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Office Administrator Mel and the Heilicher Lion are ready to welcome you back to school.
See you on Monday, August 27!
See You At The Heilicher Summer Social - RSVP Today

Please join us for the Heilicher  summer social on  Thursday, August 23, 6:30 p.m at the Camp Olami white tent on the Sabes JCC field. This is a family program for the entire Heilicher community. Enjoy a casual evening of open sports, fun, and friends before school is back in session. An ice cream truck with free treats will be joining us at 6:30 p.m. RSVP by  today to

Kindergarten families: please join us at 5 p.m. for a picnic dinner (please bring your own dairy/parve meal) and Scavenger Hunt. 

Please note the Ice Cream Social will be canceled if it is raining. 
Mark your Calendars
Upcom ing School Events  
  • Thursday, August 23 - Kindergarten Picnic and Scavenger Hunt, 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 23  - All-School Heilicher Summer Social, Camp Olami White Tent, 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, August 27 - First Day of School! 
  • Monday, August 27 & Tuesday, August 28 - Back to School Parent Coffees, after drop-off, Heilicher Dining Room
  • Thursday, September 6 - Heilicher Back to School Night (PARENTS ONLY EVENT), 6:30 p.m.; Optional dinner for purchase at 5:30 p.m.
Introducing New Heilicher Team Members

This year Heilicher is happy to welcome several new faculty to our teaching staff and administration. Read all about them on our "Meet the Staff" page and learn more about your favorite teachers.
Kabbalat Shabat

This weekly program usually involves recitation of Shabbat table blessings, singing songs, and hearing a story or doing an activity related to the week's parsha or other Jewish event. New this year, Kabbalat Shabbat will take place Friday mornings from 8:15-8:45 a.m. for students in grades K-5. This earlier time is intended to make it easier for parents and guests to join students for this exciting program.  
Hebrew Leveling Update

As we continue developing our Hebrew program for greater efficacy and excellence, we have begun articulating a portrait of fluency for a Heilicher graduate. That portrait includes both Modern Hebrew Language fluency as well as a deep appreciation and personal connection to the Jewish State. Therefore, Hebrew classes throughout our program will also focus on Israel Studies (Social Studies about Israel) as the content, taught through the skill of Modern Hebrew Language acquisition.

We are also excited this year to pilot multi-grade Hebrew sections in some grades. This will allow for more levels to better meet student needs. As we build the curriculum and units, we are looking for opportunities both to differentiate the subject matter taught at each level and also, when appropriate, to learn the same material and create inter-level groupings for more socialization and integration.  
The two grade groupings we will pilot these multi-grade sections are in grades 3-4, and grades 6-8.  

Grades 3-4 will have 3 levels:
  • Modern Hebrew Grade-Level
  • Modern Hebrew Intermediate
  • Modern Hebrew Advanced
Grades 6-8 will have 4 levels
  • History of Modern Israel*
  • Modern Hebrew Grade-Level
  • Modern Hebrew Intermediate
  • Modern Hebrew Advanced
In the coming days, you will receive class lists indicating which level and course your child(ren) will be placed for the coming school year. Students were placed in these classes based on a diagnostic test students took in the spring, Progress Report comments, and teacher recommendations. Each of these groupings will be taught at the same time, allowing for students to easily move between sections as necessary to ensure they are continuing to progress in their Hebrew learning.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact your child(ren)'s Hebrew teacher. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Hebrew Coordinator BatSheva Berman, or Jewish Life and Hebrew Director Etan Weiss.
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*This course is designed for students who have recently transferred to Heilicher with limited Hebrew knowledge or background or students who have struggled in their second language progression throughout their time at Heilicher. Students will be exposed to Israeli cultural idioms in Hebrew and develop basic cultural literacy, thereby opening up possibilities for social connections with modern Israelis.

Students will also develop the necessary skills and language to participate in Israeli civic engagement and promote a Just Society, in support of Heilicher's core values and in collaboration with our new Middle School Judaic Studies curriculum.  
Dining Room Menus & All-Inclusive Lunch 
Are you hungry? Lunch menus are now available online for the start of the school year.

NEW: All-Inclusive Daily Lunch Option
Or - new this year - you can sign up for an all-inclusive daily lunch option. Annual pricing discounts (divided into 11 monthly installments):
$700/year K-Grade 5 (~$4.30/lunch)
$800/year Grades 6-8  (~$4.90/lunch)

The all-inclusive program includes daily lunch for an entire year. The annual fee will be billed in monthly installments to the family's Heilicher account on file (not through MSA). Contact the Finance Office to sign up at finance@hmjds.org .

Day-by-day lunch purchases will be available again this year for $5.50/lunch through MySchoolAccount.com.
Chess Registration

Some parents have had questions about registering for after-school chess. You can register for Chess Club and/or Chess Class through MySchoolAccount.com . Login to your account, and press PreOrder (the apple). Click on August 27 (first day of Chess), and you will be able to "Add Chess to Cart." In general, the best way to register for after-school activities and athletics is to follow the links on the After-School Programs page of the Heilicher website. If you have questions about registration, please contact the administration at info@hmjds.org and we will help you out.
Action Required - Back-to-School Forms

Each year, we require parents to fill out certain forms to ensure that family information is current and our funding from the St. Louis Park School District is secure. All of the required forms can be completed online in the Forms section of our website. Click on the Back-to-School tab on the left side and fill out the first two forms.
Reading and action required! The Library Use Agreement , Health, Illness and Medication Policy  (see Section 8 of the Heilicher Handbook), and School Supply List are important to read and may require some action depending on your child(ren) and grade levels. These three documents are also on the Back-to-School tab on the Forms page of our website.

It is important that all families complete all forms prior to the first day of school.  
Sign Up For After-School Classes and Athletics

It is time to start planning your child's after-school schedule. Register today for HaBonim, classes, and athletics. Fall sports include tennis, mountain biking, and soccer. Sign up today. 
School's Out Registration Is Open Now 

Registration for our HaBonim after-care program is open! Register early to receive the pre-registration price for the months of August and September. Sign up on MySchoolAccount.com today. See the full calendar of Sch ool's Out dates and times here. Questions: contact Kelleen O'Brion at  952.381.3374. 

L' hitraot

Longtime Heilicher staff member and alumni parent Drea Johnson will be embarking on new adventures. Her last day with the Heilicher team is Friday, August 17. We wish Drea and her family all the best and appreciate her years of service and dedication to the Heilicher community. She will be greatly missed. 

From Drea, "I love Heilicher's teachers, staff, and students. I appreciate the education my daughters received. I am thankful to everyone who have supported me and my family over the years." 

Condolences

Condolences to Heilicher alumni parents  Joan Staveley and David Hunt, and their son Sam on the passing of Joan's brother, Ernest David Staveley.  

Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School
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