SIA Parent Newsletter
January 18, 2022
Head of School Message
Dear Parents,

For the foreseeable future, COVID-19 will continue to be a focus for the SIA community and for each of us individually. Even though COVID remains part of our lives, together we can limit its impact and provide ourselves the best opportunity to continue in person learning and experiences.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its most recent guidance on January 8, 2022 for K-12 schools to include adjustments to isolation and quarantining in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Below please review the key points from the updated guidance:

1.      All students, employees and visitors will continue to wear properly fitting face coverings while inside the school regardless of vaccination status. This continues to be a primary mitigation strategy as highlighted by the most recent guidance from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The school plans to continue wearing face coverings for the foreseeable future to reduce risk to students and employees.  We are reviewing Executive Order Number Two signed by Governor Youngkin on Saturday, January 15, 2022 regarding masking in schools along with new guidance that is to be issued by the state. SIA will provide additional information regarding any changes to our mitigation strategies upon a thorough review of the new guidance as soon as it is available.

2.      For all individuals who test positive for COVID-19, they should isolate for five days and may return to school on day six if their symptoms are improving and are fever-free for 24 hours without medication. They should continue to wear a well-fitting face covering.

3.      Fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus and remain asymptomatic may continue to come to school and work. If the individual becomes symptomatic, they will be required to quarantine.

4.      Unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus are required to quarantine for five days and if they remain asymptomatic may return to school on day six. If the individual becomes symptomatic, they will be required to quarantine.

The pandemic has been a much longer journey than we could have ever imagined. The addition of the omicron variant is testing our stamina once again. I know of no other school community like the caring and supportive SIA community! Please reach out if you need help. We’re in this together.

February 1 -14, 2022 is Re-enrollment! Please check Parent Square for important information and instructions to re-enroll through our IB software for the 2022-2023 school year. We are grateful that you have entrusted us with your children. We look forward to strengthening our partnership and to celebrating their many milestones with you.  All re-enrollment contracts are due by Monday, February 14, 2022. 

Below you will see some reminders for next week.  
Shavuah Tov, wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

Heather Moore
Head of School
Happy Tu B'Shevat
Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for the Trees (or Chag Ha’Ilanot in Hebrew), is celebrated on the 15th of the month of Shevat. This year it fell on Monday, January 17. Tu B’Shvat is celebrated with eating wheat, barley, grapes, olives, dates, figs and pomegranates - known as the 7 special fruits and grains of Israel. In Israel, it is customary to plant trees on Tu B’Shvat. 

At SIA, we have incorporated Tu B'shevat into the IB "Sharing our Planet" unit of inquiry. Students studied tree parts, ecology and Kandinsky inspired tree art.

PY students had an early virtual Tu B’Shvat celebration last Friday. Students enjoyed grape juice and cookies as a way to taste two of the “Seven Species’. Students listened to a storybook and enjoyed gathering Tu B’Shvat related items in a classroom based scavenger hunt.

We are looking forward to EY's Tu B'Shevat celebration at the end of this week!
Tree & Tu B'Shevat Studies
Kandinsky Inspired Tree Art
"Humans are like Trees"
Dates and Reminders
SCHOOL CALENDAR:
Click to view the 2021-2022 SIA Calendar. 
Please note: as the year progresses, we will update our calendar as it relates to events and COVID-19.

1/17 MLK Day, Professional Development, EY FC Closed; PY Camp JCC Open

1/17 Book Club Meeting - The Self Driven Child

2/15 Re-enrollment Forms and Deposits due for EY2 - Grade 5

1/21 Presidents' Day, EY FC Closed; PY Camp JCC Open
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
  • Label ALL Belongings
  • Bring a water bottle daily
  • 2 Clean Masks

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
Thank you for Donating to the
SIA Parent Campaign
Thank you for helping us reach 65% of our goal of 100%. Because of you, our school will continue to have the ability to nurture and grow the minds of our future leaders.

If we were not able to reach you, you still have the opportunity to make a donation to our annual donor fund. All pledges received are payable via our website and due by June 30, 2022. Please click here to donate.

Thank you again for joining together, to make a difference for our SIA Family.

Andie Eichelbaum
SIA Development Director
Todd & Lindsey Aftel
Josh & Andrea Amberger
Jasmine Gilad
Allena & Neil Anglen
Christopher Arney & Xunyun Zhang
Ariel Sand
Lauren Baker
Jamie & Peter Baker
Ross & Lindsay Bangel
Randy & Arielle Beasley
Dave & Jenn Belman
Justin & Denean Blanks
Charles & Virginia Booth
Kyle & Amber Brady
Rashi & Levi Brashevitzky
David & Elyse Cardon
Andrew & Leigh Casson
Melanie & Barry Cohen
Jeff & Heather Cohen
Alice Conner
Andy & Alicia Pahl-Cornelius
Benjamin Cost & Theresa Floyd
John & Carissa Cutrell
Julia Dail
Roei & Ayala Dagul
Steven Dodge & Melanie Brown
Mark Enochs
Vincent & Olesia Estes
Ryan & Samantha Feingold
Adam & Kristy Foleck
Jim & Vanessa Freihofer
Jason Golden & Lara Bollinger
Ilene Goldstein & Len Futerman
Lester & Nicole Gamboa
Patrick & Mairin Genova
John & Laura Gibson
Andy & Amy Gladstein
Aaron & Nikki Glassman
Carly & Chen Glikman
Hillary & Damien Gordon
Drew & Morgan Gowdey
David & Teresa Greer
Rebecca & Michael Harper
Terrell Harrell & Mirta Rivera
Eran & Orly Hassid
Blake & Brittany Heron
Kelyn Holcomb
Jeremy & Sarah Holtzinger
Briana Hoffman
Mark & Kelli Hoover
Nir & Naty Horev
Adam & Joseph Howell-Smith
John & MacKenzie Janin
Sam & Emily Jones
Naveed & Meagan Kalantar
Christopher & Trisha Kaprielian
Aaron & Melissa Kass
Jeffrey & Michelle Kingsland
Nina Kruger
Jonathan Kugel &Gabriela Kocerha
David & Lauren Lanier
John & Phillippa Leo
Alexandra Little
Julie Blumenthal & John Lomogda
Mark & Lindsay Love
Jacob & Shelby Lovelace
Michael & Meghan Margulies
Noah & Paola Matilsky
Alex & Shamus McNamara
Jason Goldberg & Ashley Mills
Crystal Ton & Gorge Mitzner
Maria Moesgaard & Steen Ulrich
Nathan & Amanda Moll
Ro'ee & Avigayil Mor
Sean & Meryl Mulligan
Matt & Rachel Murdock
Jason & Elizabeth Navarre
Sarah Neal
Eli & Maggie Nidam
Jason & Alison Ohana
Nathan & Caitlin Pearsall
Ashley Sabin & Elijah Perry
Felix & Erinn Portnoy
Daniel & Melissa Prate
Rocio Morales
Michael Richlen & Amber Inwood
Henry Rhone & Christina Williams
Josh & Kara Rivers
Greg & Jade Rouzeau
Daniel & Shikma Rubin
Corey & Malka Schaad
Stephan & Kathrin Schneider
Michael & Sarah Schwartz
Ohad Sheffy
Jason & Rebecca Silverstein
Nick & Whitney Szoke
Tim & Nikki Thornton
Tyler & Nofar Trem
Jacob & Utomwen Uduaghan
Alexander & Ksenia Vinichenko
Michael & Erinn Vitas
Adam & Lisa Walker
Neil & Elizabeth Waranch
Levi & Irina Washburn
Paul & Robyn Weiner
Eliot & Amy Weinstein
Josh Weinstock
Shachar & Hila Zach
Planning for the 2022-2023 School Year
Dear Parents,

As you start to plan for 2022-2023, please click here for our 2022-2023 Year at a Glance. We will send out a full calendar later in the year.

In addition, reenrollment forms will go out to all currently enrolled families*on February 1. Reenrollment is February 1 - February 15. At that time, you will be notified to reenroll your current student and make your $250 enrollment deposit through Open Apply.

Flexible Tuition or Financial Aid for 2022-2023 is also due by February 15. You are welcome to start that application process now. Families need to complete a new form each year when applying for aid. Please click here to apply for Flexible Tuition or Financial Aid. P

Please feel free to reach out to me with any further questions: 757.424.4327 or csimon@strelitzacademy.org

*Students who are not turning 2 years old by September 30, 2022 will not need to reenroll.
SAVE THE DATE:
SIA IB Parent Challenge - Rescheduled!
Due to the recent Covid surge - the IB Parent Challenge has been postponed to a later date.

We will be holding Virtual Parent Previews for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Look out for more information coming out in Parent Square.
Join our SIA Parent Book Club
The IB Program promotes agency in children. How do we get there as parents?

Join us for an exclusive virtual
SIA Parent Book Club!

We will be reading
The Self-Driven Child
by William Stixrud, PHD
and Ned Johnson.
Please RSVP to Carin Simon with your interest in the parent book club and you will receive the link to join. First virtual meeting is Wednesday, January 19 at noon. We will be covering chapters 1-3.

Available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible.
IN THE COMMUNITY
JCC Afterschool Activities
Please contact Sarah Cooper, Camp JCC Program Manager, Simon Family JCC for more information: scooper@simonfamilyjcc.org
Students can be picked up at dismissal and escorted to each class. Sundown and full care children can be escorted as well. No child can return to Sundown or full care as a protocol of Covid-19.
Class start dates have been delayed a week, so it's not too late to sign up. 
Little Ninjas-
Children in kindergarten and first grade will learn the foundation of self defense by recognizing stranger danger and learning how to react. They will become confident in how to deal with emergency situations, like following procedures calmly. Little Ninjas will also improve motor skills, coordination, and concentration.
Grades: Kindergarten and 1st
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:10
Dates: January 11- February 4
Location: The Zone- JCC
Registration: Front Desk or call 757-321-2338
Pricing: $104 Members/ $135 Potential Members*
*Additional charges for uniform, manual, and belt promotions will be handled through the instructor.
 
Self Defense
Children from grades 2-5 will learn situational awareness, to be aware of their surroundings and know when there is a threat to themselves or others. They will learn anti-bullying strategies to de-escalate and stop bullying with a non-violence approach. Children will gain self-discipline and confidence as their skills strengthen with biweekly training. Respect for your parents, your teachers, peers and especially yourself is paramount.
Grades: 2nd-5th
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 or 4:45-5:45
Dates: January 11- February 4
Location: Studio 2- JCC (Fitness/2nd Floor)
Registration: Front Desk or call 757-321-2338
Pricing: $104 Members/ $135 Potential Members*
 *Additional charges for uniform, manual, and belt promotions will be handled through the instructor. 

Soccer Shots
Soccer season can be year round with Soccer Shots! Learn soccer fundamentals while building character development like teamwork, respect, and determination! For inclement weather and temps below 40 degrees, practice will be indoors in the gym. 
Kindergarten- 3rd Grade
Time: Tuesdays 3:30-4:15 or 4:30-5:15
Dates: January 11- March 1 
Location: Soccer Field or Gym- JCC

PreK 3's and 4's
Time: Thursdays 4:15-5:00 or 5:15-6:00
Dates: January 13- March 3
Location: Soccer Field or Gym- JCC

Kids Yoga with Brigitte
Let your child transition from a hectic school day to a peaceful and fun afternoon! Brigitte has worked with the Simon Family JCC and Strelitz International Academy for many years now and has come to know many families in the community. Children will learn breathing exercises, yoga poses, and mindfulness in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. 
Grades: Kindergarten-5th
Time: Wednesdays 3:45-4:45
Dates: January 12- March 2
Location: The Zone- JCC 
Registration: Front Desk or call 757-321-2338
Pricing: $104 Members/ $135 Potential Members
Dear Families,  

I am excited to share with you a brand new AFTER SCHOOL CLUB starting here at the Simon Family JCC: Israel Club!  

On Monday afternoons at 3:45 PM, for 4 weeks beginning on January 31, I will take children rades K - 2 on a “tour” through Israel. Together we will discover what Israel's unique geography is like, talk about (and taste) the wonderful foods of Israel, see images and learn about the wildlife there, and of course discuss some of Israel’s rich history. Through fun and engaging discussions, games and crafts, we will enhance our knowledge of all-things-Israel, together, in a really fun environment surrounded by new friends!

For those who don’t already know me, my name is Nofar Trem and I am an Israeli-born citizen. I grew up in various places in Israel and although I now live here in Virginia Beach, I visit my home and family in Israel every year. It is a joy for me to share these experiences with young minds — I can’t wait to meet you all and bring Israel to life for each of you.
 
You can register your child at the Simon Family JCC's front desk. If you have any questions about the class, please feel free to reach out to me at NTrem@UJFT.org or by calling 757-321-2334.

I hope to see you soon!

Kindly, 
Nofar Trem
Youth and Family Program Coordinator
United Jewish Federation of Tidewater