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The Blue Room had a fancy tea party followed by ballroom dancing on the high seas. Read more about their Titanic unit on our blog

 

Featured: Rebecca Berenson Kirstein
Rebecca Berenson Kirstein blows bubbles for the Parent/Tot and Yellow Room kids during a joint Shabbat celebration this Friday.

Rebecca Berenson Kirstein has played many roles at Akiba-Schechter, which is why we are proud to toast her at this year's Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction. She's been a student (class of 1985), mother of two students (Matthew in 4th grade, and Jacob in 2nd grade), board member, Silent Auction co-chair, and preschool teacher. She taught in the Purple Room her first year and is now in her third year of teaching Ready!Set!Go! and Parent/Tot. Yet, when asked about her favorite Akiba memory, she brings up the Maccabia, a week-long team competition when she was in middle school. She still remembers the contests: Kings versus Priests in 5th grade, Golah vs. Aliah in 6th grade, and the topic of prayer in public schools in 8th grade. Unfortunately, for a reason she cannot remember, there was no Maccabia in 7th grade.

 

What changes has she noticed at Akiba-Schechter since she was a student? "We didn't have the opportunities students have now," she says. "We had science fair, but it was only within the school. Nobody competed at the state level, and we didn't even have a Spelling Bee or Geography Bee. We also didn't get to travel to Springfield in 7th grade and Israel in 8th grade. The graduation trip used to be to Springfield, but even that didn't pan out for my class."

How did she become so involved at Akiba? "It's really important to be involved your kids' school. It shows them that school is important to you, and thus is important for them." Rebecca had a great role model in her mother, Aida Berenson (z"l) who also served on the board and whom Rebecca remembers serving hot lunch. Sadly, Rebecca's time at Akiba is coming to an end this year as her family is moving to Cleveland. What will she be taking with her? "Akiba is really a special place," she says wistfully. "While I'm excited for new opportunities for my family, I know it will be different. I'm glad that as a teacher I had the chance to help create for other parents the wonderful experience I had as a parent, especially in Parent/Tot."

Preschool Update
Finger painting and friendship in the Yellow Room! Tal and Emilia give high fives between finger painting fun.

 

The kids in Ready!Set!Go! enjoyed playing in the snow earlier this week.

The children in the Lime Room have been busy making sculptures using wood, wire and rocks. Above, a masterpiece by Agnes.
It's all about the number 100 in the Kindergarten these days. Here, Eden and Solje play 100 Squares in the Purple Kindergarten.
Grades 1-8 Update

This year in the Hebrew calendar has a leap year, which means doubling the month of Adar. That's twice as much joy as in a regular year! To celebrate, the kids decorated funny balloons in Kita Bet. 

In Ms. Kaz's 1st/2nd grade class, Esti holds up her creative writing project for the 100th Day of School. Her 100 is in the shape of a lollipop.
First and second graders in Ms. Kaz's class were busy celebrating the 100th Day of School. Each student received a bold "100" cut out of black paper and could use that number as part of any object they choose, and then they drew that object and wrote about it. Some students saw the "100" as part of an ice cream cone, weights, or wheels of a motorcycle. They also practiced their writing skills utilizing "juicy sentences".

Mrs. Brackman and Mrs. Gold's Jewish Thought classes have focused on a Mishnah in Avot, chapter 4, about the importance of honoring/respecting one's teacher, and the teacher respecting and listening to students and treating a colleague properly. What seems to be obvious is sometimes not, and this Mishna lead to discussions about how a teacher can make a real difference, as well as the importance of valuing all students. Ask your son/daughter about a teacher that he or she will never forget and share memories of teachers who made a strong impression on you.

The 3rd and 4th graders in Mrs. Leonard's class have been learning about the Olympics. Each student chose a sport featured in the Winter Olympics to learn about. Students are utilizing computers to research the history of their sport, the equipment, age requirements, how points are earned, medal favorites, and the specific events. After they complete their research, they will display their information in a PowerPoint presentation and teach the class about their sport. The class can't wait to see the creative presentations! The students are also working to earn a gold, silver, or bronze medal for reading. They are tracking the number of pages they read each week. They are excited about earning and decorating their medals. 

Mrs. Amster's 5/6th grade Hebrew class has been preparing for the holiday of Purim. They have been reading two different versions of Megillat Esther. The first is a traditional one, with the characters the students already know well. The other is totally nontraditional, and the students are having a blast. For example, Esther is not the paradigm of physical beauty (aka the beauty contest winner we read about in other stories); Mordechai is a "pain in the neck," and Vashti is present throughout the storyline and divides her time between Starbucks and the gym. Haman is not the bloodthirsty character we love to hate, and Achashveirosh is brilliant. Please ask your children about this storyline. They have been rewriting the story to suit their tastes and are planning their costumes. As the holiday approaches, they will perform their version of the Megilla for other classes. 

5/6th graders experiment with prisms in Mr. Landers' Science class.

In Mr. Landers's 5/6th grade Science class, students experimented with prisms this week to understand light and optics. This is part of a larger project on the electromagnetic spectrum. Working in groups, students are putting together multimedia presentations in which they will teach the class about a segment of the spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays.

Ms. Schiller's 5th/6th History class has been immersed in Hammurabi's Code, and the students' questions are endless! Some of the topics that have arisen are malpractice insurance, class equality, tort reform, and abortion, to name a few. They experimented with what it feels like to experience total chaos, and why laws can bring both order and freedom. They also compared Hammurabi's laws to those in Parshat Mishpatim in the Book of Exodus, and were surprised to see the "lex talionis" (~an eye for an eye) concept in both. They are beginning their research on a specific case that appears in both Hammurabi's Code and Mishpatim. They will compare this scenario to a modern-day court case and see where the three sets of laws find common ground. Conversely, they will also make deductions about what the various codes' differences show about these civilizations.  

Ms. Schiller's 7th/8th Grade English class completed reading Chaim Potok's The Chosen, and this week featured a "Fishbowl" discussion. In this three-day exercise, the classroom is set up with two concentric circles and the students are divided in half--some on the inside and the others on the outside. Inside students are tasked with discussing the novel and outside students are tasked with analyzing the conversation of their peers. On Day 2, the students swap places and examine a new set of discussion questions. Finally, on Day 3, all of the students have a chance to share their observations and deconstruct the conversation's dynamics. This is a fascinating exercise in classroom dynamics, power play, and what contributes to the deepest possible discussion. The students will spend the next few days re-examining their initial questions from when they started the novel and developing their final thesis papers.

Mr. Coleman's History students were solving math problems this week, to wit: If you start with $100,000 and buy as much stock as you can on 90% margin (as you could in October 1929), what happens if the stock goes up or down by, say, 20%? It was bracing to realize that a mere 20% dip produced a 200% loss and that the end result meant losing more than you started with, so that the bank wound up holding the bag. It helped the students understand the origins of the Depression banking crisis.
Parsha Honor Roll
Honor Roll The students have been taking the Parasha quiz each Monday on the weekly Torah portion. Mazal Tov to the following students from Gimmel and Dalet who earned honor roll recognition this week:  Aliza B, David E, Aaron F, Natan F, Matthew K, Raizel LF, Eliyahu M, Lila S, Libby V, Noam W, Shammai W, Yehonatan B, Timor I, Gavi R, Julian B, Jac C, Alex N, Yaakov G, Gavriel S, Gabe M, Avi M, Noah D, Toibeh Sarah G, Menachem R, Zev F, Meir Avrom E, Netanel B, Merav P, Ava N, Jacob G, Ayalah B, Akiva A, Izzy B, Jonah D, Bella H, Rafi N, Naomi S, Daniella S, Avi W, Courtland W, Avi Z.

Issue Number
February 21, 2014
Volume 10, Issue 21
Candlelighting: 5:11 p.m.
Parasha: Vayakhel

...at our Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction

Sunday, March 23

Visit the

Benefit website

to RSVP, place an ad and donate to the Silent Auction! 

In This Issue
Preschool Update
Grades 1-8
Parasha Honor Roll
Dates to Remember
Quick Links

Parent Portal

 School Calendar 

 

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Dates to Remember
Friday, March 7
All-School Musical
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!
10:00 a.m.
Kenwood Auditorium
5015 S. Blackstone Ave
Tickets available February 24
 
Sunday, March 9
All-School Musical
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!
2:00 p.m.
Kenwood Auditorium
5015 S. Blackstone Ave
Tickets available February 24
 
Monday, March 17
Shushan Purim
Purim Carnival & Field Trip
Classes in Session
 
Sunday, March 23
5:00 p.m.
Fairmont Chicago
200 N. Columbus Drive 
Dvar Torah
Parasha Vayakhel
by Rabbi Holman
 

As we know from Rabbi Akiva, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself" is the underlying theme of Torah and Judaism.  If so, it is curious that Mitzvot of this kind are mentioned here and there in the Torah, while the design and building of the Mishkan (Temple) get nearly five whole Parashas. Why the emphasis on a building? Rabbi Avigdor Miller points out that from the outset of creation, G-d had intended for mankind to be put to a grand test. They would be placed in a world of possibilities, of choices to do good and bad, and with a desire to do both. After the failures of Noah's generation and the Tower of Babel, mankind was falling short of this goal. After the Golden Calf and Moshe's rebuke of the nation, the people whole-heartedly devoted both their wealth and their talents in a unified effort to follow G-d's blueprints in building a Temple. This focused and unified effort indeed ended with a cloud representing the manifestation of G-d's approbation to rest on the Temple. This continual focus on our moral duties is the kernel of what the Temple represents. Whatever Mitzvah we happen to be doing, whether it be "love your neighbor" or lighting Chanukah candles, it is our focus on our purpose which is the key. Shabbat Shalom!

Thank You

    A big Thank You to Cathy Bowers for helping out at the Company rehearsal on Monday and for preparing lunch and snacks for all the students. 

Hebrew Reading Incentive Program

Hebrewfor Grades 1-6

Students are encouraged to read Hebrew books and record the number of minutes they read. This popular program makes reading Hebrew fun, while improving fluency. There are three prize levels and books are available at the school for the children to borrow. Click here for a full description of the program as well as a reading log.   

Summer Program
While it might be hard to believe right now, it will be summer again!
Check out our
Summer Programs for Children Ages 1-6
There's an early bird discount if you register by February 28!
Middot!
One morning this week, both Eva Basa and Rebeca Price asked if Ms. Groover needed any help (going down the stairs and opening a door, respectively). This was very thoughtful of them and definitely an example of our current Middah - Mesiroot Nefesh, which means to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Lunch Volunteers! Needed
  hot lunch  
Thank you to those who have continued to volunteer for lunches. We are currently looking for volunteers for the following dates: 
 2/25, 2/26, 3/4, 3/5, 3/11, 3/12, 3/18, 3/19, 3/25 and 3/26. We have a special Monday volunteer shift 3/17 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m
Tuesday volunteers are here from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and Wednesday volunteers are here from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Even if you can only do part of a shift, we will gladly accept your help. To volunteer, please email Havah Hope.  
Jewish Day School Night

Dessert reception for parents, teachers and board members of JUF's affiliated day schools.

 

Bully, Bullied or the Bystander; The Roles Children Play

 

Presentation by Dr. Rona Novick. There is no cost to attend - reservations are required.

 

Tuesday, April 1

7:15 p.m.
Holiday Inn North Shore

5300 W Touhy Ave
Skokie

 

For further info, contact Mindy Bass (312) 444-2839
Email: [email protected].

ATT Educator of the Year Award

This award was won by two Akiba-Schechter teachers, Michelle Rotfeld and Scott Salk, thanks to nominations by parents!

 

The ATT is now looking for nominations for the Fifth Annual Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Awards.

One award of $15,000 and two awards of $5,000 will be presented to three outstanding teachers.

Nomination Form

Nomination deadline:

May 9, 2014.

For more information, call the ATT at 773-973-2828 or visit www.att.org.

Kehillah Korner

  Kehillah Fund logo

Akiba-Schechter received

$4,069 for December, which

helps us offer enrichment, programming, and scholarships. Since 2004 we have received $305,355 from the Kehillah Fund.

 

We are grateful to our leadership and parents who contribute to the fund. Kehillah Fund represents the broad Jewish community and advocates for day school support.

 

We endorse the Kehillah Fund and are proud of our partnership. Over 1400 community members participate in the recurring donor program in support of day school education.  To date, Kehillah Fund allocations to schools across Chicagoland have reached $5.5 million.

 

Kehillah Fund

8180 McCormick Blvd.

Skokie, IL 60076

(847) 745-1668 [email protected]

  

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