November 13, 2015 1 Kislev 5776

Parashat Toldot 

Candle Lighting 5:08 p.m.
VETERANS' DAY IS L'DOR V'DOR: GENERATION TO GENERATION
Great grandfathers of Akiba students joined an Akiba alum with members of the Jewish War Veterans Organization to share their stories as veterans. These heroes shared their stories, their experiences, and their knowledge with the first through eighth graders. Our third grades recited a poem that they learned in honor of our veterans.  Rabbi Hirsch recited a prayer for the welfare of our soldiers in Hebrew and in English.  Thank you veterans for your commitment and service to America and to our soldiers today who help keep our country safe.     
Akiba Honors Our Veterans
Akiba Honors Our Veterans
Toldot
This Shabbat, I always prepare a menu that features lentils, because lentils play an important supporting role in this week's Parashah. Interestingly, wild lentils are one of the most ancient food sources and one of the first to be cultivated. Wild lentils still grow in nooks and crannies all over the world. They are a humble plant, low to the ground with tiny seeds. The plant derives its name, lentil , from the unique shape of the food. Flat on one side and convex on the other, lentils remind us of the lens of an eye. In fact, in Hebrew, the same root forms the words lentils and contact lens. So what do lentils, lens, and seeing have to do with this week's Torah reading?
Yaakov cooks a lentil stew for which his twin brother, Esav, sells his birthright. When Esav returns from the hunt he ravenously eyes his brother's culinary creation and demands, "Give me some of that red, red stuff!" Red lentils, by nature, do not stay red very long once they are cooked. Esav sees the food and can only think of his most basic need to fill his stomach. He does not even wait for the red lentils to be cooked; he pours a concoction of raw red lentils and other ingredients down his gullet. Yaakov, on the other hand, prepares the red lentil dish because in it he sees an opportunity to respect his father and mourn his grandfather. The Midrash explains that Yaakov cooks lentils because they are an appropriate food to serve in a house of mourning and Avraham had just passed away. This short episode of the lentils teaches the importance of perspective. Whereas  Esav only saw the here and now and the self-serving function of the lentils, Yaakov saw something much greater.
At Akiba, kedushah (holiness) stands as one of the pillars that serves as a foundation for our educational mission. Part of kedushah requires that an individual be able to recognize the sanctity of the mundane, just as Yaakov was able to recognize the sacred potential encased in a humble lentil. Our teachers train our students to open their eyes, look for holiness, and discover ways to elevate something ordinary and every day to something extraordinary and holy.
Shabbat Shalom,


LOCAL RABBI LEARNS WITH OUR STUDENTS
We are honored when guests learn with our students. Thank you to Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky, Rabbi of Congregation Shaare Tefilla, who came to study about the laws of selling chametz with Rabbi Hirsch's 8th grade Boys Oral Law class.
  
 
SHARP MINDS START ON TIME
School begins at 8 AM.  We begin marking tardy (late) students after that time. As we begin the upcoming colder months, please consider leaving your home earlier to ensure your child arrives to school on time. Our Akiba Handbook states that students who have 9 or more tardy marks will be required to attend a Sunday-morning class.  We thank you for working as a partner in your child's education. 
DAY OF LEARNING FOR FACULTY
On Monday as part of their in-service day, teachers visited other schools in Dallas to observe a variety of teaching styles and educational environments. Upon return to Akiba, our teachers reflected upon their visits, collaborated on creative ways to continue our journey of 21st century learning.

SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE TOP PRIORITIES
During our school hours of 8:00 AM-4:15 PM, we are keeping our Lower School building secure. Please visit the Security and Check-In Desk in the main Atrium to get a visitor's pass. Adults without a pass will be directed back to the desk to first get a pass. To maintain this security, during school hours, we invite parents after drop off or before pick-up to visit our main Atrium in the Administration building.  Thank you as we work together to maintain the security of our children!  
PARENT SURVEY FOR ACCREDITATION
Parents of Lower School and Middle School students, please remember to complete the accreditation survey by November 25th.  CLICK HERE
AKIBA NINJA WARRIORS AND RECESS MOMENTS
First and second grade students use the 4Cs to create a Ninja Warrior style obstacle course.  They collaborated, communicated, used creativity, and critical thinking to design a course that was challenging and exciting!
     

ON THE COURT
This week, the Boys' A team beat Torah Day School and Levine Academy.  The Girls' A team pulled out a win against Levine.  Please send us pictures of our Cougars when you attend sporting events for inclusion in Kol Akiba. Go Cougars!!!
LEARNING EXPLODES IN 4TH GRADE
The fourth graders had a special visit from Science Stan, who explained the changing conditions of our earth that cause natural phenomena!  Students had a blast making earthquakes, tornadoes, and volcanoes happen in their classrooms.  The two hour "FUN'omena" was enjoyed by all!
        
MESSAGE FROM AKIBA TEACHER(DR. DEBBIE GREENE) IN ISRAEL
NCJW (National Conference of Jewish Women) met with MK Michal Rozin, MK Aida Touma-Suleiman, and Tzipi Livni on the status of women in Israel yesterday. We also met with the director of Israel's EEOC and, later, Rachel Levmore, a member of the rabbinical court judges nominating committee.

            
DIAMOND CELEBRATION: FLAWLESS!
 On Sunday, the Schultz-Rosenberg Campus kicked off their Diamond Celebration of the campus with festivities for the entire family.  The children dug for diamonds in the new Outdoor Art Studio sand boxes, they scoured the campus on a treasure hunt, and created masks.  Adults visited our Akiba Museum capturing the importance and impact of our campus for our learning opportunities. The museum is available for viewing outside the library.  The torch lighting ceremony highlighted groups of people who have impacted our campus and left their mark on our community.  The ribbon cutting ceremony marked a new era for the Infant and Toddler Outdoor Learning Environment and Early Childhood Outdoor Art Studio. Thank you to our Diamond Celebration Committee for making a memorable event.  Please enjoy the slide show below (pictures courtesy of Winn Fuqua).  
Diamond Celebration
SCENES OF AKIBA WAY OF LIFE
  
Akiba teachers collaborate over lunch in our
Amphitheater
An Akiba student reads to children at Gan Menachem

INFANT AND TODDLER OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT A HUGE SUCCESS
Daily, infants and toddlers rush out their classroom doors to explore their new Outdoor Learning Environment.  They run and roll down the hill, explore the climbing and sliding structure, race cars along the road, and dig in the enormous sand box.  
Children Exploring the New Infant and Toddler Outdoor Learning Environment
Children Exploring the New Infant and Toddler Outdoor Learning Environment
TAKING COUNSEL IN THE CLASSROOM
The first graders favorite "Feelings Friends-Puppy and Snail" came to talk to them about being assertive. Puppy helped Snail learn how to assertively (using the appropriate tone of voice) ask for help when he forgot his lunch at home.   Assertiveness is asking for what you want or need in a respectful way.  It is important for students to be able to ask for help when they need it.  This helps in getting along with parents and teachers, but also in peer relationships.  Students who are passive are at higher risk for being bullied and those who are too aggressive in their interactions have fewer friends.
 
YEARBOOK ADS: PLEASE SUPPORT OUR YEARBOOK
  
We welcome parents and businesses to purchase an ad for an 8th grader who is graduating, an honoree, or to advertise your business.  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.
PICTURE DAY ONLINE ORDERS AND CLASS PICTURES
  
Our school photographs were indeed spectacular but unfortunately the administration of the ordering had flaws due to our vendor's new software system.We apologize for any inconvenience that was caused to our families but we do hope you enjoy these beautiful memories.

The good news is that the vendor will be giving each child a class photo at NO CHARGE . Also all shipping costs for online orders are waived.  If you were charged a $10 shipping fee (the $2 admin fee still holds per child) please let Andi Bonner know by email.
SPCA BENEFITS FROM STUDENTS' SPARE CHANGE
  
The first round of tzedakah that was collected and is going toward the SPCA (the organization voted on by our first graders ) for our tz project raised 263.37.   Thank you to our MS chesed committee, Reece Neiman, Natasha Leftin and Ariel Almog for taking care of collecting and counting the money .Thank you to our families for helping our students participate in the mitzvah of tzekdaka each week.

Book Fair is almost here...
  • Be a Book Fairy and help us magically transform the Atrium on set up day or sign up to help sell our enchanted selection of books. EVERY SPOT MUST BE FILLED since someone must be with the vendor's cashier at all times per the vendor's rules.  CLICK HERE
  • DADS of 1st-8th Graders- Please RSVP to let us know that you will be attending the Dads' Fiesta Lunch on 11/19.   If you are interested in purchasing a hot lunch that day payment can be made during the event.  Please see the link for details. CLICK HERE
  Please see the flyer for all of our exciting Book Fair events.  We can't wait to see you there!

 
Near or Far We are Always TOGETHER!  Let's come together and help out for Grandparents and Special Friends' Day...
  • Volunteer NEAR: Help with set up the day before or the day of.  Click here to volunteer for this very special day.  ((This day is reserved for our guests.  ONLY GRANDPARENTS, SPECIAL FRIENDS. AND VOLUNTEERS will be allowed on campus during the event.))  CLICK HERE
  • Volunteer FAR: Have your family post pictures to our Facebook account #AkibaGrands . CLICK HERE
  Tycher Library Event with Our Book Collection
  • On Sunday November 22nd we will be having an event at the Tycher Library to make summer reading packets from the books we have collected.  Click here for more details. CLICK HERE
 
For more PTO information check out the PTO page on the Akiba website.


Mazal Tov to the Asouline-Handelman Family on the birth of a baby girl last week.   

COMMUNITY NOTICES

 
GLOBAL INDOOR SPORTS THANKSGIVING & WINTER SOCCER CAMPS AT SOLE ROLL INDOOR
 
Spend 3 days developing your touches and improving your technical skills with Global Indoor Sports' professional trainers at their Soccer Camps at Sole Roll Indoor this Winter.   No matter what level you play at, Global Indoor Sports has a program which will focus on technical development and small sided games to improve individual skills and team play.   Session content will include: Dribbling, Passing & Receiving, Defending & Goal scoring amongst others.
 
Details:
Camp Weeks:  November 23-25,  December 21-23,  December 28-30
Time:                9-12pm
Age:                  4-14yrs             
Price:                $90
 
What to Bring:  Players need to bring a soccer ball and plenty of water. A light snack is also advised as we will have a short snack break, mid-camp.
What to Wear:  Shin guards are necessary, flat soccer/athletic shoes   NO CLEATS ALLOWED 
 
TEAM/SMALL GROUP DISCOUNTS
Players who wish to register as a group/team will receive a discount.
Please contact the TX Office  (972) 876 2858 or email  [email protected]
For registration and more information please click on the link below:
AKIBA ALUM SINGS HER WAY INTO "THE CITY OF ANGELS"

Akiba alum from 2009 Olivia Harris is making a name for herself in Los Angeles. After finishing up a run of live shows all based on the Baz  Luhrmann  and John Hughes movies, performing in Los Angeles Chicago and Las Vegas, Olivia has been writing her own music.
 
We are excited to announce the release of Olivia Harris's first single, "Lonestar Heart". More songs will be released in the coming weeks!  Please "like" and "share" her Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/oliviakharrisperforms




 

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].
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] .