Third graders prayed through art this week, "drawing" the 22 days of the Omer and blessings in the Amidah (personal prayer) about things they are thankful for, the blessings of the changing season, and people they know who are kind, just, elderly, and wise.
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Dear Heilicher Parents,
As our community processes the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, our hearts are full. On one hand, we affirm and celebrate the decision of the jury, and we are grateful that, after so many years of failure, justice in this instance was served. We also know that this is not the end of the road, and that we have an obligation to continue to fight for equality and to promote policies and programs that ensure the safety of communities of color.
As a school leader and a long-time educator, as well as a parent, I know that it is often challenging to find the right words to talk to children about these difficult issues. Below are a number of resources that may be helpful to you. Please feel free to reach out if you have other resources to share that we can make available to our teachers, staff and school community.
Wishing you all a peaceful end to the week, and a Shabbat Shalom.
Maia Poling, Associate Head of School
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Mark Your Calendars!
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Friday, April 30 - Lag BaOmer
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Monday - Friday, May 3-7 - Teacher Appreciation Week
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Monday and Tuesday, May 17-18 - Shavuot - NO SCHOOL
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Thursday, May 27 - Annual Meeting, 7-8:30 p.m. (invitation to follow)
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Grades 6-8 Biking Agreement
We will begin allowing students in Grades 6-8 to bike unaccompanied to/from Heilicher with parent permission.
Younger children may not bike to school with siblings or friends in Grades 6-8. Bikes should be properly locked on bicycle racks by the fitness entrance to the Sabes JCC (east side of the building). After locking their bikes, students should walk up to the north side of the building and enter through Door 9 (the standard morning entry door for Grades 6-8).
At the end of the day, all bikers will be dismissed together and will be responsible for walking down to the bike rack by themselves and biking home.
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Heilicher Use of Technology
School technology is to be used for academic purposes only. We ask that parents and students do not email or call each other during the school day.
If a student needs to communicate with a parent during the school day, they should let their teacher know and the teacher can facilitate that communication if needed. If a parent needs to reach their child during the school day, please contact the main office at 952.381.3500 and the front desk staff will facilitate the communication.
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Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 3- 7!
Our Teacher Appreciation Week Committee has come up with some great ideas to show the teachers how much we love and appreciate them. Here are some ways you can help!
If you want to help chalk the front sidewalk and parking lot on Sunday, May 2, please email Alissa Abelson.
We hope to be able to send home a challah or challah knots with all the teachers on Thursday, May 6. If you are interested in making challot to contribute, please contact Sharon Rosenblum
We are encouraging students and parents to write notes to all their teachers, sharing something they appreciate about them. Please send them with your student(s) to school for them to pass out by Thursday, May 6.
Please use this link to make a short video thanking teachers! We will send out the videos to teachers on Friday, May 7. Here's how to do it! When you open the link, you'll see the following: "Are you a family member or guest? Enter your guest password." Click on that option, and enter the password "Heilicher."
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Heilicher 2020-21 Annual Fund Closing Soon!
As the school year nears its end, we wanted to reach out one more time to say thank you.
During this current school year, our Annual Fund has raised almost $560,000 from parents, grandparents, alumni families, and the broader community. Thank you all for everything you do, every day, to boost and strengthen our school.
This year has brought many challenges, yet we are thankful for our incredible community. We also appreciate the support of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, which provided the school with a generous grant through the community Kadima campaign.
One final ask: our goal is 100% parent participation in giving to the school. This is an important metric, as many of our foundation supporters require this as a condition of their grantmaking. If you have not yet made your donation, please consider doing so before our school-year campaign officially draws to a close. You may give online at www.hmjds.org/donate, or call Beckie Skelton at 612.419.3290. Any gift, of any amount, helps us reach our goal!
Thank you, and best wishes for a wonderful end to the school year.
Michael Zis and Deborah Olkon
Parent Annual Fund Co-Chairs
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Kabbalat Shabbat
We're looking for five more families to "lead" us through Kabbalat Shabbat during the remaining weeks of this school year. This entails making a video of 5-8 minutes going through the blessings and leading a song or story or Torah study. Email Wendy Goldberg if your family is interested!
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Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant for Community Volunteers
Reminder there is still time to apply for The Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant Program.
The Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant Program for Community Volunteers makes possible grants of 18% of total tuition (Chai) for approximately four Heilicher students per school year. Any parent or guardian of a newly-enrolled or re-enrolled student(s) for the 2021-2022 school year is invited to submit an application communicating their current Jewish community volunteer roles and involvement.
Applications must be completed and submitted by Friday, May 14, 2021 to be considered for the coming grant cycle. ONE application will be accepted per family. Awards will be communicated to recipient families by Friday, May 28, 2021. Awards will be credited against owed tuition for the 2021-2022 school year, and will be in addition to any need-based financial aid awarded.
Fill out the application here.
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Good Deeds Day 2021
PJ Library Minneapolis, the Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School, and Talmud Torah of Minneapolis are partnering again this spring to bring Good Deeds Day to your home Sunday, April 25.
Families that register will be mailed a new spring-themed Kindness Kit with a focus on environmental justice, anti-racism, and honoring our elders. The kit contents can be completed on your time inside your home. The activities are designed to promote compassion and ignite important discussions with your family.
Half of your registration fee will be donated to PRISM food pantry, JFCS’s neighbor agency. PRISM is committed to responding to the needs of the community during these challenging times. Donations to PRISM help ensure food is available to our most vulnerable neighbors
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Covid-19 Updates from Nurse Katie
Testing
As you may have heard, the Covid-19 rate of infection is increasing in children. Sports and clubs contribute to this uptick. Fortunately, the rate in teachers has gone down as they have been getting vaccinated. The Minnesota Department of Health strongly encourages Covid-19 testing every 1 or 2 weeks if your family is involved in activities outside of school when social distancing of 6 feet is difficult to maintain and when children interact with others from different classes and schools.
Routine Childhood immunizations
If your child needs to have any vaccines this year, please consider doing it soon. When the Covid-19 vaccine becomes available for children, they cannot get it if they have had another vaccine within 14 days. Your child will not be able to get this at the same time as their other vaccines or the flu vaccine in the fall. Please plan ahead and share information with other families.
While the Covid-19 vaccine is becoming more available, please keep in mind that you are not considered fully vaccinated until 2-4 weeks past vaccination. Please continue to use all the precautions that we have implemented since the beginning of the school year. Please remember the vaccine lessens your symptoms if you get the infection, but it does not keep you from getting Covid-19 or spreading it. For more details, please see the CDC website.
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Spirit Wear
Make sure to check out our Heilicher online spirit shop. We have a lot of new and exciting items for children and adults.
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MAZEL TOV!
Mazel Tov to Benji Kaplan on his upcoming Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 24 , via Zoom
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Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School
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