Weizmann Day School Hadashot

March 18 / 8 Adar II, 5776; Candle Lighting at 6:45 pm
In This Issue
Colonial Days Visited!
Board Corner
Annual Fund Campaign - UPDATE!
Middle School WEEL
PTO Family Program
PTO Special Deal
PTO Needs You!
Speaking about Purim...
Principal for a Day
Save the Dates
Things are Happening...
Todah Rabbah
Important REMINDERS:
Monthly Mitzvah Project
School and Community News
Quick Links

 
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Weizmann celebrates...
 
Havdalah Under the Stars!
Fourth grade goes to the
Disney Music Hall!   

K & 1 with special visitors!


Mrs. Feldman joins the 
Dr. Seuss celebration!


Chinese Brush Painting!


Students take the lead and shake things up for school performance.


Hitting the Hebrew books hard in 4th grade!

Maze building with
STEAM in 3rd grade!


Kindergarten and 1st grade celebrate Year of the Monkey with silly monkey faces!


 Having fun on the yard!



Learning takes off for the 6th graders,
with their hot air balloons!
4th grade having fun...

even if it is in Hebrew!
Kindergarten Learning!

Enjoying life 
Weizmann style!



PTO's Petty Fundraising

It's another update from Paul Asimow, your petty fundraising czar!

Let's all try to take advantage of near-instant free-shipping electronic-delivery gift cards at shopwithscrip.com!  

For example, going to IHOP tonight? Buy a gift card and the school gets 8%, just like that! Same deal at Applebee's, Chili's, P.F. Chang's, Outback, Domino's, TGI Friday's, Buca, CPK, Dave & Buster's (13%!), Yard House, etc. 

For your first order of you'll need to sign up at shopwithscrip.com (enrollment code 597D88AL268LL). E-mail (asimow@gps.caltech.edu) or text (626-354-1712) me whenever you place an order for instant fulfillment!

Thanks for your support,  PAUL
Middle School Wednesday WEEL 

Students listen to guest speakers...
 

and they work on DBL projects
 in M.S.
They also hear from 
Weizmann alum!
Students & staff participate in Tu B'Shevat Seder at Victory Park!
Middle School students 
make great buddies!


 
They study about communities and societies while tackling new DBL projects,
and they learn new research skills on the library WEEL trip.
 
Students & staff learn about Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs

from JPL scientist 
Seth Chazanoff.

Middle schoolers learn about microbiology from alum 
Hannah H.M., shown here with a picture of herself in 
3rd grade at WDS!

 
Colonial Days Visited!
Our 5th graders spent the day with their Astro Camp buddies from
Temple Beth Hillel Day School participating in various colonial activities at
Riley's Farm, a working apple orchard and living history farm in Yucaipa.
                      
   
       
Board Corner
This time of year is re-enrollment, and the perfect opportunity to reflect on the many great reasons we remain committed to Weizmann:
 
1. Small is a strength: If you ask your child, they can likely name everyone in the school. That is more than 78 names (!) including teachers and staff. Even in a large public school with hundreds of children, and dozens per class, the likelihood is that their social circle would not be any different in size. And of course, the other side of this close relationship is that all the teachers and staff know your child. They know their strengths and their weaknesses and can help them reach their full potential in a safe and familial environment where they can explore and become their best selves. 
 
2.  
Values do matter: Weizmann draws on thousands of years of Jewish tradition and values in emphasizing kindness and respect for others, for all living things, and for the planet. Weizmann nurtures your child's character and creates the environment where children feel good about being curious, thoughtful, moral, and unique.  
 
3. We are a special community: 100% of our parents, teachers and staff support annual fund because we believe in the school's mission. Our teachers volunteer extra time to support the school and get a chance to connect with your children outside of school. Volunteer for any parent committee and see how many engaged and exceptional parents there are who donate their time to making the school better. One half of the board is made up of parents and one half is made up of people who had a connection to the school in the past but still want to be actively involved and ensure the school's success. At our alumni events, the returning students uniformly speak highly of their Weizmann experience, including the life-long friends they made, and the relationships with the teachers they have years after they graduate. The more you get involved with the school, the more you benefit from this community strength. Our children have made wonderful friends in this community, and so have Elena and I.
 
4. Our children are getting a great education: The teachers are talented and dedicated, most with advanced degrees in addition to teaching credentials.  Matriculation from Weizmann includes all of the prestigious local high schools such as Polytechnic, Westridge, and LACHSA. Students entering the ninth grade from our graduating eighth grade class have reported that they are very well prepared for these top flight high schools. For next year, the entire Weizmann middle school is returning, which speaks highly of the experience felt by students who have been here many years. This is surely due in no small part to the school's robust and engaging curriculum with lots of hands-on and interactive activities including enrichment programs and field trips. This is very unusual for a school of any size to offer. In fact, I know of one local school where they said they avoid field trips because "they are a liability". Our teachers are very dedicated and have been with Weizmann an average of 10 years - some for more than 22 years! Our school head has been here for nearly 21 years, where the average tenure for her peers is under three years. The school has achieved the highest level of WASC accreditation and keeps current with continuing education, core curriculum, and the latest in instructional methods and materials. 

5. The school is well run and thoughtfully budgeted: Lisa was recently recognized by the Jewish Federation as Jewish Professional of the Year and several years ago won the prestigious Milken Educator of the Year award. She has dual advanced degrees in general and Jewish education and is highly experienced and well connected to resources in the community.  Lori Snyder is a highly qualified and experienced administrator (in addition to being someone all the kids run to and deeply adore.) The board of trustees has a tremendous mix of talent and experience. We also launched an endowment fund (which already has over a quarter of a million dollars) with the intent to keep the school affordable into the future. Weizmann provides generous tuition assistance where it is needed and also works closely with any family that has fallen unexpectedly into difficulty. We do not want the cost of a Jewish education to be a barrier to anyone who wants a Jewish education.  We are proud of who we are and who we are teaching our kids to become.
 
Yes Weizmann doesn't have the fanciest buildings, but it does have a truly great group of teachers and staff and the most dedicated head of school and parents you ever will find. And your kids have a great group of friends, both in their grade and others, who treat them with respect, generosity, and warmth because those are the values the adults will model and insist upon. When all is said and done, our special little school offers a tremendous value and a great investment that will give you remarkable return with each year your child is here and grows. 
 
My family looks forward to continuing to make this community great with you as our partner!
 
~ Lawrence, L.
President, Weizmann Board of Trustees

The next board meeting is
Tuesday, April 12, 7:00 pm.
Please note date change from community calendar listing.
Annual Fund Campaign - UPDATE!
We are now only 3 
donations away from
meeting our goal of 100% participation!

Parents - 93%
Teachers & Staff - 100%  
    Board of Trustees - 100%    

We are so close...please help us reach 100%!
                                        
  
Middle School WEEL...
hosted well respected and admired painter, Barry Oretsky, 
and students from the 4th and 5th grades, 
for a special art presentation.
Oretsky, who spoke to the students about color use in painting, is friends with board of trustees member, Jerry Berman, who is also
Zaida to Mason (3rd grade) and Elliot (kindergarten).  
PTO Family Program
PTO is sponsoring a multi-family hike at Monrovia Canyon Park. 
It's a beautiful, shady, and relatively short hike 
to a 30-foot waterfall.
It's suitable for most young kids though there are 
some narrow and steep ledges at times. 
Please bring water, snacks, and proper shoes.
Parking currently costs $7.00.
Please try to arrive at 10 am. 
We will leave promptly at 10:15 am.

Rain cancels!!

Meet here Sunday, March 20th at 10 am:
Monrovia Canyon Park Nature Center
1200 N Canyon Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016
A Special PTO Deal
The Magical Time Here!
Win four (4) Disneyland one-day park-hopper tickets
valued at over $600.00.
Tickets are on sale now:
$20 for 1 raffle ticket, $30 for 2, and $50 for 5 raffle tickets! 
Contact Stacie (Ella and Sophie's mom) for details, or 
watch for her this Thursday and next week Thursday and Friday,
at drop-off and at pick-up, for purchasing opportunities.
PTO Needs You!
Volunteers are still needed to help with
set up, operation, and clean up
of this year's Purim Carnival on Thursday, March 24.
A sign up sheet is in the office, please add your name if you can help!
New prizes are also needed; all sizes and types of donations welcome.
Please see Lori Serna if you have any questions!
Speaking about Purim...
we have two (2) important announcements:
FIRST,
It's Hamantaschen Time!
Help support the 6th grade class as they raise money for
their dream trip to Washington, D.C.
Click the link below for the Hamantaschen Order Form!
Just in time for Purim!
______________________________________
SECOND,
Mishloah Manot... 
is the mitzvah of sending food/treats to friends
for them to enjoy as part of their Purim feast.
At Weizmann, we fulfill this mitzvah by preparing and bringing from home 
a "goody bag" or "decorated plate" to share with a peer.
Please include only 3 items 
(fruit, granola bar, juice box, sweet treat, nuts, snack bar, fruit roll-up, etc.)
  in a festive snack bag and send it to school with students 
on Thursday, March 24. We will hold a "lottery" to share the treats.
Only students who bring Mishloah Manot will receive one.
Principal for a Day
Fifth grader, Pablo, spent part of his day Monday aptly 
performing the duties of head of school.
Save the Dates
Coming Soon:
Megillah Chanting by 4th grade, 3/24 - 8:30 am - Knell Chapel
Purim Carnival, 3/24 - 11:00 am - Social Hall
Shakespeare's "Much Ado" - Wednesday, 4/13 - 9:00 am, 7:00 pm
Things are Happening in...
 third grade,
     
2nd grade - Hebrew class, and
1st grade - in the garden!
   
        
    
Todah Rabbah
Jennifer T., Zach and Katie's mom, for driving 5th grade to Riley's Farm.

Brett B., Pablo's dad, for driving 5th grade to Riley's Farm.
Important REMINDERS:
March 17-19 - CUE (Computer Using Educators) Conference - Weizmann representatives include Mrs. Snyder, Ms. Shapiro, and Mrs. V.

March 17 - LA County Science Fair - Set Up - 1:15-3:30 pm

March 18 - LA County Science Fair - Judging - Leave @ 8:15 am - (Parents pick up students from Pasadena Convention Center - 3:30 pm - See Mrs. Rotter for details.)

March 24 - Megillah Chanting by 4th grade - 8:30 am - Knell Chapel
March 24 - Purim Carnival - 11:00 am-12:15 pm - Social Hall

March 31 - Federation's Women Who Make a Difference Program - 9:15 am
Monthly Mitzvah Project - - We Need Mac-n-Cheese!
This week and the next two are the last ones to donate
boxes of Mac-n-Cheese for our dual use mitzvah project.
First they will be serve as groggers for Purim, and next 
as a food donation to Foothill Unity!
School and Community News
 ____________________________
There is still room for those interested in the Ceramics class!

_________________________________

Weizmann alum Rhiannon L. is appearing in:

Please plan on joining us as we honor Abigail's mom, Jen!
_______________________________________
Weizmann Day School provides an outstanding academic education, enriched by Judaic principles and a commitment to service.
Lisa Feldman, Head of School
Lori Snyder, School Administrator
Carrie Allen, Office Manager
Email: office@weizmann.net
Phone: 626-797-0204
Web: http://www.weizmann.net