Beren Buzz Header
Parashat Mishpatim      Shabbat Candle Lighting 5:51 p.m.            Havdalah 7:00 p.m.

REMINDER THAT SCHOOL IS CLOSED THIS 
MONDAY FEBRUARY 16 FOR PRESIDENTS' DAY
 
THE  MIDDAH (JEWISH VALUE) FOR THE MONTH OF 
SHVAT IS BAL TASHCHIT - ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION
RMBA is a proud partner of

PTO HAMANTASHEN SALE
Purchase your delicious Hamantashen in time for Purim and support your RMBA PTO by February 20th. $6 per dozen!  Click here to print an order form. 
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 40 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.   
We are now selling yearbook advertisements! Click here for more details.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
8th Grade Trip to Washington, D.C. 
Returns Thursday, February 12, 2015
Presidents' Day 
Monday, February 16, 2015
SCHOOL CLOSED
Rosh Chodesh Special Dress Day  
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Basketball Senior Night 
Thursday, February 29, 2015
Join us in the RMBA gym as we celebrate our departing seniors and their parents during the High School Basketball games. Girls play at 5:30 p.m. and Boys at 7:00 p.m.
Go Texan Day   
Friday, February 27, 2015
5th Grade Purim Play 
Friday, February 27, 2015
2:20 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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


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

YACHAD Friendship Walk
Sunday, February 22, 2015
2:00 p.m.
Click here to see how you can be a part of it of this event and support this incredible organization.

Toast to Tomorrow
An evening of Tapas, Tequila and Latin Fusion 
benefitting UOSGM 
Sunday, February 22, 2015
6:00 p.m.

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
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
February 12, 2015                                                                 23 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 
EXPLORE LAND AND WATER 
Students enjoyed some exciting practical experiments and watched clay land and water forms being made.  Ms. Ross showed the matching picture cards and labels, while Ms. Fowler demonstrated how to make them with paper.

FAMILY TREE 
Morah Rinat's elementary students created unique family tree models in addition to detailed projects that beautifully describe the relationships between the individuals in their family. 


CHALLAH BAKERS
Kindergarten students were treated to a Challah making session from fellow classmate Ariana Ackerman's savta (grandmother). Students enjoyed kneading the dough, learned how to braid their challah and took home their delicious baked creations for Shabbat. 


EASY AS ABC
EC3 students enjoying taking turns in visiting fun and challenging learning stations such as reading, dramatic play, puzzle and letter identification. The Alphabet letter table station is where they can experience one on one instruction to expand their knowledge of letters and words. 


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Israeli author Naama Formen visited some of our Elementary and Middle school students to share her experiences and insight regarding writing and publishing her first Hebrew children's book that focuses on food and friendship. 


D.C. BOUND
Our 8th Grade students headed off to Washington D.C. this week to brave the cold and snow to explore our Nation's Capital. Team orange could not be missed as they visited the Museum of Natural History, the Air and Space Museum, the Newseum to name a few of the stops on this incredible trip.  


WORLDLY EXPERIENCE 
Team RMBA did us proud once again as they represented at the 2015 Yeshiva University Model UN competition. Students from around the world gathered for an exciting 3 days filled with challenging discussion and debate as they attempted to solve the problems of the world one country at a time.  

COOL AS ICE  
Mr. Gutherie's high school science students are studying properties of gases (volume and temperature in particular) as well as unusual changes in phases of matter. Dry ice (actually solid carbon dioxide) is called "dry" because it sublimes, or passes directly from solid to gas form without becoming a liquid. It is also very cold (around -109 F), and so must be handled carefully. The students experienced the power of compressed gases using plastic soda bottles and dry ice and got quite a bang out of it!


LETS GET REAL 
Reel Abilities came to RMBA this week which is the Disability Film Festival currently taking place in Houston. Students in grades 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th and 5th-6th each attended sessions involving watching a short movie followed by a presentation and question and answer session with Angel Ponce,  the senior customer service representative for the Mayors Office for people with Disabilities.


EGG DROP SCIENCE
7th grade science students have been learning about Physics - notably force, mass and acceleration. Students worked in groups to engineer devices that would protect an egg from breaking if dropped from a roof.  Students in all grades made their way to the Greenwillow entrance to watch the experiment unfold as these devices were dropped off the roof of the Big Ulam!


100 DAYS OF FUN
A major milestone was reached this week as we hit day number 100 at RMBA! Our EC4, K and 1st graders got together to read stories that featured 100, and then filled up bags with "100" delicious snacks. Students arrived at school with items that totaled 100 such as a necklace made of cheerios, created their 100 day crowns and then throughout the day teachers integrated 100 into their activities such as solving math problems related to the number 100.  


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. 

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Playoffs are near.

Both High School Basketball teams find themselves in the thick of the TAPPS District 9-2A race. The girls are 5-1 in district play. There are 2 games remaining for district. The boys are 5-2 and are tied for first place in district. Every game from here on out will be a tough challenge for our boys and girls.

 

The TAPPS playoffs will begin on February 21st.  Time and location will be announced on February 19th. 

 

Senior Night

On February 19th, the Beren Stars will host CHSA on Senior Night for RMBA.  The seniors and their parents will be honored at half time of the game for their contributions to the Beren Academy Basketball Program.  Please come out and support the Stars on this wonderful night.

 

TENNIS

 

Middle School Tennis

FIRST PRACTICE IS THIS SUNDAY!!!

Middle School Tennis match schedule has been sent out. The matches will be at Lee Leclear and each player will be responsible for having transportation to and from the courts.

 

High School Tennis

FIRST PRACTICE IS THIS COMING TUESDAY!!!

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

 

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 guidelines and rules, please click here. 

      For questions related to the Beren Buzz please contact Leigh Levine at llevine@berenacademy.org 
SUPPORT RMBA
                                 
Target Code 16389                                                                                      
 
Robert M. Beren Academy | 713-723-7170 | aharonicarmel@berenacademy.org | http://www.berenacademy.org
11333 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77035



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