Nove
Nov. 18, 2016 17 Cheshvan 5777

Parashat Vayera

Candle Lighting 5:05 p.m.
Vayeira

See this week's Parashah in action.  Second grade students, reenact the opening scene when Avraham greets three angelic travelers and models for us how to welcome guests into our lives.

Second grade
Second grade "Welcomes the Guest"

Shabbat Shalom,

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

For the full 2016-2017 calendar, click HERE. 

 HOUR OF CODE IS COMING.....

We are so excited to announce that Akiba is participating Hour of Code Week! The Hour of Code is a global initiative sponsored by CODE.ORG held during Computer Science Week, December 5th-9th, in recognition of the computing pioneer, Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906).

What does Hour of Code at Akiba look like?
  • A fun and creative way to introduce students to computer science
  • A one hour glimpse into coding and computer programming
  • Two 30 minute sessions with each class Kindergarten through Sixth grade
What are the Goals of Hour of Code at Akiba?
  • Inspire students of all ages and genders
  • Integration of Technology and STEM into all classrooms
  • Demystify "code"
  • Show that anybody can learn the basics
  • Broaden participation in the computer science field
  • Build confidence
  • Nurture students' problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity
  • Give students resources so that they can continue learning how to code

TODAH MEANS THANKS

The first grade students learned about being thankful during their Judaics class.  After the students practiced saying, "I am thankful for _________" in Hebrew, they created a turkey where they wrote the Hebrew words listing who they are thankful for.

WIGGLY LITTLE WORMS

As an introduction to anatomy, Seventh graders are tending to SuperRed earthworms in science. They build habitats, maintain balance in their food and shelter, and study their systems and reactions to stimuli. Upon conclusion of our unit, the worms will be released in the garden to do what they do best: give back to the earth.

THE "A" IN STEAM IS ALIVE

Third graders are busy trying their weaving skills on a basket. These little hands have been busy filling in the gaps of these baskets with ribbon, yarn, and beads. Though the base is the same, each basket is unique as it reflects varied skills among the third graders.












Discovery art visits Japan!  Students created paintings of Mt. Fuji. Katsushika Hokusai created Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series from about 1830-1832. Red Fuji is a wood block print from this series that inspired the students to study this painting before trying their hand on a similar painting on foil.




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!


STEAM CLASS: NATURE DID IT FIRST!
 
Students were given a set of hand lens with varied powers. They were required to use two different power lenses to create a microscope. Once the microscopes were ready, they experimented with numerous objects to test their microscopes! 


MAKING MINIONS....

Third grade students used Minions as a muse for creating ChatterPix, a picture where the students use their own voices in place of the person in the picture. This app will be used as part of the Jewish Reading Fair.



AKIBA IS ALL INTO THE FALL FESTIVAL

Akiba participated in the Fall festival (previously Truck Time) this past Sunday.  Our booth,  "AKIBA GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD" was very popular with our interactive activities that were done by Akiba STEM teacher, Lady L. and preschool faculty Dorit Schonbrunn and Lindsey Silvis.  Thank you to our Akiba students Isabel and Ayelet Strobel and Jessie Doty who helped us with our booth.  Thank you to our faculty for representing our school at this community event.



IT"S ALIVE-THE SCIENCE OF YEAST

Seventh grade scientists joined forces with our own Master Baker, Ron Romaner, in exploring the wonders of yeast. Students experimented with what yeast needs to grow, and just why it makes challah so fluffy and delicious. Tastiest fungus lab ever! Thanks, Ron!



M&M MATH

Kindergarten used their graphing skills, color word recognition, and counting skills to graph their M&M candies.

KNOWLEDGE OF NATIVE AMERICANS

The library finished a two week study unit on Native Americans, modern ones not just the ones we learn about that helped the pilgrims. So of course, we had to celebrate by trying the dances ourselves. Here are Kinder and 4th grade demonstrating both jingle and grass dancing.


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
   
Teenoki Alef contemplated size, shape and problem solving as they tried to fit natural materials of varying sizes through tubes. 


Nitzanim discovers the true joy that come from wishing each other well while engaging in the "Wish You Well" dance during their time with Morah Suzie.








































K'ton Ton students took advantage of the gorgeous weather by spending time in the sandbox and the physics garden.



After exploring the season of fall in both paint and natural materials, this Chaverim class took advantage of the glorious weather by eating lunch outside!!!

Thank you to our snack helpers for the week: 
Michelle Raphael, Sandy Prager, Julie Feldman, and Malka Grebenau.  
We are still in need of more people to sign up.  CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO HELP.
  FREQUENT FLYER?

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.

Akiba PTO Winter Wonderland Book Fair coming December 5th-9th! To volunteer as a Snowflake Helper at the Book Fair, sign up at: SNOWFLAKE HELPER.
 
Winter  Wonderland Hours and Special Events:    
  • 12/5 8am-5pm Kindergarten Breakfast with Dads (8:30am)
  • 12/6 8am-5pm Grandparents' Shop (all day)
  • 12/7 8am-5pm Preschool Parents' Shop (all day)
  • 12/8 8am-5pm Dads' Fiesta Lunch (1st-8th grades)
  • 12/9 8am-1pm Last Chance Shop
 
Visit the PTO webpage to keep up with events and get involved: CLICK HERE.
MAZAL TOV

To  Mollye and Brian Finkelstein, and big sisters Madeline and Evelyn, on birth of baby girl.

To Shannon Katz, faculty member, on the Bar Mitzvah of her son.
Welcome to the Berger family, daughters Lielle and Leia.


COMMUNITY NOTICES

  • 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

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  info@akibaacademy.org .