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News from K-2
Hands-on learning provides learning by doing. Our students acquire knowledge and skills through experiences that allow them to investigate, experiment, discover, observe and inquire. Hands-on learning abounds in K-2.
The Kindergarten classes collected over 200 cans of soup and delivered them to the Newton Food Pantry, combining math exploration and the mitzvah of feeding the hungry. Please read more in the article below, and enjoy the photo of our children with the cans of soup.
First Graders are learning about clothing. This week students investigated sheared lamb's wool, observed different fabrics under a microscope, and carded and spun wool into yarn. The students will also learn about natural dyes using plants, berries, onion peels and leaves and will dye their own yarn.
Second graders are immersed in their animal research. Each student has selected an animal, which lives along the Charles River, to study over the next several weeks. They were very excited that a representative from the Massachusetts Audubon came to Rashi bringing with her a live painted turtle, the shell of a painted turtle, mice and a barn owl.
All of these rich hands-on experiences allow our children to learn in a meaningful and joyful environment.
Serena Androphy, Division Director |
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Kindergarten Mitzvah
 We delivered our collection of soup cans to the Newton Food Pantry this week. In a wonderfully successful trip, the children partnered to carry heavy bagfuls of soup into the pantry where we met Jackie Colby, its chief volunteer. Jackie patiently answered thoughtful questions that the children had written and illustrated as they prepared for the visit. After questions were asked and answered the children were allowed to put the cans we'd collected on the shelves. It took all of our Kindergartners' participation to load 228 cans on the shelves. Thanks to everyone who sent in cans of soup. This was a wonderful way to combine the study of ways to count to 100 (and beyond) with the mitzvah of feeding the hungry.
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Third Grade Circuit Challenge
 This week, third graders participated in the annual circuit challenge as a culminating activity for their study of electricity. In a previous unit of study on light, students created trivia questions and answers based on what they had learned. This week they created game boards with these questions and answers written next to brass fasteners set in cardboard. They used their knowledge of circuits, conductors, and insulators to connect the brass fasteners so that a light bulb would light up when placed by the correct answer. This hands-on activity enabled the students to bring together many of the concepts learned about electricity during the past month.
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Grade 5 Purim Play
Fifth grade students presented the story of Purim to grades 3 and 4 in a play developed by the Hebrew staff.
 The characters of Mordechai and Esther, the heroes of the Purim tale, become the faces and hearts of the all the Jewish people. Their story helps us believe that we can be important and make a difference.
The students worked with Bonny Goldberg and the Hebrew staff, who encouraged each student to use their dramatic as well as their Hebrew skills. The performance, which included singing and dancing, was enjoyed by all! |
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Annual Appeal Update
We're three-quarters through our fiscal year and 63% of Rashi families have participated in the Annual Appeal to date.
The best case for Rashi would be if everyone could make an outright gift AND in addition, buy a ticket (or two, or a table) to the Annual Dinner. We certainly understand that not everyone is financially able to do this. In that case, please either make an outright gift to the appeal or support the appeal by buying tickets to the Dinner.
It is so important to get as close as possible to 100% participation and every gift counts so, if you haven't yet given your gift, please mail it in or drop it off in the Advancement Office (on the second floor across from the Main Office) as soon as possible.
Many thanks to the donors listed below for their generosity in March.
Rhoda Grill and Martin Abramowitz
Krista and Steve Alperin
AmericanPublic.us, Inc.
Jessica and David Aronoff
Janet and Dr. Bernard Aserkoff
Helen Charlupski and Joseph Biederman
Deborah Freed and Ian Boardman
Fay and Julian Bussgang
Chelsea Hebrew Free School Endowment Fund
Kathy Cohen LLC
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Concord Financial Organization
Congregation Beth Jacob
Congregation Mishkan Tefila
Eleri and Glenn Dixon
Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Gelb
Jordan L. Golding
Diane and Michael Hershfield
Phyllis Hershfield
Jessica Greenfield and Paul Hummel
Jennifer and Matthew King
Kathy Kirshenbaum
Eleanor M. Lewis
Abram and Phyllis London
Dara and Donald Munoz
Elaine and Joseph Paster
Nancy and Richard Rossman
Faryl and Jonathan Sandler
Barbara and Andrew Schultz
Schwartz and Architecture
Cynthia and Leon Shulman
Gilda and Alfred Slifka
In honor of Rabbi Henry Zoob
Rona and Michael Davis
In honor of Tyler Schwartz on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah
Evvajean and Richard Mintz
Fran Kantor, Director of Annual Giving
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Annual Dinner
This year's Annual Dinner is a not-to-be-missed event. By popular demand we have changed the format of the dinner to add additional time and food to the cocktail reception, an uninterrupted program and a dessert buffet. Eighth graders will be an important part of the evening: they will serve as greeters, sell raffle tickets, and will be featured in the program.
Have you sent in your RSVP yet? Have you put together a table of friends? Have you written your ad for the Tribute Book? The dinner is just 6 weeks away!
The raffle will be fantastic! For $60 a ticket you can purchase a 1 in 20 chance to win 4 VIP tickets to a Red Sox Game at Fenway Park. We will be raffling off up to 10 sets of Red Sox tickets and will sell a maximum of 200 raffle opportunities. Abby Elmore and Jen Vidal and their fantastic volunteer team will be selling these tickets beginning next week.
The Live Auction is also going to be very special. You could bid on: a Mexican timeshare; lunch with Larry Lucchino (which includes 4 tickets to a Red Sox game in his box); a VIP trip to Washington; amazing Patriots tickets, a fantastic Celtics package and a gorgeous piece of jewelry from Dorfman Jewelers.
The evening will include a program highlighted by an award presentation to Marjorie and Bert Paley, the premiere of the new Rashi video, and a brief talk by Alan Dershowitz.
Parents, friends, colleagues, teachers and families will come together in celebration of Israel at 60 and recognition of another spectacular year at Rashi. We hope you will be a part of this special evening.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call and speak with someone in the Advancement office. We are all working together to make this the best, most successful Annual Dinner yet!
Karen Backner, Events Director
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Mensch Workshop - May 6
The new date for the "Menschlichkeit and the Pre-Adolescent" workshop is May 6 at 7 pm! | |
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April 3, 2008/27 Adar II 5768 |
Grade 8 Heads to Israel
The Rashi community bid a fond farewell to our eighth graders, who left today for two weeks in Israel, during which they will be traveling and studying with their peers from the Leo Baeck School in Haifa.
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Coming Up |
Apr. 4
Gr. 4 Family Education: Jacob/Joseph 8:15 am
Apr. 11
Curious Minds 12:45 pm "Get Ready for Passover"
Apr. 14
Siddur Cover workshop for Grade 1 8:15 am
Apr. 16
Gr. 5 Family Education: Shemot (Exodus) 8:15 am
Gr. K-2 Matzah Factory
Apr. 17
Grade 8 returns from Israel
Apr. 18
Passover Break begins
Apr. 28
Classes resume |
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May Lunch Orders |
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Your children are bringing home the lunch order forms for the month of May. Please note that the deadline for placing lunch orders is April 14. |
Community News
Temple Shir Tikva
Jewish Civil Rights Heroes:
Al Vorspan, Sun., Apr. 6, 9:00 am. Al Vorspan remembers his work (our work) alongside Dr. King on behalf of civil rights as
well as the history of Jewish involvement in the American
civil rights movement.
Temple Shir Tikva, 141 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA 01760 508-358-999 www.shirtikva.org
Scholar-in-Residence Arnold Eisen at Mishkan Tefila
for weekend of learning. As part of Congregation Mishkan Tefila's 150th anniversary celebration, Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen of The Jewish Theological Seminary will serve as the scholar-in- residence on April 4-5. For further details, contact the Temple office at 617-332- 7770.
Temple Hillel B'nai Torah
Sat., Apr. 5, 1-2 pm Shira Kayam (Song Like an Ocean): Explore our prayer service with others who love to sing and grow spiritually (drumming included). No Hebrew knowledge is necessary. Beginners are welcome. 120 Corey St., West Roxbury.
Fri., Apr. 11: Shabbat Services for all ages: 5:30-6 pm. "Shakin' Shabbat" song and story-filled service for families with children up to age six. 6-7 pm, Community Potluck (dairy/ vegetarian) for all members and visitors.
7:15-8:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service with special focus on Reconstructionism: Come sing, pray and learn with our warm and growing community.
Sun., Apr. 13: Blood Drive, 9:30 am-2:30 pm Temple Hillel B'nai Torah and Theodore Parker Church will host an interfaith blood drive in support of the patient transfusion needs at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. For appointments please call Serena Shapiro (617-325-4493) or serenashap@comcast.net. For eligibility and donation questions, please contact BWH Blood Donor Center 617-732-6620. Location: Temple Hillel B'nai Torah, 120 Corey Street, West Roxbury. For more information, please contact the temple office at: templeoffice@templehbt.org, 617-323-0486 or www.templehbt.org
Temple Shalom of Newton presents: "From Bima to Broadway," Sun., Apr. 6 7 pm; "The Devil Came on Horseback," a film about Darfur, Wed., Apr. 9 at 7 pm, and "The Compaq Big Band" on Sun., Apr. 27 at 5:30 pm.
Temple Shalom of Newton, 175 Temple St., Newton, MA 02465.
Model Matzah Bakery
Bake matzah just as they did back in Egypt before the first Passover! Sponsored by the Chabad Centers of Natick and Sudbury. Sun., Apr. 13. Workshops scheduled from 9 am-4 pm at Nobscott Reservation in Sudbury. Call (978) 443-0110 to book a time or for information. $8/child. Reservations required.
Passover Wine Tasting at Gordon's Fine Wine & Liquors, 894 Main Street, Waltham, 781-893-1900, Sun., Apr. 6, 1-4 pm.
Leventhal-Sidman JCC Vacation Program: April 22-25, 9 am-4 pm, Grades K-6; Daily special activities, kosher for Passover buffet lunch and snacks will be provided. Any questions or to register over the phone call Ellie at 617-558-6442.
eCamp Israel
A summer program for students ages 8-18 who are interested in learning about cutting-edge technology from experts. Campers learn and explore in Israel. Contact lmitman@lesley.edu for more information or go to www.ecampisrael.com
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