Beren Buzz Header
Parashat Vayishlach      
       Shabbat Candle Lighting 5:07 p.m.       Havdalah 6:15 p.m.

Click here for the 2016/17 Year at a Glance 


THE MIDDAH (JEWISH VALUE) FOR THE MONTH OF KISLEV IS 
KEDUSHA - HOLINESS

RMBA is a proud partner of

Individual Photographs
To view and order student individual photographs by December 30, 2016 click here
Save the Date
Purim Event 
Honoring Dena and Baruch Brody
March 12, 2017 
Dena and Baruch Brody, who were instrumental in the growth and development of The Hebrew Academy, now known as Robert M. Beren Academy (RMBA), are making aliyah in 2017. In recognition of their significance to the Houston Jewish community, both RMBA and United Orthodox Synagogues (UOS) are honoring them  on Sunday, Purim,  March 12, 2017, with a special seudah (supper) at UOS.  More details to follow in January 2017.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
RMBA Book Fair 
On going until Monday December 19, 2016. Don't forget to send money with your child- books make for great Chanukah gifts!

8th Grade/HS First Semester Finals
Thursday, December 15, 2016 
-Tuesday December 20, 2016
Ballet Recitals
Thursday, December 15, 2016 
12:00 p.m. EC 2
2:00 p.m. EC 3
2:30 p.m. EC 4-K
2nd Grade Hebrew Play - Chanukah 
Thursday, December 15, 2016 
3:30 p.m
Lower School Basketball Away Game vs. St. Marks Episcopal
Thursday, December 15, 2016 
4:00 p.m. 
TPG & Chanukah
Saturday, December 17, 2016 
7:30 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Click here for more details.
1st Grade Mesibat Siddur
Sunday, December 18, 2016 
10:00 a.m. 
Early Childhood Chanukah Performances
Monday, December 19, 2016 
8:30 AM - EC15
9:00 AM - EC2
9:30 AM - EC3- EC4
10:30 AM - Kindergarten
Elementary School Talent Show
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 
3:00 p.m. 
Last Day of School
End of Semester 1 
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 
School ends at 4:00 p.m.
School Back in Session
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Calendar of Weekly Events
EC2-K Spring After School 
Activities 

Soccer Shots - Monday

Kids Robotic Academy - Tuesday

Mad Science - Wednesday

Ballet - Thursday 

Happy Hands - Friday 

For more details and to sign up for activities click here

Questions?  Contact Loren Chorn
Middle School Torah Cafe
Wednesdays 
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
If you are interested in sponsoring Torah Cafe for a week please contact Rabbi Levitt
SABAS SCHOOL LUNCH
Please  click here  to order and purchase your hot lunches for the rest of the school year catered by Saba's Restaurant.   
BEREN BUGLE LIVE
The RMBA student newspaper has gone digital! To catch up with the latest Beren Bugle click here 
SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS
Challah and Pita Sales
As an 8th Grade student fundraiser to support their annual trip to Washington, they will be selling Challah and Pita to families on Fridays. 

Click here to purchase your weekly Challah or Pita orders for the semester or year ahead.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Winter Break Bash
ERJCC
Sunday, December 25, 2016
6:00 p.m.
Hoppin' Fun and Live Theatre for the Family. Click for Details  
Jewish Federation Super Sunday
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Shift 1: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Shift 1: 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join the Super Sunday Federation Derby in making winning calls to help raise funds for the 2017 Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. To sign up click here.    
NCSY and JSU - First Annual Comedy Night Save the Date
Sunday, January 22, 2017
6:00 p.m.
NCSY and JSU is honoring Rabbi Urkowitz for his many years of dedication to NCSY and inspiring the lives of many Houston teens.    
PTO  ANNOUNCEMENTS
Click  here to sign up for your PTO membership, order Pizza for Thursday Lunch and ensure your child will enjoy Early Childhood Shabbat celebrations. 
LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS
The library is selling old VHS that were in the library for $1 each.  If you have a VHS at home and are interested in purchasing some of them, please contact Barbara Freilich or Melissa Bernosky.   We have childrens videos, young adult videos and family videos.
COLLEGE CORNER
IMPORTANT COLLEGE CORNER ANNOUNCEMENTS


SAT Test Schedule 
Test Date:                Register By:
January 22                December 21
March 12                   February 10
May 7                        April 7
June 4                       May 9

First time SAT testers must register with the paper form found in Mr. Stabell's office.

See Mr. Stabell for details or look for the announcement on the  College Bulletin Board.

UNIFORM ANNOUNCEMENT
Lands End is an RMBA uniform provider!   Click here to easily order!

To purchase RMBA Spirit Wear Shirts   for the whole family click  here
SCHOOL DIRECTORY
A reminder that the school directory is available to parents on RenWeb. 
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
ATTENDANCE 
If your child is going to be late or not attending school on any given day please email  office@berenacademy.org
RMBA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND 
Robert M. Beren Academy has created a Scholarship Endowment Fund in honor of Dr. Alan Hoffman.  For more information about how you can support the Endowment Fund contact the Development Director Leigh Levine
SAFETY FIRST
As a reminder, Cliffwood and Greenwillow are neighborhood streets. Please obey all speed limits and courtesies in respect to our neighbors.
CREATE A LEGACY CAMPAIGN
"Every individual is a pillar on which the future of Judaism rests." - Abraham Joshua Heschel 

Legacy giving will ensure the success and vitality of Robert M. Beren Academy for generations to come.  For more information about the Create a Legacy Program click here or please contact Development Director Leigh Levine

December 15, 2016                                                 15 Kislev 5777
VIDEO HIGHLIGHT   
Enjoy this video recapping the 13th annual International Festival presented by 5th grade where each student represented a country in Hebrew and served up delicious local treats!
13th Annual International Festival
13th Annual International Festival


PAST RMBA HIGHLIGHTS 
BNOT SHERUT LEADING TORAH CAFE
What an exciting week for Torah Cafe! Bnot Sherut Adi and Shira were welcomed by a group of eager middle school students to lead this special get together where everyone learned about Yerav'am Ben Nevat, a king of Israel who broke off from the kingdom. Students made him a Teudat Zehut (ID card), while sipping hot cocoa with marshmallows.


CHANUKAH PREPARATIONS UNDER WAY

Morah Esther's EC2 class have got their Chanukah preparations under way, with the children excitedly counting down to the Festival of Lights and fried foods! The children loved building their own velcro Chanukiah's- and every night they get to add another friend to their Menorah!


3RD GRADE CHANUKIAH BUILDING

The students in Mrs. Gottlieb's 3rd grade class started creating their very own Chanukiah's from scratch from construction to painting and more. They are very excited to bring them home to light! (L-R) Samson Roisman, Shir Tzion Carmel, Matthew Morgan.


SAGE ON THE STAGE
Our Sages teach us that one should always begin their day with Torah study. Several High School students have recently put that teaching to practice by recently arranging a short Halacha Seder following Shacharit. Shown here are 10th Graders Shaked Carmel (l) and Dan Melnik (r) learning Sefer Mishnah Brurah.
 
NUN IS FOR NES!
Mo rah Gabi's Kindergarten class began learning all about the Hebrew letter Nun! In preparation for Chanukah they began differentiating between  ''Nes Gadol Haya Po'  and  'Nes Gadol Haya Sham'.  Students Sivan Melnik(l) and Naomi Micha(r) enjoyed crafting their letter Nun!

COIN COUNTING
Students in Ms. Bigham's class enjoyed playing banker in this engaging math activity counting coins and making change for their fellow classmates.


SPIDERMAN!!!!
4th grade students really enjoyed playing spiderman in their PE class which follows a game of tag- a student lays flat stretching out his core on the boards- 'crawling' like a spider to catch another student. What a fun and fast paced game! (L-R) Rina Levitt, Ilana Katz-Warmflash, Sarah Loiselle, Shira Babajanov.

CHASAMBA BOOK REPORTS
After reading the book and watching its  movie in Hebrew, high school students took a creative approach to writing and crafting their Hebrew book reports on the classic, Chasamba.
ATHLETICS UPDATES 
Parents,
Here are a few updates for what is coming up in basketball for our teams.  Please read all the way through so that you are aware of all upcoming events.
 
Schedule - The calendar will always be the most current and updated schedule.
 
High School Boys Basketball - The boys are off for the rest of December for finals and winter break.  They will resume practice in January and all practices and games will be on the calendar.  From this point on, we will be operating as one team and all boys will be considered Varsity.
 
High School Girls Basketball - The girls are off for the rest of December for finals and winter break.  They will resume practice in January and all practices and games will be on the calendar.
 
Middle School Varsity Boys Basketball - The boys are off for the rest of December for finals and winter break.  They will resume practice in January and all practices and games will be on the calendar.
 
Middle School JV Boys Basketball - The JV boys are making up the November 14th game this week.  The game vs. YTE, will be played this upcoming  Sunday (December 18th) at  11:30 AM.  That will be the end of their schedule until January.  All games and practices are on the calendar. 
 
Middle School Girls Basketball - The girls are off for the rest of December for finals and winter break.  They will resume practice in January and all practices and games will be on the calendar.
 
All Team voluntary work out - I will be hosting an all team workout on January 3rd for all teams, boys and girls, from  1:00 - 2:30.  We will be focusing on ball handling, shooting, and conditioning. 
 
Toyota Center - The MS girls and the MS Varsity Boys will be playing in the Toyota Center on February 2nd.  The games will be approximately  1:00 for the girls and  2:00 for the boys.  As we get closer, we will be able to firm up the times.  The players will have an opportunity to attend the Rockets game that night and even get to sit front row for the teams shoot-a-round before the game, if they have purchased a ticket.  The tickets for the game will be $35.00 per ticket and will need to be purchased through Beren Academy.

Jr. NBA Program at the JCC-   Coach Monika will be running a holiday basketball camp over the winter break.  She is also heading up the Jr NBA league starting in January.  If you have any questions or would like any details, you can contact Coach Monika at tripledhoops@ gmail.com .

Ac cess the Athletics Calendar Click Here
Please re-sync your calendars weekly if it is something that you do.
If you have any questions about sports, please contact Coach Cole at  chriscole@berenacademy.org.


      For questions related to the Beren Buzz please contact Leigh Levine at llevine@berenacademy.org 
Robert M. Beren Academy | 713-723-7170 | aharonicarmel@berenacademy.org | http://www.berenacademy.org
11333 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77035