HOW THE VTT WEST SIDE BUS CHANGED ONE FAMILY'S LIFE
By Michelle Dodek

My children are in Grades 1 and 2. Every morning the three of us walk to meet the bus at Memorial Park on 31st Avenue, chatting, looking at the beautiful changing leaves, and kicking acorns along the way. We leave the house a mere 15 minutes earlier, walking eight lovely minutes to the bus. When I asked my children why they like the school bus, these were their responses:

• There is a lot of room and it is very peaceful.
• Parents don't have to drive their kids to school so there isn't as much traffic.
• When you get off the bus, you go a secret way into school.
• We love the bus because there is less pollution.
• Parents get more time to work when they drop their kids off at the bus.
• We love walking together in the morning, hearing the birds chirping and smelling the beautiful roses. 

 

Need I say more? The kids happily board this safe, welcoming bus, eager to begin school and I am able to start my day without any of the stresses associated with going near the busy area surrounding VTT. This bus is absolutely wonderful for our whole family.
 
The only thing missing is more riders!  Get your kids on the bus. You'll all love it.
 
With sincere gratitude for the VTT West Side bus,
 
Michelle Dodek

WEEKLY TORAH PORTION WITH RABBI BELLAS  

 

Shabbat Parashat No'ah

Bring an End to Sinat Hinam/Senseless Hatred between Fellow People

 

This week, our Torah portion contains the well-known story of Noah and the flood. We begin the tale by learning that all moral, ethical, and respectful behavior have been abandoned by humanity (rabbinic commentary and midrashim teach us that all manner of illicit activities had been undertaken by people, including murder, theft, and senseless hatred between fellow people, among many others) and that God has decided that the only solution to the problem is to flood the world. "Creation" would occur again through Noah's family, his offspring, and the animals and plants which they will preserve on an ark. After the rainfall and the waiting out of the receding waters from upon the face of the earth for several months, those dwelling on the ark are able to disembark and to begin their lives again. God creates a covenant never to destroy the world in such a way again and offers humanity the opportunity to eat meat in hopes that this would assuage some of our violent and hurtful tendencies. It was a chance for a new beginning and to learn from the generations of humanity who had lost their way in their treatment of each other and their awareness of God's presence in themselves and the world.

 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Please pass along our Early Years Open House information to family and friends with children of preschool or kindergarten age. Pre-registration highly appreciated!
Email Tammy Kalvari at tkalvari@talmudtorah.com

Our Grade 6/7 Tornadoes Boys Soccer Team gets ready to compete against their counterparts in the public school system.

It's not just Natasha and Michal that are eager to help you in the Learning Commons. Many student volunteers in Grades 5-7 are ready to check in and out your books and make your experience pleasant and friendly.


K2 students show off their hand sewn Torahs in honour of Simchat Torah.

Math consultant Carole Fullerton challenged, dazzled and impressed our intermediate parents at a workshop on Wednesday evening. With double the attendance of her first presentation, the session moved to the small gym where attendees played, struggled and questioned the new methods and theories propelling the national shift in K-12 math instruction. Ms. Fullerton will be supporting our faculty as we implement these significant changes.