September 4, 2009 Elul 16, 5769Dear Parents, Welcome to all! Welcome to our new students: Jane Ablove, Jojo Chesler, Jonathan Greenspan, Isaac Poler and Alana Yevzlin. We are so glad you joined us at Madison Jewish Community Day School. With your help we had a tremendous start to our new school year 2009-2010. This first week we learned a little about our daily routine, toured our building, met Rabbi Jonathan Biatch, and worked together as a K-2 class using manners and skills which aided all. We had an interesting theological discussion - a discussion about HaShem. Indeed, Isaac candidly remarked, ìI really don't understand how HaShem can have no beginning or end.î To this Anna Ablove responded, ìSometimes we don't have answers to all the questions.î We then shared the idea that not only do we not always have all the answers, but that often Judaism encourages us to ask questions. We heard about a man named Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who taught that other religions often gives answers while Judaism teaches us to ask questions. We had this discussion amidst our morning prayer session where we learned more about our siddur/prayer book. We heard the fiction story The Kissing Hand, heard a story about a chameleon, a story about Jewish detectives and read an article about smoke jumpers. We also discussed the purpose of classroom rules and the purpose of a government. We learned some new vocabulary words such as: garment, sovereign, commend, and sequence. We practiced a new Hebrew song which welcomes everyone and played outside! Thank you Leslie Greenspan for leading our first Kabblat Shabbat celebration. We truly appreciate your stepping in! We look forward to your returning. Mazel tov to Ms. Jodi Oskin for becoming Mrs. Jodi Harris! Our cheers are extended to you and to Mr. Rob Harris. Now we are ready for the extended Labor Day Weekend. School will commence on Tuesday, September 8th. May you all have a joyous few days off. Thank you for bringing your children to school on time and for signing necessary field trip slips. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 13th from 10:00 - 11:30 am. We will come together at Wingra Park for fun and frolic. On Tuesday, September 15th we invite parents to come from 6:30-7:30 pm for Meet the Teacher Night. As no one at present is allergic to nuts, it has been requested that we be allowed to have nut products at school for this year. Unless there are any problems with this we would like to proceed in such manner. Please let us know if this needs to be changed. Feel free to contact us if you need to and until next timeÖ do have a sweet Shabbat. Kol tuv, Meisha and Jodi |