PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE  

"We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education." Martin Luther King Jr. 

Dear VTT Community,  

Last week, I had the privilege of attending the RAVSAK 

conference in Los Angeles where over 600 Jewish day school educators from across North America gathered to ponder critical questions in Jewish education. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many passionate, dedicated and highly intelligent school leaders from all denominational stripes, all in the name of delivering the best in secular and Judaic education. Whether one is a school of 13 or blessed with an enrollment of 1000+ students, Jewish day schools are unique in their mission of not only teaching to the mind, but also to the heart, for in the heart lies the true path to happiness. Developing students of strong moral character, where each child's neshamah (soul) has the opportunity to shine, is a critical component of the day school curriculum. As important as academic rigor and challenge is, equally important is the hard work of developing one's moral compass and nurturing one's obligation to perform acts of "tikkun olam" (repair of the world). This is what drives our faculty, and this is what distinguishes Jewish day schools from the plethora of educational options. Of particular interest are the results of a recent alumni study (conducted by Measuring Success) of nine independent schools. The strongest predictor of the likelihood to recommend one's alma mater to a friend is the strength of character development imparted by the school. This includes ethical/moral values, leadership, and resisting peer pressure.

Prior to the conference, I participated in a RAVSAK-led Shabbaton, where educators and school leaders spend weekend retreats deepening their Jewish learning. This time we explored the teachings of Mussar, a spiritual tradition of character trait (midot) self-regulation that owes much of its current revival to Vancouver-based Dr. Alan Morinis. The study and practice of Mussar reminded me of the important work our teachers do every day to facilitate self-awareness, compassion and empathy in our students to prepare them to give back to the world. These values form the foundation for Jewish living and underlie much of the work we do in our schools.

Shabbat Shalom,

Cathy Lowenstein, Principal 

IMPORTANT RE-ENROLLMENT REMINDERS 

The deadline to submit re-enrollment forms is WEDNESDAY, FEB 16 (to avoid a late fee)

To ensure your package is complete and avoid having it returned and incurring a late fee, please remember to:  

• Date your PPP deposit cheques correctly: June 26, 2012  
• Remember to write your child's  medical number (MSP) on the Medical & Fieldtrip Consent Form.

THANK YOU TALMUD TORAH PARENTS!

This year's Scholastic Book Fair raised $8942.46, 60% of which will find its way back to the library. Special thank yous to Suzanne & Martin Ferera, Natasha Krause and all the parent volunteers. Todah Rabah to the following students: Rachel Pekeles, Dara Festinger, Leor Elizur, Noga Goldman, Elena Madorsky, Maya Yaron, Josha Rafael, Sophie Visscher-Lubiniski, Rachel Rubin-Sarganis, Yuval Daniel, Tal Bogdonov and Liam Title

DO YOU HAVE THE IVORY TOUCH?  

Music specialist Elana Jacobson is looking for some "standby" parent pianists to possibly help out at our kindergarten and Grade 7 graduations should she go into labour prematurely. Email Mrs. Jacobson if you are willing to share your musical talents!

UNIFORM FITTINGS FOR SPRING AND FOR THE 2011-12 SCHOOL YEAR  

Scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2011 in the library from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Parents: Please call Cambridge and Company at 604.924.9009 to set up an appointment.

VTT YEARBOOK: BUY ONE THROUGH PAYPAL  

The VTT Yearbook Club is creating an exciting keepsake for you and your family.

Our student run initiative will highlight the fun events of the entire school year and will be available this September.

To see what the Grade 6 & 7 students have been doing, check out the VTT Yearbook Club's blog:

http://vttyearbook.wordpress.com 

To order your copy through PayPal ($21), click here  

FRIDAY, FEB 18 IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER A YEARBOOK 

"SET STRIKERS" NEEDED FOR FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

We need at least 6-8 able bodied men and women who can help us strike the set (take it down) after the last performance on March 23rd. The more volunteers, the quicker the work should be. The set is uncomplicated and we need to get it out of the JCC's Norman Rothstein Theatre THAT NIGHT! With 6-8 people we should be done by 11 ish.

If you can help out, please contact Joe Ritchie, Drama Specialist, at jritchie@talmudtorah.com.  

THIS VOLUNTEER JOB IS ELIGIBLE FOR 5 PPP HOURS 

 

First came the set of laptops for Grade 4, next came the individual laptop program for Grade 7, now we are excited about the Primary iPad Pilot program. To learn more about this exciting initiative, access Ms. Chatz's blog here. 

Morah Judith's 2A students show of the Beit Knesset (synagogue) they built out of blocks. 

 According to sexual health expert Saleema Noon, parents are valuable sources of information for their children and serve as protective factors in preventing predatory behaviour and early sexual activity. Ms. Noon addressed a captive audience of parents on Monday night and then spent Wednesday teaching the language of "body science" to our students. Stay tuned for details about follow-up visits.

Grade 6 students put their creativity to the test in creating Hebrew versions of classic board games.