January 15, 2016 5 Sh'vat 5776

Parashat Bo

Candle Lighting 5:25 p.m.
ITS A GIRL THING: ROSH CHODESH
 
Thank you to Akiba parent and teacher, Mrs. Tannenbaum, for leading this month's "It's a Girl Thing" Rosh Chodesh event for 7th and 8th graders.  We appreciate the Leftin family for opening their home for the evening.
 
Bo
Contained within this week's parashah is the very first mitzvah given to the fledgling nation of Israel: the mitzvah to establish Rosh Chodesh. Many wonder why Hashem chose this mitzvah as the first for the collective Jewish People; certainly there are other mitzvot that represent Judaism more fundamentally than sanctifying the new moon. With infinite wisdom, Hashem chose the mitzvah that would resonate most strongly for a group of slaves moving toward freedom.  Having been unable to manage their own time under Egyptian tyranny, the Israelites were now invited to partner with G-d in setting the months and holiday calendar of the Jewish year. By training their eyes heavenward and looking at the skies to determine the new moon, the Jewish People exercise the power and freedom to assume control of their own time. And why does Hashem give this mitzvah while the nation is still shackled in the land of their servitude: to remind Bnei Yisrael that it is a powerful force whose influence and impact can soar to the heavens.
I would like to let you know that I will be away from school through January 28th in celebration of a family simchah. If you need assistance with anything in my absence, please contact Bev Millican, Leslie Mickel, Andi Bonner or Jordana Bernstein.

Shabbat Shalom,

3RD GRADE GETS LOST IN SPACE

Third graders are learning about the solar system. On Tuesday, they had the opportunity to listen to Akiba dad Greg Schwartz (Noah and Zach) give a presentation (for the fifth year!) about the Solar System. Mr. Schwartz, who is an astronomy hobbyist, showed slides and answered questions and shared his passion for all things space. The kids loved every second. Thank you, Mr. Schwartz!

  

Mr. Schwartz Teaches 3rd Grade About Space
Mr. Schwartz Teaches 3rd Grade About Space

"CREATIVE CLUB" COMES TO MS RECESS
  
Many eager students attended the Creative Club this week.  Students started out learning about Artist Trading Cards and explored the materials that were provided to create their masterpieces!  The artists will start by decorating a box to store their Artist Trading Cards, and then begin to design cards that are known in the art world as ATCs.  They will be provided blank ATC cards, decorative paper, rubber stamps to embellish, rub-ons and pre-printed quotes and affirmations that can be used alone or with their own thoughts or quotes.
  
Thanks to all MS faculty members, and especially Ms. Mary Willia who is leading this class.
  
   
BNOT SHERUT BRING ISRAEL AND HEBREW INTO CLASSROOMS

This week in Nitzanim, the Bnot Sherut (Tal and Nerya) taught the students that the Hebrew word for flower is Perach.  After practicing their new word, the students created a crown made of flowers. 
  

 
This week, Tal and Nerya started teaching about cities and places in Israel.  A "Passport" to Israel will be given to every LS student .  As they learn about places in Israel, they will earn a stamp for their passport.  This week, students visited Tel-Hai a city in the north of Israel.
  
 
AKIBA TALKS: MONTHLY PROGRAM FOR PARENTS

Parents and teachers gathered on Wednesday evening for an Akiba Talk on Academics and Intention in Early Childhood Education.  It was led by Early Childhood Director, Jordana Bernstein and Early Childhood Educator, Dorit Schonbrunn.  The talk was based on the most current research in the early childhood education field.  If you were unable to attend, here are a few key points:  
  • Play is so important for young children, that it must be at the core of early childhood education.
  • Having rich conversations with young children, making sure to use a lot of colorful words and vocabulary, is one of the number one indicators for literacy development.
  • Children need uninterrupted time to be able to play and work on self-help tasks, such as: putting on their shoes and socks, zipping their backpacks, and dressing themselves. These types of executive function skills are the backbone of later academic skills.
 
PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS!
 
K'Ton Ton is Kicking It With Cars!
We love cars!  The children explore cars every day in Morah Marni's and Morah Marcela's K'Ton Ton classroom.  The students enjoy pushing and driving the cars all over the classroom and watching the cars slide down the wall-mounted tube.  To extend their passion and curiosity, we asked, "What else can we do with cars?"  Let's paint!  The children were given the opportunity to drive the cars through four colors of tempera paint, one at a time.  Many children seemed confused as to why we would give them cars instead of paint brushes!  As they worked, we discussed the colorful tire tracks, the sound the cars might make and where they might be driving to.  We are looking forward to more explorations with cars and paint!
 

 
Book Buddies in Chaverim
Students have been very interested in telling stories and writing books.  We are excited with their enthusiasm to become authors and illustrators! The morahs have come up with a great provocation to support their enthusiasm, build literacy skills and connect the two classes together through their mutual interests!  We created Book Buddies by randomly pairing the children from one class with the other.  Every day (or as time allows), two Book Buddies will work together in each of our classes creating a book - until all 18 pairs have completed their books.  In honor of Tu B'Shevat coming, we decided to ask the "authors" to write their books about anything related to trees.  We will be working with each pair to write down their ideas and the words of their stories. 

DID YOU KNOW....PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS BE AWARE
 
A bulky coat and a car seat is a dangerous combination.
  
To keep our children warm and safe while traveling in the car, here are some safety tips:
  • As a general rule, winter coats should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. A bulky coat under a child seat harness can result in the harness being too loose to be effective in a crash.
  • Check if your child's coat is too big and bulky to wear under their harness by doing the following:
    • Put the coat on your child, sit them in the child seat and fasten the harness. Tighten the harness until you can no longer pinch any of the harness webbing with your thumb and forefinger.
    • Without loosening the harness, remove your child from the child seat.
    • Take the coat off, and put your child back in the child seat and buckle the harness straps, which are still adjusted as they were when he was wearing the coat.
    • If you can now pinch the webbing between your thumb and forefinger, then the coat is too bulky to be worn under the harness.
If you find that the coat cannot be safely worn under the harness, here are a couple things you can do to keep your child safe and warm in his/her child seat:
  • After securing your child in his/her child seat, turn the coat around and put it on backward with their arms through the arm holes and the back of the coat acting like a blanket
  • Lay a blanket over your child to keep him/her warm.
It is very important that the harness is tight enough that you can't pinch the webbing between your thumb and forefinger. Extra slack in the harness can be very dangerous; it can lead to too much excursion or even ejection during a crash.
  
These tips should help keep your precious little ones
safe and warm this winter.
FUTURE SIX FLAGS ROLLERCOASTER DESIGNERS IN FIRST GRADE

The students viewed pictures of rollercoasters on Google Images. They discussed the commonalities amongst the images: loops, cars, tracks and supports. Students planned out their designs.

The entire class worked together to create an exciting ride using recycled construction paper, toilet paper rolls, paper towel roles, wrapping paper rolls and masking tape. Look at all of the collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking these students are using!
GIVING GRATITUDE

The Akiba Middle School has begun a social experiment! We are investigating whether keeping a Gratitude Journal is all it's cracked up to be. We watched and analyzed TED Talks, researched gratitude and the effects of gratitude journals, according to various scientific studies. Every day, we wrote about gratitude for at least five minutes, based on various prompts, and attached them to our desks, so that we had a visual reminder of what we appreciate. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other. 

Students are continuing Gratitude Journals and writing practice in MS LA Classes. Here are some responses to the prompt "Write about a sound for which you are grateful".
 
Laughter 
  One of the many sensory characteristics that I am grateful for is the ability to hear. And out of all the sounds a person can hear, the one that I value the most is the sound of laughter.
   Laughter means many things. It is the sound my friends make when I tell a joke. It is the sound in the air when my cousin screams with joy. It is also the sound of happiness.
   Laughter rips through silence. It makes you grin or smile. Every laugh is unique and special in its own way. Its presence brings a spark into life, and illuminates the darkness.
 
Binyamin Robbins

Silence 
Solemn
Quiet, Sad, Peaceful
The sound of silence
Has filled the room.
  
Thoughts, feelings, ideas
Have taken your soul
Now to a different level.
Your body has been taken over.
  
Solemn,
Quiet, sad, peaceful
The sound of silence
Has filled the room
And I am grateful.
  
David Malina
2ND GRADE STANDS TALL WITH STEM

How tall can you build a free standing spaghetti tower, holding a raisin on top? See for yourselves!
 
NO "PIPE DREAMS" FOR 5TH GRADE DESIGNERS

5th grade was tasked with engineering towers out of pipe cleaners.  The supplies included 3 sizes of pipe cleaners and 30 cm. of tape.  Their challange: create the tallest free standing structure.  The students quickly learned 'it's all about that base!'
4:1 A GREAT RATIO FOR READING

First grade had the wonderful opportunity of collaborating with fourth grade in a partnership of reading buddies. The 4th grade students were paired with one to two first graders. They self-selected books from the first grade library and read to each other to practice fluency, phrasing and expression. It was an enlightening experience for both the students and teachers! 


WE "CAN" MAKE A DIFFERENCE

W e are so thankful to all our families who supported the recent "can"ukah canned food drive to help JFS with their food pantry.   Not only did Akiba contribute the most cans to this drive but this letter from JFS clearly shows that Akiba MADE A DIFFERENCE!!!
   
YEARLY TU B'SHVAT SISTER SCHOOL SEDAR

Once again, our 5th graders will have an opportunity to have a virtual Tu B'Shvat Sedar over Skype with our sister school in Acco, who return to school after hours to connect with our students in Dallas.
  
 
2016-2017 RE-ENROLLMENT IS OPEN
  
Listed below are a couple of changes to the Enrollment Contract we want to remind you of for 2016-2017:
    
1.  There will be three payment options available:
  • 10-months - August 2016 through May 2017
  • 12-months - June 2016 through May 2017
  • Full Pay - June 2016
2.  The full enrollment deposit is due at the time of enrollment.
  
3.  Regardless of which payment option is chosen, all families will need to provide banking information to cover incidentals as they come up throughout the year (testing, aftercare, etc.). 
  
 The deadline for early enrollment with space guarantee is February 7, 2016. After that date, the Re-Enrollment Fee will increase to $550 and space cannot be guaranteed!
2016-2017 FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN
  
Listed below is the Financial Aid Calendar for 2016-2017:
  • February 7, 2016 - Complete the Financial Aid application through the SSS website. Our school code is 900307.
  • March 6, 2016 - Upload the 2015 1040 and W2's to the SSS website. Complete and return a 4506t to the Financial Aid Committee ([email protected]).
  • March 20, 2016 - Financial Aid Committee will mail offer letters.
  • May 5, 2016 - Financial arrangements must be finalized for payments to the school.  
We look forward to serving your family!
 
Akiba Academy of Dallas
Financial Aid Committee
NURSE'S NOTES 

Dear Akiba families,  
 
Hands-Only CPR
Please go to website ( www.Parade.com/cpr)  to view a 2 minutes video to review potentially lifesaving knowledge . Hands only CPR is all you might need to know and use  to help save a life. You do not necessarily need to be CPR  certified to make a difference.
  
Choose My Plate answers questions on healthy eating and dietary guidelines. Check it out at:  http://www.choosemyplate.gov/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines-answers-your-questions
 
Susan Donnenfield,RN
HONOR OUR HONOREES AND OUR 8TH GRADERS!
  
Please purchase an ad for an 8th grader who is graduating, an honoree, or to advertise your business.  The 8th graders chose two staff members who have had a positive impact on their years at Akiba.  5th grade general studies teacher, Ms. Susan Landry (Ms. J) and Educational Technologist, Mrs. Aimee Wortendyke, were chosen by these students.  Fill out the an ad order form and return the form, payment, and a copy of your ad to Aimee Wortendyke, Educational Technologist.  Click here for form.
PHYSICS GARDEN IN NEED OF GROWING:

Yosef Weiss is building an Physics Garden at Akiba for all to utilize.  As part of his plan, he needs an outdoor table that is not glass.  Please check your storage, garage, and yard as you may have what he needs. Please email him at: [email protected] or call him at: (972) 769-7299.  Thank you!


 
Thank you to everyone who attended our Healthy Eating program. We had a great turn out. A special thank you the organizers Julia Kaufman, Matan Oved, and Marcia Kaufman. If there are additional programs you would like to see, please let the PTO know.
  


Keep signing up for hot lunch volunteer spots. You receive a free hot lunch the day you volunteer and many thank yous from the students and faculty. It is a easy, one-time (or many times) way to volunteer to help out at Akiba.   CLICK HERE

The PTO is in the process of reorganizing our mitzvah of the month activities so please stay tuned!

Being involved in the PTO is a great way to be connected to Akiba, but we all must remember there are only so many hours in the day. We hope to provide a wide range of possibilities for you to get as involved as your interests and schedule allow. The PTO appreciates everything parents and teachers do at Akiba. 

For more PTO information check out the PTO page
on the Akiba website.
BOX TOPS PAY US BACK
Continue to collect your Box Tops and send them in!  There are drop boxes in the front office and in the preschool.  Your child can also drop them off in Aimee Wortendyke's office in the Lower School.  So far our school has earned $90 and we would love to see that amount JUMP!!!  The money we raise through this will go towards our library and technology.



Mazel Tov to faculty member, Zalman Dubrawsky, on his marriage
to Risa Cohen.
Mazel Tov to our Shlichim, Netanel and Bat Chen Weil, on the birth
of their baby girl.

COMMUNITY NOTICES
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Akiba Academy provides a superior general and Judaic education to children in preschool through eighth grade. As a Modern Orthodox school, Akiba Academy develops ethical and responsible members of the Jewish people and American society, knowledgeable about and committed to their Jewish heritage and the State of Israel. For more information about Akiba contact  [email protected] .