School's Out with Jeremy Savran

Greetings Heilicher Families,

I want to take a moment to introduce myself to everybody: My name is Jeremy Savran. I have been working at Heilicher since 2020. Over the last two years, I have been a full-time substitute at Heilicher and a program director/communications manager at Camp Olami, and I have worked in HaBonim. While filling in for many of your children’s teachers, I have loved getting to know all of the students at Heilicher and really value the connections I have made.

I am very excited to say that this year, along with subbing, I am taking on the role of School’s Out Director! School’s Out is part of Heilicher’s After-School/HaBonim programming. School’s Out offers an opportunity for students to get childcare and have fun at school when school is not in session. I have been working hard on making fun plans for these days, and I hope that later in the year we can go on a few field trips! It all depends on the number of students that sign up.

This year, families will have the option to sign up for the first half, second half, or the full day of School’s Out. The first half will run from 8 a.m. until noon, and the second half will be noon to 4 p.m. Our maximum capacity is 24 students, so sign up early. The first School’s Out days will be in November during fall conferences. You will be able to sign up for November dates through Jumbula within the next couple of weeks.

Thank you,

Jeremy Savran

Torah Thoughts from Doc

Read a brief message about this week's Torah portion, Parashat Ki Tavo. How can an ancient text instruct our attitude toward immigrants?

Mark Your Calendars!

• Friday, September 23 - All-School Kabbalat Shabbat, 2:45 p.m., PARENTS WELCOME!
• Monday, September 26 - NO SCHOOL: Rosh Hashanah
• Tuesday, September 27 - NO SCHOOL: Rosh Hashanah
• Tuesday, October 4 - NOON EARLY DISMISSAL: Erev Yom Kippur
• Wednesday, October 5 - NO SCHOOL: Yom Kippur

View the full Heilicher calendar online

Key Dates for 2022-2023

Assessments to Take Place Next Week

Providing for the highest level of academic growth involves many factors, such as lesson planning, curriculum resources, and teacher preparation. Another factor is effective and useful assessment data. Teachers collect data from a variety of sources: listening to and observing students, reviewing student work, and providing responsive planning for instruction.

This year, Heilicher will use the FastBridge suite of screening tools to support teacher planning. K-1 will do one-on-one screeners of early literacy skills, and grades 2-5 will complete a computer-based adaptive test. All students will take a fluency test at their grade level. In addition, grades 3-5 will use the adaptive assessment for math. The computer assessments take about 30 minutes and will be in the classroom. Tests will be administered in low-stress environments throughout next week, and your child's teacher will share their test time with you.

These tools are flexible and nationally normed, and they provide useful data for problem solving and planning for teaching. The data from the tests will help teachers identify the right way to teach each student, giving us a fuller picture of students' needs.

If you have questions or concerns about this new tool, I am more than happy to answer questions via Google Meets on Friday morning (tomorrow) from 9 to 10 a.m. or next Monday, September 19, from 11 a.m. to noon. You are also welcome to email me to set up another time to talk.

Thank you for your collaboration,

Jackie Smith

Director of General Studies

*We will not administer the MAP test to students in grades 3-5. Stay tuned for information about 6-8 assessments.

Before Care Begins Monday

The before-care program will begin on Monday, September 19. Before care is a free, drop-in program.

Before-care drop-off will be from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. No drops-offs will be allowed from 7:45 to 8 a.m. (Heilicher’s normal drop-off window begins at 8 a.m.)

To drop off your student, use your parent access card to enter the building, walk your child to the Dining Room, and sign them into before care. You may not drop your child off outside the building, as we will not have staff at the entrance to ensure they get to the Dining Room.

As a reminder, we will not provide food during before care. However, you are welcome to send a dairy or parev (non-dairy/non-meat) breakfast for your child to eat before school begins.

Please email beforecare@hmjds.org if you have any questions.

Grades 2-5: Join the Heilicher Choir!

In our choir, students in grades 2-5 have the opportunity to study vocal music and explore a variety of musical styles. If your child is interested in participating in the Heilicher choral groups, please read the Heilicher Choir Description and email Mr. Shaw with your student's and their homeroom teacher's names by Friday, September 23.

The choir groups practice once per week during recess. Rehearsals begin the week of October 3.

Reminder: Late/Early Drop-off/Pickup Protocol

When you drop off your student late or pick them up early, remember to let us know via the Heilicher Communication Center. When you arrive, park and come to the office with/for your child. Use your parent ID card to access the building through the main (south) entrance of the JCC.

Join Us for a Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah Celebration!

Next week the whole school will come together to welcome Shabbat and prepare for Rosh Hashanah at the first All-School Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, September 23, at 2:45 p.m. Parents are invited to join. Come early and celebrate with us!

Last Chance: Heilicher Sweatshirt Sale

Order a Heilicher sweatshirt! Orders are due by this Monday, September 19. Sweatshirts are expected to arrive to the school in mid-November and will be distributed at that time.

As the school year gets going, we will open a spirit shop with water bottles, hats, shirts, and more.

Read the Fall 2022 Heilicher Magazine

Read the latest issue of The Heilicher Magazine! In it, we look toward Heilicher's bright future, introduce new administrators, and highlight the Heilicher class of 2022. We introduce Heilicher alumn and Board member Gabe Segal and include the 2021-22 school year-end donor list. And, take a peek to see a montage of photos from last school year!

You should have received a copy in the mail, and you may read the magazine online or get a copy from the Heilicher office.

Share Grandparent Contacts

Grandparents are an integral part of our Heilicher community. Throughout the year, we invite grandparents to participate in school programs and activities, including the Yom Dor l’Dor program for grandparents and other special elders on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 22. We also send a grandparent e-newsletter called Roots & Wings.

If you haven’t already, please share contact information for your child’s grandparents. Thank you!

Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up to help with All-School Lunch and/or All-School T'filah.

• All-School Lunch: Help set up and clean up our all-school lunch on Wednesday(s) in the auditorium 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• All-School T'filah: Help us set up for all-school t'filah (prayer) Monday(s) in the theater 8:15-9 a.m. 

Grade-level volunteer opportunities will be sent out by room parents.