April 21, 2016, 13 Nisan 5776                     Hashavua - The Week

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL 
 
My trip to DC and New York with our eighth grade was wonderful. As expected, the museums were impressive, the monuments were moving, the architecture was magnificent, and the wonderment of the students was inspiring. But there was an element of the journey that took me by surprise. His name is Tom, and he was assigned as our tour guide. He was clearly knowledgeable and articulate, but those weren't the attributes that made me a fan. Everywhere we would go, everyone seemed to know Tom and appeared genuinely happy to see him.

It quickly became evident why Tom was so popular. Tom cared. He would engage in conversation with ticket takers, parking attendants, guards, waiters and hotel receptionists. He would remember details about conversations he had with them in the past, and if he were meeting them for the first time, he would show genuine interest and concern. If we had food left over from meals (and we always seemed to have a lot of food left over) he would be sure to share it with those working at menial jobs (who were always so appreciative of the gift). He would buy coffee for our driver and make sure that all of our group was well cared for - from arranging wake up calls, to sharing his battery charger. There was something about Tom's graciousness that was so genuine and refreshing. It was mindful.

It occurred to me that so often in my hurried life, I don't take that extra minute to know the people in service roles that touch my life on a daily basis. So often I don't take the time to show appreciation for the things that others do for me or for my children. While the Passover Holiday is about showing appreciation for our freedom and our peoplehood, it is also about being mindful - about meeting the needs of others. In order to become a people, the children of Israel needed to come together and care about one another. Traditionally, at Passover we are instructed to pay attention to those in need of food (and make appropriate donations known as "Ma'Ot Hittin"). We are also instructed to invite the hungry and those in need of community to our seder table ("Kol dichfin"). As we teach our children at Yavneh those principles of caring for others, it is my hope that we as adults take a lesson from Tom and find the time to be mindful and appreciative of those around us, and in doing so, continue building a caring community. 

Hag Sameach -  best wishes for a happy Passover! -Zvi

WALK-A-THON 2016
The Annual Walkathon is on Thursday May 12th which is also Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. As always, we will be adding up all of our laps to see if we can walk the length of Israel. 

Pledge forms were distributed today. Check your child's backpack (an extra form is attached here). When you see friends and family over the break, don't forget to ask for their pledges. The class to raise the most, wins a pizza party! 

Looking for additional PPC's? Volunteers needed for the Walk-A-Thon!


YAVNEH FINALIST IN RUBE GOLDBERG CHALLENGE
Kol HaKavod to the Yavneh 6th grade for placing as a finalist 
in the Ravsak and Technion Rube Goldberg Challenge. Yahveh was the only school in California to be recognized.

In case you missed the video:

YAVNEH DAY SCHOOL PRESENTS
Heroes. We all have them. We all love them. But what makes a hero? Find out at "Hero Rock! The Jewish Heroes Hall of Fame", Yavneh Day School's Spring Musical. In this all-singing, all-dancing Academy Awards-style musical, the entire Yavneh student body and members of the faculty will take the stage to honor and celebrate such remarkable Jewish heroes as Golda Meir, Anne Frank, Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, Albert Einstein, Natan Sharansky, Sandy Koufax, and many more. Set to music from the '50s and '60s, the honorees will earn their "Hero Rock" awards and show you why they've made it to the Jewish Heroes Hall of Fame. 

Performances are Tuesday May 24 and Wednesday May 25 at 7pm in the APJCC Auditorium on the Levy Family Campus; presented with a 15 minute intermission. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door. To purchase tickets for Tuesday, click here. To purchase tickets for Wednesday, click here
Email [email protected] for more information.

STUDENTS IN ACTION

Kitah Alef had hands on learning making bricks in a Passover themed JSTEAM project. Students studied verses from Exodus about how the Israelite slaves built bricks, discussed how their lives were made bitter through hard work and hypothesized why straw is important to make strong bricks. 

Kitah Gan and Kitah Alef enjoyed a model seder together with prayer, song, and even some dancing. 
Kitah Gimel had their first opportunity to use their new Tanakhim and began making their animal book report covers. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL IN ACTION

Middle school students explored how recalling our own story of slavery compels us to fight modern slavery. They watched a documentary about the cocoa industry, explored the topic of child slavery in integrated learning in all subjects, and created ritual art to bring to their own Seder.

NO SCHOOL TOMORROW
  
**************
CALENDAR

Fri. Apr. 22-Fri. Apr. 29
NO SCHOOL
Passover Vacation

Mon. May 2
Return to classes

Wed. May 4
Silicon Valley Yom HaShoah Memorial Service
Congregation Sinai
7:00pm

Thu. May 5 
Yom HaShoah Ceremony at Yavneh led by 7th grade
8:30am

Sun. May 8th
Yom Hazikaron 
Evening of Song
6:00pm-8:00pm

Mon. May 9th
Keshet of Kavod Assembly
8:30am

Wed. May 11th
Yom HaZikaron
8:30am Assembly

Thu. May 12th
Yom Ha'atzmaut
Walk-A-Thon
1:30pm

YEARBOOK TRIBUTES
Last chance to have a message and photos of your child in the yearbook? Tributes are available for purchase until TOMORROW Apr. 22nd

YOM HAZIKARON
EVENING OF SONG
Sun. May 8
6:00pm-8:00pm

MATH OLYMPIADS

Kol HaKavod to all of the 4th-8th grade Yavneh participants in this year's Math Olympiads. 

Nearly 150,000 students worldwide participate in Math Olympiads each year. Running from November to March, this program involves a series monthly contests as well as weekly practice sessions.

Math Olympiads is dedicated to stimulating enthusiasm, fostering creativity and strengthening intuition in mathematical problem 
solving.

6TH ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP
Thank you to everyone who registered for the camping trip. The trip is currently sold out.

Payment: If you have registered by check, you need to turn this in by 
Fri. May 6th to keep your spot secure. 

Waitlist: For those who were unable to register, please add your name to the waitlist with the exact number of people joining you.
We will contact you if a spot opens up for you and your family.

HOT LUNCH MENU
IN THE COMMUNITY
CAMP SHALOM
Spring Break Camp
Grades K-6
Apr. 25th-29th

LEARN HEBREW
THIS SUMMER
WITH ULPAN 
At the University of San Francisco
Early Bird Tuition Registration Discount by May 1st
Click here for more info

SILICON VALLEY YOM HASHOAH MEMORIAL SERVICE
Wed. May 4
7:00pm
Congregation Sinai
Yavneh students along with other Jewish students in the community will participate in the memorial service

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