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Report From The Board
At last night's meeting the Rashi Board of Trustees voted unanimously to move the Dedham Project forward and authorize the President to meet with HSL to request their support in securing permits for a new 80,000 sq. ft. design. This new design costs $6 million less than the prior design and saves about $200,000 in annual operating costs; yet it accomplishes the same thing programmatically at the same high standard of quality - only for two elementary sections per grade rather than three, with potential for expansion to three over time.
Since September our Campaign has raised an additional $5 million, taking us halfway to our fundraising goal. Our Capital Campaign has what we believe is an achievable plan to enable us to raise the balance of the funds and secure financing.
At this point it is realistic to assume that the completion date would be for September 2010 though there is still a window of possibility for 2009.
Cindy Janower
Matt King |
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Enduring Understandings
What is an "enduring understanding?" What do we want students to remember in 40 minutes? 40 days? 40 years?
Around the hallowed halls of The Rashi School, one can frequently hear a teacher describing a piece of material as an "enduring understanding." An enduring understanding, as defined by educators Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, is a big idea that resides at the heart of a discipline and has lasting value outside the classroom. Enduring understandings are concepts that we want students to remember in 40 years. The scientific method is an example of an enduring understanding that is currently being explored by the fifth grade.
It is important for teachers to define the enduring understandings of a unit of study because there is typically more content in that area than can be addressed within the available instructional time; having a clear sense of the enduring understanding also gives a teacher an ultimate goal or direction when planning activities and assessments.
Currently, we are engaged in learning activities related to the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Our goal is for all Rashi students to have the following enduring understandings:
1. Jews have a biblical and rabbinic mandate to stand up for and support the rights of others.
2. Jews were actively involved in the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
3. Jews continue to be involved in the struggle for rights, freedoms, and privileges, as well as the protection, of other people.
What is the relationship between enduring understandings and the Rashi Curriculum Map? Our curriculum map outlines the standards of what students should know and be able to do at every grade level. Each year, teams of faculty members meet for the year to decide what are the essential elements, or standards, in three areas of study (this year we are working on social studies, Hebrew language, and art). Some of these standards are enduring understandings; the rest of them are concepts, facts, and skills that are essential for students as they progress through schooling.
We are proud of the enduring understandings that we have carefully chosen for the Rashi students. My question to you now is: will you remember what an enduring understanding is in 40 years?
Kristen Herbert, Associate Head of School
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Middle School Electives
Ask sixth, seventh, and eighth graders what they love about life on the third floor, and many will tell you about their electives. In our Middle School Electives program, students choose from an eclectic array, including Cooking, Scenic Set Design, Stock Market Investing and Drumming, among many others. Each middle school student enrolls in two electives per trimester, each meeting weekly on Mondays or Fridays. These electives provide a change of pace during a week full of focused secular and Jewish academics. They also enhance kehillah by mixing students across grades, and encourage positive risk-taking, a very important aspect of middle school. Over the years, our students have discovered new passions, new friends, and had a lot of fun in electives.
A walk down the hall during electives period yields all sorts of sights and sounds. In one classroom, students practice singing their favorite songs karaoke-style, polishing vocal skills in preparation to sing a capella ensemble numbers with their peers. In another room, students bend over Scrabble boards, and a closer look reveals that some play in English, others in Hebrew. Next door, the yearbook staff is busy at the computer, making final edits before electronically sending completed pages to the publisher. In the library, students are arguing passionately - this is the debate elective. There is a teacher sitting in the back, but an eighth grader leads, because he thought up and developed this elective. Downstairs in the Art Room, students are cutting up perfectly good clothes, fashionably redesigning them for "Extreme T-Shirt Makeover" - another student-developed elective. In a quieter vein, a small group sips tea while discussing Eastern philosophies. Truly, there is something for everyone.
Not all electives take place entirely on campus, however. In Traveling Troupe, students script and choreograph a song and dance routine to perform for potential Rashi families at Jewish preschools. Our interscholastic sports teams practice at the YMCA during Friday elective time, preparing for their games against local opponents. And every year, the State Drama Festival elective gives a small group of Rashi thespians the chance to perform before an audience of hundreds of students from dozens of schools. We always bring home gold or silver medals from this festival!
It may not surprise you (and it certainly makes me proud) that for several years now, the most popular elective has been a social justice initiative called JCL - Jewish Community Literacy.
 Each Monday, about 25 of our middle schoolers travel to the Baldwin School in Cambridge to read with their kindergarten buddies. A student must make a two-trimester commitment to JCL though, in fact, most students end up choosing to do one-, two- or even three-year stints.
In doing so, they express the very best things about this school, giving freely of who they are.
Marshall Carter, Division Director |
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Rashi-Leo Baeck Pen Pal Project
In early December, the Rashi eighth grade became the newest member of a special group - Rashi students who have hosted their peers from the Leo Baeck School in Haifa. From December 6-13, seventeen Leo Baeck students came to Boston to spend a week with our eighth graders. This year, in an effort to make the whole school feel a part of the exchange, every classroom in the Lower School was partnered with one or two of the Leo Baeck visitors. In the weeks before the visit, Lower School classes e-mailed their pen pals at Leo Baeck, asking them questions and getting to know them.
 On December 10, the Leo Baeck students visited their new friends. Questions were asked and games were played, and at the all-school Hanukkah celebration later that day, the Leo Baeck students sat with their Lower School classes and were introduced by them to the rest of the school.
Karen Abraham's first grade class was partnered with Daria Boukharov, and according to Karen, "The first graders were delighted by Darya's visit! The class counted the moments until her arrival and enthusiastically asked her about her life in Israel." Daria spent about 25 minutes with the first grade, and both the first graders and Daria were surprised to learn about the differences between sevivonim, dreidels, that come from Israel and America. "On her trip here, she was surprised to discover that the letters on a dreidel in America read nun, gimel, shin, hay. She gave us several dreidels from Israel, which carry the letters nun, gimel, shin, pay!"
The week of the Leo Baeck visit was memorable for all of the participants, and featured a Rashi sleepover, Friday evening services at Temple Beth Avodah, a tour of Boston and a visit to Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and much more. The Rashi eighth grade is already counting down the days until the Israel trip, which will take place from April 3-17, 2008.
Dan Brosgol, Jewish Programs Coordinator |
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From the Stage
The theater is very busy this month in preparations for performances and upcoming rehearsals.
Lower School Drama Extended Day Electives are starting on Monday, January 28 and Wednesday, January 30. It's not too late to join these classes. Both electives will be working on the production of "How to Eat Like a Child," a fun collection of songs, poems and skits. The performance will be on June 4.
Middle School Extended Day Drama will be starting the week of January 22. Its not too late to join the cast. The Middle School meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will be working on the production of "The Wiz". The performances will be May 15 and 18.
Kindergarten is currently working on their production of "Things Could Always be Worse". This adaptation of the Yiddish folk tale will be presented on Thursday, January 24 at 8:15 am. Eighth graders Adam Beckman, Ellie Deresiewicz and Tamar Segev will accompany the production on the piano. The Kindergartens have been working hard with Mr. Rosenfield to learn their songs, Mrs. Androphy to learn their Hebrew, and with their classroom teachers and Bonny to learn their lines and how to move on stage. We hope you will join us for this delightful presentation.
The 8th grade is currently working on their Hebrew production of "Beauty and The Beast". The performances are February 8 and 10.
Middle School Cabaret will be presented on February 14. The theme this year will be a Western Hoe-Down. Please join us for this fun and talent-filled night.
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Lower School Talent Show
" and then they came, every man whose mind lifted him, and everyone whose spirit make him willing brought God's contribution".
Exodus 35:21
We will be sharing the artistic talents that God gave each of us at The Rashi Lower School Talent Show on February 15 at 1:00 pm. This year we are changing the format of the Talent Show in order to make it a little shorter.
This year, acts are limited to grades 3-5. Students in grades 3-5 who are interested in performing in the Talent Show need to audition the week of January 29. There will be no auditions after February 1. Actors, dancers, singers and instrumentalists will audition with
Bonny and Mr. Rosenfield; students doing gymnastics, karate, and other
physical acts will audition with Nathaniel.
Audition times will be listed on sign-up sheets which will be posted on the Music Room door the week of January 22. Please have students come to the Music Room and sign up for an audition time!
Students will have a tape/CD player or iPod adapter available to them for the Talent Show; any other accompaniment, if needed, should be arranged by the students. All costumes will need to be approved during the audition process. Also, there are yellow audition forms on the table in the Music Room that need to be filled out and brought to the audition.
In the past some students have come with an incomplete act during the audition time; the act must be in its final form for the audition.
RULES:
1) No new group numbers - You may not create a group just to perform in the Talent Show. The Rashi Rock Band is a group that has been practicing for the Talent Show. If you regularly work with other students for duets or trios that also is fine, but NO NEW GROUPS.
2. Acts should be no longer than two minutes.
3. Audition piece must be complete - showing exactly what is to be performed on stage.
4. No lip-syncing.
5. Each student may perform one time only.
We will have a prepared program with estimated times of performance ready the week of the talent show.
This year, in addition to the individual acts, all classes in grades K-3 will
perform a dance piece prepared in their PE class. In addition, we will
be displaying in the atrium and theater lobby examples of African and
Chinese art that all students in grades K-8 created in their art
classes.
Thanks,
Bonny Goldberg, Erica Smiley, Nathaniel Cutter
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Rashi Builds Jerusalem!
Please join the Rashi School community for an amazing
Family Program celebrating Israel's 60th birthday
as we use 60,000 LEGO blocks to create a
400 square-foot model of the Old City in Jerusalem.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
4:30 - 7:30 pm
Rashi cafenasium
We will begin with Havdalah, followed by a pizza dinner
and our workshop.
This Building Blocks workshop will be directed by
Stephen W. Schwartz AIA, of SWS Architects, Livingston, NJ.
Mr. Schwartz will direct everyone in the construction of the
entire Old City of Jerusalem including the walls, the gates,
the Kotel, the Beit Hamikdash, David's Tower,
the Montefiore Windmill and 80 other buildings.
Bring the entire family -- children, parents and grandparents!
We need 100 builders and many more observers!
PLEASE NOTE: EVERY CHILD YOUNGER THAN 7
MUST HAVE AN ADULT PARTNER
RSVPs are required; cost is $5/person, maximum of $25/family.
Please respond to Marjorie Freiman by January 31.
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Grade 1 Family Education
First grade parents had the opportunity to experience their children's social justice learning at the recent Grade 1 Family Education program. Each week, Social Justice Coordinator Stephanie Rotsky reads a book to first graders that highlights a specific mitzvah - such as honoring parents or visiting the sick - and teaches something about creating peace in our world. The discussion following the reading enables students to use a Jewish lens to examine various stories and situations, and to develop for themselves ways to participate in mitzvot and work towards peace. All of the books spotlighted during this year-long curriculum unit connect to the Talmudic teaching that the whole Torah exists for the sake of shalom.
Last week, with their families, the children listened to the "The Other Side" by Jacqueline Woodson, a story about two girls, one white and one black, living next door to each other but separated by a fence and by the attitudes of their parents about people of different colors. The first graders and their parents discussed the events in the story and the motivations of the characters, and then participated in hands-on activities: creating and decorating figures to be part of a special "bouquet of people" which will be displayed at the school, and inscribing their own words and drawings on a section of fence.
 The program tied in with our current social justice work relating to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as it helped children understand the events and issues of the Civil Rights Era of the 1950s and 1960s.
Photo: At the Grade 1 Family Education program, Rashi students worked together with their parents on hands-on activities that promote peace and understanding in our world.
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Community News
PBS Broadcasts: "The Jewish Americans"
A wonderful documentary exploring the 350-year legacy of the Jews in America concludes on January 23, 9-11 pm. For more information: http://www.jewishtvnetwork.com/jewishamericans1
Brandeis University Seminar
A luncheon seminar on "New Forms of American Spirituality: Kabbalah Centre as an Israeli Export" led by Jody E. Myers of California State University, Northridge, will be presented on Thursday, January 24, noon-2 pm in Lown 315. Sponsored by Hornstein: The Jewish Professional Leadership program, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, and The Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry. RSVP before January 17 to: tauber@brandeis.edu.
JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood Open House at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC in Newton, Sunday, January 27, 2-4 pm. For more information, call 617.558.6528, email info@kingswood.org, or go to www.jccmaccabicamp.org. JCC Maccabi Camp Kingswood is a Jewish, co-ed, overnight camp for children entering grades 3-11 located in Bridgton, Maine. This traditional camp offers a wide range of activities, from broad athletic to creative arts and cultural programs. Campers develop independence, become more self-confident, learn cooperation and teamwork and strengthen their Jewish identity. The Camp offers 2, 3 ½, 5 ½ and 7-week sessions.
CJP's Initiative for Day School Excellence presents Dr. David Elkind: "Educating the Young Child in Heart, Mind and Spirit" at Rashi on Thursday, February 7 at 7 pm. Dr. Elkind is the author of The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon. This event is co-sponsored by Jewish Day Schools of Greater Boston. The entrance fee will be waived for Rashi parents; please contact Anne Puchkoff in the Admissions Office at apuchkoff@rashi.org for complimentary tickets.
CAREERS IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
Join Career Moves at JVS for a panel discussion on the current and future career opportunities in the Jewish community. Wednesday, February 6, 6-8 pm, Congregation Kehillath Israel, 384 Harvard St., Brookline. Panelists include: Elana Kogan, Director of Planning and Leadership Development Jewish Community Relations Council; Dr. Daniel Margolis, Executive Director Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston; Michelle Rosner, Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Jody Comins, Director of Fieldwork & Alumni Relations Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program. Fee: $10. RSVP: cmoves@jvs-boston.org or 617-399-3101. | |
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January 17, 2008/10 Shevat 5768
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Math Buddies
Kindergarten students enjoy participating in math activities with their sixth grade buddies. Above, estimating how many snowballs (cotton balls) will fill a specific space.
For more photos of Rashi activities, go to:
www.rashi.org
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Coming Up |
Jan. 18
Gr. 5 Spotlight on Activists
Jan. 21
MLK, Jr. Day - no classes
MLK Day Family Service Celebration 1 pm
Jan. 22
MLK Assembly
MS MLK Learn-In Day
Jan. 23
MS students to "Choosing to Participate" at BPL 8:45 am
Gr. 7 parent meeting: Washington DC trip 8:15 am
Gr. 8 parent meeting: Israel trip 7 pm
Jan. 24
Kindergarten play 8:15 am
Mitzvah Makers at Hebrew SeniorLife
Jan. 31
Pizza Thursday
Feb. 4
Professional Development Day - no classes
Feb. 9
Rashi Builds Jersualem
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Join us on Jan. 22 for the MLK Assembly
You shall not stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor.
I am Adonai.
- Leviticus 19:16
Please join us on Tuesday, January 22, at 8:10 am for our annual observance and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday and life.
This year's MLK text comes from Torah - the Book of Leviticus - and teaches us that we cannot stand idly by the blood of our neighbor. This text informs a central teaching that as Jews we have a biblical and rabbinic mandate to stand up for and support the rights of others. As a school, each grade is examining this text and learning about the important role that Jews played in the American Civil Rights Movement.
Our gathering in the auditorium will be inspired by singing, grade level sharing, and special readings. As a school community, we will reflect on the Civil Rights Movement and the countless individuals who did not stand idly by while segregation and inequality was brutally impacting the lives of so many.
Each year our MLK Program brings us back to our core values and the essence of what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself" and how our tradition mandates that we are responsible for standing up for others and getting involved.
As always, we look forward to sharing this powerful program with you.
B'kavod,
Stephanie Rotsky
Marjorie Freiman
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Yachad's Great Chili Cook Off
Did you smell that awesome aroma emanating from the teachers' room this past Tuesday? If you were wondering what it was, it was yet another fabulous lunch that we provided to the teachers and staff. Jim Blankstein and Nancy Shaich once again worked their magic with a whole host of volunteers.
Many, many thanks to the following cooks, pastry chefs and cleaner-uppers:
Jane Akiba
Pam Belluck
Caryn Goldberg
Lisa Kaufman
Deeana Klepper
Amy Knopf
Julie Kremer
Rabbi David Kudan
Haya Mayman
Jason Rubin
Rachel Weinstock
What a team! Thank you to everyone who participated.
Many thanks as well to our amazing moms and dads who consistently help out. Yachad couldn't do what we do without you.
Pizza Delivery: Lori Krasner, Natalia Muina, Michelle Steinberg, Krista Alperin, Suen Appolon, Alex Seriy, and Meryl Feinberg
Challah Helpers: Linda Cook, Linda Schiller and Janet Taylor
Rosh Chodesh popsicle lady: Eleanor Lewis
Want to get involved? There are so many ways you can help out our school - big and small. Just give us a call!!
B'kavod,
Andie Insoft
Susan Altman
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MLK Service Day Donation of Supplies
This Friday is that last day to bring in supplies for the MLK Service Day birthday box project to be held at Rashi on Monday, January 21.
We are asking for the items listed below. Please bring your items to Jessica Solomon's classroom (#203).
Kindergarten: boxes of cake mix and containers of icing
Grade 1: candles and cake pans (aluminum foil tins)
Grade 2: boxes of plastic cutlery and bags of individually wrapped candies
Grades 3-5: stickers and toys that could be put in goodie bags
Thank you in advance for your generosity and participation. Our success is directly correlated to your involvement, and we have the chance to make a difference in the lives of many, many children!
Please let us know if you have any questions!!
The MLK Service Day Committee |
2008-09 RE-ENROLLMENT
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Re-enrollment materials
for 2008-09 (including information about tuition assistance) will be mailed this week. The package has a fresh new look. For a preview you can download it from our website:
Re-enrollment Packet
Or, go to www.rashi.org, click on the Parents tab, then look under Related Info for the enrollment material.
We hope to hear from all of you by February 29 so we can begin planning for the next school year.
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PEACE CALENDAR
A
calendar of peace, freedom and social justice has been created
especially for Rashi families - and in honor of all those who stood
together and acted to bring about change during the Civil Rights Era of
the 1950's and 1960's.
The calendar offers daily discussion
prompts and activities to enable families to connect creatively and
meaningfully with the Jewish mandate to support the rights of others
and to take action on some level. Click here for the Peace Calendar The calendar is also available at the top of the January 2008 calendar page on the Rashi
website and on the homepage.
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Did You Know ........ that the Tsfat class of eighth graders wrote part of the History of the Jews in the U.S. for the Wikipedia website?The class researched the history and roles of Jews in the development of the 19th century American West. Using primary and secodary sources, each student wrote a paper about the topic, and then collaborated to write the "Jews in the American West" and post it to Wikipedia. Their work can be seen at
http://en.wikipedia.orgAccording to Marshall Carter, their social studies teacher, the goals of the project were for the students to learn about writing collaboratively and to see how Wikipedia works so that they can understand its strengths and weaknesses as a source and use it wisely.
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The Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat is next week, but preschoolers in Rashi's Curious Minds program celebrated the Birthday of the Trees with a special program on January 16.
Curious Minds programs are free of charge; the next one is Magnetic Attraction on February 8.
For more information, go to
Curious Minds
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Save the Date
Bullying Prevention
Parent Training
Wed., Feb. 27
7-8:30 pm
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