PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE    

Dear VTT Community,  

I have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming our students and parents back to school. With so many new families enrolled at VTT, the vibrancy and excitement of the new year is palpable. Over the last few days, our faculty has been working with the students to establish expectations and to set the tone of "caring for ourselves; caring for our community."       

Much is planned for 2011-12. In the coming weeks, our band program will begin for students in Grades 4-7; at lunchtime, we will continue to offer intramurals, Israeli dance, choir, chess club, and games room (if parent volunteers come forward). After school we currently have floor hockey, basketball, yoga, musical theatre and yearbook club on offer. Rehearsals will soon begin for our annual Hanukkah concert (we have to start early due to all the Jewish holidays) and in the spring we will present our intermediate musical starring students in Grades 5-7. Our media lab will remain open until 4:30 p.m. for those students who wish to complete assignments and our library is open until 3:45 for book loans and computer work. We have new sets of laptops for use in Grades 5 & 6 and our Grade 7 laptop program is off to an enthusiastic start. Of course, the holidays figure prominently in our Judaics curriculum, and students become better versed in the language, traditions and rituals as they move through the grades. New this year will be the observance of Havdallah for the primary students led by Judaics teachers on Mondays.

As you've no doubt noticed, we begin each morning with anthems. Parents are welcome to join in! However, if you are present in the building during anthems, we ask that you refrain from chatting with friends or talking on your cellphones as we wish to model appropriate decorum to our students.

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom on such a beautiful day,

Cathy Lowenstein, Head of School 

clowenstein@talmudtorah.com   

Editor's note: Apologies to Morah Mirit Murad, Grade 2 Judaics teacher, whose name did not appear in the list of returning faculty in last week's Hadashot. 

Shabbat Parashat Ki Teitzei

The Power of Routines and Rules

SHANA TOVA! A very happy new school year to everyone in the VTT community.  While there is a certain peace and productivity that accompanies the quiet in the school during the summer months, there is nothing like the excited boisterousness of students, parents, and teachers beginning a new school year!  However, I always have a greater appreciation for the rest I take on the first Shabbat of the school once the first few days with my new classes of students is over.  It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to another year of Erev Shabbat Torah study through my column in VTT's Hadashot.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!   

Get a head start on completing your 12 PPP hours!

Our development office needs approximately SIX people to help prepare a school mailing (folding, stuffing, sticking, sealing and stamping!) on Monday morning, September 12. With six volunteers, the job should take about 2.5 hours.

Email Tirzah Abraham if you can help after drop off on Monday.

SAVE TIME!

STAY CURRENT!

DOWNLOAD VTT'S CALENDAR TO YOUR COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE!   

CARPOOLING REQUESTS  

The following families have put forward carpooling requests.  

If you have a request or would like to contact one of the families, email Jennifer at info@talmudtorah.com 

1. A new family living on 16th Avenue between Cambie and Main is looking for help with morning drop-off. Their son is in Kindergarten.  

2. A new Richmond family, living on Westminster Hwy near No. 3 Road, would love to share the driving to and from VTT. 

GET IN ON THE CONVERSATION  

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Interested in Feeling Part of a Greater Community? 

VTT's 7-year-old parent-run Yahoo! Group is a great way to connect with other parents and build community. It's free and easy to join. Contact parent Laura Rosenthal for details.