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On The Bridge November 15, 2012
Gesher Jewish Day School 1 Kislev, 5773
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Shabbat Shalom
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שבת שלום
Candlelighting: 4:37 pm
Toldot
תולדות
Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19 - 28:9
Haftarah: Malachi 1:1 - 2:7
Yasher Koach to today's Torah Readers: Jared G.,
Jacob S., Talia B., and Alexa S.
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Upcoming Events
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See our full calendar of events!
November 15- School Pictures (rescheduled)
November 18- Admissions Open House , 10 a.m.
November 21- Grandparents/VIP Day, 10 a.m.- Noon Dismissal
November 22-23- Thanksgiving, No School
December 7- Concert and Kabbalat Shabbat with Sheldon Low
December 9-16- Chanukah; first candle: December 8
December 12- Chanukah Family Celebration! Featuring
Yachad-Together@65
December 16- Dinner with a Twist
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Greetings!
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Dr. David Eagleman, professor of neuroscience at the Baylor College of Medicine, was this year's keynote speaker at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Annual Conference in Richmond. From his research background in the areas of time perception, vision, and synesthesia ("union of the senses," look it up!), Dr. Eagleman reported to the educators assembled that due to the advancements in technology over the past two decades, our students are different from us neurologically. Young people who have grown up with full and ready access to computers, the internet, smart devices, video gaming, etc., can be called "digital natives." People who grew up without the prevalence of digital stimuli and who have come to it later in life may be proficient in technology- but are not native to it- are DSL, digital as a second language, learners. One simple, but observable, difference is the way digital natives scan a text vs. the way DSL learners scan a text. By measuring eye movements, it can be shown that DSL learners start at the top and then scan down the page picking out key words whereas digital natives jump from block to block of text- treating text as they would a website. Dr. Eagleman's point is not that one of these orientations to technology is better than the other- but that they are different, and as educators, we need to build our lessons based on who are students are now. As an example, he put an (obscure) quote on the board and asked us if anyone knew where it was from. After a long pause- he reported that with young people he never would have a wait like that; they would have already googled the answer by then and the lesson would be on its way. He challenged us to build in complexity and sophistication at every step of instruction- to challenge our students beyond where google can take them. It used to be that we would teach a lot of things just in case- like, say, the fifty state capitals- "just in case" you ever needed to know it. Now, Dr. Eagleman told us, we need to teach things "just in time," that is, we teach what is relevant just at the time it is needed to solve a problem. Shabbat Shalom!
Zvi Schoenburg
Head of School
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School News
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Grandparents/VIP Day
Parents, Grandparents, Very Important People! Please RSVP for Grandparents/VIP Day 2012. Please email Rebekah ( rdickinson@gesher-jds.org) so we know to welcome you (back) to Gesher next Wednesday at 10:00 am!
Student Council Reminder Tomorrow during lunch is our Snack Sale for Superstorm Sandy Relief. All money raised will go directly to supporting victims of Superstorm Sandy. All snacks will be between $0.50 and $2.00.
Challah & Bagel Orders Get your delicious challah and bagels delivered to school on Fridays! Order on-line before Monday at noon to be included for the week. We need to pick up our volume to keep our service! Gesher Takes Second in the Go Green Virginia Challenge! Gesher was recognized for second place among day schools of enrollments up to 200 in the Go Green Virginia Challenge. The Go Green Virginia Challenge measures a school's adoption of environmentally friendly policies and procedures. We were awarded a beautiful plaque to mark the award at the VAIS (Virginia Association of Independent Schools) Annual Conference on Monday. Teachers teaching Teachers At the Virginia Association of Independent Schools Conference (VAIS) in Richmond, our Technology Coordinator, Mrs. Seibold, presented a workshop entitled, Beyond Shoeboxes, Posterboards, and PowerPoints: How Students Can Present Information Using New Technologies. The session - based on a similar session by Mrs. Seibold originally given to Gesher faculty during our August In-service- was well received. Teachers and administrators from VAIS schools across the state interested in integrating 21st Century technology tools into classroom instruction were in attendance. Global Day of Jewish Learning
In connection with the annual Global Day of Jewish Learning, Gesher Jewish Day School is proud to present two webinars given by Gesher's own Rabbi Baruch Rock.
Sunday night, November 18, 2012, 9pm, log on to learn about "Galaxies, Diapers, and Dish Soap - Appreciating our Everyday Lives" and
Monday night, November 19, 2012 at 9pm, log on to learn about "Blessing the Bad: How do We Relate to Bad Things".
No prior knowledge is necessary to attend the webinars. All are welcome! RSVP to Mr. Sam to receive login information and the materials that will be covered during the webinar. For more information click here!
Lost and Found The lost and found pile is growing by the day! Feel free to rummage through the box of clothing, jackets, lunch boxes and other miscellaneous items to find your children's lost belongings. Thank you! PS- Please label your kids' clothing, it wouldn't hurt! Pictures:  | | Kitah Gimel students Michelle M., Josh S., and Nathan F. present their tribe during Native American Day. |
 | | Kitah Chet bride and groom Alexa S. and Zach W. get married in
the Middle School's mock wedding.
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Head, Heart and Hand
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Our Braided Cord: Head, Heart, Hand Program has had a strong start so far this year. Last week our elementary school classes introduced their specific topic and mitzvah during Kabbalat Shabbat. As a class, they created a poster and a skit that depicted their mitzvah.
Next week, we are very excited to have visitors join us for VIP day and to have them share in our HHH activities.
Keep your eyes open in next week's edition to see what Head, Heart, and Hand activity each grade participated in with their visitors.
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PTO
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Get Caught Wearing Purple!
"Get Caught Wearing Purple" is a PTO sponsored activity to raise school spirit! We ask students to wear Gesher colors of purple and/or white every Friday to show school spirit. In return for showing school spirit, the students get rewarded. This year we are making adaptations to "Get Caught Wearing Purple". We are sure that the students and teachers will be very happy with the changes! Look for a full description of the changes in the November 14th Gesher Gram......so start wearing your purple and white on Fridays to get ready for another fun year of "Get Caught Wearing Purple"!!!!
PTO Book Sale- help needed!
*****We are in need of a chairperson and many parent volunteers for the PTO book sale that we hope will take place in February 2013. Without a chair and volunteer parent involvement, this event may not be able to go on. If you are interested, please contact me at lch1268@aol.com. Thank you!
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Admissions
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Admissions Open House and Open Gym Nov 18 On Sunday morning, 10:00 a.m., Nov 18th, we will be hosting an open gym and admissions open house for prospective families. Please join us if you'd like to serve as a parent ambassador. If you have a middle school or high school Gesher alum who needs community service hours, this is the morning for them! We need help in our gym to watch the children while I tour their parents. Please contact Debra at dmendelson@gesher-jds.org. Sheldon Low Concert Friday, Dec 7th for preschoolers! We will be inviting the community and our area preschoolers to come to Gesher on Dec 7th, 10:30-11:30 for a concert by Sheldon Low. I need many parents to assist us with this program. Please consider helping and contact Debra to learn more at 703-962-9216! Additionally, Sheldon will be our musician in residence for Kabbalat Shabbat at 1:30 that afternoon. Plan to join us to enjoy Kabbalat Shabbat with your children and hear Sheldon Low. Facebook!
Have you liked our Facebook page yet? Friend Gesher JDS at, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gesher-Jewish-Day-School/35325291931?ref=hl Twitter!
We also Tweet from time to time. Become a Gesher JDS Twitter follower at, https://twitter.com/gesherjds |
| Development and Fundraising | |
You could dine with Juan Williams...
Aviva Kempner...
Ken Feinberg...
Julianna Goldman... and six others!
CLICK HERE to view the incredible line up of Speakers and Hosts.
CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS online - dinner placement is first come, first served, so act quickly! Invitations will be in mailboxes starting this weekend!
Dinner with a Twist Invitations are in the mail! Respond early to ensure your preference is noted.
Click here to see the lineup!
NEXT MONDAY NOVEMBER 19 IS OUR ORDER DEADLINE TO CHARGE SCRIP PURCHASES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD IN TIME FOR HANNUKAH ARRIVAL!! |
| Mitzvah Coupon Donations | |
Mitzvah Coupon donations can be made on-line through our secure website,
www.gesher-jds.org. Simply log in and click on the Donate link at the top of our homepage.
In memory of Leonard Sattler
Miriam and Jeffrey Berkowitz
Ingrid and Zvi Schoenburg
Donation to the David Loewenstein Memorial Siddur Fund
Hana and Michael Loewenstein
In memory of Henry Frenkel
Marci and Alan Benheim
In memory of Bernard Tursky
Marci and Alan Benheim
In memory of Marshall Becker
Marci and Alan Benheim
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| Caring Community |
Visit Jconnect.org! Jconnect.org is the one place where you can go to find information on everything Jewish in the Greater Washington community. This new community site features a robust community calendar that's easy to navigate for both posters and users. Please check the website often as the site is ever-changing!
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| Community Announcements | |
Please click on the links below to view each flyer.
The Washington Jewish Week is now available for purchase from the newsstand in the office for $1.
West Springfield High School's fall play: "Diary of Anne Frank"
The Magic of Shabbat at Camp: A Family Shabbaton Experience
The IDF Musical Ensemble on Sunday, December 16th
Kids Night Out at the JCC!
Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy presents Fools by Neil Simon
Two exciting November performances at the JCCNV
The Jewish Federation Wants to Help! 
If you are in need of financial assistance at t his time, or if you know anyone in the community who is in need, please do not hesitate to contact the Jewish Federation's Warm Line at 1-866-950-4AID.
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We welcome your inquiries. To schedule a tour, or for more information about admissions or making a donation to Gesher Jewish Day School, please contact us at (703)978-9789.
Sincerely,
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Gesher Jewish Day School
4800 Mattie Moore Court
Fairfax, VA 22030
phone: (703) 978-9789
fax: (703)978-2668
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Address or Email Changes
If you have changes to your email or mailing address, please send them to mparnes@gesher-jds.org so we can update your information. If you wish to be removed from the "On the Bridge" e-letter distribution list, please do not use the "SafeUnsubscribe" link below unless you wish to be removed from all email correspondence from Gesher Jewish Day School.
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