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Our 8th graders led Monday's moving Yom HaZikaron commemoration, honoring Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. 
Dear Heilicher Parents,

Thank you to all who supported, volunteered, and participated in the Annual Benefit last Thursday. It was a smashing success from community building (415 attendees) to fundraising ($320,000 raised to support Heilicher) to a delightful video presentation featuring students, alumni and staff. Congratulations to honorees Debbie and Jed Stillman and honorary co-chairs Eloise and Elliot Kaplan, who show their deep commitment to the Jewish community and continuity in all that they do. And very special appreciation to Sue Freeman and Beckie Skelton who completely outdid themselves in organizing the benefit.

In case you missed it, we announced the new Helen Siegel Scholarship Fund and raised $70,000 at the event to seed it. Please consider making a contribution to this fund to honor Helen and her 27 years of extraordinary service to Heilicher.

Looking ahead, please join us on Thursday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m., for the Annual Meeting to hear a "State of the School," vote on our Board of Trustees slate, and celebrate faculty and staff milestones. Come early to see the 8th Grade Capstone projects on display in the Fingerhut Auditorium. And save the evening of Sunday, June 11, for our third-annual School's Out Soirée poolside at the Sabes JCC. This is a free, adults-only event to thank everyone for a great year and kickoff the summer in style.

Have a great week,
Yoni
Mark your Calendars
Upcom ing Heilicher  Events
  • Friday, May 5: Kindergarten/Grade 1 trip to Mia, 10:00 a.m.
  • Monday, May 8: MAP Testing begins
  • Wednesday, May 10: Gerten's Plant Sale Pick Up, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Sabes JCC Activity Center
  • Friday, May 12: Kindergarten Children Around the World, 2:00 p.m., Manny Fingerhut Auditorium
  • Monday, May 15: Grade 1 Siyum Otiyot, 6:30 p.m., Fiterman Beit Knesset
  • Thursday, May 18: Annual Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Manny Fingerhut Auditorium (8th Grade Capstone Projects on Display from 5:30-7:00 p.m.)
  • Friday, May 19: Kindergarten Shabbat Dinner, 5:30 p.m., East Commons
  • Monday, May 22 - Thursday, May 25: Grade 6 Northern Minnesota Trip
  • Tuesday,  May 23: Grade 2 Kabbalat HaSiddur, 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 25: Grade 5 Field Trip to Big Stone Mini Golf Sculpture Garden, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  • Friday, May 26: Grade 5 In-School Retreat (all day)
  • Monday, May 29: Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL
  • Wednesday, May 31 and Thursday, June 1: Shavuot, NO SCHOOL (School's Out Programming available on June 1 - sign-up below)
  • Friday, June 2: Heilicher Maccabi Games (more info to come)
Optional Student Transition Form for Returning Students Entering Grades K-6 in Fall 2017

Your child's new class assignment requires partnership between home and school. If you have information concerning your child's learning or social needs that should be considered, please use this form to share that information with the school. Although you may have articulated information in previous years, please give us that information again so that we know it is still current.

Along with the information gained from parents, a team of classroom teachers, specialists, resource teachers, school counselors, and administrators considers the following areas when balancing classes:
  • Learning styles
  • Academic peers
  • Social dynamics
  • Teaching styles
  • Gender balance
Children are often flexibly grouped in academic areas and have the opportunity to interact with a variety grade peers and teachers.

We value the insights you have about  your child, but will not accept requests for specific teachers. It is important for all of us to trust the process and the team of professionals to make the best choice for your child.

If you have more than one child, please fill out an additional form for each child. Forms are due by Thursday, May 18.
Gerten's Plant Sale Pick Up is Wednesday, May 10


If you ordered plants from your favorite eighth grader, pick up your plants on  Wednesday, May 10,  between 1:00-4:00 p.m.  in the Sabes JCC Activity Center. Please pick up all plants during these hours (even the ones  your child might be delivering to neighbors who purchased from them).
MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Testing for Grades 3-8

Students in grades 3-8 will participate in  MAP testing  May 8-12 and 15-19. Students will complete  MAP tests in math, reading, and language usage.

Read more information on  MAP testing.
Fourth Graders Sponsoring "Pennies for Patients" from May 8-12

As part of VOICE, Fourth Graders are participating in Pennies for Patients to raise awareness and money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We are inviting the whole school to help us raise money, while building school spirit. There will be a theme each day next week (see below) to encourage students to "Bring the Change" to find a cure.


Library Book Roundup

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All library books are due back to the  Heilicher library by 
Monday, May 15,  unless still needed for a class report or project. The cost for unreturned books will be charged to the families' Heilicher account on file. 

Be sure to look in lockers, cubbies, and around the house. Thank you!
Shavuot School's Out Program on  June 1

Heilicher will be closed for Shavuot on  Wednesday, May 31, and Thursday, June 1 . We are excited to offer full-day school's out programming on  Thursday, June 1 . Join us for a fun-filled day of activities, games, art projects and spending time outside. Register here; registration deadline is Thursday,  May 25
Grade Level News

Upcoming Kindergarten Programs

The Kindergarten is looking forward to performing Children Around the World for their families on  Friday, May 12, at 2:00 p.m .  The performance will be followed by a small reception. 

We are looking forward to our Kindergarten Family Shabbat Dinner on Friday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. It will be a wonderful evening of crafting, singing, dancing and socializing as we gather together as a community to welcome Shabbat. Please  RSVP to Jenny Palmer or Jodi Danovsky by  Wednesday, May 10
Heilicher Athletics 

There is still time to register for tennis and ultimate frisbee! Register here. 

Parent/Staff vs Student Volleyball Games are Next Week!
Grade 5-6 Game: Monday, May 8, 4:15 p.m.
Grade 7-8 Game: Tuesday, May 9, 4:`5 p.m.

Stay tuned ... the  Heilicher Maccabi Games are coming soon.
 
Check out our volleyball scoreboards below.

Condolences

We offer our condolences to Rabbi Julie Gordon and her children Shoshana and Ari on the passing of Julie's sister, Cindi Ornsten.

We offer our condolences to Heilicher alumni parents Amy and Todd Geller, their children Ari and Zach, and Todd's parents, Rosie and Loren Geller, on the passing of Rosie's brother, Michael Royce. 

Bat Mitzvah Project: Read-a-Thon to Raise Funds for the Library

For Lauren Vegas' Bat Mitzvah project, she is sponsoring a read-a-thon to raise money for the library.  The goal is to raise $5,000 for the library.  The read-a-thon will run from Friday, March 17, until  Friday May 19 . There will be prizes for the winning students and classrooms. Here is the  read-a-thon pledge sheet.
 
Questions? Contact Lauren Vegas. 

Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School
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