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This weekly publication is emailed to all of our subscribers. The newsletter recaps the week's events at the Torah Academy and informs readers of upcoming programs and events. A printed copy is sent home on Fridays to each TA family.Happy reading and have a Good Shabbas!
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Candle Lighting 7:08 pm
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20 Elul, 5775 /September 4, 2015
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This week's Kol Torah has been generously sponsored by:
Debbie Grad and her children Coby and Andrew
In honor of the wedding of their daughter and sister
Rachel Adams to Ari Berkowitz
If you would like to sponsor an issue of Kol Torah in honor or in memory of a loved one contact Stuart Gasner at sgasner@taphila.org
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Monday, September 7: Labor Day - no school
Monday- Tuesday, September 14-15: Rosh Hashana- no school
Tuesday - Wednesday, September 22-23: Yom Kippur - no school
Friday - September 25: SCHOOL CLOSED DUE TO PAPAL VISIT
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To the Nosenchuk family on the passing of Mr. Erwin Nosenchuck z"tl
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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
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Our first full week of school has been a whirlwind of activity as students settled into routines and began to actively engage in their learning. From hands-on Shofar activities in the ECP to Middle Schoolers excitedly discussing a Gemara. From exploring letters with a multi-sensory approach to Algebra - our students are ready and they are deeply engaged.
It was also a great pleasure to greet our wonderful parent body on Back to School Night. Thank you for your dedication and the overwhelmingly positive feedback on all of our programs and initiatives this year.
When one steps back to think of the incredible growth each child goes through over the course of the year and how each student will be so radically different in June than they were today, one cannot help but be astonished. In many ways, it seems miraculous.
We know however, that it is a testament to our wonderful educational team, from our teachers to support staff and beyond - each of them are completely dedicated to our children. Each Morah, teacher and Rebbe is passionate about bringing out the best in our children and we thank them for their efforts.
It is also a testament to our students who are willing to take risks and stretch themselves every day. Growth is tricky and takes courage and we applaud our 300 amazing students for embodying a Growth Mindset.
There is one more facet that I would like to share with you:
In this week's parsha, we are commanded to bring Bikurim, our First Fruit to the Beit Hamikdash. When bringing this one solitary fruit as an offering, we recognize that the proverbial and literal fruit of our labor is really from Hashem. The Torah tells us to declare this with the words: V'onisa V'Omarta - "you shall respond and say". Rabbi Yakov Tzvi Yoles of Dinov comments that the term V'Oniso stems from the root of Anivut - humility. One can only connect to the Al-Mighty, truly be at home in the Beit Hamikdash if he adopts a stance of humility.
Growth, whether education or spiritual, can only occur when one is in a state of being humble. That allows us to take honest stock of ourselves and open our hearts and minds to new possibilities. Narcissism and self-centered inhibits real growth and only serves to say "I am happy with the status quo. I am comfortable with who I am now."
The student who strives to learn and the teacher who strives to do whatever it takes to make his or her classroom an electric learning environment exhibits that healthy humility that is the sine qua non of the Growth Mindset that we are seeking to instill in each of our talmidim.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Isaac Entin
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RABBI ENTIN'S RECOMMENDED READING
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| INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - PHYSICAL ED. |
Dear Families,
Welcome Back!
I am looking forward to another exciting year with your Kinderlach! As part of growth and development in a passionate effort to reach all of my students, I've modified the repertoire by adding new games/activities. It is my desire to keep the students excited about physical education as well as keeping them challenged. I have also added with the help of colleague/teammate Mrs. Dardashti a new "Star of the Month" board just outside the gym. The board will recognize a student from each of the grades (1st -8th) that displays exemplary behavior for that particular week. Another piece of the curriculum will be a "gym board room" sit down, during which I will refer to the white board and we will discuss nutrition and strength exercises (goal oriented).
For the first few weeks, the students will be "in training" for the activities that lie ahead. The training techniques applied will consist of a series of workouts/ contests to test their strength, stamina, teamwork, decision making, work ethic and much more. The goal is to learn as much about themselves, which in essence serves a purpose in the development of their character.
Looking Forward!
Best,
Coach Kenny
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| INSIDE THE CLASSROOM - 4TH GRADE BOYS |
"Well we're movin on up...
We finally got a piece of the pie."
There is something about this quote that almost perfectly describes the  first week of school for our fourth graders. They have moved on up to the second floor of TA and with new subjects and goals for the year, they are finally getting a piece of the pie.
Our fourth graders will continue to hone their stellar chumash skills this year as we work towards our goal of completing Sefer Berieshis. Using the Lehavin u'Lehaskil workbooks with a heavy emphasis on reading, translating, and understanding Rashi, parshas Vayeishev is only the beginning for us.
Mishna is a new subject for the boys this year. While many of our students have begun to learn mishna already on the side, learning it through the lens of the Gemara Berura program is a whole new challenge. After spending a week on our introduction to Torah She'Baal Peh, the boys are ready to start Messechta Sukkah.
Even with so much emphasis on chumash and mishna, somehow the boys still find time to work on their kickball skills and try to teach me a thing or two on the field.
With a start like this, I can tell it is going to be an awesome year.
-R' Faigen
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STUDENT D'VAR TORAH - MICHOEL CHASE
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דבר תורה  פרשת כי תבוא וְלֹא־נָתַן יְהֹוָה לָכֶם לֵב לָדַעַת וְעֵינַיִם לִרְאוֹת וְאָזְנַיִם לִשְׁמֹעַ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה: (דברים כט:ג)
But 'ה did not give you a heart to know or eyes to see or ears to hear until this day.
Rashi says that when Moshe wrote the original Sefer Torah he gave it to the Leviim to protect, and the other Jews complained that they did not get one as well. Moshe laughed when he heard this because it meant that the Jews wanted the Torah, unlike when they complained about the mun-just to complain. Now Moshe knew that they truly wanted the Torah.
One might ask, "How did Moshe know this?" It was clear to him because when the Jews were at Har Sinai they said "ונשמע aנעשי" - we will do and we will listen"-but that could have been just because of the moment. When they were offered the Torah they were carried away with the emotions of the experience. But forty years later, when the generation that stood at Har Sinai had passed on, they still wanted the Torah! This made it clear to Moshe that they truly meant it.
As we approach the yamim noraim we tend to be focused on what we need to change and fix about ourselves. People tend to be focussed on their actions. Just as the Jewish people showed their love and desires by recommitting themselves to Hashem's Torah, we must also think about where our hearts are as well as our actions.
(Rabbi Frand on the Parsha)
Gut Shabbos, Michoel Chase
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Last Shabbat, over 300 people attended the Back to School Dessert Oneg at the French School playground. The event was part of a "Back to School Week" celebration which featured the Back to School Bash, new families being hosted by existing families for Shabbat lunch and the dessert oneg. These events were all sponsored by the PTO.
A big thank you to our PTO for their excellent planning and hard work for these events. Thank you to Galitte Den for chairing the new family Shabbat meals, Chava Paris our PTO president, and Ronit Snitman of Flower Tale for the beautiful flower arrangements. The events could not happen without our parent and teacher volunteer: Rachel Mazurek, Dahlia Ocken, Patty Towler, Israela Friedman, Rabbi Schwersenski, Rebecca Sasson, and Tanya Libesman. Thank you to our student volunteers: Tali Snitman, Anaelle Snitman, Liora Snitman, Anna Chasky, Judah Troodler and Gabi Brown for their help in setting up the Oneg.
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BULLETIN BOARD OF THE WEEK
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Each week, Kol Torah will feature a Torah Academy family or a faculty member. If your family would like to be featured please email Stuart Gasner - sgasner@taphila.org
Mrs. Chrissy Badger
How long have you been teaching at TA? 
This will be my 6th year at TA.
Where did you work before TA?
I was a 4th grade teacher in the Connecticut and North Carolina public schools.
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA.
How many people are there in your family?
There are four of us. My husband, Rich, is a chemist, Evan is 10 and in 5th grade, Brandon is 7 and in 2nd grade.
What schools did you attend?
I graduated from Penn State and received my Master's from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
What is the reason you decided to become a teacher?
I enjoy watching children learn from the world around them. I like to enhance their learning through guiding and teaching.
If you could not be a teacher- what other profession would you want?
I would love to work in Human Resources because I enjoy helping others whether it be in the workplace or outside of school.
What are your hobbies?
Dancing, scrap booking and golf.
What subject do you enjoy teaching the most?
Writing. There are literally so many ways to create writing.
What was your favorite subject to learn in school?
Writing. I found it very inspiring as well as an outlet for creativity.
List something that most people at TA don't know about you.
I was a model as a teenager.
What advice do you have for TA students.
Enjoy your time as a child and as a student and even when you "don't like school" remember that there are so many children around the world who would love to be able to go to school. Count your blessings and remember to have fun.
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The Torah academy library is looking for volunteers to re-shelve, reorganize and rethink our library. We are also looking for help with our upcoming Scholastic Book fair. Contact rachelmollyloonin@gmail.com if you have even 30 minutes of your time to donate.
Thank you!
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KIDSTUFF coupon books benefit PTO and are available now. The books are each $25...buy or sell 5 and the 6th is yours for free. There are lots of coupons for local attractions and shopping and most coupons are good through December '16. To order or preview your copy, please contact Janet at jeisenberg345@gmail.com. Please note that the book contains coupons for kosher and non- kosher establishments.
Keep those Box Tops coming...The summer Box Top saving challenge ends on September 21...then we count down to the hundredth day of school. Clean out your junk drawer stashes to benefit PTO. Please write your family's name on your submission bag/ envelope and bring it to the box at the security desk. For product and program information, visit www.boxtops4education.com.
Ongoing PTO free FUNdraisers include Target Take Charge of Education (register your Target credit cards at 800- 316- 6142), saving Brown's Shoprite receipts, Labels for Education (Post/ Pepperidge Farms/ BIC products etc.) and General Mills Box Tops for Education (use the green box at the security desk), Amazon Smile program, www.goodsearch.com (also online shopping) and, starting next week...the Giant Aplus program (more details to follow...use NEW id# 23875)...you do not need to be a parent to support these programs...start recruiting PTO support today!! For more details about these initiativeS, contact jeisenberg345@gmail.com.
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Host our B'not Sherut for a meal
Click here t o view and sign up for the meal schedule.
TA Text Messaging
Stay informed with important TA information such as emergency announcements, school closings and event reminders.
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8th Grade Pizza and Pretzels
Pizza will be sold Wednesday for $2 a slice and soft pretzels sold Friday for $1.
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Kol Torah is for Grandparents too!
Would your parents like to have a window into their grandchildren's Torah Academy's world?
To receive Kol Torah send email addresses here
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