Students continued the learning and fun after school. Grades 5-8 Snapology students worked with Lego, gears, and motors to create machines that can draw! |
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Middle School Leadership on Purim
Purim last week was not only a celebration but an opportunity for our middle school students to take on leadership and showcase their skills and creativity. Click the top/left image to watch the eighth graders read Megillah (Scroll of Esther) with interlude skits performed by sixth graders. Click the bottom/right image to watch the seventh graders' Beauty and the Beast Purim shpiel (parody play).
Here is what students had to say about the experience:
"Making the Purim skits was so fun! We broke off into groups and got a part of the Megillah to act out. We wrote our scripts, practiced them, and then went to the Makerspace to make our props. Reb Ariel and Hamorah Hadassa were huge helps, as they helped develop our ideas and turn them into a reality. Acting them out in front of the school was a great experience, and we got to show off our hard work!"
- Alex A., Talia S., and Aliza O. (Grade 6)
"During Purim this year I read Megillah along with the rest of my classmates. When I first heard that we were doing this, I got really nervous. ... We started our practicing by watching videos Wendy sent us and only doing little parts at a time. Now that I have finished and read in front of a lot of people, I feel proud of myself for completing that and hope in the following years everyone tries to learn Megillah."
- Sydney A. (Grade 8)
"I really enjoyed reading my Megillah portion. I was very surprised how well I was able to perform my portion and how well I adapted to reading it from the scroll. I would definitely do this more!"
- Marco M. (Grade 8)
"I helped direct the Purim shpiel. It was a really fun experience. I enjoyed using our creative skills to write the script and make it funny. ... At our final rehearsal everyone was smiling and laughing because it turned out just right. I have always dreamed of being in the Purim shpiel since I was in kindergarten, and now I will always keep this as a memory."
- Laila S. (Grade 7)
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Torah Thoughts from Doc
Read a brief message about this week's Torah portion, Parashat Sh'mini. We must practice what we preach.
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Mark Your Calendars!
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Thursday, March 24 - NO SCHOOL, Parent-Teacher Conferences
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Friday, March 25 - NO SCHOOL
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Tuesday, March 29 - Connection and Conversation: A Heilicher Parent Town Hall, 7 p.m., Manny Fingerhut Auditorium (streaming option is available - link below)
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Thursday, March 31 - Information Evening for Prospective Parents, 7-8:30 p.m., in person at Heilicher
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Monday, April 4 - Lower School (K-5) Open House, 4-4:45 (more information below)
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Thursday, April 7 (7 p.m.), and Sunday, April 10 (2 p.m.) - Heilicher Grades 7-8 Play, "Beauty and the Beast," Dolly and Edward Fiterman Theatre
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Friday, April 15 - Friday, April 22 - NO SCHOOL, Passover Break
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Sunday, May 1 - Heilicher Kicks for Kids on the Soccer Field
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Sunday, May 1-Thursday, May 5 - Grade 8 DC Trip
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Kicks for Kids Opportunities
We have already reached $15,148 with our Kicks for Kids fundraiser! We are nearing half of our goal of raising $38,000. Thank you for your support of Heilicher, and let's keep raising funds!
If you have not signed your child up for Kicks for Kids, you still can — we are looking for 100% participation from our K-7 students. Review instructions for registration.
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Passover Food Drive Ends Tuesday, March 29
Last call to bring in kosher for Passover food to help our community members eat over the holiday! Please bring in items by Tuesday, March 29. We also need one volunteer to deliver the donations. Email Ali Berdass to help with delivery.
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Connection and Conversation: A Heilicher Parent Town Hall
We invite all Heilicher parents to join us in the Manny Fingerhut Auditorium for a special Heilicher Parent Town Hall on Tuesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. You can also stream the Town Hall if you prefer.
The event will be led by Heilicher Board President Robyn Schein and Heilicher Acting Head of School Maia Poling. If you have a question you want addressed at the Town Hall, please submit your question using this form.
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Current Families: Lower School (K-5) In-Person Open House
Current grades K-5 parents and students are invited to a Heilicher open house on Monday, April 4, 4-4:45 p.m. We are excited to welcome parents back into the building, and this is a great chance to see your students' classrooms and meet their teachers in person!
Parents: If you and your children are planning to attend the open house together, please pick them up in the dismissal line, return to the south parking lot, park, and re-enter at 4 p.m. through the front door of the Sabes JCC. If your child has an after-school activity, you may also attend the open house on your own.
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ISACS Survey to Launch April 4
As you may know, Heilicher is accredited through the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). As part of our seven-year re-accreditation cycle, we are required to periodically survey our broader Heilicher community on a variety of topics.
The survey is administered by a third party (Kensington Consulting Group) and is for parents, faculty and staff, board members, grades 5-8 students, alumni, and alumni families. Understanding community members’ perceptions and experience of all areas of school life is essential to our self-study process and will help make Heilicher an even stronger school.
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The survey will launch on Monday, April 4. You will be sent a link to access the online survey on that date.
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The deadline for completing the survey is Thursday, April 14.
- The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete.
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Please review Heilicher’s mission statement before completing the survey.
- Your answers are anonymous and confidential, so please provide your honest opinions. We will not know the identity of any survey participant.
- You will be able to provide narrative comments along with specific “rating” questions.
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Please contact David Shaw, Accreditation Chair, at dashaw@hmjds.org if you have technical difficulties with the survey.
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Grades 3-8: Register for Spring Athletics
Secure your student's spot in Spring Athletics using the registration links on the Athletics Page. Registration is first come, first served and closes one week prior to the scheduled start date of the program.
The following programs still have spots available for the Spring Season:
- 3-4 Tennis (Mondays and Wednesdays; April 11-June 8)
- 5-8 Tennis (Mondays and Wednesdays; April 11-June 8, NOW ON-SITE)
- 5-8 Ultimate Frisbee* (Tuesdays and Thursdays; April 14-June 2)
*5-8 Ultimate Frisbee will not be participating in the Middle School League this Spring.
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Volunteer Opportunities
We are now allowing registered, adult visitors into the building. All adult volunteers must be fully vaccinated and comply with Heilicher's Covid protocols.
Art Room Volunteer Sign Up — navigate to your student's grade through the tabs at the top of the page, and find the correct class below.
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Spirit Shop Open Through Thursday, March 31
Show off your Heilicher pride with items from our online spirit wear shop. Check out our shirts, hats, water bottles, and more! Place your order by Thursday, March 31.
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Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr.
Tickets Now Available Online
Join us for "Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr.," performed by Heilicher seventh and eighth graders, on Thursday, April 7, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 10, at 2 p.m. in the Dolly and Edward Fiterman Theatre on the Barry Family Campus.
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for students and are available to be purchased online. Please note that prices will increase to $12 for adults and $10 for students on April 1.
Shows have been known to sell out, so get your tickets early. If available, additional tickets will be sold at the door.
Important: all attendees must wear a mask and show proof of a COVID vaccine or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event.
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Gertens Plant and Flower Sale
The eighth-grade class is selling Gertens plants and flowers now through 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, to raise money for their spring trip to Washington, DC. All orders are online this year.
To place an order, go to gertensfundraising.com and enter Store ID code 415 to get to the Heilicher 8th Grade Class page.
If you are not ordering from a specific eighth-grade student, please enter the word "Heilicher" into the "Seller's Name" field on the order form.
Orders will only be accepted through 10 p.m. on April 7. Pick-up will be on Monday, May 2, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Sabes JCC.
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Register for Passover School's Out Programming
Heilicher will offer School's Out programming weekdays from Friday, April 15, through Thursday, April 21. All School's Out programs will take place at the Barry Family Campus from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration at myschoolaccount.com closes one week prior to the programming date.
*All 2021-2022 programming information is subject to change.
**Heilicher requires a minimum of 10 participants in order to run programming.
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Heilicher Spring Benefit: Thursday, May 19, 5:30 p.m., Beth El Synagogue
Celebrate with great company, delicious food and drink, and a chance to be together as a community! This is the rescheduled benefit from 2021 honoring Brad Birnberg and Stacy Pinck and Jill and Jon Halper. Tickets are complimentary, but registration is required.
Visit our website for more information. RSVP by Monday, April 25.
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