Spring in the Middle School

During Tamchui Donation Week, Rashi students were invited to respond in writing and drawings to various prompts on large murals. Their deep and powerful responses (excerpted below) give us a window into their thinking about the meaning of Tamchui, its relevance to Purim, the inspiration they derived from meeting the representatives and learning about the work of the organizations, and finally - how the Tamchui experience has informed their own mitzvah work and commitment to tikkun olam.

The Tamchui organizations are important because....
o    They help people all across the world.
o    Everybody should be able to have a normal life.
o    They help people in need of tzedakah.
o    Children need help and they should be happy.
o    Giving to kids in need is a way to help the earth.
o    They make the world a happier place to live.
o    Every one of them is doing a mitzvah. A mitzvah is almost the most important thing for Jews.

Compliment the Tamchui Representatives.
o    You are amazing people to devote so much time to improving the world.
o    Thanks for teaching us about your organizations!
o    Without you we couldn't help.
o    I like how you found something really important in the world that needed to be done.
o    You are a miracle worker.
o    You make life easier for many children.
o    Mitzva People!
o    You are all special people and you make other people happy.
o    You inspired me so much! Good job.
o    I think you guys are heroes!
o    Thanks from the Rashi School!!
o    Thanks for teaching us how important it is to help people.

Share one way that you could make a difference in the world
o    Be the best you can be.
o    I could help everyone be equal.
o    Help make a permanent library in Kenya.
o    I could do a mitzvah, help people, give food.
o    Donate extra money that I have.
o    Recycle.
o    I could work even harder to give tzedakah.
o    Plant trees.
o    Donate books I don't read anymore to the Camel Book Drive.
o    Create a charity.
o    Stop Global Warming.
o    I give toys to the poor.
o    Clean a park!
o    Continue to support charities and do projects like the Walk for Hunger.
o    Give people money to go to other places in the world when their home has a hurricane.
o    Help the sea turtles.
o    Give clothes to the poor.
o    Give to lots of charities.
o    Helpe people who are sick
o    Go around the world and help the disabled.

I'm proud to be at Rashi during Tamchui because....
o    You get to help the world be a better place.
o    I want to help different organizations because it is sad that people suffer.
o    I have a chance to learn all about the organizations.
o    I get to change the world.
o    I like to help people who need help and the help is from Rashi. We do this every year to help.
o    I feel I am helping by giving my chips to different organizations.
o    It makes us feel special.
o    I think it's good to be at Rashi because you make people happy.
o    You get to do a mitzvah around the whole world. I love donating chips!
o    I want to help organizations and people have a better life.
o    I feel good knowing I'm helping others, and that since so many people are giving them tzedakah, that they get a good amount of money.
o    I get to help charities help needy people.

It is important for us to have Tamchui at Purim time because....
o    Because you give mishloach manot....so it's like giving at Tamchui.
o    On Purim we are commanded to give, and Tamchui is a form of giving.
o    It's a time when we give. We think more about helping others!
o    You are helping people and you are meant to help people at Purim.
o    Remember that when we're really happy other kids have never been even close to as happy. We want to change that.
o    It is a holiday and we are commanded to help people in need.
o    It makes people happy on Purim and you are supposed to be happy on Purim.

How do you relate to the organizations? How does it feel to support their work?
o    I don't think I ever had a better feeling.
o    It makes me feel important.
o    If we all come together, we can make a change.
o    It feels that I am in the one of the organizations.
o    It feels great, in fact I give a bicycle ride to get money for the doctors to help find out how to fix brain tumors.
o    Mingguang helps you to see. I once couldn't see.
o    It feels good because you are making the world a better place.
o    I like supporting their organizations because I know that I am doing the right thing by donating to them.
o    It feels awesome to help people in need.
o    It feels wonderful.
o    I feel all funny inside, like I'm so happy I feel almost sad.
o    It feels like the world is becoming more beautiful.

We hope the students' words inspire and renew hope that critical minds and compassionate hearts are, indeed, the tools, the path and an answer for a better world.

Capital Campaign: Parent Campaign Update

It is with great joy that we announce that Jessica Solomon, one of our third grade teachers, is pregnant!  Her baby is due in late October and she and her husband could not be more thrilled.  Please join us in congratulating them.

Jessica will continue to be a third grade lead teacher next year at Rashi, except for when she is on maternity leave. This year Jessica has been ably partnered with a wonderful assistant, Marissa Keleher. Marissa is in the process of receiving her Master's Degree and certification in teaching and completing her student teaching, making her a fully qualified lead teacher. We are happy to announce that the wonderful partnership between Jessica and Marissa will continue next year with Marissa as the lead teacher while Jessica is on maternity leave! We have wonderful teachers at Rashi and we are so excited to have both Jessica and Marissa returning next year.

Coming Up

Andie Insoft &

Susan Altman

From the Nurse

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