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Rabbi Holman blows the Shofar in the Purple Room.
This Week     Preschool     Grades 1-8    Dvar Torah    Art
Issue Number
September 11, 2015
Volume 12, Issue 3
Candle Lighting: 6:47 p.m.
Parasha: Nitzavim
Remembering 9/11

Quick Links
Dates to Remember

Monday & Tuesday,
September 14 & 15
Rosh Hashanah
No Classes

Thursday, September 17
Preschool/Kindergarten Back-to-School Night
7:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 20
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Washington Park across from the school

Tuesday, September 22
Erev Yom Kippur
12:00 p.m. Preschool Dismissal
12:30 p.m. Grades 1-8 Dismissal
All buses leave; no late bus; no after-school classes; no Kids Club; no late pick up.

Wednesday, September 23
Yom Kippur
No Classes

Monday & Tuesday,
September 28 & 29
Sukkot
No Classes
dvarDvar Torah
 
Rosh Hashanah
by Rabbi Holman

Once there was a king whose son fell into disfavor.  The king banished his son to live in a small peasant village in the countryside. Agents were sent to secretly keep an eye on the prince who eventually became acclimated to his peasant lifestyle. Eventually, the king could not bear to see his son in such a lowly state. He sent him a message, "Your father loves you! Ask from me whatever you want!" When the son heard this message, he said, "Tell the king that I am cold and would like a warm coat." Upon hearing the reply, the king broke down in tears exclaiming, "I gave him a chance to return to the palace and all he wants is a coat!" 
On Rosh Hashanah, we are given a new chance. Let us realize our priorities. Instead of asking for a "warm coat", let us renew our relationship with "Our Father, Our King" who wants us back, near Him in the palace.  Shana Tova!
Mazal tov
  Bar Mitzvah  
...to Ezra Landman-Feigelson on his recent Bar Mitzvah.
 
...to Shira David and Eva Basa on their recent Bnot Mitzvah this summer.
Refuah Shleimah
  Bar Mitzvah  
...to our dear Millie Miller who is recuperating from a disc/nerve issue. We hope you feel better soon!
Library
The Library now has headphones!
  
When the library is available and the weather is bad, there will be days when Kids' Club will meet in the library. Thursday was one of those days. All the kids needed to read for a while before using the computers. They had fun, were helpful and respectful. KIDS' CLUB ROCKS!

Donate Honey for the Ark
 
As a Chesed project, a group of 8th graders is collecting honey to donate to the Ark. Please support their effort to make sure the Ark has enough honey for the upcoming holidays. Bring a jar (or more) and place it in the bin in the school atrium.
This project will run through Sukkot.
Thank you!
Honey Cakes for Sale
Honey cake
 
The 8th graders are selling honey cakes for Rosh Hashanah through Sukkot, baked according to Matt Klionsky's special recipe. This is part of their fundraising efforts for their graduation trip to Israel, $15.00 each. Various pick-up dates.
Download form to order.
Order your Lulav & Etrog
Lulav

  

To order, please download and submit your completed form to Millie by September 16.

Needed: School Bus Monitor 
school bus
If interested, please email or call Elisa Aranoff for details (773) 493-8880.
 
Revised Tuesday Hot Lunch Calendar & Order Form
hot lunch  
Parents, please note the following two REVISED hot lunch documents: 
These are also available on the Parent Portal.
 
After-School Programs
   
After-school programs are in full swing! There is still room in every class for more students. Check out the full list here. Use this form to register. Contact Elisa Aranoff, After-School Program Director, for more information.
 
Kehillah Korner
   
Kehillah Fund logo
 
Since 2004 Akiba-Schechter has received $402,983 from the Kehillah Fund. Our allocation this month is $3,794. 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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weekThis Week
A New School Year and a New Jewish Year
by Carla Goldberg
Preschool Director 
 
I love the first week of school. There is an excitement and energy in the air that marks the beginning of the new school year. Teachers, students and parents alike are anxious, happy and have trouble sleeping thinking about all of the changes and growth that will occur this year.
 
As teachers we take a deep breath and consider the message of Rosh Hashanah - a healthy and happy and sweet New Year for all of our families. For all of our children we wish that this new school year should provide them with a place to feel safe, happy, part of a community and engaged in learning. Thank you for trusting us with your child; it is a responsibility that we do not take lightly. We feel honored to be your child's teachers this year, and we look forward to a wonderful journey together. Please join us for Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 17 for the Preschool and Kindergarten classes. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a window into the classrooms and learn how to get the most from your Akiba experience.
 
Iris leads the Shabbat celebration in the Kindergarten.
We would like to welcome back our Kindergarten teacher, Iris Putterman, to Akiba-Schechter. Iris taught at Akiba-Schechter 14 years ago, then moved to Singapore where she taught at Jewish and Reggio Inspired schools, and now she has returned to teaching at Akiba. We would also like to welcome Sharon Vadeboncoeur back to the preschool after being on a medical leave for the spring of last year.    
 
We are looking forward to a wonderful school year with all of our children, families and staff.
 
Shana tova! 

Shana tova from Akiba-Schechter!
Shana tova from Akiba-Schechter!
picnic

 

Annual, All-School BBQ Picnic

 

Sunday, September 20

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Washington Park (across from Akiba-Schechter)

 

Click here for more info.

preschoolPreschool
Story time in the Blue Room.
   

The Kindergarten had its first full week of school. The children are getting reacquainted with old friends and making new ones, too. Here are Lilly, Jacklyn and Tamar playing with floam during free play and becoming fast friends full of smiles and laughter.
Today is the first Shabbat in the Purple Room. The children baked and ate delicious challah, drank cold grape juice, lit Shabbat candles and sang Shabbat songs. The Purple Room wishes everyone a good and sweet New Year!
The Green Room spent the week getting to know each other and exploring everything that there is to do at school. Playdough, outside play, stories, and cars were the children's favorites so far.

In Ready! Set! Go! the children explored the classroom and got to each other.
 

gradesGrades 1-8
In Mr. Salk's 1st/2nd grade, Jack works on a Sudoku puzzle.
  

See more Rosh Hashanah presentations on the class websites:

5/6th & 7/8th.


Researching Rosh Hashanah
Students in Mrs. Gold and Morah Ahuva's classes have been working on Rosh Hashanah research projects and presentations this week. In Mrs. Gold's 7/8th, the students asked questions about Rosh Hashanah in small groups and then together as a class narrowed down the questions into three categories: Shofar, Food, and Rosh Hashana davening/Yom Tov. Each group researched their topic and created a presentation. In the 5/6th grade classes, the students learned information about Rosh Hashanah and in small groups chose which sections were new to them. Each group created presentation with the new information.

Happy New Year from our Bnot Sherut Rachel and Mali!

Happy New Year from our

Bnot Sherut Rachel and Mali!


artArt with Debbie
4th graders Ari and Alexis work on cray-pas self portraits.

2nd graders Noah and Nosson explore Model Magic.