At the Kindergarten's Model Seder, "Moses" rides in a basket on a pretty fast-moving river. Happy Passover!
An Inspiring Trip to Reggio Emilia
by Carla Goldberg
Preschool Director 

Lexie, Dara and I have returned from our wonderful study tour in Reggio Emilia, Italy! Reggio is a town that mandates quality education as a right of all children - beginning at birth. Even as visitors from all over the world come to learn from them, they are constantly searching for innovative ways to improve. In Italy they describe themselves as "permanently contemporary," capturing their vision of themselves as lifelong learners. This really spoke to us as educators!
 
Our group in Reggio!

In the inspirational lectures we were fortunate to attend and the beautiful schools we were privileged to visit, we saw this affirmation of children's rights again and again - as they believe this is more necessary now than ever. The schools are warm, inviting, and beautiful, and reminded us a lot like our own Akiba-Schechter: places to play, foster curiosity, and develop the tools children need to develop and grow. We look forward to continuing our journey with our children and our families to provide the children with the quality education that they all deserve. Please see Lexie's article below on the children's rights project she already did with the Lime Room children.
 
In addition, it was also very special to travel with 18 other Jewish early childhood educators from Chicago. We learned together and discussed how this beautiful philosophy can seamlessly be integrated into our Jewish programs. We now have colleagues and friends from all over Chicago who have shared this experience with us, and together we will deepen our understanding and learning. 

Wishing you a Happy Passover! Chag Sameach!

Preschool Receives $20,000 Grant
Hot off the press: We are pleased to announce that the Community Foundation for Jewish Education of the Jewish United Fund awarded Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School a Jewish Education Grant of $20,000 in support of our proposal, "Deepening our Commitment to Reggio inspired learning with the addition of an Atelierista."

Congratulations to Preschool Director Carla Goldberg for putting together this proposal, and for continually working to enhance the preschool's already amazing educational environment and curriculum. We can't wait to see what more fabulous educational benefits will come out of this opportunity for our entire community! Kol Hakavod!
Preschool
preschool
Noah and the book that inspired him.

Inspired by a Book: Master Raffle Ticket Seller!
Kindergartener Noah Cook sold 53 raffle tickets on his own. He set a goal, developed a sales pitch, and would not take no for an answer. If someone didn't have enough cash or a check, he told them to use something like Chase quick pay. He sold the most amount of tickets in the preschool, and, most fabulously, he sold a ticket to his grandmother that won her two tickets to Hamilton - the grand prize for the raffle drawing! When asked what inspired him to become such an entrepreneur, he said Mrs. Crook had given him the book Big Nate on a Roll in the library, and that story gave him the idea. Yasher koach, Noah!
Model Seder in the Green Room

Exploring Childrens' Rights in the Lime Roomrights
by Lexie Harris, Lime Room

An underlying theme in Reggio schools is the image of the child, and that each child has rights, rather than simply needs. In our visits to schools we saw this affirmation of rights again and again. So, I wanted to touch on this concept of rights with the children in the Lime Room. We began our discussion by talking about the similarities and differences between the children in Italy and the children in our class, or in Chicago. Then I asked the question, "What do you think your rights are as children?" and "What should all children be able to do?"  

Here are some of their beautiful responses on the concept of Children's Rights:
 
"Children have the right to play." - Nachi
 
"We have the right of hugging each other.  When we come back from school in the evening, we can hug our Moms and Dads, and say we missed them." - Mila
 
"We have the right to sing, because it's happy." - Olivia
 
"All children have the right to color and make pictures."  - Eitan
 
"Children have the right to be nice to each other." - Raia
 
"All children have the right to eat." - Felix
 
"All children can play with toys." - Joaquin
 
"Children have the right to play with play dough." - Natalie
 
"All children have the right to eat chicken soup." - Talia
 
"All children have the right to be friends." - Ian
 
"All children have the right to not hurt each other." - Yoka
 
"Children have the right to play." - Calliope
 
Sweet Lime Room children: These are your rights! And you have so many more!

Model Seder in the Purple Room: 

"Oh listen, oh listen, oh listen, King Pharaoh..." The Purple Room celebrated their model Seder on Wednesday with the Seder plates and beautiful Haggadot. They were ready to tell the story of how Moses lead t he Jewish people out of Egypt to freedom. They wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday!

Grades 1-8 
grades

Kitah Bet put on a great Passover play this Thursday, re-enacting the story of the Jews in Egypt.

The great classmates in Mrs. Friedman/Rodin's 1st/2nd grade have been working so hard since the beginning of the year to fill up their Compliment Jar with marbles. The compliments that they received were unsolicited and came from staff, faculty, students around the school, and from each other. There were many opportunities for them to fill up their jar and today the jar filled up to the top! They are so proud of themselves - even before the surprise cookie decorating party! Yasher koach to all of sutdents of Room 201! Let's fill it up one more time before the end of the year... We know you can do it!


Theodor Herzl Visit
The Israel American Council (IAC) arranged for an actor to fly in from the Orna Porat Theater in Israel to do a one-man show about Theodor Herzl. He visited Akiba on March 28! His show was done very well with props, costuming, music and technology, and the children really learned a lot during that one-hour show. We feel fortunate to have had such a prestigious educational children's theater visit our school! The actor is flying around the world doing this show; he had already been to California and Florida, and after he left us he traveled on to Caracas, Venezuela. 
Thank you to the Israel American Council for arranging this event, and to Akiba parent Einat Ezra, who's also the wife of Israel's Consul to Chicago, for making the connection.

In preparation for their field trip to the Holocaust Museum on Yom HaShoa (April 24), the 7th and 8th graders have begun a unit on the Holocaust with Mrs. Gold and Mrs. Brackman. They have been focusing on the question of why we learn about history and the Holocaust and after break, they will delve into the history of the Holocaust and learn about specific people and their stories.

Ms. Levine's 3rd/4th grade Social Studies class presented their countries for their Tour of Asia.

Morah Ahuva and Mrs. Gold's Tanach classes worked on writing song parodies as a final project about the story that they have just learned in the book of Shmuel.

Job well done! Our middle schoolers at Maot Chitim packing on Sunday, March 26.

Students who read 4 hours or more and did book reports in the Hebrew Reading Incentive Contest were treated to dinner at Milt's! Here are Shira and Eva with Bat Sherut Reut.



Kudos to Marsha Nagorsky, mom of Rafi (6th) and Sam (4th) for her participation in the panel discussion "Social Media: Do the Laws Adequately Protect our Kids?" This program on March 27 was co-sponsored by Akiba-Schechter, the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, and Congregation Ezras Israel. In addition to Marsha, the panelists included Deborah Pergament, Managing Attorney of the Children's Law Group. LLC, and Senator Ira Silverstein. The panel was moderated by Helen Bloch, mom of Megill (2nd) and Ron Lev (Kindergarten).
Art with Debbie
               


2nd graders made Haggadah bookmarks.

1st graders created "Moses in a basket."

Akiba Shuffle  shuffle

Registration is from April 7-24. Registration forms are available here or outside the preschool office. Email Kelli Harris with any questions.

'Twas Great to Celebrate Akiba! 

Our beautiful preschool teachers at Celebrate Akiba! Big thanks to Alexa Markoff for putting together such a great event!

Dedicate A Day
Our Dedicate a Day initiative is an opportunity for you to dedicate a school day in honor of someone special.  Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation or other important day or remember a loved one.  It's a great way to say thank you to someone. You can also dedicate a school day in memory of someone.   Simply select one of the following choices.  We will recognize Dedicate A Day donors in the Atrium and the Kibitzer and send a card to whomever you designate. 
  • Chai Five $90   Commemorate a birthday, anniversary, yahrzeits, graduation or other important day
  • Shabbat $360  
  • Celebrate $500 Rosh Chodosh, Chanukah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim, Akiba Musical, Yom Ha'atzmaut, Lag B'Omer
Pick up a donation card in the Atrium, email amarkoff@akibaschechter.org , call Alexa Markoff, Director of Development at 773.493.8880 or click here to donate online.  Please indicate that your donation is for Dedicate a Day. If you want us to send a card to someone, please provide contact information.
 
Dedicate a Day this Week:

In honor of Ezra Erlebacher's birthday, his parents and his grandparents made donations to Akiba-Schechter. Happy birthday Ezra!!!

Happy 9th birthday to Annabelle Glick from her loving family!

Yom HaShoa Commemoration
Sunday, April 23
4:00 p.m.
K.A.M. Isaiah Israel
1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd
Akiba students will sing!
More info here.

Yom HaAtzma'ut Community Celebration
Monday, May 1
6:00 p.m.
@ Anshe Emet, 3751 N. Broadway
Featuring Akiba parent Consul General of Israel, Aviv Ezra
Free event, but registration required!
More info here.
 
ATT Educator of the Year Awards
The ATT proudly announces the Eighth Annual Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Awards. Your children have outstanding rabbis and teachers  in their lives. Show your appreciation by nominating them. One award of $18,000 and two awards of $6,000 will be presented to three outstanding teachers. Easy to complete nomination forms are available at the ATT office or online at  www.att.org . Nomination deadline:  Wednesday, May 17, 2017 . For more information, call the ATT at 773-973-2828.

ATT Summer Program
Have your child experience an awesome summer in the state-of-the-art fully air-conditioned high-tech facility at the Nathan & Shirley Rothner ATT Summer Program . Kids will learn new skills and develop talents with sewing, drama, sports, art, science, rocketry, dance, cooking, magic, robotics, track and field, self-defense, computer programming and more, while making new friends, and visiting new places.  


Dates to Rememberdates

Monday, April 10 - Wednesday, April 19
Passover Break

Thursday, April 20
Classes Resume

Monday, April 24
Yom HaShoa
Classes in Session

Monday, May 1
Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day)
Classes in Session

Tuesday, May 2
Yom HaAtzma'ut
(Israel Independence Day)
Classes in Session

Sunday, May 7
Akiba Shuffle



CALENDAR

2017-18 Calendar Highlights
Download here.

Fencing Camp
We are considering offering a week of Fencing Camp again this summer here at Akiba-Schechter, during the week of June 12. Current second graders and up are eligible, as are non-Akiba students.  Contact  Elisa if interested.

Israeli Dancing Anyone?
Who's interested in Israeli dancing? The class would meet after school on Mondays and/or Wednesdays. Email Elisa.

April 7, 2017
Volume 13, Issue 17
Candle Lighting: 
7:03 p.m.
Parasha: Tzav


Condolences

...to  Romy and Jonathan Steinitz-Miller and their family on the passing of their grandfather, Professor Dan Miller.

Mazal tov

...to our Communications Coordinator and alumni mom  Annette Gendler  on the release this week of her memoir Jumping Over Shadows , the true story of a German-Jewish love that overcame the burdens of the past. Available at the Book Cellar and amazon
upcoming reading & event on April 24 at Congregation Rodfei Zedek!
Kehillah Fund Korner

Kehillah Fund logo
Since 2004 Akiba-Schechter has received $534,355  from the Kehillah Fund; this month it is $ $3,707. Over 1,400 community members participate in the Kehillah Fund's recurring donor program in support of Jewish day school education, and every month $71,000 is distributed to Chicago area day schools.  To learn more, please call   (847) 745-1668 or visit  www.kehillahfund.org .
Thank you for your support!
Affiliated with the Associated Talmud Torahs and supported by the Kehillah Jewish Education Fund

773-493-8880
Check out our new website!
www.akibaschechter.org