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In Ready!Set!Go! a polar bear went swimming among lots of ice floes.
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I know what many of you are thinking: I am from California, so of course, I called a Snow Day. That is understandable, and I am not going to lie. Every time I see two or more flurries softly descending from the heavens, I worry if I have enough bottled water and canned goods in the pantry. However, luckily I also have a great team at Akiba, and as we reviewed the weather reports, spoke with our bus company, other schools, and parents, we came up with various options to address all possibilities. Closing school is the last thing we want to do, but I am grateful that my team remained focused on doing what is best for our students and staff in this situation. I also want to thank the mysterious board member who showed up at my house and plowed my driveway. If that is not a sign of board support, I don't know what is!
Onto a warmer topic! Last Shabbos, I had the privilege of being in the Lakeview community for Rafi Nagorsky's Bar Mitzvah.
I got to daven at Anshe Sholom for the first time with some of our families, spend time with more of our families at Anshe Emet, and experience that which makes our school one of a kind.
First, Rafi, if you are reading this, you did a fantastic job! Your davening was inspiring, your laining (reading of the Torah) was perfection, and your speech was meaningful, funny and expertly delivered. Second, I was overwhelmed by all the Akiba students, teachers and families that were there to share in the Simcha (celebration). One might think that because we attract students from all over Chicago that we are only a community at school. As evidenced by last Shabbos, this could not be further from the truth. We come together every day from different communities and backgrounds to learn together in one school, and we come together as one to celebrate and support each other outside of school as well. This is not just an Akiba value, but a Jewish value. It is a value that is clear Rafi and his family share as well as so many of us at Akiba. May we all continue to celebrate and support each other in school and beyond..
Keep safe and warm this Shabbos!
Dr. Eliezer Jones
Head of School
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Parashat Mishpatim
by Rabbi Holman
Among the many civil and religious laws in this week's parsha, we learn, "You shall not afflict any widow or orphan." Rashi points out that this verse applies to everyone; the Torah mentions widows and orphans because their defenselessness makes them more vulnerable. Rabbi Yisroel Salanter (19th century, Lithuania) once asked, "How do we make sure the Matzot for Passover are extra kosher? When we pressure the workers to finish within the requisite eighteen-minute window, we must be sensitive to those workers which are widows."
Once, the maid in the house of Rabbi Yaakov Berlin broke an expensive dish. His wife wanted to scold her, but Rabbi Berlin said, "If you feel that she should pay for it then go to the town rabbi for a decision." When Rabbi Berlin saw his wife proceeding to go with the maid to the town rabbi, Rabbi Berlin got up and accompanied her. Said Mrs. Berlin, "You need not come; I can handle this myself." Rabbi Berlin replied, "I am not going on your behalf. I am going on behalf of the maid who is an orphan and has no one to come to her defense." Shabbat Shalom! (from Love Your Neighbor)
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The Blue Room kids have been learning about penguins for two weeks. On Wednesday they pretended to be penguins and did blubber experiment.
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In the Purple Room, the kids found a box and worked hard to turn it into a doll house.
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In Mr. Salk's 1st/2nd grade class, Golda reads her "Published Book" to the class.
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Mrs. Gold's and Rabbi Meyerowitz's 5th and 6th grade Tanach classes spent Thursday morning celebrating the completion of their unit about the Mishkan (Tabernacle) by building their own version. With a selection of fun supplies, each group was assigned a different part of the Mishkan to build. The results were creative and beautiful! Here Aviya, Ronit and Lilac show of their version of the Aron (Ark).
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Ms. Rogan's Kita Dalet has been studying character traits in Hebrew. Divided into two teams, they've been matching definitions in Hebrew to their corresponding traits, for example: A person who likes giving = generous. The challenge is to get the most correct matches.
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For Tu B'Shvat last week, Mrs. Brackman's class learned about fruit carving and food decorating from Chef Eddie.
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Ms. Rogan's Craft Club created memo branches with clothes pins and washi tape.
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Spelling Bee
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| Mazal tov to our Spelling Bee winners: 1st place: Ryan Klein (5th grade); 2nd Place Netanel Barsky (7th) |
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Middle School artists have been having a great time designing their own board games. Individually and in groups, they created themes, invented rules of play, and drew game boards.
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by Sara Price
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| Kindergarten took a break between the rhythmic movement unit and balance and tumbling for a lesson in fitness. They learned different exercises to strengthen different muscle groups. They did jumping jacks, push ups, wall sits, and "steam rollers." Everyone had fun and got a good workout! |
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Preschool Family Play Day 
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Mazal tov
...to Autumn Luu in the Green Room and her family on the birth of her baby brother Christian.
Mazal tov
...to Rafi Nagorsky (7th) and his family on his Bar Mitzvah this past Shabbat.
Mazal tov
...to alumnus
Jason Loeb who was just appointed as Rochelle Zell Jewish High School's next Academic Dean.
Collecting Plastic Bottle Caps
The Room 209
Green Team is saving plastic caps, lids and bottle tops
. Their goal is to collect 1,000 by Passover. Please bring your caps, lids and bottle tops to Room 209 or the grade school office. Thanks!
CTeen Junior
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Dates to Remember
Sunday, February 11
3:30 - 5:00 PM
Thursday February 15
Parent/Teacher Conferences
No school for Grades 1-8
Preschool and Kindergarten in session.
No Bus Service and No Late Pick-Up.
Friday, February 16
Parent/Teacher Conferences
No school
Monday, February 19
Presidents Day
No School
Monday, February 19
Wolves vs. Adults Basketball Game
3:30 - 6:30 PM
Horwich JCC, 3003 W. Touhy, Chicago
Save the Date: School Musical
Sunday, March 25
10:00 AM
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February 9, 2018
Volume 14, Issue 11
Candle Lighting:
4:56 PM
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Affiliated with the Associated Talmud Torahs and supported by the Kehillah Jewish Education Fund
773-493-8880
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