View this email in your browser. Newsletter for September 15, 2016

Oseh Shalom Religious School

The mission of the Oseh Shalom Religious School is to teach and promote living Judaism – from a perspective of Reconstructionist thought and practice – as the way to create personal, communal and ecological tikkun--healing.

 Facebook      E-mail Us        School Calendar

 

From the Director


Shalom Parents!
What a wonderful first day of school! A special thank you to Jonah Richardson for blowing the shofar, to Stephanie Weishaar for leading us in song and to Rabbi Doug for blessing our students. It was great to see the hallways filled again and to hear the sounds of laughter!

This Sunday, I will be hosting a ShalomLearning workshop in the social hall. All 3rd and 4th grade parents are strongly encouraged to attend and to bring a laptop computer. After school, we will have our first homeschool meeting for students in grades 5th-7th.



See you all on Sunday!

Renee Richards
Religious School Director

Rrichards@oseh-shalom.org



Back to top

Important Dates
 

Mark a few important dates on your personal calendar:
  • Sunday, September 18- ShalomLearning Workshop, Homeschool Meeting
  • Sunday, October 2- No School
  • Monday, October 3- Rosh Hashanah - Children's Program & Family Tent Service
  • Sunday, October 9- Teshuvah Workshop 
  • Wednesday, October 12- Yom Kippur- Children's Program & Family Tent Service
  • Sunday, October 23- Simchat Torah B'Yachad 
View the school calendar below. 

Back to top


Dear Oseh Shalom Members,
    
For our Mitzvah Project we have decided to support
Small Miracles Dog and Cat Rescue.

 
It is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter dedicated to providing homes for dogs and cats. “They have found homes for more than 6,500 cats since their founding in 2006 and more than 1,100 dogs since they expanded to serve dogs in late 2011.” Small Miracles relies on adoptions and donations to fund its operations for sick and/or injured cats and dogs. They can get the medical care they need to address broken bones, wounds and other medical needs. 

We are using our Tzedakah money to donate supplies to Small Miracles. We will have a box at Oseh Shalom Synagogue if you would like to donate this way. You can also make a donation through the Small Miracles' website:  http://www.smallmiraclesrescue.org/donate.shtml and click Donate.
There is also an Amazon wishlist on the website if you are interested. Thank you for your help!

Jessica, David, and Ben Cerkovnik
 
 

A Letter from Jamie Gabel and Kelsy Gilbert

Dear Family and Friends,

As you know, this year we are becoming bat mitzvot. We will be partnering up for our mitzvah project. A mitzvah project is doing a good deed to help the world be a better place. For our mitzvah project, we will be offering small care packages to homeless people we see on the streets. Every day, we pass people on the streets with no food, no warm clothes, and no shelter. Our families will put together the packages and then hand them out when we see someone in need.  

So, you might be wondering how you can help? Well, you can donate cans with a pop top, small packages of snack foods, hand warmers, socks, juice boxes, water bottles, and any money amounts. We will use the money to purchase additional items. Thank you for your help! We will have a box in the Religious School corridor every Sunday from 9:30-11:30 where you can leave your donations until the end of the religious school year.

Jamie and Kelsey 

Back to top

 

Box Tops
There are now two Box Tops for Education collection boxes available for drop offs. Find them in the main office and the school lobby. Thank you for all your support.  

There are also other fundraisers that benefit the school. Contact Kelly, development chair or read the synagogue newsletter for a list of ways you can earn cash for the school.
 
Back to top

Pre-Kindergarten

Shalom,

What a wonderful first day of Sunday School! It was so nice to see the Sanctuary filled with new and familiar faces.  We started off the morning with an All School Assembly. I have missed seeing everyone over the summer at various Oseh events. After the assembly, we went to our Pre-K Classroom. I am very happy to announce that Danny Zolt is our Madrich this year.  I am really looking forward to working with Danny. I am also very excited to have Yuri back in class as well as welcoming Lilly and Carolina. It's going to be an exciting year!

Once we returned to our classroom, we sang the “Boker Tov” song.(We will start all of our classes like this). Each week, we will collect Tzedakah (any amount is fine),and recite the days of the week and count the numbers on the calendar in both Hebrew and English. This will give students an idea of the different numbers(and help remind me how to count past 10 in Hebrew).

After that, we talked about Rosh Hashanah (The Birthday of the World) and how we eat apples and honey for a “Sweet New Year”. We learned that Rosh Hashanah began with the Hebrew letter Resh which stands for Rosh (meaning “Head”). We made “heads” out of the letter Resh, and Yuri shared his Rakvet(Train) and sang a song about a train. 

After snack, we made Apple prints on our Rosh Hashanah placemats(they will be laminated and sent home on 9/25), and also made prints that will be hung up on our Bulletin Board. 

Lastly, we talked about “Doing Mitzvot”. Throughout the year, we will learn about various Mitzvot that either correspond to a Holiday or a lesson we are learning. In some cases, there will be a hand out sent home, or we will just discuss the Mitzvah in class.  For example, the Mitzvah next week, is “Feeding the Hungry”.  On Rosh Hashanah, each family will be given a bag to take home and brought back on Yom Kippur.  I would like everyone to bring in a few non-perishable items on 9/25 that I can donate on behalf of our Pre-K Class. LARS asks for items such as Pancake mix, Macaroni and Cheese, Instant Soup, items with “pop tops” etc.  No “meat” items.  I will try and have a hand out for this Mitzvah. 

In addition, while teaching the Aleph-Bet, I will be introducing it in a way that makes sense to them.  For example, we started with “Resh” for Rosh (since that's the first Holiday of the year). Next will be “Yod” for Yom Kippur. Followed by Samaech (for Sukkot) and Tav for Torah.  Each week, I will ask your child to bring in an item that starts with that letter (don't worry, I will send out an email reminder). Also, each month, we will learn a color. This month is Orange (Katom). So, naturally, we will be painting our Yadaim (hands) in Katom (orange) inside the letter Yud.  (See how it all comes together?) I also believe in having your child do a lot of cutting and gluing, so if the project isn't “perfect”, that's OK.It's the process, not the product that's important. 

Lastly, please feel free to allow your child to bring in a labeled water bottle.  I have one, so why shouldn't they? Each child also has a “take home” folder that should come to and from school with important papers. Please remember to empty it each time we have class so it doesn't get too full. 

Please contact me with any questions or concerns. I can be reached at: fldf65@gmail.com or 240-786-6274.

Shalom, 
Morah Felicia

fldf65@gmail.com


Back to top


Kindergarten and First Grade

 
Shalom,
We had a great first week at Oseh. Stay tuned to the newsletter for more information as the weeks go on.

See you soon. 
Morah Sara


Back to top

Second Grade


Shalom Parents,

Michael Becker subbed for me this past Sunday. Here is his recap.
" We discussed mitzvot and the students were very engaged learning the song. We even took a walk outside while we sang it. They didn't memorize the Hebrew lines but they got the rest of it pretty well. We also created a very unique tzedakah box. Matthew and Alex were VERY ENGAGED Madrichot. They were excellent. They even stepped up to teach the song and dance around and get silly with the kids."

Thank you, Michael, for being a great teacher. 

Morah Daniela


Back to top
 
 

Third Grade- ShalomLearning

Dear Parents,
Our first class is off to a great start! It was wonderful seeing all of your children. On Sunday we completed our first unit of the Teshuva (returning) unit.

Recap:
•    Students learned a bit about their classmates and any similarities they may have.

•    Students reviewed the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

•    Students understood the concept of teshuvah as “returning” and starting fresh with a clean slate.

•    Students explored the fact that no human is perfect, and we all “miss the mark” in some ways, and the important thing is that we learn and grow from our mistakes.

Table Talk: What are things we do as a family to practice Teshuvah? What actions can we take to make this happen?  

Next Week: We explore what it really means to say sorry.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Morah Sharon



Back to top

Fourth Grade- ShalomLearning


Shalom to the 4th grade families:

I am so excited to be teaching your kids (and mine) this year and I am looking forward to using our new ShalomLearning curriculum. The kids had a nice first day and were apparently excited that we will be using a flat screen TV every class.   
This week we began our unit on Teshuvah, which focuses on taking responsibility for ones' actions through repentance. The lesson is summarized below:
  • Students learned that as a result of having free will that people sometimes make bad choices even as they try to do what is right. (Chet literally means missing the mark.)
  • Students also learned that in a system with free will, it is not unusual to make some bad choices on the path to growing older and hopefully, as a result, wiser.  Students should now be able to explain why the process of teshuvah is so important when they inevitably make mistakes.
  • Students learned how the process of teshuvah can be a tool to learn from mistakes instead of denying that mistakes were made.
  • Students learned some of the ways that Judaism attempts to keep us “aiming straight and hitting the target” of good behavior instead of “missing the mark.”
  • Students examined the GPS as a metaphor to help them understand the role that other rituals play in helping us "recalculate" our behavior or keep us from making bad choices in general.

Table/Car Talk: How can we use the steps of teshuvah to help with a problem at home or at school?  (They have a hand out with the 4 steps.) 

I know you are not yet logged in to the program so I am attaching a couple videos for the students (and you) to watch and then discuss. Normally you will just go to the site and complete online activities. But until you are set up, here are two for week 1’s lesson.
Please watch this video for the song “Any Wrong Can Be Made Right at https://youtu.be/FlcxEDy-lr0
After watching please discuss with your child if they disagree or agree with that title.

Also, here is another video to watch: https://youtu.be/X5d11qauXpo  and then discuss the following questions.
  • What are your favorite foods to eat on Rosh HaShanah?
  • Would you try any of the new foods you viewed in this video? Why or why not?  
Next week: We will concentrate on the role of rituals and focus on hearing the shofar, our central Rosh Hashanah ritual, and what the sound of the shofar reminds us to do.

Have a wonderful week, 

Morah Kaylah- aka Kelly 

  

Back to top

Fifth Grade 

Hebrew 

Shalom parents!

It was wonderful to see everyone for opening day for the new school year. We will continue with our Hebrew,  Book Kol Yisrael Book 1. Students should bring their Hebrew book every week to class. We are starting with Chapter 4, Blessings for Shabbat. Students were assigned for homework to review Chapter 4.

We spent time reviewing our Hebrew letters and vowels, along with some ice breaker activities. We  discussed our Jewish identity and the importance of Jewish education and Jewish prayer. We completed an interesting activity comparing the Jewish Peoples observation of Shabbat with the marriage of a bride and groom .

Have a wonderful week!

Morah Rene'
 


Judaics

I want to thank Michael Becker for filling in for me this past Sunday. Here is his recap.

" In fifth grade, the students made get well cards for Natalie since she broke her leg just last week. We also listened to the Shabbat song and discussed what it is like to be Jewish in Israel. The students had lots to share with me about who actually lives in Israel.  Did you know that even Christians and Muslims live in Israel?  Well now I do :-) hehe. It was a terrific discussion. Chloe and David were the Midrich with me today. They were terrific and very, very helpful." 

Thank you, again, Michael.  

Morah Daniela



Back to top

Shaharit


Shalom,

It was great to see everyone for opening day for the new school year. We will continue with our Hebrew book, Kol Yisrael Book 2 . Students should bring their Hebrew book to class every week. We are starting with Chapter Six, The Beginning of the Amidah. Students were assigned for homework to review Chapter 6. We did some ice breaker activities on Sunday discussing our Jewish identity and the importance of Jewish education and Jewish prayer.

Have a wonderful week!

Morah Rene'



Back to top

B'Nei Mitzvah Prep

Shalom everyone,
With our B’Nei Mitzvah Program well underway, I wanted to give you some useful tools to help your child be prepared for his or her big day.
 
First, this class should not be looked upon like a “regular” Hebrew school class. What I mean is, homework assigned in this class should be taken very seriously and done diligently.  We need to view this class in the same light as we would view individual tutoring sessions.
 
For this program to be successful, you and your pre-teen need to dedicate 15 mintues of time, three days a week for the homework assigned.
 
Now you may be wondering what should they be practicing? If you ask your child, he/she will most likely say “I don’t know”. So here are my suggestions below:
  1. Starting a year out from the Bar/Bat Mitzvah date, students should attend at least one Saturday morning service a month. They should keep a siddur with them (bringing it back and forth to shul), in order to mark which prayer they would like to lead and which tunes they may like to use. If you need a siddur, come see me on Sunday.
    1. There are several prayers that are REQUIRED for Friday night AND Saturday morning. For a complete list, refer to pages 18 and 19 in the Bar/Bat Mitzvah handbook. If you did not attend the Nuts & Bolts meeting with Barry Nove and Rabbi Doug, please contact Barry to get a copy of the handbook.
    2. I suggest students begin practicing and learning the required prayers first. There is a CD that all students got at the beginning of the year that they can chant along with while practicing at home. My recommendation is that they learn one prayer at a time. During the 15 minutes, they should chant along with the CD. Once they can comfortably chant the prayer to you without the CD, you can consider it “learned” and move on to the next prayer.
  2. All students will be getting trope cards inclass. Until they are about six months out from their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they should be practicing with these cards. They should be VERY familiar with the symbols and their related sounds. For an online guide, I like www.learntrope.org
  3. Prior to six months before the big day, your student can also practice reading the 7th Aliyah and maftir. Each family was emailed this information last year. If you do not have yours, please contact me and I will email it to you. If you need a recording of the Hebrew in order to help your student practice, please let me know.
  4. About six-eight months out from the big day, your student will start having weekly private tutoring sessions with our Education Director, Renee Richards. At that time,s he will assign more specific homework for each child. If you want to help your child put the trope and Hebrew together prior to that time, I like the app “Pocket Torah”. It chants each portion in an easy-to-learn voice. If you have trouble finding your child’s Torah portion on this app, please contact me.
 
Here is the 15 minute practice schedule that I have used with my past tutoring students:
One Year to Six Months before Bar/Bat Mitzvah:
  1. Recite Before Torah Blessing (Found on page 399 in our Siddur) three times
  2. Recite After Torah Blessing (Found on page 399 in our Siddur) three times
  3. Practice Saturday morning prayer of choice (choose from the required prayers, once those are learned, move on to other Saturday morning prayers or have your student practice the prayer they are learning in Sunday class with Rabbi Gordon) three times
  4. Recite Saturday morning prayer to parent (use CD/Computer assistance until no longer needed) one time
  5. Practice reading one line of Torah portion (add a line each week or every other week, as the student progresses)
 
Six Months and less before the big day:
  1. Recite Before Torah Blessing one time
  2. Recite After Torah Blessing one time
  3. Practice Saturday morning prayer one time (rotate through the prayers)
  4. Practice chanting the assigned lines of the Torah portion as given by Renee Richards – three times
  5. Recite Saturday Prayer and Torah portion  to parent- one time
 
I suggest students learn Aliyahs #6 and #7, and the maftir…. As a minimum. Please talk with Renee or myself if you would like your student to learn more aliyot and/or the HafTorah since this will require an adjusted timeline for you.
 
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here for you and your child every step of the way.
 


Rabbi Gordon Fuller



Back to top

Sixth/Seventh Grade Judaics


Shalom,  
I have hired a wonderful new teacher for our sixth and Seventh grade Judaics class. Unfortunately, she is not moving into the area until after the high holy days. In the meantime, Rene Schecker and I will be covering the class. On Sunday, we did a "getting to know you activity". Each student created a Star of David with information about them on it. Then everyone shared one thing that makes them unique. I'm impressed to learn we have a leap year baby, several athletes, an author, unicyclist, and even someone who's been struck by lightning! Want to learn who? Ask your students!



Renee



Back to top
 



Parents: Please Note!
All religious school students and families must enter and exit the building through the main entrance by the front office. The doors at the end of the hallway are for ABCKidstime, and we do not want to disturb them! This is also important for security purposes. Additionally, teachers and parents may not use the restroom in the hallway with the classrooms until after 6PM on weekdays.  It is also part of the ABDKidstime program; adults are asked to use the restrooms in the front of the building instead. Thank you!

Inclement Weather Policy


In the case of inclement weather, we will make decisions as soon as possible about canceling or delaying religious school. We do not automatically follow the public school systems’ decision to close. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, by 8:30 AM on Sundays, and no later than 3 PM on Wednesdays. Please use your best judgment if the roads are not safe. School closings will be announced through an e-mail blast, on Oseh Shalom’s website (www.oseh-shalom.org), and on WTOP (1500 AM) and WBAL (1090AM) radio.
 
 
Back to top

Reminder of Pick Up Policy


Drop-off
  • Please plan to arrive 5 minutes before school begins. This will allow teachers to begin classes on time.
  • Please drive around to the front of the building and watch as students enter the building, or park your car and accompany the students into the building. Students may not walk in the parking lot unattended.
Pick-up
  • Please use only the main entrance.
  • Sunday and Wednesday students will wait in the classroom. Parents should come to the classroom to pick up students. Remind your child to wait for you there. Students are not allowed to wait in the parking lot.
  • Students are not allowed to cross the street unaccompanied.
  • In case of delays, please notify the office. 
 
Back to top
Copyright © 2016 Oseh Shalom Religious School, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp