Top Krieger Schechter Day School     
December 14, 2014 
In This Issue
News and Announcements
Tzedakah
Athletics
Week at a Glance
Upcoming Events
In Our Community
Know the Code
This week our school participated in the Hour of Code, an international campaign that introduces students to the basics of computer science. MS students mentored some of our LS students as they worked on their tasks. Here, Jacob B. (Grade 7) problem solves with Jessie Pearl G. (Grade 4).

News and Announcements


2015 Learning Festival Presenter Registration

One of the goals of the Learning Festival, which will take place Tuesday, February 10 - Thursday, February 12, is to connect KSDS students with their local community. We are in need of  presenters (or people who could connect us to presenters) who are willing to speak from expertise and/or experience on a variety of topics related to this year's theme: Hispaniola and the Caribbean.

 

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • History
  • Jewish history
  • Geography
  • Colonization
  • Culture (art, music, dance, sports, games, language)
  • Economy
  • Daily life/struggles
  • International affairs

You may also volunteer your time on Thursday, February 12, to assist with a cooking project or scrapbooking project. If you are interested in participating, please click here. Please contact Michelle Frisby at [email protected] if you know of someone who the Learning Festival Committee could contact to present. Thank you!

 

Grade 8 Parent/Student Meeting

This is a reminder that the Grade 8 Parent/Student meeting about the Israel Trip and the Grade 8 play will be on Monday, December 15 at 7 pm in the Esterson.

 

We are BGE "Wires Down" Video Challenge Finalists!

The online public voting phase of the 3rd Annual Wires Down Video Challenge is over and we are excited to announce that the KSDS Grade 4 submission has been advanced to the final round of judging. A panel of judges will now review all finalist videos for their creativity, teamwork, demonstration of safety, rendition of the "Wires Down" song and its overall impression. Winners will be announced in January 2015!

 

Library News

We are encouraging students to read Jewish books during this month, which traditionally is Jewish Book Month (the month of Kislev). Students who read or hear a book with Jewish content will add a candle to one of the "Lights On" chanukiyot outside of the Library entrance. We are announcing this to grades K-5, but any student may participate. All we need is the title of the book, your child's name and grade. Please send in the information to [email protected] or [email protected].

 

Parent Facilitators Needed for Middle School Winter Clubs!

During the winter months, the Middle School offers clubs for students to participate in during lunch/recess (approximately 11:15 am-12 pm). Usually, a particular club meets one day per week for a number of weeks in January and February (you can set however many weeks work for your schedule). We are looking for parents with interests, talents, or something fun to share with our middle schoolers. If you are interested in helping to run a Middle School Club, please e-mail Karen Booth by December 16 at [email protected] to discuss schedules and topics. Past examples of clubs have included: French club, Yiddish club, board games, jewelry making, knitting, robotics, airplane making, sign language, literary magazine, debate, and much more!  

Bunches of Lunches: KSDS Fights Hunger One Lunch at a Time

150 seniors in need are counting on KSDS for a healthy meal on Tuesday, December 16, so on that day please pack an extra brown-bag lunch as part of KSDS's monthly Bunches of Lunches collection. Through KSDS's partnership with Jewish Volunteer Connection, our community will donate the lunches to vulnerable seniors of all backgrounds who have signed up to get a healthy meal and who are depending upon support. Our goal is to collect 150 lunches this month and 1,000 for the year (we have collected 261 lunches total so far in the months of October and November). As we continue throughout the year you can monitor our progress on the thermometer graphic which will be up next week in the Rosenbloom lobby.

 

During morning arrival on the 16th, students will deposit the lunches in a collection box located in the Rosenbloom lobby. Please click here for important updated instructions about what to pack and for the new  edition of "Family Talk", a brief resource designed to guide family discussions about hunger and poverty and to frame the program in a Jewish context. For more information or to get involved, please contact Jill Baldinger at [email protected].

 

Spirit Wear

Looking for last minute Hanukkah gifts? Stop by the spirit wear case...We have plenty of inventory and we are trying to make room for new items!

 

Service Leaning Projects for Indoor Recess

On inclement weather days during indoor recess, on-call volunteers will help guide Middle School students and Lower School students in service learning projects, crafts, etc. for Baltimoreans in need. To be a volunteer for Middle school or Lower School, please contact Heather Cohen at [email protected].

 

January Hot Lunch Ordering

We are continuing our partnership with www.orderlunches.com to process all of the hot lunch orders this year. Attached is an information sheet which details the instructions to register and order hot lunches. The combo meal will include an entr�e, vegetables, fresh fruit and beverage (milk on dairy days and juice on meat days; water is always available). On dairy days, you will be able to order an "entr�e only". Beverages are available daily. The order period for January will open on December 5 and close on December 20. 

After School Enrichment

After School Enrichment Classes begin in January and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please see the attached document with class descriptions and a sign up form.

 

KSDS Students perform with Rick Recht: A Community Havdalah Concert

Saturday, January 10, 7 pm Tickets only $10/person (online)

This Jewish rock star has toured the world, and KSDS MS choir students will have the chance to perform with him at this special evening program. Recht empowers multigenerational audiences with his unique blend of rock, pop, and messages of spirituality and social action. See here for tickets & details. Get a sneak peak here. If you are a Middle School student interested in performing, please contact Erika Schon at [email protected]. 

 

Information Session for JCC Maccabi ArtsFest

Middle School students, to get more information about the JCC Maccabi ArtsFest, visit with Melissa Berman on Thursday, December 18 during Middle School lunch in room 250. For more information about JCC Maccabi ArtsFest, please see the "In Our Community" section below.

 

 

Tzedakah

 

Lower School and Middle School Tzedakah

 

In connection to the light of Channukah, Tzedakah will be collected for The Jewish Braille Institute.

 

"The JBI Library provides individuals who are blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped or reading disabled with books, magazines and special publications of Jewish and general interest in Audio, Large Print and Braille formats. The unique services provided by JBI, all of which are free of charge, enable

children, adults and seniors- all over the world - to participate fully in the life of their communities."

 

By supporting JBI you help provide a life-changing service to adults and children who are blind or visually impaired. For more information go to: www.jbilibrary.org.

 
 

Athletics

 

Monday, December 15

Boys A - practice 4:30-5:30 pm

Boys B - practice 4:30-5:30 pm

Boys C - practice 3:30-4:30 pm

Girls A - practice 5:30-6:30 pm

Girls B - practice 5:30-6:30 pm

Girls C - practice 3:30-4:30 pm

 

Tuesday, December 16

Boys A - OFF

Boys B - practice 5-6:30 pm

Boys C - practice 4-5 pm

Girls A - OFF

Girls B - practice 5-6 pm

Girls C - practice 4-5 pm

 

Wednesday, December 17

Boys A - practice 5-6 pm

Boys B - practice 5-6 pm

Boys C - off

Girls A - practice 4-5 pm

Girls B - practice 4-5 pm

Girls C - off

 

Thursday, December 18

Boys A - Home vs. Odyssey 3:30 pm

Boys B - Home vs. Odyssey 4:30 pm

Boys C - practice 5:30-6:30 pm

Girls A - at Odyssey 4:30 pm

Girls B - off

Girls C - at Odyssey 3:30 pm

  

 

Week at a Glance

 

Important Dates to Note

 

Monday, December 15:
  • Grade 8 Israel Trip Meeting (Grade 8 Students & Parents), 7-8 pm in the Esterson
Tuesday, December 16:
  • Bunches of Lunches
Wednesday, December 17:
  • Hanukkah Begins
Friday, December 19:
  • Open office hours with Bil, 8:15-9:15 am

 

Mark Your Calendar

 

Upcoming Events

 

Monday, December 22:
  • MS Rosh Hodesh Minyan, 8 am 
Tuesday, December 23:
  • Dress down day
Wednesday, December 24 - Sunday, January 4:
  • KSDS Closed: Winter break
Monday, January 5:
  • KSDS Reopens
Wednesday, January 7:
  • Open office hours with Bil, 8:15-9:15 am
Friday, January 9:
  • K-8 Ta'am Shabbat (Parents Welcome), 2:20 pm 

In Our Community  

 

Join us at the Chizuk Amuno Hanukkah Challenge!

Join us on Wednesday, December 17 at 6 pm for family games, singing, and a delicious latke dinner.

At 7 pm there will be an interactive concert with Sam Glaser. RSVP today! We can't wait to celebrate Chanukah with KSDS families and families from all Chizuk Amuno schools! See the attached flyer for more information.

 

JCC Maccabi ArtsFest

JCC Maccabi ArtsFest� is an arts experience for Jewish teens taking place annually during the summer in tandem with the JCC Maccabi Games. This year, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from August 9th-14th, led by a professional artist-in-residence, teens will create new work in their art discipline of choice including Visual Arts, Music, Acting, and Rock Band. To see a full listing of specialties, please visit http://www.jccmaccabiartsfest.org. The program features home hospitality, includes opening and closing events, workshops, performances, exhibits, community service, and social activities, while it strengthens bonds to Jewish heritage and community. Audition dates are March 11 & March 17, 2015 from 5-9 pm. To secure a spot in a chosen art form, students should book an audition TODAY! Contact Melissa Berman (410-559-3593) or [email protected].

 

Calling All Writers!
Center Stage is currently accepting submissions for the 2015 Young Playwrights Festival. This opportunity is open to all Maryland students in grades K-12. The entry deadline is Friday, February 6. For additional information, please see here. Selected playwrights will participate in workshops with professional theater artists and will have their plays produced and performed at Center Stage. Submission guidelines can be found at www.centerstage.org/ypf.

Challah orders
Shabbat Express is back! If anyone is interested in ordering Challah's this year all Spring 2015 orders are due in with payment by winter break, December 23 (see order form here). The first delivery for spring challah's will be January 9. Any questions, please contact Mitzi Spiegelman in Goldsmith at 410-486-8642 or [email protected].