BYDS Express 11.09.2012

Beth Yeshurun Day School Express

November 9, 2012

24 Cheshvan 5773

Chadashot: What's New at BYDS?

BYDS Students Take Part in Mock Elections

Choosing Crackers and Candidates

Both Early Childhood and Elementary students took part in a "Mock Election" at BYDS on Tuesday this week, introducing our young citizens to the democratic process.

For the Pre-K students, the choice was not between the national candidates, but between favorite snacks. On the Pre-K ballot were Ritz crackers, Chex-Mix, and Graham crackers. Teachers taught the preschoolers about the democratic process in the United States, and the students learned how important it is for their future that their mommy's and daddy's go out and vote. The big lesson of the day was that every vote counts. Each student had the opportunity to drop his/her vote in the ballot box. It was a landslide: Chex-Mix was the most popular snack in Pre-K!

Also on Tuesday, our Elementary School students voted by secret ballot between the two national candidates. The library staff conducted the election and counted the results. The BYDS winner was Romney over Obama, by 52% to 48%.

Actually, everybody was a winner at BYDS for taking part and learning about the democratic process!

BYDS Parent Education

Parent Education Class #2

Focuses on Student Success and Testing

On Thursday morning, Elementary School Principal Mindy Rosenthal facilitated Part Two of this year's parent education curriculum. A lot of information was covered during the well-attended session in the Sofer Reading Room. Among the topics at the session were: Accelerated Reader, Children's Progress Academic Assessment, and helping our children organize and study for success. These classes will continue throughout the school year, and plans are in place to include some optional evening sessions for working parents. Please know that participation is open to all BYDS parents, and each session pursues a new topic, so it is not necessary to have attended earlier sessions to take part in any of the upcoming parent education classes. Keep checking our "Events" section in the Express each week to learn about our next parent education class.

BYDS Admissions Open House

This Sunday is Family Open House!

Tell a Neighbor; Tell a Friend

BYDS Passport Challenge; Free Pizza;

Great Curriculum Information this Sunday, 4pm--6pm.

Have a child in our Early Childhood Program? Have friends you'd like to visit the school? Want to just stop by and learn more about BYDS?

Our BYDS teachers, administrators and parent ambassadors are ready to greet new faces and current EC families for an afternoon of fun, info, and food.

The admissions event is taking a welcoming approach this year--the doors will open up on Sunday afternoon at 4pm, with pizza, refreshments, and a chance to tour throughout the school facility and meet teachers, parents, and staff in a most creative way. A "BYDS Passport" will be distributed to the kids, who will navigate the school and get their passports stamped by the "officials" stationed throughout.

At the Open House, families will have an opportunity to sign up for a tour on either Monday or Wednesday morning. For more information, contact Julie Bortnick at 713-666-1884, or email her at jbortnick@bethyeshurun.org.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR EVENT ON FACEBOOK

Annual Giving

Dear BYDS Families and Friends,

Many thanks to all of our Annual Giving Participants--see current list below.

Please check to see if you have received the invitation to this year's Annual Gala. If you haven't received one, contact Marci at mgilbert@bethyeshurun.org.

We are offering a means to handle both your annual gift and your Gala tickets by way of one of our combo packages. You may pledge online through My Backpack, mail/drop off your gift, or click into this Annual Giving Fund site to see the package support levels for Annual Giving and Gala:

Remember that all BYDS Annual Giving participants will receive an auto "BYDS" magnet--see pic below:

Click Here to Donate Now and Get a Car Magnet.

Please contact Marci Gilbert for more information or with questions.

Thanks again to our supporters who have already made their annual gift!

Mr. E's Blog

Mr. E's Blog is now up and running! Click here to read about our day school collaboration with Beren and Shlenker students this week, plus some fascinating facts from the wide world of education!

Thank You

Events

NOVEMBER

Sunday, 11th - Prospective Parent Open House 4pm - 6pm

Tuesday, 20th - Thanksgiving Program: ES 9am, EC 10:30, Dismissal Following Program, No EDC/ASA

Wednesday 21st thru Friday, 23rd - Thanksgiving Holiday, No BYDS

Friday, 30th - ES 2nd Grade Shabbat Service and Dinner 6 pm

Look what's coming...

Reservations can be made online through November 19

Click here to pay online!

4525 Beechnut * Houston, TX 77096

Pics of the Week

Deepest Sympathy

Mazel Tov

Yasher Koach

Tfillot

Yasher Koach to all students who led the Tfillot this past two week:

Chazzanim/Chazzaniot: Josh Romero, Eli Cowan, Claire Frankfort, Lizzie Sondock, Steven Wolf, Jack Greenberg, Jordan Sheldon, Joshua Blum, Max Melamed

Torah readers: Josh Erani, Peter Berry, Cantor Dorf

Aliyot: Aaron Berry, Jack Greenberg, Eli Cowan

Gabbaim : Brett Bazarsky, Daniel Malev

Kabbalat Shabbat

Yasher Koach to our Kabbalat Shabbat leaders last Friday:

Grace Gotesky, Rachel Gittleman, Sam Toubin, Ofir Kadosh, Kate Greenberg

*To follow our services schedule and assigned leaders please go to http://byds.org/academics/jewish-community-highlights/judaic-studies

Mensch of the Week
We started our character education program which includes a monthly value that will be discussed during the school day and during services. Our November theme is Kehilah (community) and we emphasize the importance hospitality, friendship and living in a community. Rabbi Rosen met with our 2^nd grade this week and talke about the importance of Kehilah.

Number of the students presented high values of kindness and entered the Mensch Box (which is located in the Administration lobby):

Elah Tuchshnieder for sitting and reading aloud an entire AR test to a friend.

Lillie Kleiban sitting next to a friend who was all alone.

Eddie Kalmin picking up the things that a teacher dropped on the floor was very helpful.

Billy Berry wiping up the floor in the hallway so no would slip.

Adam Ron holding the door for all of 2^nd grade without being asked to.

Sara Wolf helping a friend clean up a water spill from her desk.

Noa Strauss bringing special pencils and erasers for all of her classmates to use.

Judith Roisman comforting a classmate when we was feeling down.

Tzedakah

Thanks for the wonderful participation this past week. 100% Tzedakah was collected by all classes grades K-5!

Thanks to Jacob Trachtenberg and Peter Berry for coordinating this weeks' project. We continue to collect coins every week and we are very excited to see such an overwhelming participation. The students will decide be the end of the semester where these monies should go to.