New Literacy Curricula Beginning Fall 2023

Nationwide, teachers are seeing an increased need to align with the science of reading. Preservice teacher training programs, professional development opportunities, and new curricula are all pivoting to align with our new understanding of how the human brain acquires literacy skills. Heilicher teachers saw this opportunity to be leaders among independent schools in approaching this shift, so this winter a literacy team was established including Jodi Danovsky, Ilena Marron, Dana Provus, and Jackie Smith. This team worked many hours to outline priorities, review materials, connect with teachers around the country, review expert recommendations, and discern an effective path for our schoolwide literacy plan.

Heilicher is excited to share its decision to adopt two programs that fit the needs of our elementary school students. Beginning in the fall of 2023, we will partner with Groves Learning Organization in grades K-2 to implement the Groves Literacy Framework, an evidence-based foundational skills program designed for all learners. Students will have daily instruction in skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, and handwriting. Teachers and staff will also work with coaches on a weekly basis to train in the science of reading and early literacy fundamentals.

For grades 3-5, the literacy team selected Wit and Wisdom, and teachers will begin implementing the new curriculum in the fall. This program offers a rigorous, comprehensive, humanities-based approach to literacy instruction. Students will have the opportunity to experience authentic texts, poetry, art, social studies, and science topics through a literacy lens.

The literacy team and I have so much more to share about this! We look forward to opportunities to inform families as we prepare for the 2023-2024 school year. Please watch for details over the summer.

Jackie Smith

General Studies Director

Torah Thoughts and Pirkei Avot with Doc

Read a brief message about this week’s Torah portion, Parashat B’har-B’chukotai. Learn how shmita (the sabbatical year) and yovel (jubilee) play a role in modern life.

It is a long-standing Jewish practice to study Pirkei Avot (Chapters/Ethics of the Fathers) each Shabbat afternoon during the Omer, between Pesach and Shavuot. This works out to one chapter each Shabbat. Consider chapter four’s moral lessons and the juxtaposition of carelessness and intentional wrongdoing in Avot 4:16.

Mark Your Calendars!

• Thursday, May 18 - Mainstream Boutique Mom’s Night Fundraiser, 6-7:30 p.m., Mainstream Boutique, Golden Valley
• Friday, May 19 - Application Deadline for Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant for Community Volunteers
• Sunday, May 21 - Family Park Playdate, 2-3:30 p.m., Wolfe Park
• Wednesday, May 24 - Parent Art & Wine Night, 7-9 p.m., Studio Inside Out
• Thursday, May 25 - Shavuot Program, 2-2:30 p.m. — Bring Food Donations
• Friday, May 26 - NO SCHOOL: Shavuot
• Monday, May 29 - NO SCHOOL: Memorial Day
• Wednesday, May 31 - Spring Music Concert, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Manny Fingerhut Auditorium
• Friday, June 2 - Maccabiah (Field Day) — 2 P.M. EARLY DISMISSAL
• Tuesday, June 6 - Summer Soiree for Parents, Faculty, and Staff, 7:30-9 p.m., Sabes JCC Outdoor Pool Deck
• Wednesday, June 7 - Grade 8 Graduation, 4:30 p.m., Dolly & Edward Fiterman Theatre

View the full Heilicher calendar online

Key Dates for 2022-2023

Key Dates for 2023-2024

Mindy and Dan Ribnick Family Tuition Grant for Community Volunteers

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 2023-2024 school year is invited to submit an application by Friday, May 19. Please reach out to Karen Hoppe with any questions.

Heilicher Maccabi Games and Color Run Friday, June 2 — Dismissal will be at 2 p.m.

The Heilicher Maccabi Games (field day) and the Heilicher Color Run will be on Friday, June 2. IMPORTANT: School will dismiss early, at 2 p.m., on this date.

There are many opportunities to volunteer to help out with the Maccabi Games. Sign up for a shift!

A special, no-cost lunch will be provided for all students on June 2. The lunch will be an impossible burger, chips, and watermelon. If you wish to have your student opt out of this lunch, please email Annie Byrne by noon on Tuesday, May 23, and plan to send a dairy/parve lunch from home that day.

The Heilicher Color Run will begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by popsicles and songs. Please join us.

Color Run Fundraiser

The students have raised $13,814 toward our $36,000 goal! Our first goal is 100% participation; we are currently at 48%. If we hit 100% participation per class, each class will get to pick a fun way to celebrate (pajama day, extra recess, movie day, etc.). When we hit $18,000 an ice cream truck will come to school during recess, and if we hit $36,000 we will celebrate with a pool party. 

We will also celebrate the students’ efforts to raise money to support Heilicher’s arts and athletics with the Heilicher Color Run on Friday, June 2, at 1:30 p.m. Heilicher families are invited to watch a noncompetitive race around the field. Students will be showered in safe, eco-friendly, powdered chalk as they go, giving them each a unique tie-dye look.

Please share the fundraising web page with friends and family. Go to the main page and search for your student by their first name and last initial. To promote the fundraiser, consider having your child send a short video of why they love Heilicher with the appeal to friends and family. Watch a fun, short video Jonah F. made as an example.

Shavuot Food Shelf Donations

Heilicher will celebrate Shavuot on Thursday, May 25, with a parade of food donations, like of bikkurim (first-fruits). The seventh graders will also teach about the Book of Ruth. Please send your students with food items to donate on May 25. Parents are welcome to join for the 2-2:30 p.m. program.

School's Out: Last Day of School

Registration for School's Out on the last day of school is open on Jumbula through Thursday, June 1. School's Out will be offered Thursday, June 8, from noon to 4 p.m. All students will need to bring a dairy or parve (non-meat) lunch from home. Students will enjoy a carnival with games, popsicles, bubbles, and chalk.

What Jewish Overnight Camps Are Your Kids Attending?

Heilicher Admissions would like to send some fun, summer swag to our campers and perhaps go visit them for a day! Please take a moment to fill out a short survey to share where your grades 2-8 child(ren) will be attending Jewish overnight camp this summer by Monday, May 15.

Grade 8 Graduation

All are invited to celebrate with the graduating eighth-grade class at the commencement ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, in the Dolly & Edward Fiterman Theatre on the Barry Family Campus.

From the Parent-Teacher Organization

Shop and Support Heilicher

Join the PTO for a Heilicher moms’ night out on Thursday, May 18, 6-7:30 p.m., at Mainstream Boutique in Golden Valley (679 Winnetka Avenue North). Come for wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to check out all the beautiful styles! Mainstream Boutique will donate 15% of proceeds to Heilicher! 

Can't attend in the evening? Mainstream Boutique will also generously donate 15% of proceeds on items purchased that business day (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) — just mention Heilicher when you check out. 

See Mainstream Boutique's fashions, and contact Beckie Skelton at 612.419.3290 with any questions.

Family Park Playdate

The PTO will host a family park playdate on Sunday, May 21, 2-3:30 p.m. at Wolfe Park. Snacks and water will be provided. RSVP to Michele Kaplan Clinard by Sunday, May 14.

Parent Art & Wine Night

The Heilicher PTO invites you to a night of judgement-free, creative expression at Studio INSIDE OUT (4827 Minnetonka Blvd, St. Louis Park), Wednesday, May 24, 7-9 p.m. Connecting us to home and community, friends and family, we’ll make personalized mezuzot, sans kids! Wine and snacks will be provided. Free parking is available on the west side of the building. Space is limited, so RSVP today and no later than May 19. The cost is $36.

Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up to help at Maccabi Games, All-School Lunch, and/or All-School T'filah.

• Maccabiah: Volunteers are needed to help run games, walk with students, set up, clean up, serve lunch, and more on Friday, June 2.
• 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 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.