Beren Buzz 💙 January 28, 2021

Parashat Beshalach

Candle Lighting 5:38 p.m.

Havdalah 6:40 p.m.

Parsha Talk

Some research shows a direct link between students being grateful and having a higher GPA, more positive emotions, and ultimately more meaningful lives. Is there a chance that our lives are directly affected by our attitudes? Find out in this week's parsha thought!

Four Cities ONE NIGHT

Join Event Chairs Rick and Dorit Guttman at 7:30 pm this Sunday, Jan. 31, for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s ONE Night—an event unlike any other. It will bring together the Jewish communities of Houston, Dallas, Milwaukee, and St. Louis for an evening of entertainment and philanthropy featuring comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, former lead guitarist of the Eagles Don Felder, and WNBA star Sue Bird. Register now to join in One Night - Jewish Federation of Greater Houston.

"A Mussar and a Mitzvah"

This week's Mussar and a Mitzvah features Shani Yanowitz (10th grade). Click here to read about a mussar and mitzvah in Parashat Beshalach.

Beren Boys Bekius

Check out this week's Beren Boys Bekius Parsha Podcast featuring Seniors Jake Teller and Jeremy Morgan. Click here to check out previous episodes.

#instaberen

From the desk of the STEAM Lab

This week in STEAM we had a great time experiencing and learning indoors and outdoors! We visited the magical forest and learned how to tell the age of a tree, determine whether a tree is deciduous or coniferous, and the life cycles of apple, almond, and pine trees. We also had fun decorating our natural hanging art and making our own cardboard marble runners!

Desk Making

Eighth-graders in Mr. Duke’s social studies class recently read, annotated and analyzed Henry David Thoreau’s essay, “Civil Disobedience” (1849).

As part of the lesson, the students researched why Thoreau spent two years of his life living in a tiny cabin he built on the banks of Walden Pond. The desk on which Thoreau penned “Civil Disobedience,” in opposition to slavery and the Mexican-American War, is on display today in the Concord Museum in Massachusetts.

To encourage Beren students to fight against injustices with the power of their pens, the eighth-graders spent the past couple of months building writing desks of their own, based on the one Thoreau used at Walden Pond.

The students built their desks (almost) entirely with hand tools, similar to those that Thoreau would have used. The replica desks were constructed out of American ash and are of heirloom quality.

The eighth-graders are set to finish their creations by the end of January. They’ll use their desks in social studies class for the remainder of this school year, and then will take them home to keep – and use to write their own masterpieces, hopefully – thereafter.

Bird Feeders

Students in kindergarten through 5th grade spent time creating bird feeders in honor of parashat Beshalach and Shabbat Shira with Lower School Judaic Studies Principal Rivkie Gottlieb. The students learned that as a thank you to the birds who consumed the counterfeit Mann (edible substance), we make sure to feed the birds before Shabbat when Parashat HaMann is read.

Reading Roundtable

Ms. Weinstein's 6th grade class worked hard to prepare for their first Reading Roundtable Discussion on this quarter's book, Black Radishes by Susan Lynn Meyer. Their book focuses on the experience of an 11 year old boy, Gustave, who realizes that being Jewish in France, during World War II, challenges everything he knows about his country, friends, and family.

Teacher Innovation

As part of the IDEAS grant, RMBA teachers were challenged to become teacher innovators in technology. A group of teachers took on the challenge, incorporating new technologies in their classroom. Mrs. Rosenzweig introduced three projects in her curriculum: 1) Augmented reality code in geometric objects, 2) virtual reality math mazes for all grade levels to review concepts, and 3) sewing tessellation pillows. Mrs. Rosenzweig was very excited this week to be awarded a FlashForge 3D printer for her classroom.

Tu B'Shvat Prep

Morah Aviva's ECE4 class had a blast preparing for Tu B'Shvat this week! From bubble wrap painted almond blossom trees to pipe cleaner and beads with clay trees, the students are blossoming every day!

Wood-Burning

Students in medieval guild crafts have finished folding, cutting, sewing, and binding their books. This week they focused on wood-burning designs into their covers. They were most excited to reach this step!

Breezy Learning

High School students in Rabbi Ouzzan's seminar class enjoyed studying Judaism’s take on forming healthy and lasting successful relationships after high school in the outdoor courtyard.

Fruit Fun

In honor of Tu B'Shvat 7th and 8th grade students in Ori Friedmann's Hebrew class enjoyed a Tu B'Shvat contest. The students were divided into 4 groups, they learned all about different fruits and trees, had a fun taste test, and competed in various challenges.

Birdhouse Decorations

6th grade students in Mrs. Rosenzweig's class have finished 3D printing their geometrical bird houses in the BIMA makerspace right in time for Tu B'Shvat. The students will decorate some trees in the magical forest with their beautiful birdhouses in honor of the new year for the trees.

Stand Strong

Kindergarten students were taught this week how to stand strong and stay safe. The program was run by Childbuilders, an organization that teaches assertiveness training.

Food Drive

Help out our lower school student council and bring canned and dry goods to RMBA's lobby. Each month, the lower school student council aims to help different organizations through various drives and volunteer efforts.

Save the Date

Tu B'Shvat Hike and Fun

Join Ori and Aviva Friedmann together with the whole family, as we celebrate Tu B'Shvat in the best way possible—by going out to explore the nature around us!

Sunday, January 31, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center

We will meet by the playground at the nature center to go on the hike, decorate planters and plant some seeds!

The hike is stroller friendly. The program is geared towards ages 2-10 but everyone is welcome!

Click here to register

Click here for directions. Once you enter the nature center, just follow the signs to the playground.

YOM LIMMUD 2021

Sunday, February 14, 2021

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Our event will be entirely virtual this year. This offers our community the incredible opportunity to hear from presenters from around the world! Each presenter will either currently live or have lived in the country they discuss. We will host 20 sessions including a PJ Library program, a family program for middle school ages and up, as well as a teachers' track.