October 28, 2021 | 22 Cheshvan 5782 | חיי-שרה
Early Childhood Department
Ganon Bet Welcomes Shelly
Coinciding with this week’s Parshat Chayei Sarah when Rivkah shows compassion for the camels, we welcomed Shelly the tortoise to our classroom, and came up with some good rules for taking care of her!
Ganon Gimmel Learns about Fall
In Ganon Gimmel we have been learning about the season of fall! We have been adding fall items to our sensory exploration bin each day. While observing, we overhear the children saying, “This pinecone is so pointy.” “All the acorns fit in my hand.” “Look at all of these red leaves!” We painted fall trees using Q-tips as a painting tool. The paintings included roots, a trunk, branches and leaves. They are beautifully displayed in our Early Childhood hallway!
Gan Aleph Gets a Workout
Are you up for a challenge? How heavy were all those buckets of water Rivkah schlepped for 10 camels? After reading "Kind Little Rivkah" by Dina Rosenfeld, Gan Aleph really felt the burn as they lifted not 1....not 2....but 3 gallons of water!!! Good thing Hashem helped Rivkah out! Gan Aleph really got in a good workout!
Lower School
Kitah Aleph is Learning the Aleph Bet
For the past few weeks, Kitah Aleph has been learning the first letters of the Aleph Bet. Joining their journey is a virtual class, taught by Morah Shira and joined by a friend called Ariot. The students are learning the sounds of the letters and vowels, as well as sight words, which they use to write beautiful sentences. The students have also been learning about stav (fall) and new vocabulary. It is so wonderful to see the students work and play so nicely. 
Third Graders Engineer Anemometers
Class 3E engineered our very own anemometers. We then went outside to test them against the wind. We used thermometers to check the temperature, and made predictions about what the weather will be for the remainder of the day.
Grade 4 Students Celebrate Different Cultures
Fourth Graders are learning to celebrate other cultures, as part of their social studies curriculum. They are reading two books, written by Mitali Perkins, which feature Indian and Bangladesh cultures. We are looking forward to our upcoming visit and talk with this gifted writer.  
SEL Update
This week’s social emotional learning in 5th grade focused on how we can use cues from our bodies to become more aware of our emotions. Students built an awareness of their own bodily sensations and emotions through physical exercises, videos, and games. Students shared what emotions and sensations they would feel in different situations. For example, “I’d feel a tightness in my throat and tense feeling in my muscles if my friend won’t let me join the game.” “I’d feel happy and my body would be relaxed if I accomplished something that I’d been working on for a while.” We also spoke about how we can use our body’s cues to help us manage our emotions as needed. We’re excited to continue this conversation next week! 
Middle School
Grade 8 at Frost Valley
Our eighth graders are at Frost Valley and involved in a variety of activities including hiking, ropes courses and communication and cooperation skills. The students are also attending shiurim and learning about various mitzvot relating to the outdoors with hands-on activities. The programs are aimed to foster increased teamwork, leadership and communication skills among our students.
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Yavneh Academy is participating in 
The  Annual Bergen County Chanukah Toy Drive. 

We are collecting new and unwrapped toys and gifts for children and young adults going through trying times.

The Bergen County Toy Drive is a great collaborative effort across many Bergen County Jewish schools and synagogues and donates to 18 different charity organizations. Your donations will help us share the excitement of Chanukah with thousands of children and young adults. This is a great opportunity to involve your children in the mitzvah of tzedakah!
Yavneh Academy is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.