April 30, 2015

Iyar 11, 5775

Good Things Happen Every Week

at The Silver Academy

Rachel Zilbering

Assistant Principal

Spring is finally here and we've had another great week at The Silver Academy! As I walk around the school, it is still surprising to see how the students successfully juggle so much in one day. Students go from Hebrew class, to the science lab, to art and music class, and so on. It's amazing to see their well-roundedness!

As we are approaching the last weeks of school, I want to make you aware of a few upcoming special events, so please mark your calendars.

Friday, May 1, at 2:45, is our final Kabbalat Shabbat of the year. Kindergarten will be leading. All are invited.
Thursday, May 7th, is our annual Lag B'Omer field day. Teams will be announced soon, and we're excited for a healthy blue vs. white competition.
Tuesday May 12, at 7 pm, we will host the program, "Does Size Matter in Education?" Please join us for this important program.
Thursday, May 21, is our Celebration of Learning, where all grades will be participating. Please invite your friends and relatives.
Monday, June 8th, is the Race for Education and End of Year Celebration, which will be held at Green Hills.
Tuesday June 9th, at 7 pm, is the Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony. Please join us in celebrating our graduates.

Shabbat shalom,

Rachel Zilbering

D'var Torah

Nachum Chasan, Head of School

[email protected]

זכור את יום השבת לקדשו

CANDLE LIGHTING - 7:42 PM

HAVDALAH - 8:45 PM

SHABBAT PARSHAT - ACHAREI MOT/KEDOSHIM - Leviticus 16:1 - 20:27

סיכום - Summary

This week is again a double portion.
The portion begins by recalling the deaths of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu.
Next it describes the rituals for the sin offerings that Aaron is to present in the Sanctuary for himself and the people.
The second part contains approximately fifty mitzvoth. Here is a cross section of some of the more important ones.

* Reverence for one's mother and father

* Leaving an edge on one's field unreaped, for the poor.

* Not stealing or dealing falsely.

* Not putting a stumbling block before the blind.

* Not standing idly by the blood of one's neighbor.

* Not taking vengeance or bearing a grudge.

* Loving one's neighbor.

SHABBAT SHALOM שבת שלום -

Nachum Chasan

Head of School

Inside the Classroom

1st Grade Judaics

Mrs. Aviva Woodland

Kitah Alef has been in high gear learning the letters Mem and Mem Sofit with Ariot. The students have just finished reading "Hillel HaShow-el" (Hillel the Questioner) and are using new vocabulary to ask questions, Me? (who), Ma? (what), Comma? (how many) and Lama? (why). Other new vocabulary words are Melech (king), Mishpacha (family), shaMayim (sky), Mayim (water) and yaM (sea). Don't be surprised if you find your Kitah Alef student asking many questions like Hillel HaShow-el!

Students of Kitah Alef love the new Parashat haShavuah song they have learned which has the names of the 5 books of the Torah. Each week they listen to the first verse of the Parasha (Torah portion) and are enjoying writing a simple sentence on the Parasha in Hebrew. In Everyday Hebrew we are learning Hebrew words for different kinds of clothing, and Ani Lovesh (I am wearing - masc) or Ani Loveshet (I am wearing - fem).

Kitah Alef is enjoying learning about Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people. We made a donation to thank Chayalim (soldiers) of Israel who give their all to protect and defend Israel. We are learning about the symbols of Israel and Yerushaliyim (Jerusalem) and T'filot Leshlom Yisrael (Prayers of Peace for Israel) in time to celebrate Yom Yerushaliyim which falls on 28th of Eyar (May 17th).

Kitah Alef makes a Mem Sofit!

2nd Grade General Studies

Mrs. Brandy Hurley

This week we are exploring tropical rainforests! Through various resources, our class is learning about the four layers of the rainforest and what plants and animals live on each layer. We are also learning about the gifts that we receive from rainforests. Unfortunately, if we want to continue benefiting from the rainforests, we need to do everything we can to protect this wonderful resource. We are currently in the middle of our persuasive writing unit and will use these new writing skills to convince others to protect and care for the world's rainforests.

Creating a Mural Showing the Layers of the Rainforest

Shalom From Jerusalem

The Silver Academy 7th and 8th Graders have just returned to Jerusalem after spending an amazing week and a half exploring and experiencing the wonders of the Jewish Homeland. We are now getting ready to celebrate our last Shabbat in Israel with Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel (The Western Wall).

The following are just some of the highlights of our amazing journey:

Visiting the Ethiopian Jewish immigrants in their new homes in Ma'aleh Adumim.
Latrun - Israeli Tank Corps Museum
The white cliffs and grottos at Rosh Hanikra
Acco Underground Prisoners Museum
Shabbat in Tzfat - the city of Jewish mystics
Tiberias - Boat ride on the Kinneret with a drum circle.
Hiking in the Golan Heights
Kayaking adventure down the Jordan River
Rehovot's Ayalon Institute - the Haganah's secret underground bullet factory
Kibbutz Sde Boker - David Ben Gurion's dream to make the desert bloom
Hike in the unique geological beauty of Machtesh Ramon
Camel rides and Bedouin hospitality at Kfar Noekdim
Pre-sunrise ascent to Massada via the Roman Ramp - Sunrise and morning Tefelot in the world's oldest Synagogue - Descend by the Snake Path
Floating in the Dead Sea and visiting the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve

We will be spending the last few days of our trip in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday, May 5th.

NACHUM CHASAN

RABBI MOSHE YOSEF GEWIRTZ

Hiking...