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Celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut!
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Value Others
by Miriam Schiller
Principal
This week we celebrated Lag B'Omer, a Jewish holiday often marked by bonfires, parades, outdoor outings, and other festive moments. At Akiba, we held our annual Color Wars--a day students look forward to all year long. The entire 1st-8th grade student body is divided into eleven teams of different colors, with each team consisting of students from 1st through 8th grade. This year, as always, the day included many team building activities, a shared lunch, team songs created along this year's theme (value others), an obstacle course, dance-off, games in the park, and relay races.
By the end of the day, teachers and students were both exhausted, but it was worth it. As I watched the children working together, cheering for each other and helping one another, I felt proud of the values our school teaches. Not once did I hear a complaint about being on a team with the "wrong" children. Not once did I hear a disparaging word from the 7/8th grade team leaders, even if their team lost relay after relay. Our 8th graders "get it:" This day is about caring for others more than about winning, and they worked hard to ensure that everyone had a great time. Our 8th graders are real leaders.
Today we had a good-bye assembly for our 8th graders, as they will leave for Israel on Sunday. First and second grade students came up one by one and presented their 8th grade buddies with gifts they had made for them. It was difficult to tell who was more excited to be hugged, the 13-year-olds or the 6-year-olds. Together we all sang for our 8th graders and wished them farewell, knowing the school will feel much emptier next week. I thank the teachers and staff who throw themselves into events like Lag B'Omer, making them seem easy, and who promote the values we all hold so dear. And, of course, I thank the students--each of whom plays such a crucial part in the community we're so proud of.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Preschool
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Mother's Day wishes from the Green Room!
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In the Blue Room, Nora and Mendel are making the life cycle of a butterfly, using different shaped pasta.
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Now that the Purple Room kids are home from their wonderful trip to Israel to celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut (here they are picking fruit on an Israeli kibbutz), and after participating in the Akiba-Schechter Shuffle, they can celebrate their mothers! Each of them made a book with a picture of their moms, drawn by them on the front and with stories they wrote inside. The Purple Room wishes all their families a wonderful Mother's Day!
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Grades 1-8
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"Happy trip to Israel!" "Have fun and have a safe trip!""Congratulations on your trip!" The kids in Ms. Friedman's 1st/2nd grade spent some time this week decorating hats for their 8th grade buddy friends as they get ready to travel to Israel this Sunday. They can't wait to hear about their adventures!
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Kitah Alef traveled to Israel on Yom HaAtzmaut and made flags in "Tel Aviv."
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On May 2, our students participated in an FIDF event at Anshe Emet, featuring IDF soldiers telling their stories and an appearance by Akiba parent, Consul General of Israel, Aviv Ezra.
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| The Ruler Project in action |
The Ruler Project
Mrs. Basa has been accompanying her Math class to the Art Center for the past month to explore by what percentage clay objects shrink during the firing process. First she made a 12" ruler to scale. When it came out of the kiln, she measured it, glazed it, then put it back in the kiln again. When it was finished, she brought it back to Math Class where more measurements were taken. Here, Ben and Hadar analyze the results to determine how big Mrs. Basa needs to make the next ruler so it shrinks down to exactly 12." Here's wishing her a good "measure" of luck with this project!
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There was lots of excitement in Lakeview, as a group of 8th graders and the Bnot Sherut enjoyed a Shabbaton in the neighborhood on May 5-6. The students attended Shabbat services at Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation, where they participated in a special youth minyan. They took in some of the unique neighborhood atmosphere with an afternoon walk around Wrigley Field and a chilly walk by the lakefront. The Bnot kept the students entertained with activities and games throughout Shabbat, and they were well fed with delicious meals prepared by Chef Eddie. What a wonderful Shabbat!
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The Akiba-Schechter Orchestra performed their Spring Orchestra Concert on Thursday at Rodfei Zedek. They sounded great!
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Book Contest Results
We have avid readers at Akiba-Schechter! Seventeen students will go out for dinner with teachers the last week of school, because they read at least 2000 pages. Thirty-three
students shared a pizza lunch
today
, having read at least 500 pages.
Kol HaKavod to the students who read the most pages (by far):
1. place: Ayalah Bransky
2. place: Mayrav Bader
3. place: Daniel Bransky
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Good Luck at the Chidon HaTanach!
This Sunday, Aaron Faier and Netanel Barsky will be representing Akiba-Schechter as they compete in the National Chidon HaTanach (Bible Contest) in Manhatten. We wish them the best of luck!
Shira also qualified, but she had to miss the contest to go on the 8th grade Israel trip. Kol HaKavod to all of them and to Mrs. Schinasi, their wonderful teacher!
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| Purple Room children brought flowers for Teacher Appreciation Day! |
A big thank you also to the PTO that sponsored a bagel breakfast and other treats to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day on May 9!
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Kindergarten artists modeled sculptures and puppets from Model Magic sculpting compound in bright neon colors combined with dark colors: Black, deep violet, and blue. They had fun exploring the contrasts of the bright and dark hues, and mixing some amazing new colors.
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4th graders did a fantastic job studying master artists' masterpieces. See them on display in the downstairs hallway of the day school building!
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Akiba Shuffle
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Great fun and great weather at the Akiba-Schechter Shuffle last Sunday!
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Congratulations to all our Shuffle winners!
Male 40+ and Overall Winner: John Ring
Male 20-39: Benjamin Smith-Donald
Male 12-19: Julian Blair
Male Under 12: Danny Aronsohn
Female 40 +: Renee Aronsohn
Female 20-39: Elisheva Shanes
Female 12-19: Camilla Smith-Donald
Female Under 12: Ronit Radutny
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Ms. Levine - one amazingly flexible teacher!
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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.
Discount to Attend Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development
A special stipend has been made available to students who attend Jewish day school through J-Stem. Learn more here.
Type in J-Stem code JSTEMSPR17 to receive a 50% discount.
Vacation Days at Hyde Park JCC
The Hyde Park JCC is offering Vacation Days on Monday, June 5, and Tuesday, June 6, when the preschool is closed. They lowered the minimum age to 4 for our families. More info here.
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Dates to Remember
Sunday, May 14 - Thursday, May 25
8th Grade Trip to Israel
Thursday, May 25
Kitah Alef Siddur Ceremony
2:00 p.m., Loeb Hall
Monday & Tuesday, May 22 & 23
7th Grade Trip to Springfield
Monday, May 29
Memorial Day
No Classes
Tuesday, May 30
Erev Shavuot
3:30 p.m. Dismissal & all buses leave. No Late Bus. No after-school classes & no
Kids Club. Late Pick-Up in session.
Wednesday, May 31 & Thursday, June 1
Shavuot
No Classes
Friday, June 2
Last Day of Preschool/Kindergarten
Tuesday, June 6
Kitah Bet Tefillah Siyyum
8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 7
Preschool Summer Camp Begins
Thursday, June 8
8th Grade Graduation
@ Congregation Rodfei Zedek
7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 9
Last Day of School (Grades 1-8)
12:00 p.m. Dismissal
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2017-18 Calendar Highlights
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May 12, 2017
Volume 13, Issue 19
Candle Lighting:
7:41 p.m.
Parasha: Emor
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Mazal tov
...to
Eitan Yifat in the Lime Room, and his parents on the birth of a baby brother!
...to Natalie Munch in the Lime Room and her family on the birth of her baby brother Grant!
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Mazal tov
... to Roberta Evans on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah.
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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!
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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
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