Introducing New Features of the Heilicher Library

Hello, my name is Britton Cook, and I am thrilled to be the new Heilicher librarian. I have been a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Heilicher since 2015 and now get to work with all K-8 students in the library.

The library is up and running with lots of action! Students began visits to the library in the second week of school. Most classes visit every other week for a quick lesson or read aloud and time to browse and check out books. Students may also come to the library individually when class time allows.

I am excited to introduce two new features associated with the library:

1. We have a new library website: Heilicher Library! It is definitely a work in progress but is worth perusing. You can browse our library collection from the landing page, see book lists created by students on the "Grade-Level Pages" (these lists will grow as students submit recommendations throughout the year), browse a variety of online magazines, and find links to some interesting student-oriented TED talks and webcasts. K-3 students also have access to Storyline Online, which has read alouds with known actors and special illustrations. I will update, add to, and edit the site throughout the year. Please let me know if you have suggestions!

2. In addition to checking books out of the school library, students now have access to Little Free Libraries in the hallways near their classrooms. There are libraries on the first floor with books targeting K-3, and on the second floor at the each end of the hallway targeting grades 4-5 and 6-8. You can help by sending gently used, current books (not older than 5 years), to school with your students to be placed on the appropriate Free Library shelves. This is an experiment, so we will see how well the libraries get stocked and used.

Finally, the library is open during school hours Monday-Thursday. Please stop by to say hello, see the refreshed space, and maybe find a good book or two!

Britton Cook

Heilicher Librarian

Torah Thoughts from Doc

Read a brief message about this week's Torah portion, Parashat Lekh L'kha. Converts to Judaism are children of Abraham and Sarah.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Friday, November 4 - NO SCHOOL: ISACS Conference for Faculty
• Thursday, November 10 - Heilicher Moms' Night Out, 6:30-8 p.m., Mainstream Boutique Golden Valley
• Friday, November 11 - Veterans Day Kabbalat Shabbat, 2:25 p.m., Heilicher — Veterans Invited!
• Friday, November 11 - Winter Friday Dismissal Time begins (2:45 p.m.)
• Sunday, November 20 - Heilicher Annual Benefit, 5 p.m., Beth El Synagogue
• Tuesday, November 22 - Yom Dor l'Dor Grandparents/Special Persons Day, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Heilicher
• Wednesday, November 23-Friday, November 25 - NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving Break
• Tuesday, December 6 - Picture Retake Day
• Wednesday, December 14 - Parent Winter Soiree, 7:30-9:30 p.m., home of parents Shana and Michel Melendez

View the full Heilicher calendar online

Key Dates for 2022-2023

Last Chance: RSVP for the Heilicher Annual Benefit

Celebrate with us as we dance the night away and reconnect as a community. The Benefit honoring Wendy Lovell-Smith and Colin Smith will take place Sunday, November 20, at 5 p.m. at Beth El Synagogue. It promises to be a fun evening with a DJ, ’80s video games, food stations, and a chance to celebrate our school together. 

RSVP by TOMORROW, Friday, November 4, for a night of entertainment and inspiration, while supporting our school. Scroll down to the volunteer section of the Roar to see how you can help at the Benefit.

Veterans Day Celebration

In observance of Veterans Day on November 11, students will honor veterans during Kabbalat Shabbat. We would like to invite any Heilicher family members who have served in the military to attend Kabbalat Shabbat services at 2:25 p.m. on Friday, November 11. RSVP to Wendy Goldberg.

Instrumental Music Program Interest Survey

Traditionally Heilicher has had a robust music program. We previously had a band program run by Sean Prichard, and our own David Shaw leads a separate choir program in addition to the music classes our students have during the school day. 

This year, we are rethinking how we will offer an instrumental music program that takes place outside of the regular school day. In brainstorming possibilities, the most valuable data is your input. If you are at all interested in exploring any instrumental music program, please complete a quick parent/student interest survey. One survey should be completed for each student.

*Please note, this is for preliminary information gathering. How the program will look will be determined by the results of this survey and the availability of the proper teaching personnel.

Phone Policy

Please refrain from texting or emailing your students during the school day. If you need to reach your child, please contact the main office at 952.381.3500. To maximize student learning and avoid distractions, Heilicher does not allow students to use their phones during the school day. You can help us keep student learning on track by waiting to contact your students until after school.

RSVP for Yom Dor l'Dor

Yom Dor l'Dor is Heilicher's grandparent and special elders day. We invite students' special elders to join them for an afternoon of intergenerational programming and a preview of their work at school on Tuesday, November 22, 1:30-3:30 p.m. RSVP for your students' special person.

From the Admissions Office:

Spread the Word About Heilicher

Know someone who might be interested in Heilicher? Please have them reach out to Admissions Director Deborah Getsug at dgetsug@hmjds.org and tell them about our Information Evening on Wednesday, November 9, at 7 p.m.

We are also excited to announce that we are waiving the $100 application fee for all applications submitted by December 1, 2022. Learn more and apply today!

Support Heilicher and Get a Gift Card

Heilicher is offering a $5 Caribou gift card for any two things you choose from our Ten Ways to Support Heilicher, which includes becoming a parent ambassador. You are already a parent ambassador simply by sending your student(s) to Heilicher, and the ambassador group will formalize the process and help us gather data on effective recruitment. Current parents are key influencers in prospective parents' decisions to tour, apply, and enroll at Heilicher.

The more ways you support Heilicher, the more gift cards you can receive! Contact Admissions Director Deborah Getsug for more information. Let her know which two (or more!) things you've done, and a gift card will be on its way. Thank you for supporting Heilicher!

From the Parent Teacher Organization:

Help the Chesed Committee Help Our Community

The Chesed Committee’s purpose is to support Heilicher families during life cycle events or whenever a need becomes apparent. The committee’s volunteers provide a warm, home-cooked meal to families that have a new baby (hopefully many of those), for shivah, or illness. Kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh means all Jews are there for each other, or, simply, “it takes a village.” Our goal is to make sure that all Heilicher families know that we as a community are there to support them in times of need. In order to achieve this goal, the Chesed Committee needs the help of parents, teachers, and staff. Please reach out to Chesed Committee Chair Sharon Rosenblum if you know of a family or you are a family that can use the committee’s service. Please don’t assume someone else will share the info. In addition, if you would like to volunteer to prepare a meal or help deliver a meal, please email Sharon.

Shop Fall Fashions and Support Heilicher!

Join us for a Heilicher moms' night out on Thursday, November 10, 6:30-8 p.m., at Mainstream Boutique in Golden Valley (679 Winnetka Avenue North). Come out for wine, hors d'oeuvres, and a chance to check out all the beautiful new fall styles! Most importantly, Mainstream Boutique will donate 15% of proceeds from all purchases to Heilicher! 

Can't attend in the evening? Mainstream Boutique will also generously donate 15% of proceeds on all clothing purchased that business day (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) — just mention Heilicher when you check out. 

See Mainstream Boutique's fun fashion lineup, and contact Beckie Skelton at 612.419.3290 with any questions.

New! Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up to help with All-School Lunch and/or All-School T'filah.

• Annual Benefit: Take a short shift during the Annual Benefit on Sunday, November 20. Click the link to see shift options and sign up.
• All-School Lunch: Help set up and clean up our all-school lunch on Wednesday(s) in the auditorium 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• All-School T'filah: Help us set up for all-school t'filah (prayer) Monday(s) in the theater 8:15-9 a.m.

Grade-level volunteer opportunities will be sent out by room parents.