November 14, 2008 Cheshvan 16, 5768Dear MJCDS Parents, Veteranís Day gave our students the opportunity to learn about American soldiers and the gift they gave our country by keeping us free. Ilana mentioned that her grandfather had participated in a war and when she spoke seemed uncomfortable mentioning that her grandfather had to kill someone. We discussed that unfortunately war happens and causes great grief. It was good to see that our studentsí consciousness brought them to a place of understanding that war is not glorious but rather sometimes a painful portion of our nationís history. Students began familiarizing themselves with the scientific method. They learned about clouds and cloud formation. They will soon be looking for cumulus, cumulus nimbus, sirus and stratus clouds. This will in turn lead to a study of the water cycle. This week they reviewed hot air and cold air and learned how and why clouds formed. They spoke about hypothesizes and predictions. Of course, toward the end of the lessons they had to share results, or our timeless question, ìWhat did you learn?î On Friday we had our second guest rabbi visit Rabbi Milun, Chaya Nechaís father. He came to share our Kabbalat Shabbat celebration. He was gracious with his time as he and his wife and two daughters are literally expecting the newest addition to their family any day now. Indeed, when the great event occurs we are told we will be invited to the upcoming brit milah or baby naming. This week students worked on getting caught up in the study of parshiot/ Torah portions. It seems with all the special activities we lost time. This week we made and destroyed idols (therein reviewing parasha Lech Lecha), learned a song that corresponded to it and then delved into this weekís parasha Vayera. The students learned about the mitzvah of hachnasot orchim/ welcoming in the guest. They studied how important it is to emulate Avraham and welcome in others just as Avraham did when he was in the desert, despite his recuperating from brit milah and suffering the heat of the day. Students also continued their focus on oral Hebrew development as well as beginning reading. This upcoming Friday November 21st students will be going on a field trip to Trader Joeís Grocery Store. There they will purchase items for the needy. Please send in $10 for your child to use. This will enable her to fulfill the mitzvah of gemulit hassadim/ acts of righteous kindness. Either Francine or Louise at MJCC will see that the goods get to those individuals and families that truly need them. This wonderful action will certainly sweeten your Thanksgiving celebration. Thank you for your help. On Wednesday, November 26th students will be very busy as they will have swim lessons and at 1:30 pm they will have school pictures taken. Lifetouch Photographers will be here to take individual pictures as well as a class picture. Please know that both Jodi and Meisha will do their utmost to make certain your childís hair looks nice. If you would like to come in that day and help ìstyleî our childrenís hair that would be wonderful. Do feel free to join us on Fridays from 1:15 pm ‚ 2:00 pm for our class Kabbalat Shabbat. It is a very special and meaningful time. We do have a few requests though. One request is: please help your child remember to bring in some loose change for Fridays as tzeddekah. It helps us elevate our Shabbat good cheer as well as fulfill an important mitzvah. Another request is: to please join our Shabbat group quietly. While we love to have orchim/guests we want to make certain that our students continue to focus on the activity at hand. Students need to follow along in their Shabbat pamphlets and continue to participate in a positive manner. We thank you for your understanding in this matter. Reminder: With the advent of cold weather please have your child(ren) bring a hat and gloves to school. Thank you for your help in this matter. Refuah Shlama: We continue to send out prayers for Jonathan Greenspan who is now able to return to preschool albeit with the aid of a wheelchair. Todah Rabbah: We want to send a hearty thank you to the Rudin Family for the Jewish Picture Game and to the Greenspan Family for the donation of two computers! We also thank the Greenspan Family for the donation a child size computer table! Through their help our studentsí education will be greatly enriched. Request: Please send in magazines that have pictures. We need pictures to use for various projects. We also would appreciate items that we could use for a dress up corner and/or house-keeping area. SAVE THE DATES: December 14th, Sunday from 2:00-4:00 pm. MJCC Chanukah Hagigah. Our students are performing in the annual MJCC Chanukah Hagigah at the Oakwood Village West. (6165 Mineral Pt. Rd, Madison WI.) Please have your child at Oakwood Village West by 1:45 pm so we can be prepared to ìgo on stage!î Our students will be performing various Chanukah songs. December 18th, Thursday from 5:00-6:30 pm MJCDS Chankah Hagigah/Celebration! Save this time for us with you and your child(ren). From 5:00 ‚ 6:30 pm we will be having latkes, laughter and fun as the children show off their dancing skills, recap their singing performance and play dreidel games. Please note that the time is in the early evening in order to accommodate childrenís early bedtime needs. . Until next timeÖ have a sweet Shabbat. Kol tuv, Meisha and Jodi ð Please note that Faygie Matusof wanted to share with you the words to various songs that she has shared with the children. They are included here. Prayer When you're davening youíre talking to Hashem When you're davening you're talking to Hashem Hashem It's a very special thing, when you're talking to a King When you're davening you're talking to Hashem Torah Breishit, Shmot Vayikrah, Bamidbar Devarim 2x These are the Chumash, the 5 books of Moshe Breishit, Shmot, Vayikrah, Bamidbar, Devarim One Just one Shabbos, just one Torah Just one Hashem who can't be seen commandments He commanded us six hundred and thirteen How many fathers, one two three How many mothers, four How many children, you and me and millions, millions more!! |