Nove
Nov. 11, 2016 10 Cheshvan 5777

Parashat Lech-Lecha

Candle Lighting 5:09 p.m.
Lech Lecha

I have been thinking a lot about stars this week. On Tuesday I sported a scarf bearing the "Stars and Stripes" in celebration of our democracy and our right and responsibility to vote. Today, on Veteran's Day, I thought of the same stars as Dr. Jerry Grodin, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the US military, addressed our students about the noble and significant work he did over his twelve years serving our country as a military physician. On a different note, I thought of the stars that Hashem shows Avram in this week's parashah, explaining that Avram's descendants will be as numerous as the countless stars in the heavens. What do these stars have in common? On the most basic level, stars brighten the sky and illuminate darkness. According to Rabbi Meir Shapiro (1887-1934), head of the legendary Lublin Yeshiva in Poland, the stars represent something else as well. When God asks Avram to count the stars, Avram heads outside at God's request. He doesn't balk at the seemingly undoable task nor does he fear the darkness surrounding him. Instead, Avram looks heavenward and begins counting. Avram trains his eyes upward in a display of faith, and imagines a future that awaits replete with God's blessings.

Avram's children are blessed with the same faith, vision, and tenacity. The parashah reminds us to look heavenward and see the stars. To guide us, we must keep our eyes on God and the mission given to us  to keep reaching for the stars and striving to brighten the darkest nights, even if the task appear insurmountable.
Shabbat Shalom,

   
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov 11: 2:45pm Friday dismissal begins through March 4. Aftercare closing time is 3:30 p.m. on Fridays.

For the full 2016-2017 calendar, click HERE
    POLITICAL PRACTICES

The second grade learned all about the election process as part of their social studies curriculum.  Students learned the requirements and responsibilities of the president, qualifications for voting, and how voters make decisions. The students all received voter registration cards before the lower school elections, they voted, and they wrote campaign speeches explaining why they should be president. Here are a few samples of speeches.

Speeches: 
Jacob Josset
Please vote for me. I would make school short so kids can have more recess. They will get energy from playing. I would make everyone do mitzvot so they can be really great at doing mitzvot. I would make everyone do tzedakah because then Hashem will be proud of them. That is why you should vote for me.

Jake Yalovsky
Hello everybody, this is my speech. Number one, you should ask your parents to test you for every test so you could get it right. I promise that I will make sure that every kid gets a good education especially in math and science. I promise that the U.S.A. and Israel and Canada will be best friends. That's why you should vote for me!

Rachel Malka Rosenhouse
Hello America, I want to make a change. When I am in office no one will be fighting and the world will be safe. Children will go to good schools and be very well educated. No one will litter and everyone will pick up their trash. That's what I would do if I was president. Please vote for me this Election Day to make America a wonderful place to live.

SCIENCE AND NAVI

Seventh grade girls' Navi went into science lab to learn about the exact locale of the fifth rib in relation to vital organs. As several homicides/assassinations in the Navi text of Shmuel (II) are brought about through the 'striking of the fifth rib', we examined what possible angles would have impacted which organs, anatomically and talmudically. Thinking about how the text depicts one of the particular episodes led to a novel insight of what may have occurred.  

THE "A" IN STEAM IS ALIVE

Kindergarten created self-portraits in art.













Sixth graders Noah Schwartz and Jonathan Govrin lead a lesson on creating origami flowers using neon paper. 













First grade art students are busy creating a magic carpet using A, B, C pattern method. Students were required to create a pattern using concentric circles, triangles, and squares. STEM blending into art! 






















Eight grade students worked on their silhouettes and empathy words while other students created water color abstract paintings inspired by Russian artist, Wassily Kandinsky. 

 

AKIBA FUND

The deadline to get on the NO CALL list for Akiba Fund is Monday, November 14th! The Akiba Fund phonathon is next Thursday November 17th.              
GIVE NOW  and avoid the phone solicitation!

LOWER SCHOOL ELECTIONS

Please check out our website at: akibaacademy.org to see a video slideshow from our election day.  

DISSECTING FLOWERS

The second graders dissected flowers to identify the stamen, anthers, pollen, pistil, and the stigma during a STEM lesson.


PARASHAH NOACH

Second grade walked the length and width of the teyvah (ark) across the field for Parashah Noach.  After they spread out to mark these measurements, the students raised their rainbow colored balloons 45 feet up into the air to show the height. 

SECOND STEP TO SUCCESS

Mrs. Hacker, lower school counselor, leads Ms. Paula's kindergarten class in a lesson on when you do something you didn't mean to do (accidents) among friends. 
Ms. Hacker Teaches Kindergarten about Accidents
Ms. Hacker Teaches Kindergarten about Accidents

BUILDING ON BERESHIT

First graders continue to learn about the creation story in a hands-on, meaningful way.





SCHOOLSTORE.COM

Your child brought home a large envelope this week and it is the easiest fundraiser you will ever have participated in.
 
All you need to do is shop online or donate a gift card through this website to your child's classroom through this website. And while you are doing this your child can earn prizes.  It is that easy!
 
Here are the steps:
  •  Register at www.schoolstore.net to do your online shopping at over 400 stores that you would usually shop at. Share this with family and friends as we get a percentage off their shopping too.  The website will walk you through how to shop once you enter in our school ID code.
Akiba's ID is 11131 
  • Visit  www.schoolstore.com  to donate a CARING FOR CLASSROOMS gift card for your child's classroom. The gift card will be sent to the school and will identify the teacher and family that donated it.
  Everyone comes out a winner in this fun fundraiser.


PRESCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS


K'Ton Ton got down and dirty when they explored clay with their feet. This gave them plenty of opportunity to practice the important self-help skill of taking off/putting on our shoes and socks!
























The yeladim in Nitzanim took a field trip to the front office after being inspired by the book, Leaf Man, by Louis Elhert. While they were there, they practiced skills like self-regulation: working quietly where the adults work, math- recognizing the numbers on the copy machine and counting the copies, decision making- which leaves should they choose to copy,  and engaging with technology- forget the iPad, get these kids a copy machine!!
 











What can you make with six sticks? That's what these Chaverim children tried to determine after reading the book, 6 Sticks, by Molly Coxe.



K'Ton Ton students experiment with different kinds of paints, different painting utensils and mixing colors. Easel painting is an open ended activity in which children are able to freely express their feelings, perceptions, interests and creativity through art.  Along with that, changing the position of the paper from horizontal to vertical helps support fine motor development and future writing skills, and strengthens their shoulder and arm muscles. S ince the students are on Day 2 of creation, we explored with several shades of blue paint which represent the sky and the water.

Thank you to our snack helpers for the week:  Michelle Raphael and Miriam Raphael (who came in when they noticed no one had signed up),  Abby Hirsch and Marcia Kaufman.  We are still in need of more people to sign up.  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO HELP.
   COME FLY WITH ME

Support Akiba in a unique and meaningful way. When you donate your airline miles and hotel points to Akiba, you give so much more than the awards travel. Reward miles and hotel points will give our faculty and staff the support they need to take advantage of professional development conference opportunities that will raise the level of learning and leadership at our school. For details contact Lisa Kramer Morgan.  

214-295-3412 
lkramermorgan@akibaacademy.org
   
YEARBOOK ADS FOR SALE

Yearbook ads are now available for purchase.   PURCHASE HERE
   

Grandparents and Special Friends' Day is coming Nov. 23 and we need as many volunteers as possible! This is not an event for parents, so the only way to be on campus that morning is as a volunteer. Sign up here.

There are several hot lunch slots open for the rest of the semester. Please consider signing up once or for a recurring slot. Grandparents welcome, too! Sign up here.

Save the Date! Akiba Book Fair December 2-9!
 
Visit the PTO webpage to keep up with events and get involved: CLICK HERE.
MAZAL TOV

To Jordona Kohn on the birth of a baby boy.


COMMUNITY NOTICES

Please visit the Akiba Academy of Dallas booth. 




  • What:  "How Success Thinks": Jewish Secrets For Leading a Productive Life a new Six-week course on how to get more of what you want and less of what you don't.
  • When:  Begins Wednesday, November 16, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm, for six consecutive weeks
  • Where:  Chabad of Dallas, 6710 Levelland Road, Dallas, TX
  • How:   To register go to  www.myjli.com
  •  For questions, email Â jli@chabadofdallas.com or call 972.818.0770