Parachat Vayishlach

What an exciting week we’ve had!  Last Thursday, our second graders had their Chumash party.  From the gleam in the children’s eyes and the reverence with which they received their Chumashim, one easily could have surmised that they were receiving treasures!  But – of course, that IS exactly what happened.  Quoting from children’s essays about what their Chumash means to them:

“I felt excited yesterday because… Now I can finally start my journey… I felt proud of myself because even if I was a little scared I still did it.”

“I was proud, super excited, happy and good because it was the best day ever!  Because I got my Chumash.”

“I felt good because I am ready to learn Torah.”

“I was excited because I wanted it for a really long time.”

“I also felt happy because I can finally learn what’s really written in the Torah… But now I have a real one and I don’t have to pretend that I have one (Chumash).”

“I felt happy and excited because it has Hashem’s name in it. At the same time I was waiting for the Chumash for my whole life (for it) to happen.  I was happy because we got the Torah in a book.”

“I have been waiting for it for a long, long time since first grade.  I did not know about it in kindergarten or four year old nursery.”

Their words speak volumes and coalesce all of the hopes and dreams we have for our children as they embark on their pathway to learning Torah.  Mazel Tov to the parents, teachers, and of course, students!

Excitement also has been spreading through many of the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades this week as their classrooms are being fitted for either Smart Boards or overhead projectors that are connected to the teacher’s computers.  The students who arrived first have seen the work taking place in the classrooms and, performing their best Paul Revere impression, traverse through the hallways telling their peers which classroom is receiving an upgrade.  We are indebted to a very generous parent as well as the PTO for funding this project.  Of course, it is our students who are the beneficiaries of this technology and the advances it brings to the classrooms.

From Torah to technology, it all comes together to enrich, excite, and engage our students!  Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Chayei Sarah

Picture Paul Revere, riding through the streets of Silver Spring and environs: Conferences are coming...conferences are coming!!!  I trust that you all have your schedules and marked your calendars for this coming Monday night (11/21) and/or the following Tuesday (11/29).  Conferences are designed to help parents and teachers understand the children whom they share.  Parents bring insights and impressions, as well as hard facts, as do the teachers.  When everyone listens to - and hears - each other, the children are the beneficiaries.  We recognize that there are some downsides to the process, the foremost being that of the limited time. We regret that conferences are short, but when everyone is prepared and keeps to the schedule, we can maximize their efficiency.

How to get the most out of your conference.  Please:

·         Be on time.

·         Don't take more than the allotted time, even if no one's waiting.  The teacher might need a break.

·         If you arrive late - even because of a previous late-running conference, do not extend this conference.  Others are waiting.  If you feel you need more time, reschedule.  (All our teachers are more than willing to work with you to find a better (or another) time.)

·         Shut off your cell phone.

·         Discuss only your child.

·         Don't talk about other teachers.

·         Understand that we are all on the same side - advocates for your child, and we are working in his/her best interest. 

·         Come prepared with specific questions, comments, or concerns and with paper and pen.

·         Leave your children at home.

·         Expect the teacher to know your child and address strengths as well as weaknesses.

·         Know that sometimes it's difficult for the teacher to tell  you something negative about your child - but the intent is to help him/her

·         We hope that your conferences are productive and give you additional insights into your children.

Thank you for your outstanding attendance at last Friday's Veterans Day performance and Open House. Your enthusiasm and your feedback assist us in making the MJBHA Lower School THE place to be!!!  Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Lech Lecha

Continuing with my theme of "who we are in the Lower School".. One of the values we teach is that of responsible citizenship - of our school, our larger community, of Israel, and of course, of the United States.  At this time of year, it is quite evident - both visually and auditorally.  Walk through the hallways and hear various patriotic songs being practiced; look at many of the displays and see reports about Veterans and pictures reflecting the United States.  This all culminates with next Friday's (11/11/11) Lower School Veterans Day performance.  One of the recurring themes is that of hakarat hatov - recognition of the good that others do.  Our students are taught, in various stages, that we cannot take our freedoms for granted, that there is a price for democracy.  Some grades learn about the meaning of democracy; we talk about  other periods and societies  where people weren't and aren't  safe, not even to say what you want, let alone be an observant Jew, in public.  Our older students have learned that "freedom is not free"; there is a price - and it is our honor to recognize those many men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, whose sacrifices help keep us free.

One of the ways we show our appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy and the value we have for  our country and our Veterans is through respect of our flag- not just on Veterans Day, but every day.  The "Stars & Stripes" is a symbol of our freedom.  When we stand for it, in addition to the respect we demonstrate, we also show that we know and appreciate it; it reminds us that we live in a free country and that there are people whose work in the military keep it this way.    One of my personal weekly pleasures is being part of the Oneg and listening to your children sing the Star Spangled Banner in their beautiful voices.   They don't understand the full significance of this action, nor can I as someone who was born and raised in the USA.  But we certainly know enough history to recognize the significance.  Being part of a Modern Orthodox Jewish Day School, in which we can - and DO - show our appreciation for our heritage and the gifts we have, is also one way in which we show our commitment to our school's Mission - to teach wisdom and responsibility. 

Please join the entire Lower School next Friday, the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year (:)) at 9:15a.m. in the auditorium.  Please also make sure that your child is dressed in his/her class colors for the day as we celebrate a red, white, and blue day.  It's appropriate to bring grandparents, friends and neighbors who need a shot of patriotism and any local veterans (please let me know their names before the program).  Parents are invited to stay after the program for a brief visit to the classrooms.  (Lunch/recess begins at 10:55 due to the "short Friday" status of the day, and dismissal is at 2:00p.m.)  You are invited to join your child's class for Tefillah at 8:15.  There also will be a meeting for prospective parents at 10:30a.m.  I look forward to seeing you!!!  Shabbat Shalom

Yom Kippur

There is much information coming out these days about kids and their style of communicating using various formats of text messaging. This is in contrast to school, in which we stress speaking, using our words orally. We want our students to be able to talk TO each other, to communicate what’s on their minds, to let someone know how we feel, to tell someone if s/he’s hurting our feelings or making us feel uncomfortable. On the playground, we stress “use your words” to resolve any issues that might arise. We also train our children to use words to help others, to welcome new students into our classes and to invite them to play with us. We want our students to use their words for kindness, to compliment others or to help someone understand a lesson. We teach about the power of words, how they can hurt more deeply than the proverbial sticks or stones. We talk about the virtues of Shmirat Halashon, how watching what we say about people is so necessary to make us better people, to preserve everyone’s dignity and of course to fulfill the mitzvah. Tone of voice is also exceedingly important and we expect our students to utilize derech eretz in this as they perfect the art of speaking.

We also encourage our students to talk to the adults in their lives about concerns they may have or to raise questions about areas in which they feel they need guidance or would like an opinion. We ask them to discuss with their parents matters of values on perplexing issues. “What do your parents say about this?” As educators, we feel the necessity to create or strengthen the bonds between our students and you, their parents.  The elementary school age is so vital to establish those lines of communication, the bonds that keep our kids tied to us as they grow – and start to grow away.

We also know that there are various ways we communicate with our children, through conversation and through our actions. Our behaviors deliver a very strong message to our children. Whether it’s in our personal interactions or everyday manners, our kids are learning from us. In this vein, I’ll repeat a reminder that I’ve said before. As you plan your Succot guest lists, please remember to include our new families in your invitations. Many people have standing “traditions” of whom they get together with over the chagim… People who are new to the community have none of these. Please, open your homes (even if they’re only the temporary ones) to people who have recently arrived or those you don’t yet know and model hachnasat orchim for your children.

In addition to all the blessings of the upcoming chagim, one of the side benefits is the increased (enforced ??) family time. It’s such a perfect time to catch up with your kids…find out what’s happening to and with them. Even if you’ve not already established great communication with your children, take advantage of this glorious opportunity to do so – and if this is in place, see how you can make the bonds even stronger. Some suggested ways to achieves this are: make meals more kid-centered or kid-friendly; listen to (and take seriously) your children’s thoughts and ideas (ala our Parent Book Club choice How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk). In an article in this summer’s edition of the “Jewish Action” magazine, published by the O-U, Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz writes about the value of talking to one’s children while walking to shul together. “Children come to identify shul-going as a positive experience not because of what happened at shul but what happened along the way.”    

(http:/www.ou.org/jewish_action/article/getting_kids_to_shul)

A former shul rabbi discussed the fact that (in preparation for delivering their parents’ eulogies – sobering thought!!!), many people “mention that walking to shul with the parent was among the most meaningful time spent together.”  Obviously we pray that there will not be a need for such a use for hundreds of years, but think of the investment you’re making with your children in creating and strengthening the 2-way bond. It’s something you can never recreate and it’s a fleeting moment in the parent-child relationship; capture this time and make the most of it. You might just benefit more than your children.

Also- I ask mechilah from you, our parents, if in any way I’ve offended you.  I apologize if I did anything, intentionally or unintentionally, that wronged you in any way.

גמר חתימה טובה – and a chag sameach. – and a Shabbat Shalom. The Lower School Link will next be published on October 27. Susan Koss

Parashat Ki Tavo

One year, at our annual Showcase Evening (mark your calendars- May 22, 2012!)  which occurs close to  the end of school, one teacher/parent commented that at “ Back to School Night “, we tell what we’re going to do this year – and then at Showcase, we show what we’ve done.

We hope that you enjoyed being in your child’s classes on Tuesday night’s Back to School Night (BTSN) – and that you came away with a good understanding of what s/he is learning this year.  We changed the formatting of the evening in response to many parents’ concerns that they were unable to visit enough classes.  We recognize that we were not able to facilitate everyone’s multi-grade schedules, but we hope that we were able to accommodate you better.  We would appreciate your feedback so we will know how to plan for next year.  I understand that there was some confusion about our starting time as we failed to change it on the website.  My apologies; we will change the way we coordinate dates and times to eliminate confusion.  Thank you for coming; it was a pleasure to see so many parents!   Thank you also to the PTO for staffing an information table and for taking care of the staff.  It is such a pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of parents (who, by the way, always welcome new recruits- email pto@mjbha.org if you have a little, or a lot, of time).

Although the teachers try to cover a wide range of topics at BTSN, because of the vast range of material, subjects, as well as limited time, there always are areas that are not addressed.  Over the next few weeks, I will write about some of these aspects of our program so that you will have a better understanding of who we are.

One of the main non-academic areas we stress is appropriate conduct, emulating our  target middah of Derech Eretz.  The pasuk says Derech Eretz kadmah l’Torah. (Medrash Vayikra Rabbah 9:3).  Yes, our students need to study, learn, and perform well academically and we must assist them to reach this goal, just as we work to teach and expect appropriate behavior.  In the youngest grades, we teach about how to be a friend.  Mrs. Handloff (LS counselor) visits all the classrooms to this goal.  Then we build on this concept and teach about taking responsibility for our own actions, learning to do the right thing, even if others – even if it’s our very best friend - are making the wrong choices.  The way we treat others, the way we speak, the way we interact - all reflect who we are and what we value.  The importance of middot, values, is paramount.  We encourage you to discuss this with your children and help them understand that this is important to you as well.   I am happy to report that the overwhelming majority of our students are  behaving wonderfully (and we are proactively encouraging those who are not).  I am thrilled that we are seeing middot in action, that our new students have been embraced by our returning students and their families.  It is such a wonderful commentary that students who are new to the school have already been invited to parties and Shabbat tables.   Thank you, parents, for your support and encouragement; it makes our teaching so much  more effective –and is exceedingly rewarding.  Shabbat Shalom.  Susan Koss

Parashat Shoftim

Robert Browning penned the words:

G[-D]'s in [H]is Heaven—

All's right with the world!

This line came to my mind on Tuesday as the children settled into their classes and began yet another year of school.  My paraphrase: The students are back in school; all’s right with the world.

So much energy goes into preparing the school for a new year.  There is the obvious physical labor entailed in cleaning and repairing the rooms themselves, (and for this year, installing new lockers). There’s the decision-making about what we need and then the ordering of supplies.   There is the planning for themes and programs, interviewing and hiring of staff.  There’s meeting with prospective students and their families. There is the plethora of other meetings, to work out the schedules for the various classes and the creation of the calendar.  Week after week finds us submerged in details. The final days before school opens involve more meetings and more planning, creating new bulletin boards and reviewing curriculum, tweaking the details, shaping the lessons, worrying about what will be.  And then there’s the first day, watching the students walk down the hallway, some tenuously holding onto their parents’ hands, some walking quickly ahead, some smiling broadly, and others with quizzical expressions, not really sure what they are feeling. (And before the student enters, there are all the teachers who haven’t slept because they are just as nervous as many of their students!!)   But in the end, after a few minutes, all is calm.  The students are in their classrooms – right where they belong.  First day jitters have been met – and conquered!

Because our first day of school was also Rosh Chodesh, we were blessed to have the sounds of a joyous Hallel echo in the hallways, filling them with beautiful music.On Wednesday, Tefilah ended with the sounding of the shofar as we set our sights towards Rosh Hashanah.

There is a feeling of completion – of everything being “right.”  I marvel year after year at the excitement we all feel at the expectations of what the year will bring, at the prospect of a new class of children to love and enjoy.  I continue to be amazed at and impressed by the enthusiasm of teachers who have had so many 1^st days of school, but who have not lost their sense of wonder and enthusiasm, who continue to strive to reach each child and make this the best year ever.

We have had a wonderful first few days of school and we anticipate an amazingly fantastic year.  Your children seem so ready to get to work, to make new friends, to learn and to grow.  Thank you for sharing them with us; we are excited and we are ready.