This Week at Yavneh Academy

December 23, 2021 | 20 Tevet 5782 | שמות

Early Childhood Department

Exploring Our Senses in Ganon Bet

We have been exploring our five senses in Ganon Bet. The children tried out different implements that help people who are blind or visually impaired, such as magnifying tools that make print bigger and a book written in braille. They tried doing things first with their vision and then blindfolded, including: walking a zig-zag line, writing their names, and feeling their way around the classroom. We played “Guess the Sound” games, tried to identify the objects in a Feely Box using only our sense of touch, tried foods that look the same but taste very different, and identified different spices using our sense of smell. All of these experiments help us appreciate our five senses and how they enable us to experience the world around us.

“If I Were a Snowman…”

Gan Bet is ready for winter! We read Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright and enjoyed thinking of scenarios that could cause a snowman to melt. We compiled our words and illustrations into a class book called “If I Were a Snowman.” Next, we made our own “melted snowman” using a mixture of shaving cream, glue, and flour, and thought of imaginative reasons why our snowman ended up in a big puddle! Finally, we conducted several experiments to see which would make snow and ice melt fastest – water, salt, sugar or baking soda. Here’s a hint: What do people put on their walkways in the winter? Happy winter!

Lower School

First Graders Learn about Mammals

Class 1C has been learning about mammals and how their characteristics make them unique and different from other animal groups. This week, the students were so excited to choose their own mammal to research and used the app PebbleGo to learn interesting and fun facts about them. They recorded their data and then shared with their peers what they discovered!

SEL Update

Over the last few weeks in SEL, the second graders have been delving into the Zones of Regulation (a program that categorizes emotions, sensations, behaviors and energy levels into four colored zones). This week, students focused on the blue zone, a zone where we have low energy and might feel sad, bored or tired. Students were divided into groups to become experts on the different elements of the blue zone through literature and discussions. Each group got a chance to present information on what it feels like and how to manage sadness, boredom and sleepiness. The students were so proud of their group presentations, which included posters, acting and sharing advice with their fellow students on how to manage their emotions in the blue zone.

Clubs

Envision Theatre led the Yavneh Drama Club

in a wonderful musical production of The Wizard of Oz

Art Club

Our Hip Hop Club, under the direction of Coach Lauren Greene, did an amazing job at their performance this week! The piece that this crew performed had a birthday sleepover theme!! Congratulations girls on a job well done!!

Middle School

Middle School Debate Teams Meet

Children under the age of 11 should not own cell phones or tablets was the resolution presented by the Middle School Debate League. Seventh and eighth graders from Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Yeshivat Noam and Yavneh Academy met Thursday, December 16th for 2 spirited rounds of debates.

Our debaters questioned whether younger children needed to “own” their own devices rather than use shared family or school equipment. Discussions included the effects on social emotional development, responsibility, decision making skills as well as possible eye and brain issues. Our judges were impressed with the research, writing and oratory skills our 24 debaters exhibited.

The morning concluded with lunch for all and plans for the next debate.

Grade 7 Bar Mitzvah Celebration

On Saturday night, December 17th, Yavneh Academy hosted our 7th grade boys and their fathers for a Bar Mitzvah themed celebration. The night began with words of Torah from Rabbi Knapp and a delicious Dougie’s dinner.

After dinner, our students learned new dance moves with the Schnitzel Guys and participated in hands-on learning about the process of making tefillin. The night concluded with father-son learning where the sources of the 613 mitzvot were studied. A fun and educational time was had by all!

Click HERE for more photos!

Yavneh Students Partner with All Mishnah

In honor of the beginning of the new cycle of Mishna Yomi, Yavneh Academy Middle School students have partnered with the OU and their new All Mishna app to encourage as many students as possible to make the study of Mishna a part of their daily learning. All students received a copy of the Artscroll Mishna Elucidated on Masechet Brachot and a link to download the app, which contains a wealth of materials to help one understand the mishnayot. While both the OU and Yavneh are offering students a chance to win prizes for their learning, the early excitement among the students indicates that their motivation to accomplish more in their learning is what is really driving them.

Yavneh's 79th Annual Dinner will be on January 15th 2022. To RSVP and make a contribution please visit www.yavnehdinner.com Looking forward to celebrating with you!