Beren Buzz Header
Parashat Vaera        Shabbat Candle Lighting 5:28 p.m.            Havdalah 6:37 p.m.
THE  MIDDAH (JEWISH VALUE) FOR THE MONTH OF TEVET IS EMET - TRUTH
REMINDER THAT SCHOOL IS CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19 
IN HONOR OF MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY 
RMBA is a proud partner of

HAVE YOU GOT THE SPIRIT?
Show your school spirit and purchase RMBA Spirit Wear Shirts for the whole family here! 
HOT LUNCHES
Please click here to order and purchase your hot lunches for the year catered by Saba's Restaurant. 
YEARBOOKS
Yearbooks are now on sale! You may purchase your yearbook here and then enter Robert M. Beren Academy and 2015 Yearbook when prompted. Yearbooks are currently on sale for $55.   Senior Pages are also purchasable online under the Ad section for $100.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
High School Retreat at CYJ
Thursday, January 15 -
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Martin Luther King Day 
Monday, January 19, 2015
School Closed
Coffee and Croissants with Stacey Laves-Khalifa
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Topic: 
Building Resilience in Children
Rosh Chodesh Special Dress Day 
Wednesday, January 21, 2015 
All students are encouraged to wear their RMBA spirit shirts.
Purchase your shirts here! 
Name that Book Competition 
Thursday, January 22, 2015
2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
High School Basketball Tournament in Boston 
Thursday, January 22 -Sunday January 25, 2015
SAT Testing 
Sunday January 25, 2015
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
First Grade Siddur Party 
Sunday, January 25, 2015
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The Pastry Prince Performance 
Monday, January 26, 2015
2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Grades 1-5
Parents are invited to join their children and enjoy a performance of the Pastry Prince presented by Opera To Go. 
TPG #3  
Saturday, January 31, 2015
7:40 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.
Class Photos and Sports Team Photos
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
All School 
Calendar of Weekly Events
Chess Club EC4/K
Mondays
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Chess Club 1st- 3rd Grade
Mondays
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Happy Hands EC3
Tuesdays
12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Mad Science EC3
Wednesdays
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 pm. 
Mad Science EC4/K
Wednesdays
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Upper School Torah Cafe
Wednesday
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
If you are interested in sponsoring Torah Cafe  for a week, please contact Rabbi Aaron Levitt
Ballet - EC2
Thursday 
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Ballet - EC3
Thursday 
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Ballet EC4 and K 
Thursday 
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bricks 4 Kiz K-5
Thursday
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
EC & K Oneg Shabbat 
Friday
10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Jewish Parenting Course

A 6 week Jewish Parenting Course designed to enable today's parents to learn the skills to be effective in raising the next generation of children. 

 

First class can be attended for free to see if  parents like it. The regular fee is $115 -- $99 for the course and $15 for the student textbook. Parents of RMBA that would like to take the class can receive a 50% discount off the course fee. Simply state the discount code as Beren when applying. 


 

Instructor: Rabbi Moishe Traxler of Chabad Outreach of Houston. 
 

For more info click here


Yom Limmud
Sunday, February 15, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Houston's biggest and best conclave of Jewish arts and education: the Jewish Federation's Yom Limmud 2015! Hosted by Congregation Beth Yeshurun Register at: www.houstonjewish.org/yomlimmud
Toast to Tomorrow
An evening of Tapas, Tequila and Latin Fushion 
benefitting UOSGM 
Sunday, February 22, 2015
6:00 p.m.
NURSE'S NOOK
Please help keep our students healthy! If your child has an illness, infection or has something that is potentially contagious, PLEASE let me know! All information told to me will remain strictly confidential. Making me aware of your children's ailments will enable me to help prevent the spread of infection to others.

We are in the midst of cold and flu season. To prevent the spread of infection please remember to always practice excellent hand hygiene!

If you have not already done so, please get your flu shot!

Thank you in advance!
COLLEGE CORNER
National College Fair
Thursday, Feb 12
9:30 am-12:30 pm; 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
NRG Center (formerly Reliant Center
Free Admission

There will be over 200 colleges and universities represented

For more information contact Mr. Stabell

COMMUNITY CAMP CORNER
BunkConnect is a user-friendly referrral platform designed to help middle and lower class families access Jewish camp at special introductory rates courtesy of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Interested families can visit www.bunkconnect.org
RMBA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND 
Robert M. Beren Academy has created a Scholarship Endowment Fund in honor of Dr. Alan Hoffman.  For more information about how you can support the Endowment Fund contact the Development Director Leigh Levine
January 15, 2015                                                                 25 Tevet, 5775
WEEKLY VIDEO FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL


Click on the photo above to view Rabbi Carmel's Weekly Video 

Sincerely,

Rabbi Aharoni Carmel

WELCOME TO RMBA! 
We are delighted to welcome returning 11th grade student Henry Sar Salom to Robert M. Beren Academy. Please join us in welcoming Henry and his family back into the RMBA family!  
PAST RMBA HIGHLIGHTS 
STAYING CONNECTED
RMBA hosted a College Day where a varied group of recent RMBA graduates gathered to meet with our Seniors to discuss their transition to college. It was interesting to hear different perspectives of college and campus life including the academic challenges involved and how to maintain a commitment to Judaism on campus.  


TEXAS PRIDE
High School students were treated to an informative and engaging visit from State Representative Sarah Davis who discussed her role as a state senator and important legislation that she has been involved in.   Additionally, she answered questions with regard to school vouchers, the role of women in politics and if the political parties work together for the benefit of Texas.


RODEO ART
RMBA participated in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Contest for the first time this year. Students in grades 4-12 worked for months to create original rodeo-themed artwork to enter into the competition against other Houston area private schools. After being judged against other student work in their grade level, ten of our students received ribbons for their work. Congratulations to these talented artists:
Barbara Seruya, 5th grade - 1st place
Gali Hampel, 4th grade - 2nd place
Kalli Poche, 5th grade - 2nd place
Eve Vaknin, 6th grade - 2nd place
Shira Levitt, 10th grade - 2nd place
Ari Hoffman, 12th grade - 2nd place
Elie Gelman, 5th grade - 3rd place
Molly Goldstein, 6th grade - 3rd place
Shaked Carmel, 8th grade - 3rd place
Eden Lagnado, 8th grade - 3rd place


BLUE BONNET BANQUET 
Another successful Blue Bonnet program culminated with the participating elementary school students and their families gathering for an evening filled with a delicious dinner and presentations by the students where they each introduced and discussed a book for the audience. 


MORAH RINAT'S CLASS RULES
Morah Rinat's 4th grade Hebrew classes have been learning about the rules of the class in Hebrew and then created their own diagram of those rules. 



BINGO! 
RMBA parents and supporters enjoyed a fabulous night at Beren's Bingo Bonanza on Saturday evening. Guests embraced the 70's themed event donning disco chic or hippie loving attire that included blacklight bingo, delicious food, a lively auction, photo booth and more! The event was a huge success and raised over  $85,000 to benefit our financial assistance program. 
 
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
Our early childhood students are simply love to to jump and jam in their weekly music and movement classes with Jon Swann. 


MMMM...SOUP
Kindergarten students read three versions of the story, Stone Soup, compared and contrasted them and guessed what would happen to the stone, and then made a graph to record their guesses. The story teaches us how nobody goes hungry if food is shared so the students brought vegetables from home and assisted Mrs. Blumberg with peeling and cutting them. Together, they chose the perfect stone, washed it thoroughly, and cooked the soup. It tasted delicious and was enjoyed by many at school! 

COACH COLE'S CORNER
BEREN ACADEMY STARS

To review the updated upcoming athletics schedule on our website or synch with your own calendar  click here. 

 

Basketball Updates 

  • MS Basketball Practices will take place at the regular time on Sunday, January 18th.
  • MS JV Boys will have a game at the JCC vs. YTE at 10:30am on Sunday, January 25th

Middle School Basketball Reminders

  • All girls MUST wear an undershirt under their jersey. This shirt must be the same color as the primary color of the uniform (Home games - white; Away games - Royal blue). Boys don't need to wear an undershirt, but if they choose to do so, the same rules apply.

  • All players (boys and girls) need to purchase a royal blue pair of shorts if they do not already have. The shorts need to be completely royal blue with no stripes down the side. They can be purchased at Academy for about $6.00.

  • Some schools will charge admission at their schools to watch the game (most will not charge). We do not charge admission at Beren for middle school games.

  • Transportation to and from away games are the parents responsibility. The middle school girls do not have any away games until January. 

  • There will be games in which the middle school players will need to leave their last class early to make it to the games on time.

  • A list of Away game locations is posted on the website.

  • Updated practice schedules are on the school calendar and game schedules can be found on the school website and calendar.

  • Please use the Greenwillow gate for picking up students after games or practices.

  • If you have any questions, please e-mail me at chriscole@berenacademy.org.

 

High School Basketball Reminders

 

  • All girls MUST wear an undershirt under their jersey. This shirt must be the same color as the primary color of the uniform (Home games - white; Away games - Royal blue). Boys don't need to wear an undershirt, but if they choose to do so, the same rules apply.

  • Some schools will charge admission at their schools to watch the game (most High School's will charge). We charge admission at Beren for some high school games. Each family should have received tickets to games that anyone in your family or friends can use. They are reusable at any home Beren game. They are NOT able to be used at any away games. If you have not received these tickets, please let Coach Cole know.

  • A list of Away game locations is posted on the website.

  • Updated practice schedules are on the school calendar and game schedules can be found on the school website and calendar.

  • Please use the Greenwillow gate for picking up students after games or practices.

 

TENNIS AND GOLF ARE NEAR

 

Tennis and golf schedules are close to coming out.  Tentatively, the tennis tryouts will take place in mid-February. More information will be available in next week's Beren Buzz.

 

A golf meeting will take place in February to gauge interest and availability of players.

 

If you have any questions about the two sports, please contact Coach Cole at chriscole@berenacademy.org.

 

 

To review the upcoming athletics schedule on our website calendar cick here. 

CLICK HERE FOR CARPOOL PROCEDURES 

 

Always drive slowly and cautiously along Greenwillow and Cliffwood Drive.

 

Please refrain from parking in the assigned RMBA Auction Winner parking spot during pick up as this is reserved.   


 

If there will be a change to your child's pick up situation during carpool please email this information by 3 p.m. that day to  carpool@berenacademy.org 

 

ATTENDANCE 

If your child is going to be late or not attending school on any given day please email attendance@berenacademy.org

 

STUDENT HANDBOOKS
Parents are reminded that the student handbooks are available online on our website.  To review our these guidelines and rules, please click here. 

      For questions related to the Beren Buzz please contact Leigh Levine at llevine@berenacademy.org 
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Robert M. Beren Academy | 713-723-7170 | aharonicarmel@berenacademy.org | http://www.berenacademy.org
11333 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77035



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