April 14, 2022

In preparation for Passover, fourth graders made Exodus-themed clay tiles in art, and fifth graders made ceramic Passover items such as matzah plates.

Happy Pesach (Passover)! Pesach is the first of the shalosh regalim (three pilgrimage holidays) and kicks off the annual Jewish holiday cycle. It is significant for other reasons, too. Theologically, it affirms God’s role in history. Nationally, it marks the birth of the Jewish people. Sociologically, it offers a connecting link to Jewish history and heritage (observing some form of Pesach seder is one of the two last rituals Jews hold onto). Educationally, it offers an object lesson in the importance of storytelling and the power of symbols. More than anything, though, Pesach highlights the centrality of shared memory in the creation of communal identity. The Jewish Bible commands Jews to remember 169 times, many more times than it commands any other behavior. Most often, the object of remembering is the experience of slavery in Egypt. Of course, none of us possess individual memories of the exodus from Egypt. Rather, the repeated telling of the Pesach story at the seder creates a shared communal memory passed down from generation to generation. The symbols on the seder table trigger that memory; matzah ceases to be a large cracker and instead becomes lechem oni (bread of affliction). Maror ceases to be a tangy root vegetable and instead becomes a symbol of physical and spiritual oppression. In that way, the Pesach symbols support the story, while the story strengthens the symbols. Chag Sameach v’Kasher/A Happy and Kosher Holiday A Zisn Peysach/A Sweet Passover While Heilicher is a Jewish day school, it is enriched by and very much appreciates its community members — students, parents, and teachers — from other faith traditions. Heilicher wishes all those celebrating Easter and Ramadan this particular season a meaningful holiday with spiritual uplift.

Torah Thoughts from Doc When the first day of Pesach falls on Shabbat, the regular cycle of parashot (portions) is interrupted by a special holiday reading. Not surprisingly, the reading focuses on the night of the Exodus: God’s instructions to the Israelites to paint the doorposts with blood, the death of the Egyptian first-born, Pharoah’s surrender, and the escape to freedom. Continue reading

Mark Your Calendars! Friday, April 15-Friday, April 22 - NO SCHOOL, Passover Break Monday, April 25 - Registration Deadline, Heilicher Annual Benefit (May 19) RSVP link below! Wednesday, April 27 - Grade 8 Capstone Evening, 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1 - Heilicher Kicks for Kids on the Soccer Field Sunday, May 1-Thursday, May 5 - Grade 8 DC Trip Monday, May 2 - Gertens Flower Sale Pickup, 2-4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12 - Grade 8 Field Trip to Guthrie Theater (more information was shared directly with Grade 8 families) Monday, May 16 - Grade 5 Big Stone Mini Golf and Sculpture Garden Field Trip (more information will be shared directly with Grade 5 families) Thursday, May 19 - Heilicher Annual Benefit, 5:30 p.m., Beth El Synagogue Monday, May 23-Wednesday, May 25 - Grades 6-7 Trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center Friday, May 27 - Maccabi Games *There will be no Roar next week during Passover Break. The next Roar will be on Thursday, April 28. View the full Heilicher calendar online Key Dates for 2022-2023

Important COVID Updates: REQUIRED Testing After Break and More Since we began to allow students the option of being unmasked in their classrooms on Wednesday, March 30, we have had only one positive student COVID case. However, due to a slight uptick in the COVID test positivity rate in Minnesota and the swell in COVID cases on the east coast, we have decided to require COVID testing before students return to school on Monday, April 25.  We ask that you administer a rapid COVID test to your child on Sunday, April 24. Please upload the results of the test via this online form by Sunday evening, April 24, at 8:00 p.m. A separate form is required for each child in your family. A negative test will be required for your child to return to school on Monday, April 25. In addition, we have clarified a number of other COVID policies in order to minimize transmission risk at Heilicher: Students who are close contacts of a diagnosed COVID case, whether the student was exposed at home or at school, must wear a mask indoors at school for five days post-exposure.  If a student shows mild symptoms of any illness that has been confirmed not to be COVID, they must wear a mask indoors at school until all symptoms have resolved.  There may be situations when a teacher is working in close proximity to a student, and would feel more comfortable if that student was wearing a mask. In those situations, teachers may request that a student put on a mask for the duration of that interaction.

Last Chance: ISACS Accreditation Survey Please take this final opportunity to complete the ISACS survey, which closes tonight. All Heilicher community members are encouraged to take the survey to help Heilicher in our accreditation process. For more information, please refer to last Monday's email.

Apply Now: Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant for Community Volunteers Due to the generosity of Heilicher alumni parents Mindy and Dan Ribnick, the school will once again offer a tuition grant program for approximately 4-5 Heilicher students whose parents volunteer in the Jewish community. Grants awarded will be for 18% of 2022-23 tuition. This grant program is not financial-need based. Refer to yesterday's email for more information, and apply on the Heilicher website by Friday, May 13.

Heilicher Spring Benefit: Thursday, May 19, 5:30 p.m., Beth El Synagogue RSVPs due by Monday, April 25! 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. Interested in helping out at the Benefit? See our volunteer opportunities.

Help Us Plan Teacher Appreciation Week! Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week in May! We would love some parent volunteers to help plan the week of showing our teachers how much we appreciate them. Please email Ali Berdass if you are interested.

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-19 protocols. Lunch Cart Volunteer Sign-Up 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. Kicks for Kids Volunteer Sign-Up Monday All-School T'filah Set-Up Volunteer — email Wendy Goldberg if you are interested in helping set up for All-School T'filah from 8:15 to 8:35 on Monday mornings. Teacher Appreciate Week Planning Volunteer Sign-Up — email Ali Berdass. Spring Benefit Volunteer Sign-Up for Thursday, May 19

Kicks for Kids Opportunities Students got ice cream this week for reaching $18,000 in our Kicks for Kids fundraiser, and our acting head of school Maia Poling will go in a dunk tank if we reach $38,000! We are over $21,000. 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.

Mazel Tov Mazel tov to Heilicher's play choreographer and director, Haley and Anthony Sisler-Neuman, on the birth of their baby, Mickey Lee, on April 9. Mazel tov to Heilicher faculty member Annika Graif and her family on the birth of their baby, Cyrus, on April 11.

‌ ‌ ‌