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At our first All-School T'filah last week, Heilicher students learned the Sh'ma and a prayer of gratitude and awe in American Sign Language (ASL) with the help of Heilicher parent, Genna Middlebrook. Pictured above, students created artwork reflecting their awe and gratitude.
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Shana Tovah! Preparing for 5781
Before Jewish people had a prayer service, we had a sacrificial service when we felt gratitude, guilt, goodwill, and more. The prayer service as we've come to know it includes prayers of gratitude, awe, wishes (requests), and reflections on our actions.
This year, schools and shuls around the globe have a unique challenge as we are not allowed to sing in person unless we are outdoors and 12 feet apart! Having a prayer service (t'filah) without any singing requires some creativity and adjustment. At our first all-school t'filah last week, we learned the Sh'ma and a prayer of gratitude and awe in American Sign Language (ASL), with the help of Heilicher parent Genna Middlebrook, and we created artwork reflecting our awe and gratitude (see above).
We will continue to explore our relationship to God and holiness, to our community and to ourselves, through prayer, ASL, art, and other creative outlets, as we navigate this COVID experience. We have contracted with Rabbi Josh Warshawsky to have access to prayer videos for sing-along purposes and we'll send those out as well.
To a new year with new possibilities and new avenues of holiness and connection for all of us. Shana Tovah!
Wendy Goldberg
Assistant Director of Jewish Life
READ MORE from Wendy on preparing for the new year on the Heilicher blog! On the website, please click on the blog title to access the full article.
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Mark your Calendars
Upcoming School Events
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TOMORROW (Friday, September 18): All School T'filah and Kabbalat Shabbat
Parents, grandparents, and alumni are all welcome to join!
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Class/Pod-Level Virtual "Meet and Greets"
Tuesday, September 22
On Tuesday, September 22, homeroom teachers and advisors will host virtual class/pod-level "Meet and Greets." This will be a great chance to spend a little time with your child's teacher(s) as well as the other parents in their class. You will receive a Zoom invitation from your child's teacher or advisor. For your planning, see the schedule below.
Kindergarten and First Grade - 6:30-7:00 p.m. Second, Third and Eighth Grades - 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Fourth and Fifth Grades - 7:30-8:00 p.m.
Sixth and Seventh Grades - 8:00-8:30 p.m. *This program will take the place of our traditional in-person Back to School Night.
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2020-2021 Annual Fund Parent Co-Chairs
We are thrilled to introduce our 2020-2021 Annual Fund parent co-chairs, Deb Olkon and Mike Zis. They are parents to Saul (Heilicher alumni class of '20), Meyer (Grade 7) and Abe (Grade 4), and Mike is a Heilicher Board member.
Mike and Deb recently wrote about why Heilicher is so important to them:
"Our children have been guided by Heilicher's exemplary teachers to achieve their academic and personal goals. They have been inspired to innovate and have become better writers, readers, and creative thinkers. Through Heilicher's Judaic Studies program, they have also learned the importance of tikkun olam (acts of kindness), derech eretz (acting with respect), and becoming the future mensches (good people) of our world.
Of course, this year is different from every other. Heilicher teachers and staff worked tirelessly this summer to reopen the school safely in-person, while also offering a full, distance learning option. Their incredible efforts will help ensure that our community remains strong and connected, even during this difficult time."
The Heilicher Annual Fund is the core, unrestricted campaign that supports financial accessibility and enhances Heilicher's high quality education. Last year, 100% of parents made a gift to the school. Any gift, in any amount, is meaningful and appreciated!
The Annual Fund will officially launch after the fall holidays. Please look for more information in October!
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PTO Shmooze and Zoom
Thursday, October 1
Thursday, October 1, 8-9 p.m.
This Zoom call will be a purely social opportunity for parents to connect and build community. PTO chair Elly Zweigbaum will facilitate some introductions and we will breakout into smaller groups so parents can get to know each other. While we know this year will be very different, the Heilicher community will remain strong, and we look forward to offering additional virtual programs throughout the year.
Meeting ID: 874 7987 8657
Passcode: 379565
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Shabbat and Chagim (Jewish holidays) Communication Reminders
The beauty and meaning of Shabbat and the Chagim are an important part of the Heilicher community. Our faculty and staff will not respond to parent emails or calls on Shabbat (Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown) or on the chagim, and ask that you do not communicate with the school on these dates as well.
In the coming weeks, in addition to Shabbat, emails/calls will not be responded to on: - Rosh Hashanah (Friday, 9/18, sundown to Sunday, 9/20, sundown)
- Yom Kippur (Sunday, 9/27, sundown to Monday, 9/28, sundown)
- Sukkot (Friday, 10/2, sundown to Sunday, 10/4, sundown)
- Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah (Friday, 10/9, sundown to Sunday, 10/11, sundown)
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Virtual Band Lessons
Band is starting! All students in grades 4-8 are welcome to participate in virtual band this year.
Sean Prichard (88 Notes School of Music) will be reaching out specifically to Grade 4 families, but all parents with students in Grades 4-8 are welcome to contact Sean directly with questions and to learn more.
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Shop and Support Heilicher!
AmazonSmile is a program through which Amazon donates 0.5% of your Amazon purchases to a charity of your choosing. Go to smile.amazon.com and search Minneapolis Jewish Day School. To make sure that Heilicher will receive a benefit, please make sure to login into AmazonSmile before making your purchase.
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Connect on Heilicher Hallway Chat
Please make sure to join Heilicher Hallway Chat on Facebook. This is a closed parent-only (and parent-administered) Facebook page which offers a forum for parents to have the types of conversations that they otherwise would be having in the hallways this year.
The PTO has also set up grade-specific Hallway Chats. To join, please search "Heilicher Class of 20XX (your child's 8th grade graduation year) on Facebook.
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