Dear Parents,

We are so excited for Grandparents Day at SIA sponsored by the Beth Sholom Home on November 23, 2022 from 10:00-11:30am. 

Reminders for Wednesday, November 23:

• EY Fullcare and PY Sundown are closed. All students must be picked up by 12pm.
• If students will be going home with their grandparent, please send a note at drop off.

Don't forget to order your Strelitz Winter Wear by Wednesday! Wednesday is the LAST Day to order from the SIA Winter Pop Up Shop. Please see the order information below.

Thank you to our PVO Chairs for distributing Amazon Gift cards to our Faculty and Staff this morning as a special thank you before Thanksgiving. We are lucky to have both excellent teachers and amazing parents to support our school!

Wishing all of our faculty and staff a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Heather Moore

Head of School

Morah Shayla (EY3) dived into a unit about colors after teaching all about Noah's Ark and the rainbow. The students engaged in critical thinking and scientific exploration while "playing with colors." Our teachers continue to impress us daily with their creative and innovative teaching styles!

Did you know SIA has an Art Club? SIA students in grades 2 - 5 meet during lunch to create art projects and take time to unwind with creative enrichment.

We popped into third grade and they were working hard on their math centers!

Upcoming Dates:

November

11/23 Grandparents' Day/ Noon Dismissal/ EY Fullcare and PY Sundown Closed.

11/24 - 11/25 Thanksgiving Holiday/ No School/ EY Fullcare Closed/ PY Camp JCC SDO Closed

11/30 SGA Twin Day - Dress as a twin with a friend!

12/9 First Grade Preview, 8:15am - 9:15am

12/19 - 12/30 Winter Break/ No School

12/19 - 12/23 Winter Break/ EY Fullcare Winter Session 1/ PY Camp JCC SDO Open

12/26 No Fullcare/ PY Camp JCC SDO Closed

12/27 - 12/30 Winter Break/ EY Fullcare Winter Session 2/ PY Camp JCC SDO Open

1/2 New Years Day Observed/ No School/ NO Fullcare or Camp JCC SDO

1/3 School Resumes

The online SIA Winter Swag Shop is now open until November 23 to order your SIA winter gear. 

Click here to access the school store!

Order anytime between now and November 23, 2022.

All items will be shipped at once to the school. Orders will be delivered and sent home with students the week before Winter Break. Please check the sizes carefully before ordering.  All items are nonrefundable after November 23. If you don't see a size or color you need, please reach out to Carin Simon. 

***Strelitz Sweatshirts make great Hanukkah Gifts!***

Now in its thirtieth year, JFS reaches out during Chanukah to local Jewish families with children and teens whose families are struggling with finances. JFS will again be partnering with Strelitz International Academy for this annual gift drive for Chanukah 2022. Students from every class will be asked to help with this Tzedakah project.

On November 14, packets with parent letters, gift tags, and teacher instructions will be given to each class so that every student can be sent home with a gift tag listing one suggested item to buy. These items will be from local Jewish children’s wish lists and are written on the gift tags in order to help you decide what to buy. Please note that the gift tags contain a “suggested gift” item. Parents should feel free, however, to purchase any age-appropriate gift or gift card if they are not able to purchase or locate the specific item on the gift tag that their child brings home. Linda Bridges will have extra tags and parent letters in the front office.

All gifts are due back in school on Monday, December 5, 2022. JFS will then come to each class during the morning of Wednesday, December 7, 2022 to collect gifts, thank students and their teachers, and take classroom pictures with the collected gifts. We hope to able to count on SGA Officers to help us gather gifts and take them back to JFS.  

Although JFS knows that Chanukah may or may not be a time where gifts are exchanged in every family, JFS hopes that students and their families will want to support this annual gift drive and reach out to those in need. Please call Debbie Mayer or Maryann Kettyle at JFS with any questions: (757) 459-4640.

Thank you to everyone for their help with this project! 

How the Hanukkah Shop Works:

SIA Families donate items for the Hanukkah Shop (details below)

Students visit the Hanukkah Shop with their class.

Students purchase items for $1 each to give to their loved ones. 

Proceeds benefit the Parent Volunteer Organization

Donations for SIA Hanukkah Shop:

Please send in New or “Like New” Items for the Chanukah store starting November 28 until December 4. Donation bins will be clearly labeled near the Fullcare board in the Strelitz hallway. Please make sure items are clean and in good condition. We need items for Kids, Moms, Dads, Grandparents & older siblings. 

Suggested donations:

Toys, Jewelry, ties, books, unused journals, small household items, any gifts you’ve never used! *For sanitary reasons NO STUFFED ANIMALS. We also need gift bags!

Please click here to sign up to volunteer in the Chanukah Shop.

Check out our Lost and Found for missing items.

Invitations to out of school parties may not be handed out on school property. Please refrain from scheduling parties on Shabbat or Jewish holidays in order to be inclusive of all classmates who may observe Shabbat. 

Due to allergies and dietary restrictions, SIA does not allow outside food and treats to be brought in to school for birthdays. We encourage families to order cupcakes or cookies through the Campus Cardo Cafe. 

1) PLEASE ORDER ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE.

2) Confirm the treat date and time with your child's teacher. 

3) Complete the form and payment and give to Linda in the front office.

4) Linda Bridges will deliver the order to your child's classroom at the arranged date and time. 

Wednesdays and Sundays • 11/30/2022 – 3/5/2023

Required Players’ Draft Day Wednesday, 11/30/2022, Jaffe Gym

• Grades K-2 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm
• Grades 3-5 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
• 
  

Practices on Wednesdays in Jaffe Gym • 12/7/2022 – 3/1/2023 (No practice 12/28)

• Grades K-2 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm
• Grades 3-5 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
• 
  

Games on Sundays in the Jaffe Gym • 1/8/2023 – 3/5/2023 (No games 1/15 and 2/19) • start at 1:00 pm

Registration deadline November 28, 2022. Open to boys and girls of all faiths from grades K-5. This program will instill a fundamentally sound approach to the game while appropriately balancing participation and competition. Skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship are the goals of providing a fun and rewarding youth basketball program. Teams will practice for several weeks before the regular season games, ending with Championship Day on 3/5/2023. Basketball jersey included for each player.

All League-registered K-5 players may attend the preseason clinics for FREE!

$115 members | $150 non-members

Volunteer coaches are needed. Coaches clinic on 11/29/2022, 5:30pm.

Contact the JCC Front Desk at 757-321-2338 if you have questions. 

Click here to register.

>>> Preseason Clinic •

Wednesdays 11/9 & 11/16 • same times as practice above • $40 members/$80 non-members, Free for those registered for the JCC Youth Basketball League <<<

For all questions related to JCC Afterschool Activities,

please contact Sarah Cooper, scooper@ujft.org/ 757.321.2306

Israel Club

The Simon Family JCC is thrilled to present the ISRAEL CLUB! This super fun group is for Kindergarten – Grade 2 children who want to learn and experience what everyday life is like for kids and families in Israel! Led by Nofar Trem (PJ Library program manager) and fellow Israeli’s Aya and Alma (visiting Tidewater shinshinim), kids will prepare and eat foods from Israel; they will learn about wildlife that roams Israel and the Mediterranean region; they’ll learn about Israeli culture, holidays & celebrations, and more! This is a fun environment for an hour of after-school hanging out with our Israeli community! Visit JewishVA.org/KIDS for more info or to sign up. $55 for members covers food and supplies for the 4-week session.

• Grades: Kindergarten - 2nd
• Time: Mondays from 3:30 - 4:30
• Dates: November 21-Dec. 12 (4 Weeks)
• Location: The Zone-JCC
• Registration: Front Desk or call 757-321-2338
• Pricing: $55 Members/ $70 Potential Members