Hillel Academy

of Pittsburgh

5685 Beacon Street

Pittsburgh, PA

15217

P: (412) 521-8131

F: (412) 521-5150

www.hillelpgh.org

September 2, 2011

3 Elul 5771

Candle Lighting: 7:34 pm

Havdalah: 8:32 pm

 Parshat Shoftim

More Reminders  

U turns in front of the school building are a No No and potentially very dangerous. 

Click here to read the entire Hillel Happenings 

Help Hillel  

Please donate new items to Hillel Academy's Silent Auction. It is never too early to donate, and now is a great time to get it out of your house.  Please bring your tax deductible donations to Hillel Academy. 

Box Tops for Education

Welcome back to school! Thank you to everyone for all you do to help our school. Together we can earn the much needed cash for our PTAO.

Now we have to gear up for a traditional campaign with the grand prize of tickets to Kennywood awarded at the end of the school year. If you would like your name to be entered in the raffle, please label your bundle/envelope/baggie with the last name. In the past we've received a lot of unsigned Box Tops. Remember that for our winter/spring campaign, every name is entered in the raffle.

Thank you to every family that is contributing.

Click here to read the entire Hillel Happenings 

Hillel Academy
of Pittsburgh
Administration and Staff

 Mr. Daniel J. Kraut 

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

Rabbi Avrumi Sacks

Principal and Education Director

[email protected]  

Mrs. Elky Langer

Curriculum Coordinator

Grades K-12

[email protected]

Rabbi Sam Weinberg

Assistant Principal

Grades 7-12 Boys and Girls

[email protected]

Rabbi Dov Nimchinsky

Judaic Studies and Educational Program Coordinator

Grades 1-6

[email protected]

Mrs. Yikara Levari 

Mashgicha Ruchanit

Grades 7-12 Girls

[email protected]

Rabbi Yisroel Smith

Masgiach Ruchani 

Boys High School

[email protected] 

Mrs. Phyllis Harris

 Director of Special Services

Grades K-12

Mrs. Barbara Chotiner

Early Childhood Coordinator

[email protected]

Reb Danny Shaw

Coordinator of Athletics and Student Life 

[email protected] 

 Mrs. Selma Aronson

 Executive Administrator

 [email protected]

Additional contact info for faculty and staff available by clicking here

 Is there a lot of white space underneath this box? Are you reading this in Gmail?        You might not be receiving the entire Hillel Happenings. 

Dvar Torah

Welcome from the CEO

Dear Hillel Academy Families,

7th Grade Math Reaches New Heights

Mr. Kingman - [email protected]

As an opening lesson, students in the 7th Grade Boys math class studied measurement and employed algebraic thinking to determine how many cups are needed to equal Mr. Kingman's height. The students were divided into groups of two. Each group received a ruler, three cups, and were told that Mr. Kingman is 5' 11." This exercise was thoroughly enjoyed by the class, and enabled the students to begin the school year developing partnership and problem solving skills.  

In the epic battle of who's taller, Mr. Kingman wins again.

Pre-Nursery Update

Morah Leah - [email protected]

This past week, we had an exciting Monday as we began our second week of school. We met Morah Elaine, the science teacher. She taught us about seasons and leaves (and brought in lots of different kinds of leaves - some were bigger than we were). We also met Morah Danielle for Hebrew. As a special treat, Morah Danielle wore her Hebrew hat. When she wears this special hat, she only speaks Hebrew to us! Each morning, our day includes davening with Morah Chani. Finally, this week, we welcomed the Ratzersdorfer triplets to school. With the additions of Ahuva, Chaim, and Dovid, our class in now complete! Thanks for a great week.  

"Look, I'm saying Shema...or hiding."

Hillel Herald Heralds Readers

Ben Kohane - Hillel Academy Alum

A new year has begun for the students of Hillel Academy High School for Boys, and with it comes a new year of extracurricular activities and clubs. One of the most anticipated is the newest version of the popular school newspaper, The Hillel Herald. An effort founded and headed by recently-graduated student Ben Kohane for three years, the publication is now handed off to the extremely-capable hands of 11th Grader (and brother of the former editor-in-chief) Steven Kohane and 10th Graders Binyamin Skaist and Peri Sohnen. The new leaders, confident in their abilities after a quick introduction session from the elder Kohane this summer, seek to continue the Herald's success, while constantly looking for new innovations to further the Herald's exceptional reputation.

Birds, Beaks, and the Sweet Sounds of 

Pre-K Science

Morah Elaine - [email protected] 

Students in Pre-K learned about bird beaks in Science this week. We first gave each student a tool, such as a spoon, clothespin, tweezers or tongs, and a plate. Then we had to use our tools to pick up sponges, straws, packing peanuts, and rocks and put them on the plates - no hands were allowed! When we had picked everything off the floor, we sorted our collected items onto graphing mats: It turned out that the people with the tweezers or the tongs picked up the greatest number of items and the people who had the clothespins picked up the least. Next, we read a book about beaks that explained how different types of birds have different types of beaks that are good for eating different types of food. Then, everyone got a picture of a bird. We matched the pictures with the type of food the birds eat. They are all birds, but they have very different beaks to eat very different things. We thought that the beaks were pretty interesting! Last, we reviewed our first activity - each tool that we used was shaped like a different type of beak. (spoon = spoonbill, etc.) The shape of each beak made it easier or more difficult to pick up each type of 'food' - just like the beak of a real bird.

Baruch Haba (Welcome) Bnot Sherut 

(Girls of National Service)

Mr. Reinherz - [email protected]

Each year, for more than fifteen years, two young female Israeli representatives have served the Pittsburgh Jewish community by assisting in school and communal projects, while offering instruction about Israel. This year, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh will begin hosting the Sherut Leumi Program on behalf of the entire community. In this capacity, Hillel Academy will oversee the program's objectives and ensure that its mission is successful. The Bnot Sherut will be active participants in educating the community and imparting a knowledge of and a love for the State of Israel. At Hillel Academy, by working in both classroom and tutoring environments, the Bnot Sherut will bolster Israel awareness through curricular programming and Ivrit instruction as related to tefillah (prayers), chagim (Jewish holidays), and the Chalav U'dvash Program.  Additionally, the Bnot Sherut will collaborate with faculty on the weekly Shabbat Oneg, bulletin board designs, and Yom Haatzmaut programming.  In addition to their involvement with Hillel Academy, the Bnot Sherut will continue other successful communal programs, including Cafe Ivrit, a coffee, Israel, and Ivrit program at Hillel on Campus, programming in the Synagogue Sunday Religious Schools, partnership with Pittsburgh Bnei Akiva, working at Community Day School, and assisting with community-wide Israel related events. Through innovative programming, the Bnot Sherut will continue to make a strong and lasting contribution to the youth and young adults of the Pittsburgh Jewish community.    

Over the years, the Bnot Sherut have been talented artists, musicians, educators, programmers, and innovators. This year's Bnot Sherut feature the finest qualities of our previous volunteers.

Rivka Hofman comes from Jerusalem, studied art and Tanach, regularly visited hospitals and organized programming for children with cancer, and served as a counselor in her local youth group. Rivka enjoys traveling and studying art. Meira Selavan comes from Jerusalem as well, and more precisely, from the Old City. Meira spent the past year in National Service working as an educator at the primary and high school levels, organizing activities for disadvantaged children and leading Jewish enrichment programs and family programs in the community center. Additionally, she has volunteered with severely disabled children and has been a leader in Bnei Akiva for several years. Meira enjoys art, reading and baking. 

 

Having arrived this week, Rivka and Meira have already met with Morah Irit Taasan and begun working with students, faculty, and administrators at Hillel Academy. Finally, a special thank you to Mrs. Ronit Wiesenfeld, who is leading the Sherut Leumi Committee. To learn more about the Sherut Leumi Program at Hillel Academy please contact Dan Kraut.  

 

Meira (left) and Rivka (right) would like you to know that apart from Israel, Hillel Academy is the greatest place in the world!

Within this section of the Hillel Happenings, you'll find brief updates regarding Hillel Academy. These updates all have GRAVITAS. 

SAP Meetings

Over the summer, representatives from Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC trained and certified Hillel Academy teachers to become Student Assistance Professionals.  As such, Hillel Academy employees will become better equipped to handle behavior related issues.

New Students

Over sixty new students and forty families joined Hillel Academy this year. Enrollment has increased for the fourth straight year. 

Minute to Win It

The time is now to support the Hillel Academy Athletics Department. We are putting a wind-up clock in a locked box. At some point, the clock will stop. If you pick the time that the clock stops, you will win your choice of either a complete set of the Schottenstein Daf Yomi Edition of Talmud Bavli or $720 cash. Contact the office at 412-521-8131 or [email protected] to learn more. 

Sherut Leumi Program

Beginning this year, Hillel Academy will oversee the Sherut Leumi Program. This year's representatives are Rivka Hofman and Meira Selavan. For more information regarding the Sherut Leumi Program and Hillel Academy, please read "Baruch Haba (Welcome) Bnot Sherut (Girls of National Service)" in this week's Hillel Happenings. 

Hillel Academy Library is now accepting volunteers for the 2011-2012 school year.

No previous experience necessary.

Please respond to the school office for more details - (412) 521-8131. 

Strategically speaking

A Section of the Hillel Happenings 

That Looks at Our Strategic Plan 

Mr. Reinherz - [email protected]

Over the summer, the Strategic Planning team met to review progress made on the current plan. The team shared thoughts about what occurred during the past 12 months, anticipations for the next 12 months, progress made on the action plans and annual operational plan, as well as threats and opportunities still prevalent. Action plans for the 2011-12 operational plan school year will be presented for board approval on September 26.

During the first teacher in-service day at Hillel Academy, the administration worked with faculty to begin developing measurable outcomes for evaluating actual progress on the Strategic Plan. Efforts are underway to identify metrics for creating baseline data to better measure progress on the objectives of the Strategic Plan. Dr. George Symanski, educational consultant, exclaimed,  "The Strategic Plan at Hillel Academy is very much alive and improvement is occurring in the school. We are very much indebted to the individuals who served as the planning team, action team leaders, and action team members." 

One of those members, Rabbi Daniel Yolkut, Rabbi of Congregation Poale Zedeck and Hillel Academy Parent, related, "As a relative newcomer to the Hillel community, it was inspiring to see the seriousness and integrity with which our leadership takes the mission of leading Hillel into the future." 

We will continue to update you regarding Hillel Academy's ongoing efforts to implement the Strategic Plan. 

During a recent trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo, proud Hillel Academy students Coby Shaw (left) and Rami Shaw (right) were seen protecting themselves from harmful UV rays, while wearing awesome new Hillel Academy baseball hats (see giant red arrows for specifics). Way to go Shaw brothers!  

Editor's note - A closer picture would not have allowed us to use the giant red arrows.

 Hey, Hillel Happenings readers, we all know that Hillel nation extends well beyond Squirrel Hill. So here's our chance to prove it. Send a picture of yourself in Hillel gear (uniform, t-shirt, etc.) to [email protected], and each week we'll select the best picture for inclusion in the Hillel Happenings.

 Looking for a set of encyclopedia? 

Hillel Academy Library is giving away 4 sets!!!!

We have a set of World Book 2000, 2001, 2003, and World Book Discovery Encyclopedia 2000. Just let the office know by Tuesday Sept. 6th, and pick them up in the library.

Reminder