Head of School Message
Heather Moore, Head of School

Dear Parents,

Many of you have asked, when will SIA become an official IB School? This is our second year teaching and learning under the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.  Throughout the school there is evidence of the learner profile, the current unit of inquiry and the action cycle. During our last IB leadership team meeting we confirmed dates for our IB consultant to visit our campus virtually on Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28, 2020.   Following the consultants visit we will submit our application for authorization. We anticipate that the authorization visit will be as early as this spring or next October. We will continue to keep our SIA community updated on our progress.

Please join us for an SIA International Baccalaureate Parent Information Session – Unmasking IB, for all SIA Parents interested in learning more about an IB Education. There will be two virtual sessions, one at 12:00 noon and one at 7:00pm on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. Please rsvp in ParentSquare. 

The Student Government Association campaigning continues this week with The Secretary and Treasurer speeches on Wednesday, October 14 at 8:15am and the President and Vice President speeches on Thursday, October 15 at 8:15am. The elections will take place on Friday, October 16, 2020. Good luck to all of our amazing SIA candidates.

Shavuah Tov, wishing you all a wonderful week ahead! 
Below you will see some reminders for next week.

Heather Moore
Head of Schoolad of School
UPCOMING DATES
10/21 "Unmasking IB" Parent Information Session at 12pm or 7pm.

11/11 Veteran's Day/ No School/ IB PYP Professional Development/ Fullcare Closed/ JCC Holiday Camp Open until 6pm

11/20 Beyond Early Years- Virtual Open House for all SIA Parents interested in learning more about the Primary Years Program at SIA.

11/25 NOON Dismissal (Fullcare and JCC Holiday Camp Closes at 12pm)

11/26 and 12/27 NO SCHOOL/ Fullcare and JCC Holiday Camp Closed.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO LABEL ALL OF YOUR CHILD'S ITEMS FOR SCHOOL SO THAT THEY DO NOT END UP IN THE LOST AND FOUND.
Good luck to our SGA Candidates!

We are so impressed with the hard work that went into these SGA campaign posters!
Fifth Grade Social Studies
Alicia Pahl Cornelius, Fifth Grade Teacher
Fifth grade has been working on the Central Idea: Times of crisis change lives and create new opportunities. One of the opportunities they discussed was cooking at home with their families more frequently during quarantine. Some fifth graders even learned how to cook themselves! They decided to create a website to share their recipes. https://sites.google.com/strelitzacademy.org/5thgradecookbook/home
Fourth Graders show off their
"Out of the Box" Creations
Ms. Abigail Cochran, Primary Years Art Teacher
Students began the project with a discussion about creative problem solving, or “thinking outside the box.” They were given a random theme word and a template for a cube. They had to build the cube and then somehow incorporate it into their 3 dimensional illustration of the theme word, using only the mismatched and random collection of scraps and other various creative supplies provided. This project was a huge success in helping the students learn to adapt to difficult and sometimes out of our control circumstances, to work within a given set of parameters, and to go for it using everything available to solve the problem or answer the question at hand.
Students were also encouraged to participate and post on an interactive bulletin board that asks them to name tough issues facing them, our school and community, our city, country and world, and to post creative solutions to these problems as well. I have enjoyed the lively and thoughtful conversations begun my this idea.
First Grade explores Fall Coloring Techniques in Art Class
Abigail Cochran, PY Art teacher
First grade students discussed some effects of the changing seasons from summer to autumn, and made crayon rubbings of leaf plates. They then colored and painted these drawings with all the colors of fall using a wax watercolor resist technique. Students portrayed their leaves blowing in the wind against a bright blue sky, or already fallen floating on the water.
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Sukkot and Simchat Torah Celebrations
 in the Early Years
Lorna Orleans, Director of Early Years
Above and Below-Fun in the Sukkah!
Babies joined us...
Toddlers too...

Finding the Joy

Although, Covid 19 health mitigations have limited our capacity to have as much communal time as we would like, our EY students were still able to celebrate Sukkot and Simchat Torah with joy and thanksgiving.

Our classroom communities each shared a separate time in the school sukkah for snack and for performing the joyful mitzvah of waving the lulav. They all took great pride in creating classroom sukkot and even invited Mrs. Moore, our head of school, on a sukkah hop to visit these whimsical classroom structures.
For Simchat Torah, we danced with the Torah outside, thanks to planning by Morah Elyssa Brinn, assistant director of Early Years. Babies, toddlers and preschool students came by age groups and socially distanced while they marched. The music was catchy and the kids were so excited to see their P.E. teacher, Mr. Adam, carrying the big Torah. Kudos to all of our teachers for helping the kids make representations of the Torah and flags to wave and carry as they marched.

Morah Elyssa arranged for a second Torah to be open on the table so they could see the beautiful Hebrew words and blow the Torah a kiss. It was a perfect Fall day to celebrate the ending and beginning of the Torah cycle and dance with joy as the circle continued. 

Above, Blowing a kiss to the Torah.g for? (
... and joyful dancers in the preschool!
Spa Day in the Infant Room
Our infants recently enjoyed a day at the "spa"!
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International Baccalaureate Corner
Parent Volunteer Organization
Dear SIA Parents, 

We would love for you to get involved! Just like our students, we know that each of you have so much to contribute to our school in different ways. There are many ways to get involved in our Parent Volunteer Organization. Even if you don't have a lot of time to contribute, it's a great way to connect with other parents at SIA!  


Teacher Appreciation: 
Our teachers are working extra hard this year, and we would love to find ways to show our appreciation. This committee will also coordinate Teacher Appreciation Week in May. 

SIA Parent Ambassadors:  
Parent Ambassadors work the Admissions team to help to promote SIA, Speak to prospective families and attend Open House events. 

Fundraising: 
Work with our Development Team to coordinate fundraising initiatives for SO. 

Community Building Events
We miss seeing our SIA families at school! Events look a little different this year, and we would love your help with ideas and coordination for "Covid" appropriate events which will for the most part be virtual. 
Ways to Support SIA
Make a Donation to SIA in Honor of Someone
Did you know that you can make a donation in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one as a meaningful way to contribute to the Strelitz International Academy? 

Whether you choose to wish a Mazel Tov, Get Well or Memorial, your tribute gift is a compassionate gesture that provides infinite benefits for our students and faculty.
 
Please contact Carly Glikman at CGlikman@strelitzacademy.org for all honors and memorials inquiries or you can donate directly on the SIA Website.
SIA Annual Donor Fund
Looking for a way to make a meaningful impact on our school?

Please consider making a gift to SIA's Annual Fund. Our goal is to receive 100% participation from our current parents. All unrestricted gifts benefit every child at SIA by allowing us to provide an outstanding educational experience.

Please contact Carly Glikman, Director of Development
or visit our website, to make your impact today. 
Help Raise Money for SIA

Harris Teeter will automatically give a percentage to SIA everytime you show and use your VIC Card!

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Strelitz International Academy whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
SEPTEMBER

Charles Claudius
Meirav Warren
Luke Kingsland
Gavin Blanks
Benjamin Thornton
Marije Navarre
Hyrum Burrows
Felix Sallach
Marleen Repoki
Hazel Mitzner
Amelia Portnoy
Reagan Freihofer
Ari Smith
Simon Moesgaard
Ariella Mor
Emmaline Genova
Max Hollander
white_pink_birthday_cake.jpg
OCTOBER

Jan Hodicky
Ephraim Blair
Annabelle Anderson
Max Steerman
Morrison Flax
Benji Bangel
Samantha Rooney
Flora Cardon
Rohin Taank
Rafael Fried
Yonatan Fried
Zane Uduaghan
Alexander McCloud
Talia Sheffy
Olivia Alofer
Ari Paterson
Quinn Margulies
Lillian Mize 
Margot Hawkins
Shadan Rahimzadeh
Eliya Nidam
Pearl Mitzner
Kadie Kenyon
Adam Amitay 
SIA Spirit Wear
Show your SIA Pride on Wear it Wednesday at SIA! Every Wednesday, our students and faculty show their school pride by wearing a Strelitz International Academy t-shirt. 

We have adult and child sized SIA T-shirts and onesies for sale for $15 each. Please place your order, and items will be delivered to your child's classroom.


Cardo Cafe through the Simon Family JCC
Campus Lunch Program
** Please remember to order or cancel your child's lunch order by 9am**
The program is ready to take orders now. Please sign-up or check your Orgsonline school lunch account to make sure it is active.  Early Years lunches are $3.30 and Primary Years lunches are $5.50. Once you have completed your ordering, print and post at home so you remember which days you ordered. Click here for current menu options.

The lunch program is not offered to infants & wobblers.

If you have any questions about the lunch program, email Benita Watts at ops@ujft.org or Linda Bridges at lbridges@strelitzacademy.org.
Challah Sales
Challah is available for $5 (cash only) at the JCC front desk during morning drop off on Fridays.
Birthday Treat Options
Ice Pops which can be ordered through the school through the following link: Birthday Ice Pop order form

Birthday cupcakes or cookies can be ordered through the Cardo Cafe on campus. Please use this form and attach payment and cupcakes will be delivered to your child's classroom. Parents can send form and payment in at student drop off or take directly to Cardo Cafe at the JCC.
In the Community
Hello Families, 

Soccer Shots is starting at the Simon Family JCC this October, and we are inviting your child(ren) to attend! All classes will take place outdoors, on our soccer field. In the case of rain, class will be canceled and added to the end of the schedule.  

The Soccer Shots program has new guidelines in place to follow CDC guidelines and to keep your children safe. These guidelines include: 
  • Taking temperatures before children enter “Soccer Island” 
  • Avoiding high-fives, fist bumps and unnecessary physical contact 
  • Wearing a face covering (required in Virginia) 
  • Using rings, spots or orange cones as “home base” to keep children spread out when possible 
  • Cleaning and putting away equipment, like cones and goals 
  • Reminding children about the importance of keeping safe distances when practicing skills 
  • Avoiding the use of pinnies 
  • Having a maximum of 10 children per session 
You can read more about their safety precautions here.

There are four eight-week sessions open for the fall. You can register by stopping at the JCC’s front desk or by calling 757-321-2338. The price is $120 for members and $160 for potential members, which includes a jersey.  


Mondays (10/5 - 11/30) Wednesdays (10/7 - 12/9) 
K-1st grade- 3:30-4:15 3-4 years- 3:30-4:00 
2nd-3rd grade- 4:30-5:15 3-4 years- 4:15-4:45 
 
With the health and safety of your families and our entire community in mind, we will require ALL parents to pick up their child(ren) from the soccer field immediately after class ends. This includes parents whose children are coming directly to the field from Strelitz International Academy as they will not be able to return to their class/cohort.  

We thank you for placing your trust in us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out by clicking the button below.  

We look forward to seeing you on the field! 

Sincerely, 

Sarah Cooper
Manager of Kids Connection, Simon Family JCC