The Maggid: The Weekly Newsletter of MJCDS

October 11, 2013

7 Cheshvan, 5774

In this week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, Abram hears God's call and begins a journey that sets in motion the beginning of the Jewish story. This week, students from grades 2-4 learned about Mesopotamian culture from which Abram emerged.

Not unlike the patriarch Abram (who later in the story becomes Abraham), each of us walks our own Jewish path. When we are young, this path leads us through the early years of Jewish education that in some ways culminate in bar or bat mitzvah.

Our Jewish journey should not end at age thirteen. Part of MJCDS's mission is to be a community of lifelong learners. Each of our board meetings begin with a few minutes of Jewish learning that set the tone for the work we do. Adults who engage in Jewish learning set a powerful example for the children in their lives.

In this spirit, MJCDS is offering a new monthly class for adults with children ages 4K-grade 5 called Chai Mitzvah. Please see the announcements below for details and join us for this opportunity to explore, grow and learn Jewishly.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Rebecca

In This Issue

MJCDS Announcements Chai Mitzvah Class Parent-Teacher Conferences Curriculum & Singalong Night

Photos

Community Events

Calendar

Announcements

Picture Day is Tuesday, October 15

Pictures will be taken at 1 pm. If you would like to bring a younger sibling for a picture of your all your children together, you are invited to do so. If you'd like to help out with Picture Day, please let Morah Marla know.

Yoga Class Forms Due Wednesday

Thanks to Dara Kobylarz's nomination of our school, MJCDS students will enjoy a yoga class led by children and family yoga teacher Jaime Gempner. Please return the forms found in your child's backpack by next Wednesday. A few blank forms can also be found under the collection box outside Rabbi Rebecca's office.

Fall Parent-Teacher Conference Registration

Fall conference time is approaching. Conferences will be held during the afternoon and early evening on Mondays, November 11 and 18. Conferences are scheduled for thirty minutes per student, which we hope will enable you to have unhurried and productive conversations about your child(ren)'s progress.

To facilitate scheduling, we are asking you to reply to a "doodle" scheduling poll. Click the link below and indicate which of the three time slots are possible for you. You will be asked to mark each time slot as with either "YES," "NO," or "(YES) if need be". One parent may reply on behalf of each family--both need not do so. Here's the link: http://doodle.com/56ntxniqd2zb7wr2. Please be in touch with any questions.

Chai Mitzvah: Jewish Learning for Parents

First Meeting, Nov. 3, 7-8:30 pm

How do you develop, redefine and explore what Judaism means to you during your adult life? You become Chai Mitzvah. MJCDS has decided to launch an innovative initiative for parents of children grades 4K-grade 5 called Chai Mitzvah. The program is sponsored by MJCDS and is open to the public.

Our group will meet monthly to study a text-based curriculum that will provide you with an opportunity to reflect and discuss topics including:

*Jewish Rites of Passage *Tzedakah & Philanthropy

*Interpersonal Relationships *Mindfulness & Conscious Living

*Gratitude *Judaism and the Environment

*Insights of Passover *Memory & Meaning in Judaism

Meetings are monthly on Sunday evenings 7-8:30 pm. The cost of the program is $18/per participant and includes materials that you keep. Our first class will take place Nov. 3 at Beth Israel Center. Please register asap at www.chaimitzvah.org.

Carseats and Sneakers on Thursdays

On Thursdays, please make sure that you send your child to school with

and a carseat if your child requires one. Gym will take place every Thursday, and so if possible, please purchase a carseat, label it and leave it at school.

Curriculum & Sing-a-long Night

Thursday, October 24, 5:45-7 pm

It may seem like an odd combination, but we're betting it will be fun. Pick up more information about MJCDS's curriculum, and have a chance to chat with teachers and with Rabbi Rebecca. Then join music teacher Kenny Lyons for a family sing-a-long. Students, siblings and parents are all invited!

Free Hebrew Children's Books

Sifriyat Pijama B'America (SP-BA) is a Hebrew and Jewish family engagement literacy program implemented throughout the United States. It mails free, high-quality Hebrew Jewish children's literature and music on a monthly basis to children ages 2-8. These books are a gift for your family to keep forever. To receive books, register by visiting www.sp-ba.org/online-registration by October 15th before space runs out!

Extra Clothes

If you have not yet sent in an extra outfit for your child to have at school, please do so as soon as possible. If possible, please send it in a bag labeled with your child's name. Thank you!

Photos of Our Week

Math in the real world. A group of students from grades 2-4 visited a local retailer to collect data on prices and sugar content in candy. They brought the data back to school for a graphing project.

A group of students from grades 2-4 practiced cuneiform writing - They have been learning about about the Mesopotamian culture that Abraham our father came from. They learned to make clay tablets and even wrote messages in cuneiform characters on the clay.

This week k-ers were visited by Ariot, the king of the aleph bet jungle! Ariot was very impressed with how well they knew the letters aleph, bet, and shin. Our students pointed out to Ariot many words with those letters around the room. All communications with the king of the aleph bet jungle must be carried on via email by Rabbi Rebecca. R' Rebecca invites Ariot, and Ariot comes to us whenever his schedule permits.

K-1 students practiced estimation and counting by tens using hundreds of freshly harvested pumpkin seeds. (Pictured above and below)

Community News

Tzedakah Sunday Open House

Sunday, October 20, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 6434 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI

On Sunday, October 20th, we will come together in spirit and in action as one community to make the world a better place. It is our largest telephone fundraiser each year! Come and make your generous donation to the Jewish Federation of Madison's Annual Campaign so that thousands of Jews in our community, in Israel, and around the world can get the help they need. Join us in the mitzvah of Tzedakah by attending the Open House!

Bring your kids and their pennies to add to our giant piggybank.
Listen to stories with your children at 12:30 & 1:30 p.m.
You and your child can take a yoga class with Jamie from littleomBIGOM at 1 pm
Enjoy a slice of pizza or a sweet treat
Help your child create and decorate a tzedakah box of their own!
Get to know our wonderful new shlichim, Racheli and Mickey, by participating in their creative activities at 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

NEW THIS YEAR: Bring your laptop and participate in Minecraft Israel! We will be having an interactive Minecraft activity for everyone interested in playing 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Please RSVP for Minecraft Israel to:
Lynn Kaplan at lkaplan@jewishmadison.org. Participants are asked to make a tzedakah donation. $18 or whatever is in your tzedakah box at home would be great!

Hebrew Classes Ivrit Kala

Beginners - Mondays at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Advanced - Mondays at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm 6434 Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI

Questions? Contact:

Racheli at israel@jewishmadison.org

Cafe Ivrit Is Back!

Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Michaelangelo's Coffee House, 114 State Street, Madison, WI

Cafe Ivrit is a great place to chat in Hebrew about Israel or Jewish issues. It will be run by Mickey and Racheli, our new Israeli Shlichim.To participate or for more information contact:

Racheli at israel@jewishmadison.org Mickey at israelfellow@uwhillel.org

Calendar

Fri. Oct 11 Kabbalat Shabbat 1:30 pm

Deadline to Register for Share a Shabbat

Tues. Oct 15 SCHOOL PICTURE DAY

Thurs. Oct 17 Yoga Class

Gym at the YMCA--remember your sneakers and carseat

Fri. Oct 19 Kabbalat Shabbat 1:30 pm

Thurs. Oct 24 Gym at the YMCA

Curriculum & Singalong Night 5:45 pm

Fri. Oct 25 Kabbalat Shabbat 1:30 pm

Mon. Oct 28 MJCDS Board Meeting, 7:15 pm, 1010 Grant Street

Let's stay in touch! Keep the lines of communication flowing with your child's teachers by calling school at 608-204-9900 or by emailing them at:

Marla Becker marla@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Clara Lazimy clara@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Rabbi Ben-Gideon rabbi@madisonjewishdayschool.com

Support Madison Jewish Community Day School

Learn more at www.madisonjewishdayschool.com