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Welcome!
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Dear Parents,
We had a great week at school!
Please read on for the latest Elementary School news and information about upcoming events.
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D'var Torah
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
The Kli Yakar wonders why there seems to be a repetition at the end of this week's
parasha regarding the people following the instructions when building the
Mishkan. In
perek 39
pasuk 32 it states that
וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּ֠כֹל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה ה' אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ
and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.
And a few pesukim later, in pasuk 42, it also records that
כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה ה' אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה כֵּ֤ן עָשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת כָּל־הָעֲבֹדָֽה׃
According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
Only 10 pesukim apart, the Torah records the same basic information.
What does each phrase mean?
The Kli Yakar answers that the first stage, which is described in pasuk 32, was the completion of each individual item of the Mishkan. Each specific vessel and each particular aspect of the Mishkan was completed perfectly as G-d commanded.
Then when the Mishkan was assembled in its entirety, which is described in pasuk 42, Moshe made sure that all the independent pieces and parts fit together to make a perfect building, as the Kli Yakar writes:
כי היה בהם טוב כללי שנעשו על הסדר הנכון דהיינו חיבור כל העבודה ביחד
(Moshe saw) that there was total perfection and that they did everything according to plan. Meaning, each individual element of the building came together as one unit.
Like the Mishkan, Maimonides is made up of many individual people who collectively make this school so special. Each student is part of a class, which is part of a grade, which is part of a division, which altogether make Maimonides a great place, from the Early Childhood Center through 12th grade.
At this collective level, when we come together as a group to learn, to talk, to daven, to play, and to enjoy each other's company, and we experience the school as a whole... there is no other place like Maimonides.
Similarly, each minute at Maimonides is notable - filled with learning, fun, friends, and good memories. All these minutes make up classes which combine and become years of study, woven into the tapestry of our glorious 80-year history. Our individual time at Maimonides becomes part of the greater experience, shared with everyone who preceded us and with those who will follow. Like Moshe, we can look back at the sum total of these 80 years and be proud of the impact the school has made on us individually, and the collective influence Maimonides has had on the Orthodox world at large.
Just as Moshe gave a bracha that the people should be successful with their work, so too we bless Maimonides so it should continue to be a strong, pioneering, dynamic, and important school within the Jewish community for many more years to come.
Click here to save or print the D'var Torah
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Thoughts of the Rav
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by Rabbi Dov Huff
את שבתותי תשמורו ומקדשי תיראו אני ה' (ויקרא כו:ב)
You shall guard my Shabbos and fear my Sanctuary. I am Hashem.
The Rav points out that the Torah links Shabbos and the Mikdash, both in our parsha specifically and throughout the Torah in general. Why is this so? The Rav answers that Shabbos and the Mikdash are both sanctuaries: the Mikdash in space, and Shabbos in time. Just as we are commanded with the Mishkan to create a physical space for Hashem -
ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי
בתוכם
, make for me a Mikdash and I will dwell among you - so too with Shabbos we are commanded to create a space in time for Hashem.
This idea gives new meaning to how we view Shabbos - to the intense spiritual experience it allows for us as we carve out space in our own homes and in our own busy lives to connect with Hashem.
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| Pinat HaParasha |
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Please click here and
here
to view the
Pinats
HaParasha for Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei. You are encouraged to print the document and use it as a source for discussion at the Shabbat table.
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Financial Aid Application Deadline
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The deadline for filing a financial aid application for the 2018-19 school year is
March 19.
The deadline for submitting the required tax documentation is
April 19.
The link to the financial aid page on the school website is
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
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It's time to sign up for spring Parent-Teacher Conferences! The registration website will close on Monday, March 12 at 10:00 p.m.
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences for the Early Childhood Center, Elementary School, and Middle School (the Upper School does not have spring conferences) will be taking place:
- Wednesday, March 14 - noon dismissal, conferences 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 15 - no school; ES/MS conferences 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., ECC conferences 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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80th Anniversary Celebration
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The Maimonides community was out in full force last night as more than 400 Maimo friends and family packed Fox Gymnasium for a concert with Israeli superstar Gad Elbaz to celebrate our 80th anniversary.
Following a d'var Torah by Rabbi David Saltzman and a performance by the Elementary School Choir, Head of School Naty Katz welcomed everyone and spoke about how the school is just as innovative today as it was 80 years ago. Then he went on to introduce the star of the evening, Gad Elbaz. From the opening of his popular song
Hashem Melech to the final beat an hour later, Gad had everyone in the crowd swept up in a whirlwind of joyous singing and dancing. It was an amazing way to celebrate this important milestone!
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| Hakarat Hatov Project |
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In continuing with our theme this year of
hakarat hatov, this week the students were introduced to a new project which will demonstrate our
hakarat hatov to a few staff members. Each grade was assigned a staff member, and over the next week each grade will be provided with a box to decorate. They will also write a thank-you letter to their designated person to demonstrate our appreciation for a job well-done. These items will be presented to the staff members during the week of March 19.
We are asking the students to bring in small food items to fill the
hakarat hatov box (like a
mishloach manot). The grades were assigned the
following staff members:
- K - LaShanta (front office)
- 1st grade - Fadouma (maintenance)
- 2nd grade - Benny (maintenance)
- 3rd grade - Berto (maintenance)
- 4th grade - lunch servers
- 5th Grade - Osseh (security guard)
Starting
Monday and throughout next week, please try to send in something with your child in order to help fill the
hakarat hatov boxes. Thank you for your assistance with this important project.
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| Elementary School Students in Choral Festival |
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Our Elementary School chorus performed at the annual Kol Ha Neshama children's choral festival on Sunday afternoon. Elementary, Middle, and Upper School students from across greater Boston performed songs for a lively, packed audience of teachers, families, and friends.
In addition to
our own Maimonides Elementary School (grades 2-5) chorus, schools and choral groups participating included the Jewish Community Day School of Greater Boston, Solomon Schechter Day School, and Hazamir Boston Jewish Teen Choir. Because the concert fell between Purim and Pesach, most groups sang songs connected to these holidays. Our own students sang
Esther My Child by Sruly Greenwald and
Eliyahu Hanavi by the Moshav Band.
A special thank-you goes to Maimonides Elementary School music teacher Andrew Malkin, who prepared the students and provided expert piano accompaniment. We also appreciate the efforts of the Maimonides parents who transported their children to the performance and stayed to listen. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to perform and to participate in the larger Jewish community.
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| Science and Engineering Fair on Tuesday, March 20 |
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The Science and Engineering
fair for grades K-5 will be
Tuesday, March 20. The fair will run from 3:30 - 4:00 p.m. for grades K - 2, and from 3:45 - 5:00 p.m. for grades 3 - 5.
Previously, there was a
3:00 p.m. dismissal scheduled for that day, followed by a faculty meeting. Instead, we are going to have REGULAR DISMISSAL and regular bus recess that day.
- Students in grades K-2 will be dismissed as usual at 3:00.
- Students who usually stay for bus recess will go to their usual location at 3:00.
- Students who don't usually stay for bus recess, and would like to remain for the engineering fair, need their parents to inform LaShanta in order for them to attend bus recess.
- Any child that wants to stay between 3:30 - 4:00 for the fair must have a parent or parent's friend attend with them.
A signup form for bus recess and parent supervision will be sent as we get closer to the engineering fair.
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| Book Fair on Tuesday, March 20 |
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We are so excited for the upcoming PTA Book Fair! It will be held the same day and time as the Science and Engineering Fair, so we hope everyone will stop by.
If you're not sure which books are best for your child, please contact your child's teacher. The teachers are receiving an advance list of books being sold at the fair, and will be happy to suggest a book or two that would be appropriate for your child.
This year there will also be an opportunity for your child to donate a book to their classroom. Just ask to see the "wish list" for their grade at the fair. If you purchase a book, we will put in a donation sticker from your child.
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Family Learning on Sunday, March 18
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PTA Skating Party on Sunday, March 18
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| Important Cold Weather Reminder |
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Although the cold New England winter weather has arrived, we continue to enjoy outdoor recess unless the temperature is below 20 degrees. Students should be reminded that they must bring warm winter coats, hats (or hoods), and gloves to school each day. They are required to bring these out to recess with them, but may take off layers as they warm up when playing outdoor recess games. When there is snow on the ground, students need to wear boots in order to walk on snowy areas and snow pants if they want to play in the snow. Students will not be permitted to stay indoors during recess.
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| Screen Time for Students |
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We know that many parents try to limit screen time for their children and would like better guidelines or alternative means for students to practice their skills.
We have compiled the chart below with our recommendations and requirements for each grade. If your child does not do well with these programs and you would like alternative ways for them to work on their skills, please let the teachers know and they will be glad to make other suggestions and/or supply other materials.
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Lexia
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Reflex Math
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KeyboardingWithout Tears
or Typing Club
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DreamBox
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Ariot Cal or iTalAm
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Dah Ber
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Kindergarten
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Required
20 minutes a week; possibly more for specific students.
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Recommended
2x week
15 Minutes
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First
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Recommended 15 minutes a week;
possibly more for specific students
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Recommended 15 minutes a week
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Recommended
1 x week
15 minutes or more
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Second
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Recommended 2x week
10-15 minutes;
possibly more for specific students
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Required
2x week
10-15 minutes
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As assigned by teacher
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Third
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Recommended for specific students
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Required 3x week
15 minutes
between school & home
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KWT
Required 2x week
15 minutes
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Optional
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As assigned by teacher
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Optional & Occasional
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Fourth
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Recommended for specific students
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Required
3x week
15 minutes until completed
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Typing Club: Optional up to
3x week 15 minutes
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As assigned by Teacher
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Fifth
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Recommended for specific students
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Required
3-4x week
15-20 minutes until completed
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As assigned by Teacher
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Social Time!
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There's so much going on here at Maimo! Be sure to check out our social media to get the inside scoop (with lots of great photos) on happenings at school.
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See What's Happening in the Other Divisions
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 Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School!
If you'd like to take a peek at what's happening in the other divisions, click to visit the Early Childhood Center, Middle School, or Upper School newsletter pages.
If you would like to contact a specific school office, please use these emails:
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!שבת שלום
Rabbi, Reena, and the Maimonides ES Faculty
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