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December 7, 2012
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23 Kislev 5773
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From the Head of School ~ Dr. David Portnoy
Dear Yavneh Family,
 There they were: the college president and the Yavneh senior. Just the two of them. Hugging and with tears in their eyes - as there were tears of joy throughout the Yavneh Beit Midrash.
This morning we had the wonderful honor of hosting President Marjorie Hass of Austin College in Sherman. One of a few Jewish college presidents in Texas (including Cary Israel at Collin College and David Leebron at Rice University), Dr. Hass spoke with our students about the transition from high school to college, the challenges of campus life at many universities, and about her own career experience as a professor of philosophy, provost and college president. She also delivered a thoughtful and well-researched Dvar Torah on this week's parsha, with fascinating insights into Potiphar, Joseph and his brothers. But before all that, President Hass stepped to the front of our beautiful Beit Midrash, wished us all "Boker Tov," and asked, "Is Rachel Rudberg in the room?" That's when Rachel '13, stood and came forward, and President Hass announced: "We usually mail our letters of acceptance, but since I was visiting Yavneh today, and your acceptance was ready to mail, I'm doing something I've never done before: I'm delivering your acceptance in person!"  | |
Click on the photo to see Rachel Rudberg's special moment!
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It was one of the most exciting and touching moments I've seen in all my years as an educator and a parent, and it's one that our Yavneh students and faculty will remember for a long, long time. It's another great Yavneh story, and we are grateful to President Hass and all our students for making it so memorable and lovely. On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, we wish you a peaceful and healthy Shabbat Shalom, and Happy Hanukah!
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Yavneh Calendar
click here for more dates
December
12 ~
7pm Pollman Hall
Yavneh's Helping
Hands for the
Homeless/PTO
Chanukah Dinner 15 ~ 7pm Chanukah
Chagiga & Study Break
21 to January 1 WINTER BREAK January 2 ~
CLASSES RESUME
25 ~ Yavneh's Annual Blood Drive
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Please click here by Sunday, December 8, to RSVP to dalya.romaner@gmail.com |
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Shabbat Shalom ~
From our Judaic Desk ~  As we ready to light the candles of the menorah, Naomi Schrager, Associate Principal/Judaic Programming, offered to the students and faculty that we as Jews are always reminded to be looking up, to be growing in our Jewish lives. Rather than light eight candles throughout the holiday, celebrating the eight lights, we graduate from one to eight, providing more light to our souls, to our spirit, and to our Jewish tradition. "Take the opportunity to be sure you are growing. We are not a stagnant people and we don't stay the same." Marjorie Hass, President of Austin College in Sherman,  | |
Marjorie Hass
Austin College
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Texas, joined Yavneh's students for this morning's davening and, once she shared the greatest of news with Rachel Rudberg (see story above), and offered a Shehechiyau, for her first-ever in-person college acceptance announcement, she combined dvar Torah with college planning advice. "Vayeshev is a handbook of how to deal with struggles of integrity. There are people lying, hiding, not sharing their true selves. Many we read about aren't able to reconcile their true selves and in a way, this sums up the life of many high school students. We are one person with those we see daily, and another with ourselves and our deepest souls. The parts you push deepest, that are too deep, big, even scary, have the greatest potential to help shape your world for the better. Find a way to turn that which you push deep, into a way to serve chesed and tikun olam. As you look to your future, think about what kind of Jewish life you want on campus and find a school that wants you to be yourself, find a school that will help you lift all of your self to Hashem."
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   Our Melaveh Malka and Havdalah last weekend was a wonderful chance to end, and begin our weeks. Please also note - December 15 @ 7pm, the Yavneh Family, parents, students and faculty are invited to our Chanuka Chagiga with Havdallah and candle lighting followed by dancing, food, and the staff shpiel!
We hope you enjoy the Dvar Torah in this week's
Snappy Sentiments and that you'll share and discuss them at your Shabbat table!
Shabbat Shalom ~
Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum, Naomi Schrager, and the Judaic Studies Faculty.
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My Backpack ~ Online Student Review As part of our continuing efforts to improve communication with our Yavneh parents, we are now opening up the Parent Portal to our MyBackPack system. All parents will now have access to this web-based gradebook system. It will allow you to view: Yavneh student & parent directory
Current student schedule
Tracking of student attendance (absences and tardies)
Grades for previous quarters Grades for current quarter Daily assignments and comments (including upcoming, completed and missing assignments) All Yavneh parents have been emailed an ID and a password giving them immediate access to the MyPackBack system. They should work with their child to determine the best way to utilize the system; we encourage parents to share those passwords with their students. If you need any assistance, Dr. Cloward would be glad to spend some time with you to familiarize you with the system or to address any problems. 214-295-3500 X1929
tcloward@yavnehdallas.org
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Week in Review ~
Yavneh's 5th Annual Fall Arts Night, hosted by Assistant Principal Dr. Tim Cloward, provided an evening of music, poetry, creative writings, and the viewing of incredible paintings, drawings, and other expressions of beauty.  Kudos of pride to our writers: Jordan Haberer, Kayley Romick, Shea Miller, teacher Dr. Tim Cloward, Max Schnitzer, Jordan Cope, Hannah Gartner, Clara Moskowitz, Mika Stein, and Shelby Gadol.
... our musicians
Karen Folz, Lane Engelberg, Jordan Cope, Daniel Toobian, Kayley Romick,
Clara Wohlstadter, Ella Baum, Jonathan Kravitz, Liora Zhrebker, Justin Katz,
Andrew Appell, Zachary Romick, and teacher Kim Corbet
and our artists ... Yosef Presburger, Sam Coretz, Hanna Liebermann, teacher Monica Ribald and (not shown) Shanee Abouzaglo, Ella Baum, Tamar Cohen, Hannah Delagi, Michelle Friedstadt, Natasha Guaqueta, Itai Guttman, Talia Klein, Sam Kleinman, Gary Levine, Stephanie Medina, Alexis Riche, Lauren Siegel, and Yonah Taurog.
Congratulations to Clara Moskowitz, winner of the premiere Chanukah Sweater Contest, sponsored by The Bulldog Print! Clara won "candles down!"
Judges for the contest, which provided a $25 Starbucks Gift Card as its prize, were Monica Ribald and the visiting Rabbi Maury Grebenau.
2012 Video Contest Winners deliver!! 
Winners of the 2012 Video Contest,
Jack Zondowicz,
Dania Tanur, Talia Klein, Shanee Abouzaglo,
Dalya Romaner, and Jason Epstein, presented Rhonda Russell, Yavneh's Speech teacher, with their prize winnings of $500.
"It's wonderful that my students realize the importance of the work we do and I appreciate that they are well aware of my part in making sure our active servicepeople are remembered," said Mrs. Russell, the founder of the Lake Highlands Military Moms.
Every other month, the Lake Highlands Military Moms send 25 or more care packages to active members of the military. There are currently approximately 100 such service men and women who appreciate being remembered with gifts from home.
"We learned so much about public speaking from Mrs Russell and she always told us stories about her organization," said Dalya Romaner '14. "She taught us so much, so we just wanted to repay her for everything she did for us. We felt she would really understand how much we appreciated her if we gave our prize money to her. "
"This gift will go a long way as the shipping for each of our packages is more than $14," said Mrs. Russell who started the organization as her son, Staff Sgt. Lee Russell entered the Texas National Guard, more than 16 years ago. Still serving our country, Staff Sgt. Russell has expressed first hand how meaningful the gifts from home can be.
Mrs. Schmucker & Our Alumni ~ Together Again!
Mixing business (a tour of Rutgers University and meeting with representatives in charge Jewish life there), with pleasure (lunch with our Yavneh Alum on the Ea
st Coast), Yavneh College Guidance Counselor, Allyn Schmucker met up with
(clockwise from left)
Gabby Lewin '08 - NYUgraduate, Arielle Burstein '10 - Barnard College,
Leigh Bonner '11 - Barnard College, Julie Meltzer '10 - NYU, Devora Cohen '10 Stern College,
Ilan Attar '10 - Touro College, Daniel Bonner '08 - Columbia University,
and David Fine '08 - Columbia University.
"It was great to see the students, each at a different stage in their college life," said Mrs. Schmucker. "All of the students touted their education at Yavneh and the significant impact it made on them - not only as a student but as a Jew in a world where diversity is evident."
The respite of final exams, a chance to catch up, and for some, even a carriage ride through Central Park, made for Yavneh memories from afar!
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The Bulldog Score!!!
 BOYS' BULLDOG BASKETBALL
December 10 vs. Selwyn AWAY @ 6:3pm December 11 vs. Liberty Christian
AWAY @ 7:30pm
December 13 vs. Fairhill
HOME @ 7:30pm
LADY BULLDOG BASKETBALL
December 11 vs. Rockwall Christian
HOME @ 6pm
JV BULLDOGS
December 11 vs. Liberty Christian
AWAY @ 6pmDecember 13 vs. Fairhill
HOME @ 4:30pm
Be sure to visit Bulldog Sports for more information and complete and updated schedules.
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Well Wishes & Mazel Tov!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
11 Kim Corbet
WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY:
We wish comfort among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem to the family of Edna Solis, the mother of Yavneh alumni Nicole '08 and Mozelle Paz.
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Mitzvah Makers ~
Una Odakota - Remember our Friends ~
Warm article wrap-up ~
 Denise Folz '16 has initiated a collection of jackets, scarves, sweaters, boots, socks, gloves, and hats for the residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. All items collected will be sent to the Native American Heritage Association, for distribution, to this, one of the poorest counties in the country, where the average winter temperature is just 23 degrees.
Denise, who has visited a Native American reservation, and who hopes to one day become a writer and historian, has been inspired by the historical fiction books she read as a child and a Native American doll who has long been a "best friend." After researching the needs of the community, Denise determined it was hers to support.
Please donate items for warmth & comfort in the box in the Student Lounge thru December 20.
Kids Korner Collections ~
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Kids Korner Founders Bradley '13 & Alexis '14 Riche
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Congrats to the members of Kids Korner and thanks to ALL who participated in the collecting of more than 140 prizes.
The gifts will be delivered next week to the young patients of Medical City Children's Hospital.
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College Cues ~~
Class of '13 University & Israel Program Acceptances
Kol Hakavod to the following students who have received college acceptances and scholarship offers. Updated acceptances are in bold. Seniors, be sure to send notice of your acceptances to info@yavnehdallas.org so that we can share your news!
Rachel Chanon ~ Indiana University, University of Kansas
Sam Coretz ~ Lynn University, St. Edward's University
Lane Engelberg ~ University of Texas/Dallas
Shelby Gadol ~ Indiana University
Rachel Goodman ~ Indiana University, Tulane University, University of Texas Jordan Haberer ~ University of Kansas Kelly Herson ~ University of Georgia
Justin Katz ~ Indiana University, Texas A&M
Shea Miller ~ Indiana University, University of Georgia
Clara Moskowitz ~ Tulane University
Kayley Romick ~ Texas A&M, University of Georgia, University of Texas
Yosef Presburger ~ Texas A&M, University of Texas/Dallas
Rachel Rudberg ~ Austin College, St. Edward's University
Rachel Siegel ~ University of Texas Yael Spirer ~ Indiana University
Adam Wilensky ~ University of Kansas
Liora Zhrebker ~ Indiana University
 Dallas Jewish Community Foundation Scholarships ~
for information and application for the 2013-2014 Dallas Jewish Community Foundation scholarships.
For more information on any of the programs of
Yavneh's Office of College Guidance, email Allyn Schmucker at
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Yearbook 12-13 ~
Click here for Dedication/Ad form.
Ad order deadline is December 14.
For more information, email
Yearbooks are $75 until January 11 and $85 from January 14 to March 15
STUDENTS - PLEASE BRING IN YOUR THEN & NOW "THEN" PHOTOS BY DECEMBER 14!!! HARD COPIES TO DEB SILVERTHORN, PLEASE
Join us as we honor a decade of dedication by
Rabbi Meir Tannenbaum
Our Rav, teacher, role model, mentor and friend.
Ads and Dedications on Sale Now!
Click hereto dedicate a space to RABBI MEIR TANNENBAUM,
celebrate your STUDENT, advertise your BUSINESS
or that of FRIENDS & FAMILY,
and congratulate the CLASS OF 2013!
Rachel Chanon
Tamar Cohen 
Samuel Coretz
Lane Engelberg
Karen Folz
Shelby Gadol
Hannah Gartner
Rachel Goodman
Jordan Haberer
Kelly Herson
Justin Katz
Katie Lerer
Josh Lynn
Stephanie Medina
Shea Miller
Clara Moskowitz
Yosef Presburger Bradley Riche
Kayley Romick
Rachel Rudberg
Max Schnitzer
Elie Schramm Rachel Siegel
Yael Spirer
Mika Stein
Adam Wilensky
Liora Zhrebker
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12324 Merit Drive
Dallas, TX 75251
214.295.3500 
Unless otherwise credited,
Yavneh Academy's Etone is written, photographed, and produced by
Deb Silverthorn
Director of Communications
Community Liaison
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