SIA Parent Newsletter
December 3, 2021
|
|
Dear Parents,
Happy Hanukkah! What a busy week as we transitioned from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah! It was a festive week of Hanukkah celebrations. On Tuesday, we had a fun afternoon with Hanukkah themed crafts, activities, dancing and even a photo booth! Thank you to Mrs. Rashi Brashevitzky, Judaics Studies Director and all the teachers that helped run the stations. This morning the Early Years families had a blast at our Family Shabbat Singalong. Thank you Morah Elyssa Brinn, Early Years Director for organizing such a spirited morning. And a big thank you to Melissa Kass and all of our wonderful Room Parents for helping to organize the class Hanukkah festivities. We look forward to the conclusion of Hanukkah this Monday with a school wide Pajama Day!
We are happy to report that our first week of pooled surveillance COVID-19 testing yielded all negative results. As we enter the thick of the cold, flu & holiday season, we are grateful to have the option of pooled testing. Participating students were all great sports, plus very patient as we navigated this new procedure together. We anticipate that testing will become even quicker and easier each week. Tips and Tricks for summoning up saliva on demand will be coming out soon on Parent Square. If you want to help your student self collect the sample at home, please let Nurse Susan know and that can be arranged. The collection kits can be sent home on Monday and all samples must be back at school on Tuesday morning.
Thank you to everyone who is participating in this additional mitigation strategy for helping to keep our school community safe and healthy. It is easy to add participants, so if you are interested in having your child participate and have not yet consented, please go to Nurse Susan’s November 18th Parent Square Post and complete the online consent.
It has been really great to see and hear how excited our students are after getting their COVID-19 vaccines. They are very excited to share their news with teachers and friends. We have several students who have already had their two doses and everyone seems to be managing very well. The school clinic has seen mostly kids whose arms are sore the next day. We are looking forward to having most of our K-5 students fully vaccinated in the coming weeks.
Please help me welcome Ms. Tracey Garbers, our new SIA Media Specialist who will be starting next week.
Coming up this week, we look forward to:
- Coffee & Walk by the Pond on Monday, December 6
- First Grade Preview with SIA Kindergarten Parents on Tuesday, December 10 More details below.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah!
Heather Moore
Head of School
|
|
SIA Hanukkah Celebrations |
|
Welcome Ms. Tracey Garbers, SIA Media Specialist |
|
Tracey Garbers is thrilled to join the Strelitz International Academy family as our new Media Specialist!
Ms. Garbers graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University, majoring in Social Science, with a concentration in United States History. She holds a Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Board of Education, Collegiate Professional License and she is an Apple Certified Teacher. She is an active member of Altrusa International of Tidewater; a community of educators and professionals who support the importance of literacy, community service, and the joy of reading.
With experience working at the high, middle, and elementary school levels, she has a diverse background that has prepared her for this position. Ms. Garbers believes the best educators are those who never stop learning, who understand the importance of building relationships with their students, and who strive to create a sense of community. Educators should always model compassion, kindness, and empathy; encouraging the academic and emotional growth of the “whole child”.
Ms Garbers loves the outdoors including camping, hiking in the mountains, and relaxing by a campfire! She also enjoys gardening, working on home projects, and enjoying a good book!
She is excited to meet her new students next week!
|
|
Fourth Grade Mitzvah Project
By Debbie Mayer, SIA Counselor
|
|
Students, families, and teachers in fourth grade practiced tzedakah this past week. They took on 2 different local Jewish families with infants served by Jewish Family Service and bought in diapers, baby wipes, baby clothes, infant bath toys, and assorted baby care items. JFS sends sincere thanks for all of these great items. The 2 families will be thrilled to get these unexpected and useful gifts! |
|
SCHOOL CALENDAR:
Please note: as the year progresses, we will update our calendar as it relates to events and COVID-19.
12/10 First Grade Preview, 8:15am
12/17 PY Shabbat
12/20 - 1/3 Winter Break, School Closed
12/20 - 12/23 - EY FC & PY SDO Session 1
12/27 - 12/30 - EY FC & PY SDO Sessions 2
1/2 - School resumes
1/3 - 1/7 SIA Week of Giving
2/13 PY Tu B'Shevat Celebration, 2:30pm
2/14 Tu B'Shevat Adventure, EY3-EY4, 9:30am
1/17 MLK Day, Professional Development, EY FC Closed; PY Camp JCC Open
|
|
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
- Label ALL Belongings
- Bring a water bottle daily
- 2 Clean Masks
FOB Forms:
Need a school key FOB? Stop by the School office for a form.
The Parent Facebook group serves as a way to connect our parents, so please don't be shy. Ask questions, give suggestions and post pics!
Parent Volunteer Organization
Please contact Carin Simon to join any of SIA's Parent Committees:
- Outreach Committee
- Room Parent Committee
- Teacher Appreciation Committee
- SIA Parent Ambassadors
|
|
|
First Grade Preview for Kindergarten Parents |
|
Dear Parents,
Give the gift of a Strelitz International Academy education this holiday season..
Did you know that you can make a donation in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one as a meaningful way to contribute to SIA’s mission? Whether you choose to wish a mazel tov or a speedy recovery, your tribute gift is a compassionate gesture that provides infinite benefits for students, teachers, and families.
|
|
For ALL Parents of Infants and Toddlers
Coffee and Lake Walk with Friends
Monday, December 6
|
|
Please join us for coffee and/or a stroll around the the Sander Family Campus lake on Monday, December 6.
SIA Infant and Toddler Parents and prospective parents are invited to start the week by joining us for coffee, pastries, and a lovely stroll around Lake Sandler. Bring your baby or drop them off first (if they are enrolled at SIA). This is a great opportunity to meet other infant and toddler parents.
Join any time between 8:30 and 9:30 AM.
This is a joint program with SIA and PJ Library.
|
|
JCC Youth Basketball League
Monday | Wednesdays and Sundays | 11/29/2021 – 3/6/2022
Required Players’ Draft Day | Monday | 11/29/2021 | Grades K-2 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm | Grades 3-5 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Jaffe Gym
Practices | Wednesdays | 12/1/2021 – 3/2/2022 | Grades K-2 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm | Grades 3-5 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm | Jaffe Gym
Games | Sundays | 1/9/2022 – 3/6/2022 | (No games 1/16) start at 1:00 pm | Jaffe Gym
$115 members | $150 non-members
Registration deadline is November 28, 2021.
Open to boys and girls 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 7-week regular season, ending with Championship Day on 3/6/2022. Basketball jersey included for each player. All League-registered K-5 players may attend the preseason clinics for FREE!
Volunteer coaches needed. Coaches clinic on 11/30/2021, 5:30pm.
Call 757-321-2308 if you have questions. If you wish to register, please visit the JCC in person, or call 757-321-2338.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
