|
Lower School Staff Changes
Please join us in congratulating Melissa Holman, one of our second grade lead teachers. She is beginning a Ph.D program in clinical psychology at Tufts University. As the coursework is full time, this will be Melissa's last year at The Rashi School. Melissa has been at Rashi for three years, first as an assistant teacher and then as a lead teacher. Melissa has positively impacted our community in so many ways; she truly will be missed.
We are happy to announce that Michelle Lambi will teach second grade next year. We have been happy to have Michelle at Rashi for the last two years; currently, Michelle is serving as the assistant in Heidi Estrada's kindergarten. Michelle has a degree in elementary education and was a first and second grade lead teacher for four years in Iowa City before moving here. Please join us in welcoming her into this new role!
Kristen Herbert, Associate Head |
|
|
Rashi Team Attends PEJE Assembly
Sixteen members of the Rashi community, including staff and Board members, attended the biannual Assembly of the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) - the largest Jewish day school conference in North America. They joined 1300 other representatives of day schools from all denominations in the U.S., Canada, and several other countries a the assembly, held April 6-8 in Boston.
At the Assembly, the Rashi contingent attended a variety of sessions related to admissions, marketing, development, finance, leadership, and educational excellence. Kristen Herbert, Rashi's Associate Head of School, participated in a workshop on Cutting Edge Science. Rashi Board President Cindy Janower was a panelist in a session on Strategic Plans, and Capital Campaign Co-chair Lisa Wallack, who is also the co-chair of CJP's Day School Executive Committee, was a panelist in a discussion of Shared Leadership among day schools, federations, and other agencies.
Other Rashi attendees were Matt King, Head; Susan Benett, Director of Recruitment and Admissions; Barbara Ross, Director of Finance and Operations; Barbara Gold, Interim Advancement Director; Linda Silverstein, Communications Manager; Fran Kantor, Director of Annual Giving; Karen Backner, Events Director; Anne Puchkoff, Admissions Manager; Ethel Magidson, immediate past president; Dana Gershon and Jen Vidal, vice presidents; Marianne Paley Nadel, clerk; and Margie Berkowitz, Board member. This was one of the largest teams at the Assembly.
 Rashi was honored to receive three of PEJE's first-ever Marketing Awards, for our website, admissions packet, and annual report.
The knowledge that the team members received at the Assembly will be used to strengthen our school in the months ahead.
|
|
|
Third Graders Learn About Disabilities
As part of the third grade disabilities unit, we aim to expose the children to as many different types of disabilities as we can. Whether reading about autism in Cynthia Lord's book Rules, visiting the Perkins School for the Blind during an optional weekend field trip, or asking questions of special visitors who come into the classroom to share with the students their experiences living with specific disabilities, students become ever more aware of the diversity of human conditions.
In part, our goal is to help students develop compassion and empathy. However, the unit is designed to teach the children that most people with disabilities consider themselves to be living relatively "normal" lives. In many cases, society is the disabling agent, not the "disability" itself. When communities become sensitive to the needs of different populations and seek to offer accomodations, people who would otherwise be unable to participate in a meaningful way are suddenly transformed into fully functional members of society.
 It was truly wonderful to watch the students come to this realization through their Q&A sessions with our visitors, who define themselves as "differently-abled" and who greatly demystified conditions such as blindness, hearing impairment, Down's Sydndrome, and cerebral palsy.
When asked what they had learned, students responded: People make up for their disabilities and can do a lot. They can do everything we can do just in a different way. I learned to treat people with disabilities normally. A lot of people have disabilities and now I will be able to understand them more. They are a lot like us in a lot of ways. They found solutions to their problems.
Everyone is different in their own way.
Jessica Solomon, Grade 3
|
|
Grade 4 "Hineni" Moments in B'reishit
Fourth graders study the book of B'reishit (Genesis) as part of their Jewish Studies curriculum. So far this year, students have examined the stories of Creation, the Garden of Eden, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and are currently studying the Joseph narrative. Their study of text includes Hebrew, literary analysis, character development, Jewish values and more.
We introduced parents to the methodology of study which the teachers and students follow in the classroom - a close look at text in both Hebrew and English, an analysis of story and character development, developing family chronology and generational succession in Genesis. The program opened with a presentation of a six-panel mural created by the students depicting the major themes and characters in B'reishit that they have studied thus far.The team of students who created each panel introduced the panels and the developing story to the assembled group.
 We moved to small-group study of four pieces of text in B'reishit, each of which contained a "call" to a character to which the character responded "Hineni" ("Here I am", denoting spiritual readiness), before the character knew the nature of the task which he would be asked to complete. Students brought up cards reading "Hineni" and placed them at the appropriate spots along the mural. To conclude, students considered "Hineni" moments that they themselves have experienced, and wrote a skit or Midrash or depicted the moment artistically. Please stop by the bulletin board on the first floor to view some of their work!
|
|
Grade 5 Family Education
Please join us for the Grade 5 Family Program: "Personal Meanings of Freedom and Slavery from the Exodus (Pesach) Narrative", on Wednesday, April 16, from 8:15 - 9:45 a.m. in the Rashi cafenasium. Families will review the Israelites' slavery in Egypt and consider the various ways freedom and slavery can be experienced - physically, emotionally and spiritually - as they prepare for their Pesach Seders. Students will then present their Hebrew play on Pesach. We are looking forward to sharing this exciting morning with you!
|
Day Schools Music Festival
 We are delighted to announce that Rashi third and fourth graders will be singing in the Day Schools Music Festival to be held on Wednesday, May 7, at 7:00 pm at Watertown High School. Also participating will be the Zamir Chorale, Rabbi David Paskin (former Rashi teacher), and student choirs from Newton Schechter School, South Area Schechter, Jewish Community Day School, and Metrowest Jewish Day School.
We encourage Rashi families to attend the concert. Tickets are $15 each or $50 for a family of four. Proceeds benefit the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TICKET ORDER FORM
Family Name ___________________________________________
School affiliation: RASHI
# of Tickets at $15 per Ticket _______________
or Family Pack of 4 tickets for $50____________
Total # of Tickets____________ Total $ Enclosed___________
Make checks out to: SSDS BOSTON
Return order form and checks to the Rashi Office.
|
|
Seventh Grade Trip to Washington, DC
 The annual Grade 7 trip to Washington, DC gives students the opportunity to study American history and government in our nation's capitol. Highlights of the trip were a tour of the Capitol and the city's many impressive monuments and visits to the National Air and Space Museum, Holocaust Museum, and Museum of National History. The students also visited the Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center (RAC), where they participated in a program about the role of the RAC in lobbying politicians on legislative issues such as the environment, US support for the State of Israel, gay rights, poverty, and health care.
The grade 7 social studies curriculum includes the "living Constitution," which makes a trip to Washington a perfect match for the seventh graders' studies. As one student wrote: "I liked spending time with my class and seeing all the places we have studied in school."
|
|
Important Yachad Dates
RASHI CELEBRATES YOU!
Thursday, May 1, 2008 7pm
Home of Elizabeth and Bruce Wilson
Yachad's first-ever special cocktail party will honor and celebrate all of our MANY volunteers. Consider yourself invited! RSVP to Yachad@rashi.org
CHESED AWARD
We will be honoring someone with this wonderful award on the evening of May 1. Chesed may be described as "acts of loving kindness" - a true Jewish value. Please nominate someone who you think contributes to the Rashi community in this extraordinary way. Nominations may be sent to Yachad@rashi.org
MENSCHLICHKEIT AND THE PRE-ADOLESCENT
The special workshop for parents of students in Grades 4-6 HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, MAY 6 at 7 pm.
BUTCHERIE RECEIPTS
Making a big Passover order at the Butcherie? Don't forget the receipt!
PIZZA THURSDAY
Many thanks to all our volunteers from last week: Krista Alperin, Miriam Bavly, Diane Hershfield, Stephanie Kornbleuth, Natalia Munia, and Vicky Seriy. Next Pizza Thursday is April 17!
CHALLAH
Weekly delivery of our Challah has been made possible by Janet Taylor (who is out this week with a broken foot!). Many thanks to everyone who has chipped in to deliver challah in the past: Ralph Appolon, Krista Alperin, Jessica Aronoff, Nancy Buck, Amy Burd, Linda Cook, Elizabeth Cooper, Sarah Feldman, Karen Goldberg, Leslie Orlinsky, Linda Schiller, and Karen Siller.
Andie Insoft and Susan Altman | |
|
April 10, 2008/5 Nisan 5768 |
Passover Preparations
A group of Rashi students, together with parents and siblings, had a hands-on lesson in making matzah at a Model Matzah Factory sponsored by Chabad in Brookline. The children mixed, kneaded, and rolled out the dough and decorated afikomen bags.
|
|
Coming Up |
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
Apr. 17
Grade 8 returns from Israel
Apr. 18
Passover Break begins
Apr. 28
Classes resume
May 1
Volunteer Reception 7 pm
May 6
"Mensch Workshop" 7 pm |
| New on the Web
|
The article on Tamchui that was printed in The Jewish Advocate is now linked to the www.rashi.org website. Check it out at
Rashi in the News |
|
|
Music at Rashi  Did you know that Rashi students in grades 4-5 are writing their own music? Using the software program Band in a Box, children are creating blues music and their own arrangements of Beatles songs.
|
|
REMINDER: April 18 (next Friday) is the deadline for ads for this year's Dinner Tribute Book.
Please email your ads to adbook@rashi.org. ALSO, let us know if you are coming to the dinner at the same time!
Karen Backner, Events Coordinator
|
|
From the Nurse
Now that the warmer weather is here (hopefully), a few reminders to help all students have a successful day:
· Check your child's head often
· NO flip flop shoes
· NO spaghetti strap tops
· Check your child's head often
· Pack enough food for snack and lunch
· Pack a water bottle with a sports or screw top
· Check your child's head often
· Send a short-sleeved top and sweatshirt for your child to keep in his/her locker for sudden change in the weather
· Encourage good regular hygiene
· Check your child's head often
Coral Ambuter, School Nurse
| |
|
May Lunch Orders |
|
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 Hillel B'nai Torah
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
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.
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.
| |
|
