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| January 29, 2016 |
19 Sh'vat 5776 |
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***Save the Date - Diamond in the Crown
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Parashat Yitro |
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Akiba Casino Night March 10th!***
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Candle Lighting 5:39 p.m. |
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TU B'SHVAT, NEW YEAR FOR THE TREES
Our students had a hand in planting.
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Yitro
This week's parashah includes the pivotal episode in Jewish history, the
moment the Jewish nation enters into a covenant with Hashem at Mount
Sinai. The description that the Torah provides of the event would give the
most talented special effects directors in the movie industry pause;
crashing thunder, lightning strikes, and clouds of smoke enveloped the
mountain at which Bnei Yisrael was encamped. Blasts of the shofar emanated
from the heavens, punctuating the natural phenomena to lend even greater
pomp and circumstance to the event. Bnei Yisrael was overwhelmed by the
sights and sounds of the day. In an unusual turn of phrase, the Torah
describes that Bnei Yisrael saw the sounds. Biblical commentators offer varied explanations for this supernatural experience. First, they aim to explain what the sounds were.
According to the most literal explanation, this word refers to the thunder
that rolled around Mt. Sinai. Rashi differs, however. He posits that the
sounds were the voice of Hashem, and Bnei Yisrael possessed at that
distinct moment the unprecedented ability to see Hashem's voice. Midrashic
interpretations agree that the sounds refer to Hashem, but question why the
word kolot is written in the plural. They also explore how exactly the witnesses
at Har Sinai were able to see Hashem's voice. One Midrash teaches that
Hashem's voice split into seventy voices, each one speaking a different
language of the world. Every nation of the world was to know of the great
gift that Hashem bestowed on Bnei Yisrael.
A second Midrash also explains
that Hashem's voice divided, but this Midrash explains that it separated
into over 600,000 voices. Every person standing at Har Sinai (and yet
another Midrash teaches us that every Jewish soul, past, present and
future joined the multitudes at the Revelation) understood Hashem's voice
according to his or her own ability. It was as if Hashem's voice calling
out from the heavens spoke directly and personally to each and every
individual. The seeing, the Midrashim elucidate, is not about visual
acuity; rather, seeing functions as understanding--the ability for every
person in Bnei Yisrael to understand Hashem's voice. The Sefat Emet builds
on the Midrashim and adds a visual component back in. At Har Sinai, as
every person internalized Hashem's voice and the message it delivered, he
or she saw a glimmer of the spark of Hashem inside, that unique piece of
Tzelem Elokim (Hashem's image) that resides in every human being.
Shabbat Shalom!
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SEVENTH GRADERS MAKE ALIYAH!
Tu B'Shvat is a great opportunity to talk about the land of Israel and the difficulties the first generations that made Aliyah had while coming to the land of Israel.
During Rabbi Netanel's Gemara class on Monday, students dedicated part of our time to play an interactive game (in Hebrew!) regarding the first Aliyot and building up the land of Israel in the years of 1882-1914.
The boys had a great time and learnt so much from this great game.
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DISCOVERY SOCCER ENTHUSIASTS...RAIN OR SHINE
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8TH GRADE TAKES THE LEAD
Each Friday, our Middle School has an assembly after davening. The assembly empowers the students to compliment each other, learn a song or a piece of Torah, and to come together as a community. As the 8th graders grow in their leadership abilities, they are emboldened to lead the entire Middle School in an activity that they have created.
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3RD GRADE DELVES DEEPER
Lorre Degani, 3rd grade General Studies, teaching division to a student.
Annette Wolk, 3rd grade Judaics, teaching an interactive Hebrew song to her 3rd grade class.
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DEADLINE FOR 2016-2017 EARLY RE-ENROLLMENT IS NEAR!!
The deadline for early enrollment with space guarantee is February 7, 2016 and payment of the $350 Re-Enrollment fee is due upon submission of contract. After that date, the Re-Enrollment Fee will increase to $550
and space cannot be guaranteed!
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HEBREW? ENGLISH? NO, THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF COMPUTERS
The fifth graders are taking their computer coding to a new level. First, they learned to code by playing "The Foos" with Mrs. Wortendyke, Educational Technologist. This week, they visited the
code.org website to take their learning to the next level and learned to code with blocks, one way computer programmers code.
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A SPLATTERING OF ART
The kindergarten class had the opportunity to paint like Jackson Pollock with Morah Lindsey in the Art Room! Students learned that Mr. Pollock splatter painted by flinging paint on to the canvas on the floor. The students watched a video of Mr. Pollock painting and the students imitated his style! We definitely got messy but had so much fun!
 
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CHAVRUTOT: WE LEARN FROM EACH OTHER
This week, Rabbi Weil's Gemara class reviewed what they have learned up to this point in the year. The students were put into Chavrutot to review and relearn.
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B'NOT SHERUT ENGAGE NITZANIM STUDENTS WITH TU B'SHVAT
Neriya and Tal taught the Nitzanim students a play called "Shisha Besakik". The students helped put special foods (dates, figs, carob, almonds, banana, and orange) into a bag, and then one person took all the dried fruit and ate them for Tu B'Shvat. The students had fun pretending to put the fruit in the bag.
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MYSTERY READERS KEEP US READING
Rabbi Hirsh, Akiba faculty member and father to a first grader, and Mrs. Ido, mother to first grade twins, both came to surprise the first graders with a book.
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IS THERE A SURGEON IN THE HOUSE?
7th graders' study of the skeletal system rose to new heights as our pre-med students successfully (after a while) completed virtual hip replacement surgery in Science Lab.
Comments of 'this is so cool' and 'I did it!' (as well as the occasional "oops") filled the lab, and patients and surgeons alike came through it all in great shape. You can try this at home at: www.edheads.org.
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The Trees Have It!
Teenoki Alef explored and celebrated Tu B'Shevat in pure toddler fashion! Among their many experiences, they painted flower pots, planted seeds, explored tree bark, took a long nature walk, and played with dirt. And through these opportunities the children learn to truly appreciate the world that Hashem created for us.
Refuah Shelayma
Morah Marissa and Morah Nitzan's Nitzanim class love fulfilling the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim "visiting the sick." They do this by making a refuah shelayma (get well soon) call to bring comfort to their friends that can't come to school when they are sick. This is a recording of the phone call (attached) they made to their friend Leora the other day when she couldn't come to school. They sure did brighten her day! What amazing mitzvah boys and girls they are!!
Chaverim Authors in the Making Visit with an Author
To enhance their book writing project, Chaverim classes invited a visiting author, A. David Zoller, who talked to the children about what it takes to author and publish a book. Mr. Zoller is a longtime member of the Akiba community as his children attended our Early Childhood Program, as well as our Lower and Middle Schools. The Chaverim children came up with their own interview questions for Mr. Zoller.. When asked to name something that they learned from this experience, the children replied, "Never give up on your hopes and dreams!" What an amazing life lesson at such a young age!
We want to give a warm welcome to new K'Ton Ton student Nolan Brown and his parents Amanda and Aaron Brown.
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WRITERS' BLOCK
Benjamin Schussler
Gratitude
I am grateful for pancakes. Every Sunday, my Dad makes pancakes from scratch. It is always the greatest part of the weekend. I wake up every Sunday at 8:00, and play on the computer until my dad starts making breakfast. I run to the kitchen to tell him what pancake I want, and they are always DELICIOUS. One time, my brother (who likes everything cheese related) asked if my dad could make a pancake with cheese melted on it, and my dad said "sure." When my brother said that they were good, I tried them, and good was an understatement. Now my dad will make a lot of different types of pancakes: plain, chocolate chip, butterscotch chip, cheese, sprinkle, and banana.
To me, gratitude is the feeling of recognition to something good that nobody thinks about. For me, this is the simple action of my father making breakfast. He doesn't do it because we are his children; he does it because he LOVES his children. I am grateful for the fact that he always has time for me, even when he spends most of the day and some of the night at work. I am grateful for his kindness towards me, and I am grateful that he is willing to be a short order cook and make my family pancakes, and most of all, I am grateful for the fact that I am blessed with a father as kind and loving as him.
Gabriella Schwarz-Mullins
Puppy Love
I'm grateful for my dog. She is so calm and never means to hurt anyone or anything. People are scared of her, because they don't see what I see. They don't see her wait by the door in excitement every time someone comes home. They don't see her get excited about the small portion of food. They don't see her wait patiently by her bowl in hopes of a treat. They don't see the way she just sits in the living room, looking out the window, or by the piano bench when I'm playing. They don't feel how she nuzzles me when she wants attention. They don't hear what I hear- the way she runs across the living room every morning, her nails tapping on the ground, or her scratch against the door, when she wants to be let inside. They miss how she taps against her cage, when she is dying to see me, or her snort every time she is dreaming. They never see what I see. They see opposite of her, a creature that wants to hurt them, because they are too afraid to know her.
Noah Ohayan
Airborne
I hear "prepare for takeoff"
Hoping I will have a safe flight.
I see the white and prosaic clouds as I zoom by
Dreaming I will fly someday.
I taste the honey roasted peanuts
I feel my soft chair
As I lay my head on it.
I smell the crisp air
as I get off the plane
Waiting to explore the world.
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HEAR YE! HEAR YE! "YEARBOOK ADS FOR SALE
Please purchase an ad for an 8th grader who is graduating, an honoree, or to advertise your business. Honorees are: 5th grade general studies teacher, Ms. Susan Landry (Ms. J) and Educational Technologist, Mrs. Aimee Wortendyke.
Click
HERE
for form and payment instructions.
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If a grandmother and a great-grandmother can volunteer to help serve lunch, we hope you can too!!!
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4 Generations Serving Lunch
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Please sign up (
CLICK HERE). You can forward to your child's grandparents too; everyone has fun serving hot lunch!
For more PTO information check out the PTO page
on the Akiba website.
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HOMEWORK CLINIC REMINDER FOR GRADES 1-4
Just a reminder that Homework Clinic is available on a drop-in basis for a fee of $12. If your plans for the day change, and you would like your child to go to Homework Clinic, please send a BlueNote to let us know and we will simply add the fee to your account.
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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
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 NURSE'S NOTES
Dear Akiba families,
Immunization Requirements. To view the TDSHS (Texas Department of State Health Services) requirements, CLICK HERE.
For students with medical exemptions a physician's note is required yearly.
For students requesting conscience objection of immunization; written request must be submitted to: Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Immunization and Pharmacy Support, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756. (800) 252-9152.
Susan D.,RN
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WATCH YOUR MAILBOX!
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HOW CAN A BOX AND A SMILE BENEFIT AKIBA?
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BOXTOPS = $$ FOR AKIBA. WE NEED YOURS!
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Send us your boxtops and we will turn that cardboard into $$$$ for our school. The money we raise through Box Tops for Education goes towards adding to our library and technology.
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AKIBA BENEFITS WHEN YOU SHOP FROM AMAZON (SMILE)
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Did You Know.....You Shop, Amazon Gives!
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Akiba Academy.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
Shop on your phone? Set the AmazonSmile page by selecting "add to home screen" on your phone.
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To Dina and Joe
Ravitsky and big brother Shachar on the birth of their baby boy!
To proud parents, Alyssa & Barry Wernick and big sisters, Betsy & Alice, on the birth of a baby girl.
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ATHLETICS ALERTS
Girls B Team beat Alcuin twice this week.
Boys' A Team won against Torah Day School of Dallas and Dallas Lutheran. They also beat Dallas Covenant is a nail biting, overtime game.
Go Cougars!
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COMMUNITY NOTICES
UPDATED WEEKLY
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STAY CONNECTED TO AKIBA'S SOCIAL MEDIA
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KOL AKIBA will be delivered to your inbox every week giving you a quick look at the week's news highlights as well as a look ahead for the coming week so you can plan accordingly. If you have new stories or photos to share please contact
[email protected].
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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]
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