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Parashat Terumah      Shabbat Candle Lighting 5:57 p.m.            Havdalah 7:05 p.m.

DON'T MISS THE FRIENDSHIP WALK 
BENEFITTNG THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF HOUSTON 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT 2:00 P.M. 
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

THE  MIDDAH (JEWISH VALUE) FOR THE COMING MONTH OF 
ADAR IS SAMEACH B'CHELKO - BEING HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE 
RMBA is a proud partner of

CAMP MOSHAVA HOUSTON
CAMP MOSHAVA HOUSTON 
June 8 - July 31
Click here for more details about our early bird pricing.
PTO HAMANTASHEN SALE
Purchase your delicious Hamantashen in time for Purim and support your RMBA PTO by Friday February 20th. $6 per dozen!  Click here to print an order form. 
BNEI AKIVA MISHLOACH MANOT 
Click here to learn more about supporting the Bnei Akiva Mishloach Manot program!  Last change to order is February 23! 
HOT LUNCHES
Please click here to order and purchase your hot lunches for the year catered by Saba's Restaurant. 
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Rosh Chodesh Adar   
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Basketball Senior Night 
Thursday, February 19, 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
Early Childhood and Elementary School students are encouraged to dress in Go Texan theme. 
No toy guns please. 
5th Grade Purim Play 
Friday, February 27, 2015
2:20 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Themed Purim Dress Up Days   

Monday, March 2
LS: Favorite Character Day (book, movie, etc.)
MS: Disney Character Day
HS: Mismatch Day 

Tuesday, March 3
LS: Sports Day
MS & HS: Crazy Hair/Hat Day

Wednesday, March 4
LS: Dress up like your favorite person from the Torah 

Thursday, March 5
Choose your Own Costume

Costumes must be modest (boys - wear kippot or hat, no shorts or skirts / girls no shorts or pants) and have no sexual or violent images.
Fast of Esther  
Wenesday, March 4
No lunch service for Upper School and Upper School early dismissal at 2:45 p.m.
Purim Celebrations   
Tursday, March 5, 2015
Early Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.
4th Grade trip to San Antonio  
Tuesday, March 10-Wednesday March 11, 2015
RMBA Drama Club Presents "The Little Mermaid"
Thursday, March 12, 2015
8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
9:00 p.m.
Sunday March 15, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Teatro Billingue
Click here for more info
4 p.m. Friday Dismissal begins   
Friday, March 13, 2015
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
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.

Bnei Akiva Purim Carnival 
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
UOS
Click here for more details

Kosher Chili Cook Off
Sunday, March 8 2015
ERJCC

MAZAL TOV! 
Mazal Tov to Jacklyn Kleiman (Grade 7) and her family on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah this weekend. 

 

Houston Bnei Akiva, UOS and RMBA wish Mazal Tov to Minya Goldstein (Houston Bat Sheirut 2011-2012) on her upcoming marriage to Dor Shaulie! 

 

We will be having a Houston Sheva Brachot coordinated by Shulamis and Avi Pollak and Temima and Shlomo Stern on Thursday evening, March 19th.

All who are in Israel are invited to attend!

 

If you are interested in co-hosting the Sheva Brachot (whether you are able to attend or not), please  contact Shlomo Stern at

sstern@bneiakiva.org for more details.

 

HAVE YOU GOT THE SPIRIT?
Show your school spirit and purchase RMBA Spirit Wear Shirts for the whole family here! 
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!
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.
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 19, 2015                                                                 30 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

JOHN COLLINS WRITING PROGRAM UPDATE
As part of our extensive professional development program, we once again hosted John Collins this week who held intensive one on one sessions with 26 of our teachers. He was incredibly impressed with the level of implementation of his program. he shared new suggestions, techniques and tools to enhance the ability of our teachers to continue to effectively develop the writing and comprehension skills taught in class. Our Teachers Survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with this program and its effectiveness.
PAST RMBA HIGHLIGHTS 
FIT FOR A KING 
Elementary students studied American Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and using the crowns often featured in his earlier work as inspiration, created a pop art version with 4 quadrants and incorporating print making skills.  We cannot wait to begin using our newly installed kiln so watch this space for more details...
 
TORAH TIME
EC2 students each have their own mini-Torahs that they helped decorate and enjoy a daily session where they sing, dance and celebrate with their Torah as part of their circle time. 

LEGENDS IN THE MAKING 
Morah Elisheva's second graders read about and studied famous people and following this, dressed up as a famous person of their choice and presented about them to the class and their parents.  They then answered questions from the audience and were truly amazing and inspired! 


WE HELP OURSELVES
EC3 students were treated to a delightful puppet show presented by WHO (We Help Ourselves),  an educational program teaching children how to protect themselves in all kinds of dangerous situations.


HISTORY UNFOLDS
Ms. Spears' 9th and 10th grade English class created projects where they attempted to retell history through graphic novel techniques. Students had been studying the book "Maus" and had been inspired by this. They used pictures, dialogue and narratives to coordinate and retell a scene from history. Some students interviewed people who had Holocaust related stories to share and created beautiful graphic novels. 


MUSICALLY MINDED
Music teacher Jon Swann enthralled his early childhood students this week with his flute and saxophone playing skills. Students were able to learn about the different parts of each instrument and assisted with creating interesting sounds depending on where you place your fingers. 


DISTRICT RACE
Our High School Boys and Girls basketball teams are in midst of a tough district race with final games to be played soon. On Tuesday evening our Girls won and our boys narrowly lost but both are still in the hunt. Join us this evening for games in the RMBA gym and for Senior Night where we honor our departing senior basketball players and their parents. 



BRAINIACS
First grader Jordie Yoshor's father Dr. Daniel Yoshor visited her classmates this week to discuss the brain, a subject they have been learning about in class. Dr. Yoshor is a neurosurgeon and shared some interesting information with our students from his perspective. 


GEOMETRY IN MOTION
Ms. Rosenzweig's 8th grade math class is currently studying geometry and to enjoy some practical experience, students designed and created kites out of geometrical shapes and then took them outdoors to fly them with impressive results. 


SENSITIVE SOULS
Our High School students were treated to an engaging and insightful sensitivity training courtesy of Davis Weintraub who was sent from NY Yachad (The Jewish Counsel for Disabilities).  The students experienced a number of scenarios that helped them appreciate how challenging a disability can be and how to be more sensitive to it.  This training was a perfect introduction to an inclusive Yachad Shabbaton that took place last weekend at UOS.

ROSH CHODESH ADAR
Today we celebrated Rosh Chodesh Adar which means that Purim is just 2 weeks away! Enjoy this slideshow of our RMBA kindergarten students enjoying Rosh Chodesh Adar celebrations while looking ahead towards Purim. 
Kindergarten/Rosh Chodesh Adar
Kindergarten/Rosh Chodesh Adar


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

 

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.

 

TAPPS Playoffs

Join us for the Girls and Boys High School Basketball TAPPS Playoff Games in the RMBA gym on Monday, February 23 at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectivelty. 

 

 

TENNIS

Middle School tennis matches begin next week. Please check the Athletics calendar on the RMBA website for the upcoming schedule. 

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. 

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

ATTENDANCE 

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

 

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.   

 

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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