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Hadashot
Vancouver Talmud Torah's Weekly Newsletter
Vol. VII, Issue 7
November 4, 2011 7 cheshvan, 5772
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HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGE
Getting Ready for 2012-13
Dear VTT Community,
We may only be two months into the school year, but planning for 2012-13 is already under way! Our Early Years registration for Preschool & Kindergarten started on Monday for currently enrolled students and will open to siblings next week. Please pay close attention to the following deadlines to avoid disappointment:
Currently Enrolled Students - Monday, Oct 31st - Nov 4th Siblings - Tuesday, November 8th - November 14th, 2011 Community At Large - Starts Monday, November 21st, 2011
** Currently enrolled and siblings must register by latest November 18th, 2011 with all required documentation and deposits in order to secure a spot.
For information concerning registration, contact Tammy Kalvari.
Also, feel free to share the date of our upcoming Early Years Open House for families wishing to learn more about our early childhood education programs. It will be held on Thursday, November 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the library.
We sincerely appreciate your support of our school!
Shabbat Shalom!
Cathy Lowenstein, M.Ed.
Head of School
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Parashat Ha'Shavuah/Weekly Torah Portion with Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Shabbat Parashat Lekh L'kha
Focus on the Positive; Eliminate the Negative
How many of you have ever participated in a professional training seminar or other group discussion that asked you to think about, recall, or remember the positive events or role models that helped you to arrive where you are or to become who you are today? If you have, do you remember what the feeling in that session was like? If you have not, try it and pay attention to the feelings that well up inside of you. The experience of focusing on the "blessings" that have guided and accompanied us through our lives lifts our spirits. It warms and lightens the heart and mind. I like to call this the "blessing circle" because at any point, the thought of the blessings that one has received immediately brings along with it the blessings of peace and happiness, allowing us, perhaps, to be able to share our blessings with others by focusing and being more positive in our actions. This blessing circle, however, is not a new idea; it is an ancient idea being called by a new name.
In this week's parasha, parashat Lekh L'kha, God sets a powerful example for our need to focus on the positive in our lives and the rewards of doing so. When God makes the first covenantal promise to Avram (not yet named Avraham), among other specific items, God tells him that God will bless those who bless Avram and curse those who curse him . Read more online...
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Matthew Bellas
Vice Principal of Judaic Studies/School Rabbi
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NEW AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN JANUARY: THE ART OF LETTERING
 We are pleased to offer THE ART OF LETTERING with artist Thomas Watchorn after school on Thursdays in the new year.
Students will explore the history and techniques of the art of letter making and will create a personalized folder containing their works of art. In the course, students will also explore colour theory, patterning and form.
Download the registration form here.
For Grades 5-7
Thursdays from 3:40-4:40 in the Art Room (112)
January 12 - February 16, 2012
Cost $225 (materials included)
Deadline to register: Monday, December 12, 2011
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HANUKKAH CONCERT COSTUME LIST
Please take note of the costume requirements in the list below. Don't forget to label all clothing. Grade 1 students have a deadline for a solid, vibrant coloured t-shirt by Tuesday, November 15th. Kindergarten: Favorite party clothes, e.g., fancy dress, suit and tie, bow tie, etc. Grade 1: Solid, vibrant coloured t-shirt (will be altered); black pants or leggings. Please send your child's solid, vibrant coloured t-shirt to school for altering by Tuesday, November 15th. Every t-shirt MUST BE LABELLED with your child's first and last name. Grade 2: Come as your favourite bubby/zayde/grandma/grandpa. (Just like students do in Kindergarten on the 100th day of school.) Examples include bowties, spectacles, frumpy skirts, tweed blazers, wigs or hair with baby powder, etc. Grade 3: Army fatigues; camouflage; khaki, Israeli Army wear. No light colours, please! Grade 4: Black, blue and white clothing. Kippot for boys. Grade 5: Please ask your child whether s/he is an Israelite or a Hellenist. Israelite: All blue and black clothing. It doesn't matter if they wear collars or t-shirts. Feel free to have fun with this. Girls: Please come in a skirt; no pants. Tops can be t-shirts or blouses. Colours can be blue or black. ABSOLUTELY NO WHITE, PLEASE. Boys: Pants, shirt and kippa. Colours can be blue or black. ABSOLUTELY NO WHITE, PLEASE. Hellenist: Boys and girls wear the same thing Blue solid crew neck t-shirt (round neck) White/cream solid flat sheet (to be made into a toga). Please send your child to school with a sheet that can be cut/shortened. You can purchase inexpensive sheets at a good dollar store (or Value Village). If you have a problem finding one, please let Ms. Smith know ASAP. Grade 6: They will be Jewish zombies starting out in black, blue and white clothing (to represent the Israelites) then we ask you to "zombie-fy" it. Torn clothing, dirty, muddy faces, tousled hair, etc. No blood, please. Think Michael Jackson's Thriller. Grade 7: It's tradition for the grade 7s to dress "crazy and fun." The costume base will be blue jeans and a solid red t-shirt. They can then dress the rest of with feather boas, big glasses, wigs, funny accessories etc.
Jr. & Sr. Glee Club:
White Shirt/Black Pants THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS A MEMORABLE HANUKKAH CONCERT!
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PPP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We need TWO parent volunteers to assist with Kindergarten Hearing Screening on Monday, Nov 7 in the afternoon
Contact Tammy Kalvari if you can help
Our Judaics department needs someone who can do photocopying in large quantities next Monday or Tuesday.
Contact Rabbi Bellas if you can help
Our Performing Arts Department Needs Help with Hanukkah Concert Preparations the Week of November 28th
3 parents to bedazzle T-shirts
3 parents to bedazzle kippot
Contact Keri Smith if you can help
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SCHOOL NEWS
Kindergarten students receive enhanced instruction through some tech tools: iPads and interactive white boards (in the background).
K2 students celebrated their Pajama Day by bringing in donations of sleepwear and children's books for JFSA.
A sample of a Grade 4 student's art work.
Preschool 4 students concluded their study on dinosaurs constructing and painting a life-size Stegasaurus.
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Dates to Remember
| Light candles at 5:29 p.m.
Shabbat ends at 6:35 p.m.
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Sibling Registration Opens for P & K
Tuesday, Nov 8
(If you have a child in the school and other children not yet enrolled at VTT for P & K, please pick up a package from the office)
Kindergarten Hearing Screening
Monday, Nov 7
Tuesday, Nov 8
Kristallnacht
Wednesday, Nov 9
Early Years Open House
Thursday, Nov 10, 7:30 p.m.
VTT Library
Remembrance Day--No Sessions
Friday, Nov 11
Preschool Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Nov 17, 4-7 pm
Friday, Nov 18, 8:30-noon
K to Gr 3 Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Nov 17, 4:30-7:30 pm
Friday, Nov 18, 8:30-noon
Gr 4-7 Goal Setting Conferences (come with students)
Thursday, Nov 17, 4:30-7:30 pm
Friday, Nov 18, 8:30-noon
Pro-D Day--No Sessions
Monday, Nov 21
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SHONOT | ODDS 'N ENDZ
Vancouver Talmud Torah is always looking for Teachers On Call/Substitutes in Judaic Studies. Applicants must be certified teachers, either through the BC College of Teachers or through Ministry of Independent Schools. Please forward resumes to Rabbi Bellas and feel free to share this post with your network.
TRYING TO CAPTURE SCHOOL MEMORIES?
Whether you're using an iPhone, Blackberry, Android phone or digital camera, kindly respect the privacy of others and ONLY take photos of your own children UNLESS you have expressed consent from other parents to photograph their children.
EVERY YEAR HUNDREDS OF ITEMS END UP IN VTT'S LOST & FOUND. Make sure your child's belongings make their way back to their rightful owners and LABEL EVERYTHING! Without a label (Sharpies are are easy and convenient), there is no way to return lost items. The Lost & Found is already filling up with UNLABELLED items! Save your money and label all your children's personal effects. |
Community Announcements The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) presents "The Wartime Escape," the story of the creators of Curious George's escape from Nazi-occupied France. On exhibit from Oct 17 - Nov 30, 2011.
Kristallnacht Commemoration Lecture with Dr. Anna Ornstein
Sunday, Nov 6, 7:30 p.m.
Congregation Beth Israel
The Looming Crisis in the Middle East: Lecture with Dr. Barry Rubin
Monday, Nov 7, 7:30pm, KDHS
The Vancouver International Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday, Nov 10. Check out the list of great films coming to our city.
Meditating & Healing Through the Art of Colour
Sunday, Nov 20, 10-4
Simcha Fest: Jewish Events Tradeshow
Sunday, Nov 20, 11-3 at Schara Tzedeck Congregation
Tuesday, Nov 22, 7 p.m.
Register by November 30th and receive a discount!
Coaches are currently being recruited to coach Team Canada at the 19th Maccabiah Games in July 2013.
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UPDATE ON CAMBRIDGE & CO. UNIFORM CHARGES
Cambridge & Co. will make uniform deliveries twice a month at no charge: on the 15th and the last day of the month. Rush orders and orders requested outside of these days will be charged a $6 delivery fee.
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GIVING TO VANCOUVER TALMUD TORAH
Did you know that giving to VTT is easier than ever?
Click this link to access our secure online giving page
or feel free to email Tirzah Abraham in our development office. Please consider a minimum donation of $18 for tribute cards so that more funds can go towards our students.
Your contribution can be allocated to the following funds:
Library
Gita Kron
Atid Endowment
Building
Capital
Operations
Cristall Tikkun Olam Chair
Strathcona
Alumni
Performing Arts
MVP Fund
VTT Family Fund
To read more details about these funds, download our "Generosity" flyer. Beautiful tribute cards, designed by Jasmine Sasky, are sent by the school development office to mark any number of occasions, milestones and/or life cycle events.
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GRANDPARENTS ARE VTT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOO!
Bubbes & Zaydes, Sabas & Savtas, Grandmas & Grandpas are vital members of the VTT community. We'd like to include them in relevant school communications, including invitations to our annual Hanukkah concert and other events of interest. Kindly forward email address to Jennifer Shecter-Balin, our Director of Communications.
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Vancouver Talmud Torah is a traditional Jewish community day school dedicated to excellence in an engaging and respectful learning environment in which Jewish children can become proud, caring, responsible, and dedicated members of the Jewish people and Canadian society.
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We are a community of faculty, staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni, family and friends! Feel free to join us.
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