SIA Parent Newsletter
August 27, 2021
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Dear Parents,
As Head of School, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone back for another great school year! I know we are all excited to have students back in our classrooms filling them with energy and enthusiasm for learning. We have had a great week so far!
Covid Update:
Due to the current rising COVID-19 numbers and the Delta variant, Strelitz International Academy wants to assure you of our continued commitment to maintaining a safe, healthy workplace and campus for faculty, staff and students. Now that COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone over 12, federal, state and local health experts encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Strelitz International Academy has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective September 30 for all employees, subject to the required exceptions. This policy is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Equal Employment Opportunity commission (EEOC), and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. It is designed to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
As the pandemic continues and the Hampton Roads area is experiencing extremely high rates of COVID-19, it is important to know that SIA follows guidance from the Virginia Department of Health and our local health department epidemiologists in determining quarantine following exposure to COVID-19. While there are options for a shorter quarantine after exposure offered, these are for people who are unable to remain home due to the nature of their job. Area physicians may choose to follow the optional guidance, however, a note from the doctor does not override our policy, which, at this time, is based on local health department guidance and includes a 14 day quarantine, as well as testing, for unvaccinated people who are exposed to COVID. When COVID cases are less prevalent in our community, we hope that a shorter quarantine period will be recommended, but at this time, that is not the case. We ask that you consult with our School Nurse if your family has had an exposure to COVID-19. Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to work to keep our school community healthy.
SIA Virtual Parents' Night:
We have many great plans for the school year ahead and look forward to sharing at our upcoming Virtual Parents’ Night on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 6:00pm. I hope you find the evening informative. If you can’t make it, please be sure to e-mail your child's teachers to get the information or schedule a time to meet.
SIA Golf Tournament:
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 is our 33rd Annual Bob Josephberg Classic Golf Tournament. This tournament is our school’s biggest fundraiser and we truly can’t thank the donors enough for supporting our school. We are still looking for volunteers to help out during the event. If you are interested please contact Carly Glikman.
As we begin the new school year of 2021-22, let’s all work together to ensure the health and safety of our school community! Below you will see some reminders for next week.
Shabbat Shalom,
Heather Moore
Head of School
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SCHOOL CALENDAR:
Please note: as the year progresses, we will update our calendar as it relates to events and COVID-19.
9/1 - EY Fullcare and PY Sundown Open until 4pm; All School Parent Night, 6PM
9/6 - Labor Day; NO SCHOOL; EY Fullcare Closed, PY Camp JCC SDO Closed
9/7 - Rosh Hashana; EY Fullcare Closed, PY Camp JCC SDO Closed; NO SCHOOL
9/8 - Rosh Hashana (Day 2); NO SCHOOL; EY Fullcare Open, PY Camp JCC SDO Open
9/14 - SIA Golf Tournament at Bayville
9/15 - Yom Kippur Eve; 12:00p Dismissal; EY Fullcare and PY Sundown Open Until 4pm
9/16 • Yom Kippur; NO SCHOOL; EY Fullcare and Camp JCC SDO Closed
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IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
- Label ALL Belongings
- Bring a water bottle daily
- 2 Clean Masks
- *We are no longer requiring the daily screening*
SIA FAMILY HANDBOOK:
please read the SIA Family Handbook carefully, whether you are a new family or a returning family, as some rules and regulations change from year to year.
EMERGENCY CARDS:
Pre-printed emergency cards were sent home with your child. Please be sure to verify and update your information. All emergency cards are due ASAP!
FOB Forms:
Need a school key FOB? Stop by the School office for a form.
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Moving on Up!
Helpful Transition Tips for Early Years Students
Elyssa Brinn, Early Years Director
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We were so excited to see so many smiling faces greeting us on the first day of school. This can be such an exciting time for many of us, either joining the school community for the first time or transitioning to a new age level and group of friends and teachers. This can also be a challenging transition for some, as many of our early learners have built a trust and comfort level with their teachers from last year. Additionally, several of our students have been away from the school setting for the summer and are reacclimating to our environment.
That being said, what can we all do to help make this transition as smooth as Little things from home can sometimes make our children feel more comfortable: a blanket, a stuffed animal, or for infants and toddlers, a scarf or shirt with mommy's smell. Photographs also help. Many of our teachers have a family board with pictures to help bridge school and home.
Establish Rituals and Routines. Young children thrive on routine and consistency, and developing these is key in making sure they feel safe in new environments. Developing a quick, simple way to say "good-bye" and reassuring your children that you will return will help separation go more smoothly.
Be Positive. Our children are incredibly intuitive. They sense and feed off of our anxiety and hesitation. Present school as a safe place where your child will learn new things and make friends. Continue to bridge the home/school connection by talking with your child about their teachers and use our newsletters to show you are excited about what they are doing in school.
Communicate with teachers. Lastly, feel free to reach out to your child’s teachers or administrator about the day. We want both you and your children to have a great day after drop off, and if you need a little reassurance as to how the day is going, just give us a call or send a quick message.
Adapting to their new environment and overcoming separation anxiety takes time for some of us, both young and old. Worked through correctly, these can be great learning opportunities for our children and us.
Here’s to a great new year and more smile-filled days!
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Nina Kruger, Mom of Liam (Kindergarten) |
Melissa Kass, Mom of Jonah (Grade 5), Micah (Grade 2) and Alexa (EY3) |
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Hello SIA Parents!
SIA is such a special parent community, and we are excited to get our year started. Please extend a warm welcome to our 55+ new students and their families!
The Parent Facebook group serves as a way to connect our parents, so please don't be shy. Ask questions, give suggestions and post pics!
Save the Dates:
September 1 - SIA Parent Open House, 6pm (virtual)
September 24 - Parent Breakfast in the Sukkah (Outside), 8am-9:30am
October 7 - SIA Family Pasta Dinner (Outside), 5:30pm - 7pm
We look forward to meeting you virtually and hopefully in person soon!
Melissa Kass and Nina Kruger
PVO Chairs
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Last Chance to Order your SIA Spirit Wear! |
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The SIA School Spirit Store is open until this Friday, August 27! To order your new SIA apparel, please select your items and pay through the store website. All orders will be delivered to the school and be sent home with your child on Monday, September 13.
The store may not be open again this school year due to bulk ordering, so please don't miss this opportunity. We will be continuing our "Wear it Wednesday" tradition of wearing school swag on Wednesdays!
We are so excited to see your SIA Spirit!
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Get Involved in the SIA Golf Tournament |
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Dear Parents,
We hope you and your family are settling nicely back into the school routine. With the first day of school behind us, that means our 33rd Annual SIA Golf Tournament (aka Bob Josephberg Classic) is right around the corner on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at Bayville Golf Club in Virginia Beach.
The Golf tournament is the school’s biggest fundraiser and is always a very FUN day. This year we are excited to celebrate our new IB® World School authorization. Thanks to our generous supporters, we raise close to $130,000 every year which accounts for a quarter of the necessary donations needed to keep our school accessible for all families and allow our curriculum to remain fresh and innovative.
It is a long standing tradition for our parents and trustees to get involved and support any way they can. This is how you can help…
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Give/get a sponsorship or play golf. (register online)
- The registration deadline is September 3
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Volunteer at the tournament to drive a beverage cart or watch for a hole in one. All volunteers, players and sponsors are invited to eat, mingle and celebrate at our post play reception.
Your participation is the key to our school's success. Thank you for all of your support.
All the best,
Carly Glikman
Director of Development
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Harris Teeter will automatically give a percentage to SIA everytime you show and use your VIC Card!
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Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Strelitz International Academy whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Strelitz International Academy to receive your AmazonSmile donation dollars.
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Order your lunches NOW for the upcoming school year!
This school year the Cardo Café will continue to offer a mini lunch menu which will be available to SIA students (including Toddlers) and Faculty for pre-purchase. This is NOT a school lunch program, but a service offered and operated by the Sandler Family Campus to assist parents and faculty during the school year. Please read carefully and if you have any questions, you can contact Benita Watts at 965-6123. Lunches will be available beginning the first day of school, Monday, August 23.
Parents are able to pre-order lunch using Orgs Online http://www.orgsonline.com. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one and wait for your account to be assigned a class before using. Our school code is 432HAOTVA. We recommend ordering in advance once the new menu comes out. Cash orders are not accepted. Each lunch costs $5.50 for Primary Years (K-5) students and $3.30 for Early Years students (Toddlers-4YR), incl. sales tax. Payment can be made online. Additional information will be posted in ParentSquare.
EY1-EY4 - students will eat lunch in their classrooms at noon. Toddlers eat lunch at 11:30 am. Please note that the Strelitz Early Years Program is peanut/tree nut free. Please do not include in lunches, foods that contain peanuts or tree nuts in the ingredients list or notes “traces” in labeling. Children should bring kosher dairy or kosher meat lunches. More information about how to provide a kosher lunch is available in the Family Handbook which will be posted on ParentSquare before school begins. Please read the handbook carefully, whether you are a new family or a returning family, as some rules and regulations change from year to year.
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Challah is available for $5 (cash only) at the JCC front desk during morning drop off on Fridays. |
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Early Years
We have three daily schedules that Fullcare parents have previously chosen: 8:00-5:00, 8:30-5:30, 9:00-6:00. Part time students will still arrive at 8:45 and leave at their chosen dismissal time.
Primary Years
Students can enter the building at 7:50am from the carpool line. Dismissal will begin at 3:30pm (2:30pm on Fridays). Students will be dismissed directly from classrooms. Sundown pick up will be in the Multi Purpose Room.
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Friday, August 27 at 5:00 PM
Join PJ Library & PJ Our Way in Tidewater and the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater's Young Adult Division (YAD) on Friday, August 27 at 5:00 PM as we celebrate with an End of Summer Shabbat Dinner and Pool Party at the Simon Family JCC’s outdoor waterpark.
Enjoy a selection of exciting activities for both kids and adults. We’ll kick the night off with Splash Fest Relay Races in the pool for all ages. Shabbat blessings and dinner start at 6 PM, which includes summer classics like chicken barbeque, pasta salad, and refreshing adult beverages.
Purchase Tickets Below. $8 per child, $11 per adult, and $30 for immediate families. All children under 2 years of age are free!
For more information contact Nofar Trem, PJ Library Program Coordinator, at ntrem@ujft.org.
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