Beren Buzz 🐝 April 18, 2024

Shabbat Hagadol - Parshat Metzora

Candle Lighting 7:33 p.m.

Havdalah 8:34 p.m.

P² Parsha Perspectives

This week, Head of School Rabbi Jordan Silvestri shares his parsha perspectives on the dichotomy of life, emphasizing the significance of embracing both joy and pain as we celebrate Pesach amidst the challenges faced by our brothers and sisters in Israel.

Click here to continue reading.

Hakarat HaTov - Recognizing the Good

We are so grateful for all our volunteers this week! A huge shoutout and thank you goes out to:

Tali Bublil, Ety Gerenstein, Alexandra Herr, Regina Shamooelian, Tali Tessler, Talia Tobias

If you would like to volunteer at RMBA please click here to view our opportunities.

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Owen Zev Blumberg, son of Justin and Becky Blumberg, grandson of Bonnie and Alan Blumberg, on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah!

Through the Looking Glass

As we continue our Getting to Know You: Principal Edition mini-series we welcome Mrs. Raquel Cedano, our General Studies Upper School Principal. In this episode, we get to hear about the journey Mrs. Cedano took, pivoting from a focus on social services to education.

Find out more in this week's Through the Looking Glass Podcast Episode #32!

Spring Clean with Purpose

Don't forget! As we prepare for Pesach and embrace the spirit of Spring cleaning, remember the clothing bin conveniently placed outside the Greenwillow gate. It's the perfect opportunity to donate your used clothing and shoes!

#instaberen

Minimester Magic

This week, our middle school students dedicated their mornings to the CTP5 standardized tests, a tool utilized to gauge student progress. In the afternoons over the course of four days, they participated in our longstanding program known as "Minimester" here at RMBA. Minimester offers a unique array of short courses tailored to individual interests and significance, both for our faculty who teach them and the students who eagerly select their courses. This year's offerings spanned a diverse range, including: Forensic Science Lab, Arts & Crafts, various sports activities, Creative Writing, Sodas and Slurpees in Halacha, Sports in Jewish Law, Stained Glass, and Dynamic Art.

Reading Buddies

This week, Ms. Morrison's fourth-grade class joined forces with the kindergarten class for a heartwarming reading session. Paired up with kindergarteners, each fourth-grader shared their love for reading, exchanging ideas and enjoying vibrant illustrations. In turn, the kindergarteners delighted the fourth-graders by reading a book aloud. It was a wonderful afternoon of reading and community building.

Gaza Insights and Discussion

This week, Mr. Cell's 11th-12th grade Honors Economics class, joined by selected students from various other classes, engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with Marom Katz via Zoom. Marom, a Beren graduate from the class of 2019, shared his firsthand experiences serving with the IDF in Gaza. He recounted his experiences on October 7th and beyond, providing valuable insights for the students to connect with real-world events.

Rainforest Adventure

This week, the first-grade traditional classes embarked on an exciting trip to Moody Gardens in Galveston to complement their studies on the rainforest. Immersed in learning, students explored the various layers of the rainforest and studied the unique characteristics within. Each student selected an animal to research, delving into their adaptations and habitats. To showcase their newfound knowledge, students painted shirts featuring their chosen animals, proudly wearing them during the trip to Moody Gardens. Their artistic talents received numerous compliments, adding to the excitement of the day.

Pesach Project Fun

Morah Aviva's EC4A class enthusiastically completed their Pesach Seder projects this week! From crafting decorative pillows for reclining at the Seder to planting parsley seeds symbolizing Spring, students worked diligently on their creations and are eager to showcase them to their families. Alongside these projects, they engaged in a variety of tactile experiences in the centers. Some students recreated the splitting of the Red Sea by sifting through damp sand and adding blue stones and bear counters, while others built pyramids using magna tiles and pattern boards. New challenging table puzzles in the Science center were a hit, and the week culminated in a thrilling Matzah factory activity. Students joyfully flattened dough with rolling pins and observed Rabbi Mendy using a special roller to create holes for baking the matzah into thin crackers.

Museum Exploration

Mr. Simon's third-grade class ventured on an exciting field trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science this week! The students explored the interactive King Tut exhibit and the Ancient Egypt exhibition, immersing themselves in history and culture. They also enjoyed a delightful picnic lunch at Hermann Park. The trip was a wonderful experience for everyone, including parents who joined in the fun.

StandWithUs

Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming Charlotte Korchak, StandWithUs's International Senior Educator, to address our high school students on the essence of activism. She urged students to gain knowledge about the Israel conflict and emphasized the importance of comprehending diverse perspectives. For instance, she clarified that a Zionist is someone who supports the Jewish people's right to a state in Israel. StandWithUs, an international, non-partisan educational organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism.

Pesach Prep

This week, Morah Clara's EC3B class has been immersed in Pesach preparations! From retelling the story and singing Seder songs to practicing setting up the Kehara with maror, carpas, beitzah, tzroach, and chazeret, the students are eager to assist in home preparations. They delighted in a visit to the Matzah factory, where they kneaded dough, flattened it with rolling pins, and learned about the 18-minute process required to make matzah. The class is thrilled to showcase their wonderful crafts to their families for the Chag!

Guest Reader

This week, Ms. Morrison's second-grade class enjoyed a delightful visit from a special guest parent reader, Mrs. Ludmir. She volunteered her time to read "The Day the Crayons Quit" by Drew Daywalt, a perfect choice for discussing empathy and caring for the things we cherish. Following the reading, students enthusiastically shared their favorite colors and drew inspiration from the book to craft their pen pal letters to the fourth graders.

Pesach Activities Galore

This week, the spirit of Pesach came alive for students in Morah Hanna's EC4B class as they engaged in various activities. They tested their pyramid-building skills using blocks/magna tiles and recreated Yetziat Mitzrayim (exiting Egypt) using marbles, stones, animals, and play figures from the Pesach sensory bin. During centers, the children reinforced letter phonics by sounding out Pesach items and identifying their beginning letters. They also had fun making playdough matzah using forks and rolling pins. The class participated in an interactive Pesach story session incorporating songs and movements during circle time, and they completed several Pesach projects, including their Haggadot.

Haggadah Creations

This week, Morah Sandy's EC3A class completed their Haggadot in preparation for their Seders. For the final touch, they created collage covers representing abstract matzahs. The students are excited to share their creations with their parents!

Songs and Crafts

This week, Morah Tsippi's EC2B class had a fantastic time practicing all of their Pesach songs and putting the finishing touches on their crafts. Students enthusiastically decorated pages depicting the ten Makkot (plagues) and created a visual aid to help them remember the song they learned about Baby Moshe. They also had a blast trying on King Pharaoh crowns, feeling regal as can be! With their newfound knowledge and creativity, the children are eagerly prepared to share their understanding of Pesach during the upcoming Chag!

STEAM Showcase

This week, our lower school students impressed at the STEAM Showcase, showcasing their creativity and dedication. Their passion for STEAM shone brightly as they shared their achievements with attendees.

Community Connection

Last Sunday, students in the Better to Serve high school elective had a memorable experience visiting Medallion residents. They learned about the matzah-making process firsthand at the visiting matzah factory, enriching their experience.