November 18, 2021 | 15 Kislev 5782 | וישלח
Early Childhood Department
Gan D Gives Thanks
Thanksgiving is under way throughout the ECD hallway! After learning about the story, we spoke a lot about the idea of being thankful and having gratitude for different things we have in our lives. We then made centerpieces for our Thanksgiving tables. We’ve also been singing different Thanksgiving songs and playing games. It’s been a fun week! 
Ganon Bet Students Use Their Skills to Create Chanukiyot
Creating their chanukiyot was a multi-step process in Ganon Bet. The children used fine motor, math, one to one correspondence, and spatial planning skills when they chose and counted out rocks of similar size and height. They then painted the wood base and the rocks, and decided where to place them. The result was a rock-tacular chanukiyah to use at home!
Lower School
Fourth Graders Learn about Historical Events Leading up to Chanukah
4B and 4C have been getting into the Chanukah spirit by immersing themselves in the historical events and context preceding Chanukah. Students followed the Jews in and out of galut until they rebuilt the second Beit Hamikdash. Even after the second Beit Hamikdash was built, the Jews weren't in the clear just yet. Students then considered the different complications and difficulties the Jews faced when a foreign Kingdom (the Seleucids) controlled their homeland and when the Jews themselves didn't even agree on how "Greek" they should be. Wishing everyone an early Chanukah Sameach! 
Fourth Graders Zoom with Author Mitali Perkin
Fourth graders were excited to Zoom this week with Mitali Perkin, author of Tiger Boy and Rickshaw Girl, two of the novels that we are currently reading, which are set in Bangladesh and India. Ms. Perkins shared that reading as a young child helped to shape her life. She emphasized that even though our lives in America is very different, there are many things that we have in common with people from other cultures. The students asked wonderful questions and learned so much from Ms. Perkins!
Middle School
Dr. Benjy Epstein Addresses Grade 7 About Mindfulness
"Do you want to be like Avrahom?" was the question Dr. Benjy Epstein asked our 7th graders. “Do you want to approach life with an eiyen tova -a positive view? A humble heart? A soul?”
Dr. Epstein walked our 7th graders through our journey to mindfulness: self/acceptance; navigating friendships; cultivating our ability to see correctly. Dr. Epstein stressed that we need to see the bigger picture in life than what we are facing at any given moment. We need to zoom in and delve deeper beyond the surface of life. 
Yavneh Academy Big Sister/Little Sister Paint Night
Imagine combining a talented artist, eager students and a dean who makes sure all details are covered. What do you get? A Big Sister/Little Sister Paint Night.
Under the direction and planning of our dean, Morah Jordana Baruchov, almost 80 young women joined Yavneh faculty member, Mr. Azi Steiner, for an amazing evening of painting. Everyone ended the evening with a gourmet dinner of pizza and french fries. The Big Sister/Little Sister event is designed to match 8th graders with 6th graders. Our 8th graders are happy to answer questions that 6th graders may have and new friendships are formed. Stay tuned for our next event!
Click HERE for more photos.
Yavneh Art Elective Students Visit David Zwirner Art Gallery 
This past Tuesday, Mrs. Malky Kazam's 6th Grade art elective classes were treated to a private tour of the Ruth Asawa exhibit at the David Zwirner Art Gallery in NYC. Led by Senior Director Jonathan Laib, parent of Yavneh students Noah, Benji, Ethan and Kira, the students were in awe as they took in Asawa's floating intricate wire sculptures, plaster face masks, drawings of flowers, wicker chairs, and more. Mr. Laib shared about Asawa's life experiences and the influences that inspired her artwork. The students were fascinated by her story of growing up as a Japanese-American during WWII and how she never stopped working on her art, filling her home and yard with sculptures and drawing on whatever surface she could find. 
 
With a few minutes to spare before having to head back to the school bus, Mr. Laib suggested we go around the corner to another David Zwirner gallery space to see an exhibit of paintings by Katherine Bernhardt. The students took in Bernhardt's tribute to Dr. Teeth of Electric Mayhem from the Muppets and noticed that her wild, brightly colored, almost graffiti-style paintings marked a fascinating contrast to the serene neutral works of Ruth Asawa. 
 
We are so grateful to Jonathan Laib for sharing an illustrated book about Ruth Asawa’s life to keep in our art room library and for extending this invitation to our students and giving them an experience that they will surely remember and will inspire them for many years to come. 
Click HERE for more photos.
Come Hear the Yavneh Choir Sing on Chanukah!
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.