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Welcome!
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Dear Parents,
We had a great week at school!
Please read on for the latest Elementary School news and information about upcoming events.
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D'var Torah
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
וְכִי־תָבֹאוּ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם כָּל־עֵץ מַאֲכָל וַעֲרַלְתֶּם עָרְלָתוֹ אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים יִהְיֶה לָכֶם עֲרֵלִים לֹא יֵאָכֵל׃
וּבַשָּׁנָה הָרְבִיעִת יִהְיֶה כָּל־פִּרְיוֹ קֹדֶשׁ הִלּוּלִים לַה'׃
וּבַשָּׁנָה הַחֲמִישִׁת תֹּאכְלוּ אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ לְהוֹסִיף לָכֶם תְּבוּאָתוֹ אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹקיכֶם
When you enter the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden for you, not to be eaten.
In the fourth year all its fruit shall be set aside for jubilation before the Lord;
and only in the fifth year may you use its fruit-that its yield to you may be increased: I the Lord am your G-d.
The pesukim above, from this week's parsha, discuss the mitzvah of orla which is:
- Not to eat from the fruit of the tree for the first 3 years
- In the 4th year you take the fruit to Yerushalayim where you eat it
- In the 5th year you can eat it at home
The pasuk states that in the 4th year the fruit is to be set aside for jubilation before the Lord. Why is it that the farmer needs to wait until year four for the fruit to be holy and set aside to G-d? What about the first three years?
Chizkuni answers:
שלש שנים יהיה לכם ערלים אין דרך ארץ שיתהנו ממנו עד שתביאו ממנו קרבן להקב״ה שהרי ראוי להקריב לפניו ראשית כל התבואות ובשלש השנים הראשונים לנטיעתו אינו מביא דבר נאה ומתקבל לעשות קרבן להקב״ה לפי שעדיין לא נשרש ולא ניתושב קודם לכך. לכם להביא את הנטוע לרבים.
for a period of three years they will be for you as if forbidden:
anything that matured during these years from these trees after they had been planted may not be stored and eaten even after the three years have expired. It would be bad manners if they would be eaten before the firstling fruit had been offered as an offering to G-d in the Temple first. Seeing that the fruit grown during that period is not of prime quality, it would be insulting to offer it to G-d.
Chizkuni explains that when one brings an offering to Hashem to show hakarat hatov for the fruit, it is appropriate to bring produce that looks good, is tasty, and is fitting to be used as a korban. The quality of the fruit that grows during the first three years is not suitable to be used to show hakarat hatov to Hashem.
Similarly nowadays, when we show hakarat hatov to Hashem, it needs to be performed genuinely and not in a perfunctory manner. Having the proper intentions during tefilla, and focusing on the meaning of the prayers, is one way of improving our ability to express hakarat hatov sincerely. Even saying "thank you" to another person takes toil, truthfulness, and thoughtfulness in order to demonstrate that you really mean it.
Click here to save or print the D'var Torah
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Thoughts of the Rav
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by Rabbi David Saltzman
בְּזֹאת יָבֹא אַהֲרֹן אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ
With this shall Aaron enter the Holy
Despite the exalted status of the Kohen Gadol, the halacha states that if he happens upon a dead body where no one has come forward to take care of the burial (a meit mitzvah), he must perform this function immediately, even though by coming into contact with the corpse he becomes impure and invalidates himself from participating in the avodah of Yom Kippur. The identity of the corpse makes no difference: whether it is the body of a king or a shepherd, all men carry within them the image of G-d.
This teaches us that mankind is redeemed only when the honor and the value of every individual are upheld simply on the basis of their humanity, not based on one's position or accomplishment.
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| Pinat HaParasha |
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Please click here
and here
to view the
Pinat
HaParasha for Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
. You are encouraged to print the document and use it as a source for discussion at the Shabbat table.
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| 5th Grade Field Trip |
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Last Friday the 5th grade went to the Commonwealth Museum as part of their social studies unit. The students had the opportunity to recreate the Boston Massacre trial. They were given cards with different roles and props, and played the parts of Redcoats, jury, judges, and witnesses.
The 5th graders then toured the museum gallery, and the guides explained various artifacts. The students were able to see what life was like for children who worked in factories, and were asked questions to evaluate whether they would have been considered witches during the Salem Witch Trials. They also participated in an interactive exhibit to learn whether each of them would have been a Patriot or Loyalist/Tory. In the Treasure Room the students saw a copy of the Declaration of Independence, as well as a copper engraving of the Boston Massacre made by Paul Revere.
The students thoroughly enjoyed their experience and are looking forward to their next trip, to the Minuteman National Historical Site in Lexington.
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| 3:00 Dismissal on Tuesday |
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There will be a
3:00 p.m.
dismissal for the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School on Tuesday, May 1, due to a faculty meeting.
The schedules for grades K - 2 will not change. They will still have Bus Recess, after-school programs, and Mates
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Please click here to fill out the form for grades 3 through 5 to let us know if you will be picking up your child(ren) at
3:00 p.m. or if they will be staying at school (for Bus Recess, an after-school program, or Mates) or taking the bus.
We need to hear from every 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade parent, so please read carefully below and complete a form for each child by the end of the day Monday.
- The weekly Tuesday after-school programs will meet at their usual times, from 3:00 until 3:50 and 3:55 until 4:50.
- The buses to Sharon will leave at 3:45.
- There will be Bus Recess until 3:45 for students who will be taking the bus, attending an after-school program or Mates, or whose parents are unable to pick them up until 3:45.
- ** Mates at 3:45 is only available for those who are already signed up.**
Please contact
LaShanta with any questions.
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| Faculty Appreciation Week |
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Elementary School faculty and staff were pampered by the PTA this past week with a delicious bagel breakfast on Tuesday morning, manicures on Wednesday, and a sumptuous luncheon on Thursday. Parent volunteers monitored lunch and recess for our students so that the teachers could enjoy their lunch, as well as one another's company.
We want to thank Alissa Muzin, leader of the Maimonides PTA, whose tireless efforts to support the faculty are very much appreciated by each one of us, and her team of amazing volunteers for all their time and hard work.
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Yom Orchim is Next Friday!
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We Need Contact Information for Your Child's Special Guests
We are gearing up for another wonderful Yom Orchim! All Early Childhood Center and Elementary School students are encouraged to invite grandparents or another special guest to spend the morning of Friday, May 4th at Maimonides. There will be singing, eating, and lots of fun! But we need their contact information to invite your child's guests.
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| Family Learning |
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KIBO Coding for Yerushalayim
On Sunday over 70 people joined us for the final Family Learning of the year. This month's theme was Yom Yerushalayim. After learning about the city through texts and videos, families coded KIBO robots to dance to songs about Yerushalayim. The KIBOs were also artistically decorated to represent their song and dance. Families then presented their creative works for everyone to see.
Many thanks to HaMorah Dani for all of her assistance preparing for this Family Learning. Thank you as well to the Vedol family for their help throughout the year. And a big thank you to the Gorfajn family for taking care of many logistics and arrangements which have helped to ensure the success and growth of Family Learning over the last several years.
We also wish a
tzetchem l'shalom to Rabbi Dror Saadia, who is returning to Israel this summer with his family. Over the last three years he has given his time and energy on behalf of Family Learning. His ideas, enthusiasm, and care have helped us shape and improve the program.
See you in September!
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| Understanding Our Differences |
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On
Monday the 5th grade had their last Understanding Our Differences program of the year. The topic was chronic diseases such as diabetes and hemophilia. First the students watched a video to provide background information. Then they were split into groups. They had to balance amounts of insulin and carbohydrates on a scale.
Ethan Ravid from 3rd grade was one of our guest speakers. He told the students how he manages his diabetes and showed them his equipment. Then Yoni Saltzman came from 8th grade to talk about how he lives with hemophilia. He used slides and showed the students his medication, then answered the students' questions.
The students now know a lot more about these conditions and how to respect all people's differences.
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| Spring Concert on May 23 |
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The Elementary School Spring Concert will be held on
Wednesday, May 23 at 4:00 p.m.
in the Brener gym. Performances will include both the Elementary School band and the combined 2nd through 5th grade chorus. The band will be performing a version of the popular song "Hand Clap," as well as their rendition of the 1812 Overture. The chorus will be performing a Hebrew selection titled "Am Echad," or "One Nation."
Please e-mail Mr. Malkin with any questions at
amalkin@maimonides.org
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| Fine Arts Presentation on June 5 |
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The third annual Elementary School Fine Arts Presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 5 at 3:45 p.m.
There will be a K-5 art exhibit and solo concert in the gym and lunchroom.
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Science Camp
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Registration is now open for science camp!
Camp will run for two weeks again this year:
Week 1: June 25-29 -- STEM
Week 2: July 2-6 (no camp July 4) -- Art, Food, and the Environment
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Lost and Found
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Things are looking better on the lost and found table as the weather is slowly improving. Please take a close look and retrieve any items that you recognize.
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| Screen Time for Students |
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We know that many parents try to limit screen time for their children and would like better guidelines or alternative means for students to practice their skills.
We have compiled the chart below with our recommendations and requirements for each grade. If your child does not do well with these programs and you would like alternative ways for them to work on their skills, please let the teachers know and they will be glad to make other suggestions and/or supply other materials.
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Lexia
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Reflex Math
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KeyboardingWithout Tears
or Typing Club
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DreamBox
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Ariot Cal or iTalAm
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Dah Ber
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Kindergarten
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Required
20 minutes a week; possibly more for specific students.
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Recommended
2x week
15 Minutes
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First
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Recommended 15 minutes a week;
possibly more for specific students
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Recommended 15 minutes a week
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Recommended
1 x week
15 minutes or more
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Second
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Recommended 2x week
10-15 minutes;
possibly more for specific students
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Required
2x week
10-15 minutes
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As assigned by teacher
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Third
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Recommended for specific students
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Required 3x week
15 minutes
between school & home
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KWT
Required 2x week
15 minutes
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Optional
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As assigned by teacher
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Optional & Occasional
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Fourth
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Recommended for specific students
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Required
3x week
15 minutes until completed
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Typing Club: Optional up to
3x week 15 minutes
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As assigned by Teacher
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Fifth
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Recommended for specific students
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Required
3-4x week
15-20 minutes until completed
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As assigned by Teacher
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Celebrate Israel
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Social Time!
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There's so much going on here at Maimo! Be sure to check out our social media to get the inside scoop (with lots of great photos) on happenings at school.
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See What's Happening in the Other Divisions
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 Lots of wonderful things are happening at Maimonides School!
If you'd like to take a peek at what's happening in the other divisions, click to visit the Early Childhood Center, Middle School, or Upper School newsletter pages.
If you would like to contact a specific school office, please use these emails:
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!שבת שלום
Rabbi, Reena, and the Maimonides ES Faculty
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