January 30, 2009 Shevat 5, 5769Dear MJCDS Parents, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE SECOND QUARTER. PROGRESS REPORTS WILL COME OUT EARLY NEXT WEEK. Our thanks extend to Faygie. She did a grand lesson on the mitzvah of keeping Rosh Hodesh. Students did a depiction of the moon in its various stages while learning about this week's parasha. At this time our thanks again extend to Ms. Adrienne Borisy Gross. This week students continued working on their Assemblage. They also began getting their hands filled with paper mache. This caused great excitement and great fun. It is truly delightful seeing our students imaginations and creativity at work. We also thank Debbie?s mother, Felice Borisy Rudin who came in to assist. In General Studies students worked on a particular habitat: the desert. Students created their own sentences, copied them and thus, began their own individual habitat log book. At the end of this unit students will have a log book that includes each major habitat. Students also focused on word problems in math, differentiating for our students' different levels. It seems that some of our students are now beginning to look for key words to help them solve the actual problem. Students then describe how they "attack" the word problem. During Hebrew and Judaic studies students focused strongly on the upcoming holiday of Tu B'Shvat. Using the liberal Jewish curriculum of Tal Am the lessons integrated science and Hebrew and Judaic Studies. Students began to familiarize themselves with specific related vocabulary as well as discuss the wonder of trees and their use. This wonderful creation has a bounty literally without end as trees feed our community in so many ways. This week we had added joy with the learning of part of Hallel as the twin's father,Lena and Vered's dad, visited. Rabbi Joshua Ben Gideon graciously taught a lesson about welcoming in the new month. Thus, we got off to an excellent start for the month of Shevat. After writing thank you notes to him we made a collage of the unusual imagery offered in Psalm 114. Reminder: Please have children come to school on time. Please send in an art smock if you have not done so already! Please SEND IN SHOE BOXES! We need this for a special activity. Please send $5 in an envelope for your child for the Klein?s Greenhouse field trip (see attachment). She will purchase a plant to give to an elderly person for Tu B'Shavat. Todah Rabbah: To all for helping sustain our school. Having just returned from a Project Sulam Conference, it is undeniable that MJCDS has a very special parent body. With continued support we should be able to prosper. Upcoming Events: Monday, February 2nd car seats needed for trip to Library. Thursday, February 5th at 1 pm car seats needed for field trip to Klein's Greenhouse. Monday, February 9th requested produce needed (see attachment). Until next time? have a sweet Shabbat. Kol tuv, Meisha and Jodi |