Beren Buzz Header
Parashat Beshalach        Shabbat Candle Lighting 5:40 p.m.            Havdalah 6:49 p.m.
THE  MIDDAH (JEWISH VALUE) FOR THE MONTH OF 
SHVAT IS BAL TASHCHIT - ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION
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
There are only 50 2015 Yearbooks left, available on a first come first serve basis! 
Please purchase your yearbook here as soon as possible and enter Robert M. Beren Academy and 2015 Yearbook when prompted. Yearbooks are currently on sale for $55.   
Calendar of Upcoming Events
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 
Tu B'Shvat 
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
ACT Testing 
Sunday, February 9, 2015
7:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Yeshiva University Model UN Competition
Sunday, February 8-Tuesday, February 10, 2015.
8th Grade Trip to Washington, D.C. 
Monday, February 9, 2015 - Thursday, February 12, 2015
Presidents Day 
Monday, February 17, 2015
SCHOOL CLOSED
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 Kidz 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


YTE Child Safety Workshop
Monday, February 2, 2015
8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
To read a letter from Rabbi Garfield encouraging community attendance click here
For event details click here
YACHAD SHABBATON
Friday, February 13, 2015
Houston and Dallas Yachad groups celebrate Shabbat together
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.

MAZAL TOV!
Mazal Tov to Nathan Plaks (Grade 7) on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah. 
NURSE'S NOOK
If your child has to take medication while in school, please remember to fill out and hand in our medication form.

Students ARE NOT allowed to carry medication around school with them (unless there is an extenuating circumstance).

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 29, 2015                                                                 9 Shvat, 5775
WEEKLY VIDEO FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL


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

Sincerely,

Rabbi Aharoni Carmel

PAST RMBA HIGHLIGHTS 
BEST IN SHOW
Out of over 100 art entries from Houston area Jewish teens, RMBA students Ari Hoffman (12th grade) and Adina Passy (10th grade) were recognized with awards. Ari's drawing "Strawberry Roan" won 1st place for Sketching and also won "Best in Show." Adina Passy's black and white photograph "What Shapes You" won 1st place for "Thematic Photography." We are so proud of our students' artistic achievements.


BOOK LOVERS UNITE
Elementary school students that participate in the optional Name that Book program were assigned 20 books to read over the course of a few months. This culminating with a challenging competition where students competed in teams of 4 or 5 to answer a series of 25 questions about these various books. 


GO STARS! 
Our High School girls and boys basketball teams braved the cold Boston weather to participate in a Invitational Basketball tournament. Although we did not win overall, we played hard every game and definitely won the unofficial ruach (spirit) award for team spirit!   


MY FIRST SIDDUR!
A moving ceremony was held on Sunday for first grade students, family and friends to mark the special occasion of our first graders receiving their siddurs. 


GETTING INTO SHAPE
Morah Esther's EC 2 class are learning their numbers and shapes with each student assigned a particular number and shape with students memorizing these assignments while learning to recognize and identify the various shapes and numbers during circle time. 


THE PASTRY PRINCE
Opera To Go was on hand to share an entertaining and creative performance of "The Pastry Prince" for some of our Elementary school students and parents" earlier this week. 


FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT
Our High School Israel Advocacy Class welcomed Guest Speaker - Gary Kenzer, CEO of Honest Reporting to discuss the way Israel is portrayed in the media and the challenges it presents to us as Jews. 


MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Morah Elisheva Levitt's 3rd grade students achievement a major milestone. After months of thorough study and discussion, they completed the Parsha of Chayei Sara. To mark this event, a concluding party or siyum was held with each student bringing a delicious party snack while making one final Dvar Torah presentation to their peers about the parsha.  



FIRST GRADE READY 
An informational session was held for our incoming first grade parents where our teachers presented much needed information about the program including the benefits of the Montessori and Traditional classes and the structure of the Hebrew, Judaics and General Studies programs.  


TREE OF LIFE
In honor of Tu B'Shvat, Morah Gross's students 3rd grade students are learning about agriculture in Israel and were each given a small dome with soil and seeds and are now caring for their individual plants with water and sunlight in their classroom. We look forward to seeing their plants grow over time.  


COACH COLE'S CORNER
BEREN ACADEMY STARS

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL IS FINISHED

The middle school basketball seasons are now finished.  All 3 middle school teams ended their season with impressive victories.  All of the teams have done a great job of competing and have made Beren Academy proud. Thank you again to all the parents and fans who have been so supportive all year long.

 

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Maimonides Invitational

Both High School Basketball teams went to Boston for the Maimonides Invitational from January 22nd - January 25th.  The girls team ended up in 3rd place by going 2-2 during tournament play.  Tehilla and Elishiva Teigman received All-Tournament honors for their performance throughout the tournament.  The boys team ended up in 4th place for the tournament with Hersh Bootin and Roni Buchine receiving All-tournament honors.  Congratulations to both teams.

 

District Race Heating Up

Both High School Basketball teams find themselves in the thick of the TAPPS District 9-2A race.  The girls are 5-0 in district play after 2 huge wins this week.  There are 3 games remaining for district including a much anticipated game for the district championship at Pasadena First Baptist on February 10th.  The boys are 4-1 and are tied for first place in district.  Every game from here on out will be a tough challenge for our boys. 

 

Schedule Change

Next week's High School basketball games on Tuesday, February 3rd have been moved from an away game to a home game. Girls will now play at 5:00 pm and Boys will play at 6:30.

 

TENNIS AND GOLF ARE NEAR

There will be a middle school Tennis team this year and a high school tennis team.  Anyone who is interested needs to come up and pick up a packet as soon as they can. 

 

Middle School

Middle School Tennis match schedule is below.  The matches will be at Lee Leclear and each player will be responsible for having transportation to and from the courts.  There will not be very many practices as we have doubled the amount of matches that the kids are playing because they really enjoyed it last year.  While we are not having a limit on how many players are on the middle school team, I would appreciate it if each family looked at the schedule and made sure they could make the matches.  While the players don't need to be high highly skilled to participate, they do need to already have a basic idea of how to play and the rules of tennis.  Matches will be scored and officiated by the players while they are playing.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

 

Middle School Match Schedule

Wednesday     February 18

Monday           February 23

Wednesday     February 25

Wednesday     March  4

Monday           March  9

Wednesday     March  11

Monday           March  16

Wednesday     March  18

Monday           March  23

 

High School Tennis

Tuesday and Thursday 5:30-7pm
Chancellors Family Center.
- We will meet rain or shine.
February 16-March 26 (6 weeks)

 

For high school, there will be a limited number of spots available.  Players should be able to attend all of the practices or speak with Coach Cole prior to joining about their availability.

 

Golf

A golf meeting will take place in February to guage 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 click here

CARPOOL PROCEDURES

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 
Robert M. Beren Academy | 713-723-7170 | aharonicarmel@berenacademy.org | http://www.berenacademy.org
11333 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77035