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How special that our 8th graders got to spend the 50th anniversary of Yom Yerushalayim in Jerusalem this year!
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Visitors from China as We Wrap up the School Year
by Carla Goldberg
Preschool Director
This week we had a group of Early Childhood teachers from China visit to participate in a cultural exchange with us! These teachers have been in Chicago for three weeks and are studying with the Erikson Institute. They visited three other schools and Akiba was the last stop on their journey. They spent three days with us; truly in the spirit of Reggio Emilia-inspired "deep study." This was an incredible experience for all of us. With the guidance of Kindergarten teacher Iris Putterman, who taught in Singapore for many years, each classroom prepared a gift for our visitors. The children were able to get to know these teachers, ask them questions, and share with them what preschool is like at Akiba-Schechter. We also learned about school in China and what the delegation was hoping to learn from our schools here.
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| A delegation of Chinese preschool teachers visited Akiba-Schechter today. Here they are visiting the Kindergarten and talking to Carla and Iris. |
It is with bittersweet feelings that we approach the last day of Preschool and Kindergarten on June 2nd. Please note that we do have a
full day of Preschool and Kindergarten next Tuesday, May 30, including late pick-up, and another
full day next Friday, June 2, with regular dismissal at 2:30 p.m.
We have had a wonderful year filled with laughter, hugs, new friendships, and many new accomplishments for our children. The children have read over 100 books, painted hundreds of pictures, and created dozens of structures. They have baked cookies and muffins, written stories and sung Shabbat songs and most of all, they have skipped up the walkway in anticipation of coming to school and seeing their Akiba family. They have developed relationships with other children and teachers that will have an impact on who they are and who they will become. We treasure these relationships and thank you for sharing your precious children with us at Akiba!
It has been a year filled with growth for both children and teachers. We have learned, explored and wondered together. Akiba teachers have again traveled to Italy and studied with other Jewish preschools across Chicago to prepare for this experience. We have also learned from each other and have shared the knowledge we have gained at Akiba over these past three study tours to Reggio Emilia with your children, with parents and with other teachers.
We are so proud that we are lifelong learners at Akiba and share this passion for learning with your children.
The teachers will have a hard time saying goodbye this week to all of the families who will not be returning to Akiba and are moving on this summer to China, or Israel, or California, or to another school in Chicago. We thank you for allowing us to spend this precious time with your children and we will truly miss all of you. It has been a pleasure watching all the children grow and blossom at Akiba this year. Have a wonderful summer and please stay in touch!
Shabbat Shalom!
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Preschool
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The Blue Room friends invited Morah Elisa to have Hebrew at the park. They enjoyed learning outside!
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Preview of the Afternoon Explorers' movies!
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Preschool Filmmakers
The Afternoon Explorers created five
stop-motion movies.
The movies were written, filmed, scored and produced by the children.
The stories and films came out of their long-term study of manholes and tunnels. The children wrote stories about what they found on the other side of their own Explorers tunnel. They worked in teams of 4-5 students to write a story, plan the movie, construct the sets and characters, compose music and sound effects and finally to produce the stop-motion film. The children did the "character wrangling" and photography for the movies! Copies were sold at their Afternoon Explorers boutique this week, but you can also email Emily Schoenberg to order one!
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The Kindergarten took one last field trip this week to the Lincoln Park Zoo. They had a wonderful time full of laughter and smiles. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers who joined them on this trip.
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Grades 1-8
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The 8th graders are back from Israel - they had a fantastic time! More photos from their trip on our Facebook page.
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8th Grade Israel Trip
by Alise Gold
Wow! The 8th grade trip to Israel was an incredible experience, one that we're sure none of us will ever forget! On our last night, our amazing tour guide, Adi, led an activity and asked the students to share the most inspirational moment on the trip. Here are some of the moments they shared:
The first time visiting the Kotel and the Old City
Visiting the Bedouin tents and hearing the story from one of the women there
Star gazing at night
Visiting Tel Azeka where David fought Goliath and hearing a story from Mrs. Shira Smiles
Visiting Yad Vashem and specifically the Hall of Names
Ir David, where Tanach came to life
Yad L'Kashish - a place where older, lower income Israelis can come to work and make a living creating beautiful pieces of art that they sell in their shop
The moment we landed in Tel Aviv
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Former Bnot Sherut came to visit the 8th graders on their trip! Sara Goshen joined us on Shabbat, so there's no picture. Thank you to Oriyan, Sara, Zehava, Esti, Tamar, Tehila, Mali and Rachel for making time to come see us!
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In Mr. Salk's 1st/2nd grade, Ms. Rodin's Reading Workshop takes a bow after performing a play for the other 1st and 2nd graders.
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Students in Kitah Bet work on their own Ten Commandments.
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Learning about Shavuot
The students in Kitah Bet have been very busy learning about Chag HaShavuot (the holiday of Shavuot). They are learning about the customs and ways the Israelites celebrated the holiday during the time of the Bet HaMikdash (the Temple). Students are learning about the story of Megillat Ruth and are writing down their own thoughts. Chag HaShavout is also Chag Matan Torah. The students are learning about the Ten Commandments and each of them is engaged in writing and decorating his/her own Ten Commandments.
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Studying Chicago Architecture
On Tuesday, the entire 3rd/4th grade went on an amazing field trip downtown with the Chicago Architecture Foundation called
Art in Architecture
. They started at the Santa Fe building where they viewed the incredible model of all the buildings in downtown Chicago, made with a 3-D printer. Then they walked to three buildings, learned awesome architecture vocabulary, and made sketches of the buildings: the Art Institute, the Harold Washington Library and the Federal Center. The docents were wonderful and extremely knowledgeable. Some of the words the students learned are pediment, acroteria, arcade, arches and columns. It was a wonderful trip and the weather held out for them too!
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Rubbing Lincoln's nose at the cemetery
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7th Grade Trip to Springfield
The 7th graders spent two fun-filled and exciting days in Springfield, Illinois this week. Highlights included the Lincoln Museum, a tour of the capital building, Lincoln's Home and Tomb, and the beautiful Dana Thomas Home, one of the most in-tact Frank Lloyd Wright Homes in existence. Students also got to tour the town of New Salem, where Lincoln spent his early adulthood. They were excited to see people making candles and soap using the early colonial methods that they practiced themselves earlier this year!
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For or Against the Crusades?
Mr. Esse's 5th/6th grade History class has been studying the Crusades. After watching videos and reading about the reasons behind the Crusades, as well as the blunders that occurred along the way, the students made posters advertising for and against the Crusades. The final products are hung on the walls for the whole school to see.
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Movie Critics
In Mr. Miller's 5th/6th grade English class, Sholom views Get a Clue, the movie version of the novel The Westing Game that the class recently finished. The students are playing the role of the late film critic Gene Siskel and are taking notes to critically review several elements of the movie version of the much-beloved novel. They will write a paper comparing and contrasting various aspects of the movie and book as well as write a critique of the movie to determine whether they felt the director was successful in his attempt to recreate the enthralling mysteries of the novel the movie is based on.
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Mazal tov!
Congratulations to Netanel Barsky (6th), Aaron Faier (7th) (and Shira David (8th) who also qualified to compete nationally but missed the competition because of the 8th grade trip to Israel) for going to New York and representing Akiba-Schechter at the Chidon HaTanach (National Bible Contest.
Mazal Tov to Netanel for coming in 4th place nationally. It was a rewarding, but intense and challenging year as these students put in extra time to study with Mrs. Schinasi during their lunch hour. Bravo on rising to the occasion and making Akiba proud of you!
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by Thea Crook, Librarian
On their last visit to the library this week, I chose to read
Library Lion with the Kindergarteners. It is a
truly wonderful book by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes about the wonders of the library, the fact that there are certain rules but also the fun of discovery and the generosity of being able to check out more than one book, or renewing books. I wish the Kindergarteners good luck in first grade and wish them a wonderful summer!
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5th/6th grade art students created new products in artful advertisements. Here they present their work.
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7th graders took advantage of warm weather and worked on life sketches outdoors.
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by Sara Price
We're finishing up the year with the perfect spring and summer sports. 1st/2nd graders are learning soccer. They've spent a lot of time working on dribbling and passing. 3rd through 8th grade are playing Ultimate, a team sport played with frisbees. Even at the most competitive levels, Ultimate is played without referees; athletes are expected to adhere to the rules, known as "the spirit of the game."
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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
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. But Late Pick-Up is in session!
Wednesday, May 31 & Thursday, June 1
Shavuot
No Classes
Friday, June 2
Last Day of Preschool/Kindergarten
with regular dismissal at 2:30 p.m.
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 Updated!
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May 26, 2017
Volume 13, Issue 20
Candle Lighting:
7:55 p.m.
Parasha: Bamidbar
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Refuah Shleima
...to Millie Miller, who is recovering from pneumonia.
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Mazal tov
...to Ava and Alex Noth and their family on their Bnei Mitzvah on Memorial Day!
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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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