- May 2, 6:30 - 1st Grade Siddur Ceremony
- May 3 - Lag Ba'Omer Field Day
- May 8 - Math 24 Competition
- May 9, 6:45 - Celebration of Learning
- May 11 - Recycling Club trip to Dickinson College Farm
- May 23, 2:30 & 7:00 pm - Silver Academy Theater Club Musical ("Willy Wonka Kids")
- May 30, 6:30 - 2nd Grade Chumash Celebration
- May 30, 5:30 - Welcome to Kindergarten event
- May 31, 7:30 - Entertainer, Oz Pearlman, Sponsorships and Ads are due Monday, April 30 - (see ad below)
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Good things happen everyday at The Silver Academy!
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Mrs. Debra Freeburn, Head of School
dfreeburn@silveracademypa.org
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As the school year winds down, I find myself reflecting on the “highs” and the “lows” of the school year. The scale is definitely tipped in favor of the “highs” with very few “lows,” and only one low stands out in my mind. So let’s dispense with the low and then I’ll concentrate on the highs...
Schlepping to the Giant to get the ice cream for Ice Cream Fridays is the only “low” of the job...and yes, I know, I could ask someone else to get it!! I go to the Giant at least once a week, but in order to purchase the ice cream, you must be going immediately to Silver to schlep the load inside and to the freezer!!! I am not complaining, but I don’t love doing this task!!! Now, onto the “highs!”
The staff and faculty are the best, and truthfully the nicest people anyone could ever imagine working with. From the front office staff to the cafeteria staff and all the teachers, no faculty or staff can compare!!! At Silver, we implement a variety of teaching methods in order to meet all students’ needs instead of teaching to a test to meet certain arbitrary state requirements. The Silver Academy staff and faculty are a team that I feel fortunate to be a part of.
The students and their families understand and appreciate the importance of attending a values-based Jewish day school. The students blow me away, time and time again, with their maturity, perspective on a subject, or their deep understanding of topics that most high school students couldn’t even begin to understand. The students are engaged in an atmosphere that encourages participation rather than observation. This is another “high.”
The final “high” is my newfound connection with a community that I’ve been a part of for 40 years, but never really became involved in. Even at my age, I have a great deal to learn, and I can say without any hesitation that this year has been a year of personal growth and learning. The primary lesson that I learned is that without The Silver Academy, and our students’ strong engagement with Judaism, the future of the Jewish people, and more specifically, the future of the Harrisburg Jewish community, is in jeopardy. I am very proud that I’ve been given the opportunity to be a small part of this journey.
Shabbat Shalom,
Debra
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D'var Torah
on Parshiot Acharei Mot/Kidoshim
by Rabbi Gewirtz
to read this week's D'var Torah
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A Peek Inside Our Classrooms
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When you find yourself unexpectedly serving as a substitute teacher...
Make cookies!
Mrs. Tammy Reid
treid@silveracademypa.org
On Monday, quick decisions had to be made when our art teacher was unable to be in school for her usual classes. Morah Tamara was able to pitch in and cover the classes. Anyone who knows Morah Tamara knows that she loves to bake, so it is no surprise that she turned art class into a culinary arts class. The students were thrilled to bake chocolate chip cookies, and in true Silver Academy fashion, academics were a part of the yummy activity.
Math:
“If you have a one quarter cup scoop and you need three quarters of a cup of sugar, how many scoops will you use?” Certainly our 8th graders could answer that with ease, but would it surprise you to know the first graders could answer the question as well?
Torah:
Children have a tendency to “direct” each other in what to do. When asked to raise their hand if they enjoy being "bossed around" by other kids, very few hands were seen in the air. The Torah instructs us to treat others as we would like to be treated. The kids figured out how to share ideas without being in charge.
Kosher Kitchen:
When cracking eggs we check for blood. The laws of kashrut do not permit the eating of blood.
All the ingredients used were kosher. The kids were asked to prove it. They found many different heshkachot (kosher symbols). There followed a drawing session where kids added the symbols they knew to the board and a discussion about how various rabbis and organizations back each symbol, which allows us to decide whether to trust them or not.
Safe Kitchen Skills:
“What do we do first before baking?”
“Wash hands!” Congratulations...all the children passed that test. They also learned that eggs can contain salmonella so it may not be safe to eat raw dough, but that the heat of the oven will kill any harmful bacteria.
Hebrew Language:
When placing raw dough on the pan it is important to leave space between cookies because we want
harbeh oogiot kitanot
(many small cookies) instead of
rak echad oogiah gidolah
(only one big cookie)!
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First Grade Hebrew
Mrs. Alla Fligelman (Morah Alla)
afligelman@silveracademypa.org
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First Graders are getting ready for the celebration of receiving their first Siddur! Today, parents and students came together to make Siddur covers. Each student designed a cover with Jewish symbols and art, and they are beautiful! The celebration will be held May 2nd, at 6:30, in the Mary Sachs Auditorium. Please join us for this joyful, important moment of our students!
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Mark your calendar for our Spring Musical!!
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You won't want to miss this amazing show,
presented by The Silver Academy Music and Drama Club!!!
Please join us for either performance (or both)!!!
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A Warm Welcome
To Our New Director of Development
We are thrilled to welcome Samara Sofian as our new Director of Development!
In addition to being the proud mother of three Silver Academy students, Samara holds a Masters Degree in Jewish Education and an MBA in Non-Profit Management from the American Jewish University. Previously she has served as the Director of Education in synagogues in Rochester, NY, and Milwaukee, WI. Samara is originally from Manheim, PA, and has recently moved back to live on her family's horse farm.
Samara looks forward to working with The Silver Academy community to ensure the financial stability of the school, now and long into the future. She is assisting with all fundraising efforts, including our Oz Pearlman spring fundraising event, our Annual Campaign, our Yom Limmud campaign, the Create a Jewish Legacy program, the Alumni Giving Circle and EITC. You are encouraged to reach out to Samara to welcome her; she can be reached at
ssofian@silveracademypa.org
or 717-238-8775 x209.
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We are grateful to Shari Dym for her tenure as the
Director of Development and wish her the best in her new position
at the Jewish Federation of Delaware.
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Oz made an unprecedented SIX national TV appearances on ESPN last month, many of which have gone viral. Be sure to check out this clip on
USA TODAY
Last day to purchase Ads and Sponsorships is Monday, April 30th! Remember..private cocktail hours with Oz for sponsors only!
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How about being asked to cook dinner for your own party?
That is what we are doing at The Silver Academy! Please join in honoring Cheryl and Norman Gras at our Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pennsylvania’s Annual Donor Recognition dinner for our heroes, on Tuesday, May 8, at 5:30 pm.
Aside from feeding all of our students every day, Norman is the co-president of our board of directors. He also assists with the Create a Jewish Legacy program, helping to make The Silver Academy the top Jewish Day School in the country with the most letters of intent in the first two years. Norman chaired our search for the head of school last year too, and now we have Deb Freeburn.
Cheryl is co-chairing our spring fundraiser, Oz Pearlman, which will be held May 31 at the Scottish Rite at 7:30 pm. She is rallying the team and bringing in lots of new ads and energy.
The Silver Academy is a better place because Cheryl and Norman Gras are our superheroes, always ready to lend a hand, offer a kind word and a smile, but most importantly, offer a little nosh when you are hungry.
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Annual Donor Recognition Dinner
Tuesday, May 8th - 5:30 Reception, 6:30 Dinner
Make your reservation by April 20th
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We are excited to share the launch of a new pilot program for The Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy Alumni...
A Silver Academy Alumni Giving Circle!
What is a Giving Circle? A giving circle pools the intellect and resources of a group of like-minded individuals to make an impact on the world.
Click Here to learn more about Giving Circles
We want YOU to be a part of this important endeavor contact Laura Kravitz Novak at
lara.novak@yahoo.com
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MUSIC THEATER CAMPS
Instructed by Mrs. Cherepinsky
Offered by Susquehanna Township Rec. Department
For Grades 3 - 12
BROADWAY FUN CAMP - June 11-14
AMERICAN IDOL WANNABE CAMP - August 6-9
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Challah With a Twist
Offers Weekly Challah Order and Delivery To Students and Teachers
- Order your challah by Thursday night at this website: challahwithatwist.com. It will be delivered to school on Friday.
- Send check to school, payable to Challah with a Twist, or use Paypal or Venmo .
"Challah With a Twist", (a.k.a. Varda Challah), has been providing home baked challah for the Harrisburg community for over 20 years.
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Students in Music Class practice songs, with a little drama,
for the upcoming Celebration of Learning. (Save the date...May 9, 6:45 pm)
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