KOL ECHAD | Weekly Newsletter 

February 8, 2024

The Power of Collaborative Play

By James Himsworth, Assistant Principal & Middle School Coordinator

Collaborative play, whether in structured games or imaginative scenarios, encourages children to communicate, negotiate, and problem-solve together. Through interaction with peers, children learn to understand different perspectives, share ideas, and develop empathy. These social skills are crucial for navigating relationships and are foundational for success in school and beyond. As children engage in cooperative tasks, they exercise their executive functions, such as planning, self-regulation, and decision-making. These mental processes are vital for academic achievement and overall cognitive development.

Research suggests that collaborative play can also enhance creativity. When children collaborate, they co-create narratives, build structures, and invent games, fostering imagination and innovation. These endeavors stimulate neural pathways associated with creativity, which is increasingly recognized as a crucial skill in today's rapidly evolving world.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Future of Educational Technology Conference last month, to make a presentation about technology learning at Kadima, and to collaborate and play with thousands of educators from around the world. Not only was I proud to represent our school on an international stage, but I came back energized and full of new ideas. By interacting with new technologies, novel ideas, and fresh perspectives, I gained a wealth of inspiration to bring back to Kadima. 

As educators and parents, it's essential to prioritize and facilitate opportunities for collaborative play. Providing ample time and space for group activities, encouraging teamwork, and modeling positive social interactions are ways to support children in developing these crucial skills. Collaborative play is more than just fun—it's a powerful tool for children's brain development.

Shabbat shalom,

James Himsworth

Assistant Principal & Middle School Coordinator

Important Dates

Friday, February 9

• 1st grade Siyum HaAmidah and Shabbat program - 1:30 pm

Wednesday, February 14

• Snack Shack

Thursday, February 15

• 2024-25 re-enrollment contracts sent

Monday, February 19

• Presidents' Day - school closed

Friday, February 23

• Second trimester ends

Tuesday, February 27

• Middle school science fair - 9:30 to 11:30 am, in the auditorium

Thursday, February 29

• Parent-teacher conferences - minimum day - 12:00 pm dismissal (ES/MS only)

Friday, March 1

• Parent-teacher conferences - school closed
• Re-enrollment contracts are due

Monday, March 4

• Literary tea (reading celebration), kindergarten-8th grade

Tuesday, March 5

• Rosh chodesh staff luncheon

Thursday, March 7

• PTO meeting - 8:15 am, in the library

Sunday, March 10

• Daylight saving time begins (spring forward)

Wednesday, March 13

• Snack Shack
• 3rd and 5th grade field trip to Griffith Observatory

Thursday, March 14

• Pi Day

Monday-Friday, March 18-22

• Spirit Week

Tuesday, March 19

• Field trip to the Jewish Home for the Aging (3rd-5th grades)

Thursday, March 21

• 1st grade field trip to the Los Angeles Natural History Museum

Friday, March 22

• Tropical paradise Purim carnival

Monday, March 25

• Purim celebrated at school

*For the full school year calendar, please click HERE.

Celebrating 100 Days of School

Siyum HaAmidah and Shabbat Program

Friday, February 9, 1:30-2:15 pm, in the Beit Knesset

First grade parents, you are cordially invited to attend our first grade Siyum HaAmidah and Shabbat program tomorrow, Friday, February 9, from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, in the Kadima beit knesset. This is a special and significant milestone in your children's Judaic Studies learning, and we want you to be a part of this joyous occasion.

Middle School Movie Night

Tuesday, February 13, 4:00-6:00 pm, in the auditorium

Middle School students are invited to Movie Night, featuring the film '10 Things I Hate About You', on Tuesday, February 13, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, in the Auditorium. The film is a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's play 'The Taming of the Shrew' and is considered a top-tier teenage romcom. Snacks will be provided.

Snack Shack

Wednesday, February 14

This month's Snack Shack for Kinder through 8th grade, hosted by our PTO, will take place this coming Wednesday, February 14. Please send your children with a few dollars for a treat during recess. All proceeds benefit our PTO.  

Parent volunteers are needed. To sign up, please click here.

Middle School Science Fair

Tuesday, February 27, 9:30-11:30 am, in the auditorium

Middle school parents, please join us on Tuesday, February 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 am, in the auditorium, for our middle school science fair. Our students have been working diligently on their science fair projects and are looking forward to presenting their projects to you. Bring your questions and curiosity.

Get Ready for Spirit Week

Monday-Friday, March 18-22

In preparation for Purim, the middle school student leadership group invites students in Kinder through 8th grade to get creative! Each day during Spirit Week includes a special theme, and a costume to match.

On Monday, show-off your crazy hair or hat. On Tuesday, everyone should be able to get to school on time as it is pajama day, easy breezy morning routine. On Wednesday, students will dress in a cohesive class theme (teachers will send details of their class's theme in advance). Also on Wednesday, volunteer parents will decorate each classroom door with the class theme. Thursday is v'nahafoch hu (opposite) day. Wear your clothes upside-down, backwards, or any other variation of your choice. Friday is our grand tropical paradise Purim carnival day. Dress in your favorite Hawaiian shirt, hula grass skirt, or other tropical-themed clothing.

On Monday, March 25, Kadima will be celebrating Purim with a mishloach manot exchange, costume parade, and m'gillah reading (more details to follow soon). On Purim, students should wear a costume of their choice (no weapons, please).

Purim Carnival Volunteers

Friday, March 22

Kadima's tropical paradise Purim carnival is in need of volunteers. The carnival will be held on Friday, March 22, with the following time slots for each division:

• ECEC: 9:00 - 10:30 am
• Kindergarten - 2nd grade: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
• 3rd - 8th grade: 1:00 - 3:00 pm

To sign up to volunteer, please click here.

PTO Tie-Dye Event

Monday, April 8, 4:30 - 6:00 pm, on the Kadima yard

Deadline to register: March 1

Come have fun and tie-dye your purchased Kadima shirt, sweatshirt, or sweatpants on Monday, April 8, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Click here or on the flyer to purchase your items. Deadline to purchase is Friday, March 1.

Spring Sports

This spring, Kadima athletics will be offering cheer/dance (1st-5th grade and middle school), boys' soccer (3rd-4th grade and 5th-6th grade), girls' volleyball (3rd-5th grade and middle school), and boys' volleyball (middle school).

If you are returning from a previous fall sport, you DO NOT need to complete an athletics application. However, please make an additional payment if you have not already done so. Payment is required at the time of a new athletics application. Please return all paperwork and fees to the main office.

For questions, please contact Dallas Perez, dperez@kadima.co

Looking forward to a great spring season. Go Kodiaks!

Coach Dallas

Thank You, Kadima PTO!

Thank you to the Hankoff and Peker families for sponsoring a delicious brunch for the faculty and staff in honor of Rosh Chodesh Adar I. We really appreciate it!

Rosh Chodesh lunch is a service of the PTO to provide a beautiful lunch to the faculty and staff at the beginning of each Jewish New Month. You can participate by sponsoring part or all of this meal, and we will recognize your milestone or simcha with a poster listing all the sponsors at that lunch. It is a highlight of the month for the teachers and a great way to support the Kadima community. We need a combined $500 each month to provide a beautiful meal. If you would like to participate, please contact: Adva Tzvi advatsvi@hotmail.com or Shani Gabay Gabayshani@hotmail.com.

Please email or text or WhatsApp with the following information:

• The month you would like to sponsor (September -May)
• The dollar amount you would like to donate
• Family name as it should be listed
• In Honor of/Celebration of/ Memory of
• Your contact info

The Finance Office will reach out for payment .

Thank you for your participation,

Adva and Shani

Religious Practices Policy

Please be mindful of the school policy regarding Shabbat observance. Per our Parent & Student Handbook, "classes and school activities are never scheduled to conflict with Shabbat or holidays, and school personnel are unavailable for consultation on these days. We also ask that student-to-student and parent-to-parent contact regarding school matters (e.g., schoolwork, PTO activities, transportation arrangements) not occur on Shabbat."

We also ask families to please not schedule any birthday parties or other student activities during Shabbat or restricted holidays.

Thank you for your sensitivity to these matters.

2024-25 Re-Enrollment

Returning Kadima families will be receiving their 2024-25 re-enrollment contracts starting February 15. You will have two weeks to submit your signed re-enrollment contract to waive the enrollment fee and secure your class spot for the 2024-25 school year.

New Exit Gate Security

Kadima has installed a spike strip at the exit gate to increase the protection, safety, and security of our students and staff. Please be sure to not stop your car directly above the spike strip as you risk rolling back, causing severe tire damage. Please wait for the car in front of you to turn onto Shoup Avenue before proceeding.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.  

Kadima Board of Trustees Nominations

Kadima's Board of Trustees is actively looking for new members to serve for 2024-25. If you or someone you know wants to champion our school and have a larger impact on Kadima’s future, please contact boardsecretary@kadima.co.

For a more in-depth description of what is required of a board member, please click here.

February Fundraiser

Show your support for Israel and Kadima with our February fundraiser! This month only, the whole Kadima community gets 10% off all items from Order Israel with the discount code “KADIMA." Even better, 20% of the proceeds from each item purchased will go to Kadima!

Use the following link to apply the discount code automatically: https://orderisrael.com/discount/kadima

Top 10 Conversation Starters: Parashat Mishpatim

By Dr. Steven Lorch

#10 - This parashah comes immediately after the revelation at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments. The story of the Exodus continues with Moshe ascending Mount Sinai and staying there for 40 days and nights, but only at the end of this parashah (Sh'mot 24, 1-18). The first hundred verses of the parashah contain literally dozens of laws on topics that include servants, kidnapping, murder, injury, property damage, witchcraft, court procedures, Jewish holidays, etc. Why do all these laws interrupt the flow of the narrative of Mount Sinai??

#9 - If someone injures an animal and the animal dies, he must pay for the full cost of the damage he caused (21, 33-34). But a thief who steals an ox or a sheep must pay a penalty of twice the value of the stolen animal (22, 3). Why is the thief's penalty more severe?

#8 - The penalty for stealing an animal is twice the value of the animal. But if the thief slaughters and sells the animal before he's caught, the penalty is four times the value for a sheep and five times the value for an ox (21, 37). Why does the slaughterer and seller pay so much more than the thief who didn't have time to dispose of the animal before being caught?

#7 - Why is the penalty for slaughtering and selling a stolen sheep four times its value, and for a stolen ox five times its value?

#6 - Why does the Torah say that it's forbidden to insult or cheat a stranger (22, 20)? Is it okay to insult or cheat a friend or an acquaintance?

#5 - Rich people are commanded to lend money to poor people at no interest, and if they take a blanket as collateral until the loan is repaid, they have to give it back every night and can only take it back the next morning (22, 24-25). Why?

#4 - Based on the prohibition not to cook a baby goat in its mother's milk (23, 19), we learn that mixing milk and meat and either cooking or eating them together is forbidden. Is there a logical reason for keeping dairy and meat products separate, or is it a ritual decree with no human reason?

#3 - When B'nei Yisrael reach Eretz Yisrael and live there, they are told לא תכרות להם...ברית, not to make peace with their neighbors (23, 32). Why is making peace a bad thing?

#2 - The Torah expresses the concern that the Canaanite people will teach B'nei Yisrael to worship idols and sin (23, 33). Why is that more likely than the other way around, that B'nei Yisrael will teach their neighbors to accept God and to serve God?

#1 - Unless the Canaanite people are kicked out, the Torah predicts that B'nei Yisrael will worship idols (23, 33). Why is there more danger that B'nei Yisrael will worship idols in Eretz Yisrael than in the desert? Why is there more danger of idol worship in Eretz Yisrael than in Los Angeles?