#YHTcommunity

This entire year, students will be learning about community, what it means to be part of a community and how other communities grow and develop. In the month of October, we focused on water in our community and other communities. Our students learned about communities that do not have readily available clean water and how that impacts their lives, along with the innovative ways that Israel has changed the way that we think about and use water. Students read The Water Princess, by Susan Verde, a true story, about a girl who spends her days retrieving and cleaning water for her family. Students discussed what her day is like and what other activities she cannot participate in because she is consumed with obtaining clean water. In November, students learned about food in our community, and became aware of people who struggle with hunger and do not have enough food. We collected food for Tomchei Shabbos, learned about hunger, and read Maddi’s Fridge, by Lois Brandt, about two girls who are good friends, one has a refrigerator at home that is full of food and the other, an empty one. This month, we are learning about money in our community. Students are reading Beatrice’s Goat, by Page McBrier, based on a true story, about a nine-year-old girl growing up in Uganda. Her family struggles with hunger and she longs to attend school. Their situation is turned around when they receive a goat who can provide help with farming and milk for nutrition and sale. The story ends with Beatrice being able to go to school and learn and her family having more independence and resources. Look out for our upcoming themes of diversity in our community and school in our community. Check out the weekly Table Talk, a discussion prompt based Parsha theme related to building community to help continue the dialogue at your Shabbat table.