Est as Yavneh Day School 23 January Shevat Oh, Freedom!

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1 Having trouble viewing this ? Click here Est as Yavneh Day School 23 January Shevat 5775 In This Issue: From the Desk of David Finell, Head of School Enrollment Upcoming Events Development Doings Counselor's Corner 4th Grade Freedom Program Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Basketball Schedule Tab Collection Update All-School Read R.E.S.P.E.C.T Congratulations Candle Lighting Tot Shabbat at Adath Israel Rockwern Families Shabbat Shira Tell a Friend From the Desk of David Finell, Head of School Oh, Freedom! The first of the Ten Commandments is "I am the Lord thy G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." It is important to note how G-d identifies Himself. When one writes a resume, it is wise to lead with one's most impressive accomplishment, but here G-d does not do that. Here, amidst the thunder and lightning of Sinai, at this incredible moment where G-d reveals His presence to the entire Jewish people for all generations, one would think that G-d would identify Himself by referring to his greatest accomplishment, his most impressive work. And what is G-d's most impressive work? Not the Exodus. That is small time. G-d's most impressive accomplishment is obviously the creation of the universe, the bringing forth of all life and matter. But G-d does not identify Himself as the "Creator of the Universe." Instead He identifies Himself as the One who took us out of Egypt. We are therefore taught that above all else, G-d wants to be seen as a G-d of freedom, as a G-d for whom freedom is central to G-d's identity, to the relationship between G-d and people (ben adam l'makom), and between people (ben adam l'chavero). We see in our own day quite starkly how freedom stands as the central element in the future of human civilization. Spiritual, intellectual, and physical freedom are of the utmost importance to G-d, and we are taught that G-d thus always sides with the oppressed and with the enslaved. Last night our small and wonderful fourth grade celebrated the value of "Freedom" during their annual "Freedom Program." (Please see the fourth graders' own thoughts and reflections in this Shabbat Shalom.) As you may know, one of the many special parts of a Rockwern education is that each grade is involved with creating and performing a special Jewish program each year. For fourth grade, the focus each year is on exploring and celebrating freedom at key moments in Jewish history and in our own day with the struggle for freedom and equality among African Americans.

2 Join us on Facebook Quick Links Register Now About Admission Academics Administration News Alumnae In Kindergarten, this is the Shema Pillowcase Program, which focuses on the Shema and G-d's oneness. In first grade, it is the Yom HaSiddur Program, and in second grade, Kabbalat HaTorah, at which times the students are presented with their own siddurim and chumashim. In third grade, the focus is on the beautiful ceremony of Havdalah. The fifth grade focus is on the concept of holiness with their Kedusha Program. (I always say that in a public school you can teach about citizenship, but only in a school like ours can you also teach about holiness.) Finally, during our culminating middle school class trips to New York, Washington, D.C. and, of course, Israel, there is also a significant Jewish learning component. Last night our fourth graders, under the leadership of their Hebrew and Judaic Studies teacher, Ms. Idit Moss, explored freedom during five crucial periods of Jewish history: The Exodus from Egypt, the war of the Maccabees during Hanukkah, the immigration to America from Eastern Europe and Russia, the resistance to the Nazis during World War II, and the establishment of the State of Israel. The Fourth Grade Family Freedom Program also told the story of slavery in America and the Civil Rights Movement. Through songs, skits, and beautiful readings, our fourth graders shared their thoughts and feelings about freedom. In addition, each student wrote an essay on "What Freedom Means to Me" and researched and created a poster board based on one of the periods they studied. The fourth grade's dor l'dor volunteer is Louis "Saba" Weisser, and having gone through Ellis Island himself as a young man, when he read "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, there was not a dry eye in Boymel Chapel. Many thanks to Ms. Moss, Mr. Guess, Mrs. Diekmeyer, and Mrs. Wyatt for making this such a meaningful experience for everyone involved. Shabbat Shalom! David B. Finell, Head of School Enrollment Update Just a reminder that our Priority Registration deadline is approaching! Submit your enrollment forms for the academic year by January 30th. Please note that after January 30th, the non-refundable deposit increases to $500 per child (prior to January 30th, the nonrefundable deposit is $150 per child). Applications received prior to January 30th receive priority with

3 regards to enrollment and financial assistance. Upcoming Events Monday, January 26 thru Friday, January 30 Madcaps Artist Program week - On Monday, January 26th, Madcaps will present a puppet show for the entire Preschool and Kindergarten classes. During the week, students in grades K-6 will all be creating their own puppets. Madcaps will be working with each class individually. Students in K-3 will each have one puppet making class, and the 4th-6th grades will have three different sessions. The 5th and 6th grades have been working with Mrs. Kaplan, writing scripts on the topic of our All-School read, "Kovod," and will present their puppet shows to the school at a later date. Wednesday, January 28 Schoolhouse Symphony for E.C.E.C. and Kindergarten 9:45 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. in Boymel Friday, January 30 Early Registration deadline Saturday, January 31 3rd Grade Havdalah Program 7:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, February 2-6 MAP Make-up testing Monday, February 2 Mother's Nature Under the Sea E.C.E.C.2's & 3's at 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Winter Birthday Book Club Wednesday, Feberuary 4 Tu B'Shevat celebration at Rockwern grades K- 6 2:00 p.m. Students are encouraged to wear green, and bring a dollar to plant a tree in Israel through JNF.

4 Development Doings Thank you to all of our participating families for your incredible support and generosity during our CHAI 5 campaign! Many classes reached 100% participation, and we are excited to begin our Hamsa handprinting next week! Please check Facebook for photos! Counselor's Corner Dear Rockwern Families and Community, This month, the 4th, 5th and 6th grade girl groups are leading a wonderful Tikkun Olam project, titled "Pennies for Patients." "Pennies for Patients" is a program through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and all funds collected go towards finding cures and giving access to treatments for blood cancer patients. We are very interested in this program because want to raise money for something that would help save lives, especially the lives of children, through Tzedakah. Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam are very important in Judaism and we love giving back! Every grade/classroom has received a "Pennies for Patients" tzedakah box that we put together and designed. We will have until March to collect the coins and dollars. We have set a very realistic goal of $250.00; however, the more we make, the more we can give to help find a cure. During one of our "girls group" meetings, we realized that if each student and staff member donates just $1.00 in coins (or bills), we will reach our goal! Please help us succeed in our goal, and send some spare change into school with your child over the next few weeks. If you are interested in learning more about the project, please visit their website, Thank you so much! Shabbat Shalom! Sincerely, The 4th, 5th and 6th grade girls 4th Grade Freedom Program

5 During Judaic Studies class, the 4th Graders researched five periods of Jewish history in order to prepare for the first part of their program. The second part of our program, "the struggle for freedom in America," was discussed during Social Studies class. During Language Arts class, the students wrote essays about what Freedom meant to them. We were very fortunate to hear Louis/Saba Weisser's life story about his fight for freedom. Thank you, Saba Weisser, for making our program very meaningful.

6 Here are our thoughts and reflections on the Freedom Program: Sofia Cohen: I researched the Exodus from Egypt, and I learned from my topic how God is the most powerful Being in the whole galaxy and uses that power for goodness. I loved the Freedom Program because everyone in it did great and worked very hard. Hannah Pollock: The time period that I researched about was the Exodus from Egypt. I learned that Moses was very worried about his mission that God gave him. Although I wasn't able to participate in the program, it still felt like I was part of it by learning the songs and making props. Ethan Tyler: I researched the Maccabees' revolt against the Syrian Greeks. The most important fact that I learned was that they used guerilla warfare. The freedom program was a great experience because I learned about how the Jews suffered and fought for freedom. Ryan Helton: From my research about the time when Jews from Russia came to the U.S.A., I found out that my great- grandpa did that, too. Researching this topic was a great choice because I learned lots of interesting things. The program overall was fun and interesting. Hannah Peri: I learned from my research that the Holocaust was a struggle for the Jews. Even when they were weak, they still tried to fight for freedom. My favorite part was the songs that had lots of great meanings such as "Eli, Eli" and "Im Tirzu." Mimi Kravitz: I researched Israel's Battle of Independence. I liked Ben Gurion's declaration of Independence. My favorite songs from the Freedom Program were "What Can One Little Person Do?" and "Mi Y'malel?" and "Many Nights We Prayed." Saba Weisser: My impressions from the Freedom Program: 1. Including the struggle of the former slaves. 2. The fighting spirit of the Jewish people over the ages 3. The attachment to religion in the history of the Jewish people 4. Projecting America as the hope for all oppressed people 5. Israel as the home for all Jewish people Rabbi Ally: The fourth graders reminded me what an important theme freedom has been throughout both Jewish and American history. Their research and understanding of the content of their program was impressive and inspirational. Their message is relevant for learners of all ages: we must be grateful for the many rights and freedoms we have today. Kol hakavod Kitah Daled!

7 Ms. Moss Lunch Menu & Challah Order Form Click on the link to see the lunch menu: January Lunch Menu Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Music Hall We had a wonderful time performing at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at Music Hall. Our students were part of the Interfaith Youth Choir. They performed the songs "Holding On" and "Am I Wrong." This year's program's theme was Pass It On: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a program that focused on children's performances, and the legacy of love, hope, faith and peace. Thanks to everyone who came out to support the program, and our children. Thanks to the following students for performing beautifully: Sofia Cohen, Marit Epstein, Molly Fisher, Sarah Grove, Ryan Helton, Gavin Isakov, Jacob Kabakoff, Elise Kravitz, Mimi Kravitz, Andrew Levin, Hannah Peri, Fiona Schaffzin, Lucy Schneider, Eve Smiley, Jonah Swift, and Ethan Tyler. Basketball Schedule

8 Sunday, January 25, 2015 Home: 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Kindergarten 1:00 p.m. 2nd grade - Ronis-Tobin vs Milford - McGrath 2:00 p.m. 4th-6th Girls - Guess vs Lakota Thunderbirds-Pate 3:00 p.m. 5th/6th Boys - Peri vs Milford - Heffernan Sunday, February 1, 2015 Home: 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Kindergarten Away: 1:00 p.m. 5th/6th Boys - Peri vs Milford - Eastham at McCormick Elem. 1:30 p.m. 4th-6th Girls - Guess vs Mason-Hayes at Mason Community Center-Gym 2 2:00 p.m. 2nd grade - Ronis-Tobin vs Milford - Hutzel at Pattison Elem. Sunday, February 8, 2015 Home: 12:00-1:00 pm Kindergarten 1:00 pm - 2nd grade - Ronis-Tobin vs Milford - Wehrum 2:00 p.m. 4th-6th Girls - Guess vs Bethel - Dockery Away: 3:00 p.m. 5th/6th Boys - Peri vs Milford - Rapp at Mulberry Elem. Tab Collection Update Did you know that the Rockwern Academy's Early Childhood Education Center has been collecting "Tabs" from cans for the last two years? It is a city-wide contest between schools to see who can collect the most "Tabs" and all of the money from recycling the tabs goes to help families staying at The Ronald McDonald House. Yesterday I took two large containers to The Ronald McDonald House as a donation from Rockwern Academy. We donated 48.6 pounds of "Tabs." Last year we donated 28 pounds! I found out that over $40,000 was raised locally for The Ronald McDonald House last year from this wonderful easy project! So next time you go to put that can in recycling, take a moment to pull off that tab. There is a large bottle outside my office to put them in. Thanks for your support of this project. Sincerely, Nancy Mendelson, Director E.C.E.C. All-School Read R.E.S.P.E.C.T

9 ECEC Recycling and Bottle Cap Mosaic Project The ECEC will be making a bottle cap sculpture representing nature. The ECEC 4-year-old and Kindergarten classes will participate in a special tzedaka project for Ethan Kadish. Ethan is a former Rockwern student who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury. The students will decorate special tzedaka boxes for their families, and the money collected will be contributed to Ethan's fundraising campaign with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit which engages communities in fundraising to help patients and families ease the financial burden of a medical crisis. Chaverim Chappenings

10 1947, 1949, 1967, 1979, These are all the years in which Israel's borders changed. Partition plans, wars, and peace treaties - all reasons that the borders changed. This week the students explored all the border changes and reasons for those changes. A live walk through the history of modern Israel. Congratulations

11 Mazel tov to Sarah Ganson ('02 Yavneh graduate) on her marriage to Oren Shmoel! Sarah is the daughter of the late Ellen Bernstein Ganson and Michael Ganson and the granddaughter of Miriam G. Bernstein and the late I. Leonard Bernstein. Sarah and Oren (a graduate of Hebrew Academy in Indianapolis) met as they were traveling to Israel for a 6 month MASA program, Career Israel. They had seats next to each other on the plane and the conversation never stopped! Sarah is finishing her last semester at Miami University where she will graduate with a Master's of Science in Student Affairs and Oren works as an IT Manager at PathForward, while studying for his Master's in Computer Information Technology at NKU. Once finished with school, Oren and Sarah hope to reside in Cincinnati. Candle Lighting Shabbat Shalom! To see this week's candle lighting times, just click here. Remember that some families in our community do not work, drive, answer the phone, attend events, etc. during these times. Rockwern Academy is collecting Matzo

12 Tot Shabbat at Adath Israel

13 Rockwern Families Dear Families, We would like to be sure that as many Rockwern grandparents as possible are getting the Shabbat Shalom each week so they can be kept informed about the great happenings at school. Therefore, please call or Rexann in the front office to let us know if there are grandparents of Rockwern students who would like to receive the Shabbat Shalom, but are not already getting it. Thank you. Shabbat Shira Shabbat Shira Every Friday that school is in session 3:00-3:30 p.m. in the Boymel Sanctuary Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Community Members -

14 All are welcome to join us as we bring in the Shabbat with joyful singing led by Rabbi Dellal. Hope to see you there! Tell a Friend Share what's happening at Rockwern Academy! Is there a family member or someone close to you who would like to know what is going on at Rockwern Academy? Simply click the button below to forward this edition to them, and be sure to share us with your favorite social media site! Join us on Facebook Click on the "F" to see us on Facebook. Then "Like" us on Facebook! Forward This was sent to tasmith@rockwernacademy.org by reroades@rockwernacademy.org Update Profile/ Address Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Rockwern Academy 8401 Montgomery Road Cincinnati OH 45236