sept. 19th first day- stop in and say shalom
Wed. Sept. 22nd Sukkot under the stars- some students may be participating.
Friday November 12th- 6th graders "run" the Family Shabbat Service!!

Looking forward to meeting all of you soon- again...
Shana Tovah,
Michael Bailund

7th, Danny Bailund
Shalom and Shana Tovah to my new 7th grade Torah School parents and students,

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Torah School orientation Sunday Sept.12th, and meeting all of you (students at least) on our first session the following week!

A little about myself, this will be my 12th year teaching here at Temple. I started with 6th grade and they "moved" me up about 5 years ago. My regular job is working with 1st-6th graders at Lindbergh Schweitzer elementary school.

Some dates to remember are:

Wed. Sept. 22, Sukkot under the stars, some 7th graders will be asked to participate

Friday Oct. 8th, Your 7th graders will lead Friday's Family Shabbat Service.

I expect to have a great time getting to know, teach, and learn with your children this year. This class can be a "tough" journey at times. We will be reading, viewing, discussing the Holocaust. This is not our only topic, but, that subject is our main theme.

The book your children will be receiving: Hitler Youth; growing up in Hitler's shadow, is an excellent read, and I hope that you too, will give it a glance.

We'll also have the usual fun of music, Israeli dancing, and other fun events that I know our wonderful Torah School Committee and Cathy have conjured up!

Again I wish you all a Happy New Year, and I look forward to meeting all of you and teaching your Children!

Danny Bailund