February 24, 2022 | 24 Adar I 5782 | ויקהל-שקלים
Yavneh’s 79th Annual Dinner will take place on Thursday, March 10.
Please scroll down for more information and to donate.
Early Childhood Department
Preparing for Purim
Purim is coming to life in Ganon Aleph. We have listened to a puppet show, dressed up in character and sang our way through the Purim story. At any time you may run into King Achashverosh, Haman or Queen Esther in our “Shushan.” The children have started to create and illustrate their own megillot which they can’t wait to take to shul on Purim!
100th Day of School
Today was the 100th day of school. Gan Gimmel started their day by stringing 100 Fruit Loop necklaces. Next, we did 100 movement exercises with Coach Lauren followed by 100 snacks! We went on a school wide treasure hunt collecting $10 dollar bills along the way. At the end, each child traded them in for a $100 dollar bill! The day ended with a Zoom visit with beloved children’s book author Meish Goldish, who wrote the poem “100 is a Lot.”

Click HERE for Gan and First Grade 100 day photos!
Lower School
4th Grade Learns about the Lenape Tribe
Our 4th grade students are currently studying the history of the Lenape tribe, the Native Americans who first inhabited the land on which we now live, and this week we enjoyed a live presentation by a Lenape expert! Dressed in authentic buckskin regalia, Mr. Mike discussed the food, clothing, shelter, and tools of the Lenape, and described how these aspects of their culture were dependent on the natural resources of Northern New Jersey. Students had the opportunity to see artifacts from the last ice age, watch a demonstration of fire by friction, and touch real animal pelts. What a great opportunity to extend our students' learning!
Brachot Experience Finale at Cedar Market
Our 5th Graders participated in the Brachot Experience Finale at Cedar Market this past Tuesday. Students were challenged to find items throughout the store that fell into certain brachot categories. Other students engaged in “The Price is Right” activities where if they knew the bracha of a food item and its price, they were able to keep the product! This trip was both fun and educational, and students truly enjoyed it! 
Click HERE for more photos!
First Grade Uses STEM to Enhance Presidents’ Day Learning
After learning about our Presidents and about national monuments in the United States, Class 1C explored Mount Rushmore and learned about how it was designed and carved. Then, each student designed their own Mount Rushmore using just paper straws, scissors and tape. The students chose which 4 faces they wanted on their mountains and enjoyed learning from their peers.
President Washington Visits Grade 3
Thank you to President Washington for visiting 3rd grade and speaking about the brave crossing of the Delaware River and the beginning of the brand new country.
Celebrating 2.22.22!
Fifth Grade Colonial Fair
Have you ever wished you could experience what life in Colonial times was like? Yavneh Academy’s fifth graders have been deeply enmeshed in studying Colonial America. As a culmination of the unit, the students experienced different aspects of Colonial life. 
In their classrooms, students first read descriptions of Colonial farms, houses of worship, and schools. They filled out Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting life then and now.The students then made their ways to the atrium where the fun awaited them. Each student was provided with a quill, ink, and a “hornbook.” The students used the quills to write their names. Writing with a quill is very challenging, and often messy. There is no way to erase or delete a mistake, so students needed to think about whether an error could be fixed or if they should start over?
Once the students completed their “writing assignment,” each student was provided a container of fresh cream which they “churned” until it became sweet butter. Once the butter was made, the students returned to their classrooms for a tasty treat of crackers and butter. Experiential learning provides a memorable way for students to develop an understanding of what life was like in the past, and a new appreciation of the conveniences of modern-day living.
Click HERE for more photos!
Middle School
Chesed Begins at Home - Our Home at Yavneh
Friday, November 18th found our 8th grade students and faculty engaged in a day of chesed and educational challenges. Rabbi Ross began our day with a shiur, How Random are Random Acts of Kindness? As we studied sources together we were reminded that chesed benefits the individual who has acted as well as the recipient of the act.
The morning included four activities: Challah braiding led by Morah Moriya; Making Blankets for the residents of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh led by Dr. Frohlich; Shabbat Treats for Tomchei Shabbos led by Mr. David; Light up Purim Cards for the children of Friendship Circle led by Mrs. Herman
Our day concluded with an Erev Shabos Oneg led by our Yavneh band, Mr. Steiner, Rabbi Segal and Mr. Nagel. Music and churros - what a way to finish a beautiful day and welcome in Shabbos!

Click HERE for more photos!
Pink Challah Bake
The Yavneh Academy Chesed Team left Sharsheret Pink Day inspired and eager to dedicate their February chesed team event to Sharsheret as well. Over 70 chesed team members joined together this past Wednesday evening for a Pink Challah Bake. Mrs. Ellen Kleinhaus, Director of Campus and Community Engagement at Sharsheret, launched the event with inspirational words on the importance of chesed and bikur cholim and the impact it has on those who are sick. She also explained the merit of baking challah for someone sick. The students learned about the special bracha that was in the dough of Sarah Imeinu, which was transmitted to Rivka, and thought about the bracha that they receive through doing chesed. We then asked the students to think of someone to daven for to be zocheh a refuah shelaima as they made their challot. Students were given special Sharsheret challah cards to take home. The challot were pink and white, and the students decorated
them with pink toppings. It was a meaningful and fun event for all!  
Poetry Slam
Students and teachers gathered in the Bet Midrash for our first Annual Poetry Slam. After completing an intense and exciting Poetry Unit, Ms. Rimberg and Mr. Novick led our twelve finalists through a Slam where each read his/her poem. The Bet Midrash was decorated with quotes from each of our students. The room was a buzz sharing one another’s excitement. The Slam concluded and Joe Ruditzky was awarded the title, Yavneh Poet Laureate of 2022.
Ulpan Ivrit
This week, in Yavneh Ulpan Ivrit for Parents our students learned about the desert in Israel, they practiced their grammar, including the past and future tense. Parents spoke in Ivrit and practiced dialogues sharing what they did during Presidents' Weekend.
We can’t wait for next Wednesday’s class!
We look forward to celebrating Yavneh’s 79th Annual Dinner on Thursday March 10. Reservations have closed but there is still time to participate in our fundraising efforts and to place an ad. Visit www.yavnehdinner.com and click “donate” to see the options.
YAVNEH VIDEOS 5782
CHOPPED WITH NAOMI NACHMAN
CHEERLEADING CLUB
CHANUKAH 5782:2021
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Yavneh Academy is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.