Highlights. משנכס אדר מרבים בשמחה! Be Happy! It's Adar! Principled Thoughts. The Art of Counting

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1 משנכס אדר מרבים בשמחה! Be Happy! It's Adar! Highlights Friday, February 28, 2014 / 28 Adar I 5774 Parshat Pekude/Shekalim Highlights, published weekly and distributed via , is an official publication of the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford. It contains information of school activities and notices which are essential information for all members of the school community. Principled Thoughts The Art of Counting As a school leader in the Jewish community, I have always been amazed at how the Jewish calendar supports the academic order of Jewish school life. Rosh Hashanah signals the beginning of the academic year, Shavuot celebrates the culmination of learning and Chanukah provides a mid-year break. The real intrigue for me is the placement of the command to take a census and collect funds for organizational upkeep at just the point in the year when schools are trying to determine their census for the coming academic year and parents are being solicited to pay the bills. The text that is read as 'Parshat Shekalim' is straightforward. "When you wish to take a census of the Children of Israel, let each one give...one half shekel..." The Talmud elaborates that this was to be done in the month before Pesach so that the funds collected could be used for upkeep of the Mishkan. Did our Sages really have such a sophisticated understanding of the organizational needs of the Jewish community to know that all of this must be done as the market shelves are being filled with Pesach products? Whether or not they had such foresight and understanding, there are two lessons that can be derived from the Biblical process of census taking that can guide us as parents and educators.

2 The census of B'nei Yisrael was taken by counting coins. Each one represented an individual. The coin itself was required to be exactly one-half of a financial unit of measure. There could be no variation in the size of the donation. Everyone was required to give the same amount-the rich could not give more nor could the poor person give less. On the plane of humanity there is equality. The parsha that we read this week contains two significant life lessons. First, we count objects, not people, and second as human beings we are all equal in front of the Creator. These are also two fundamental principles of parenting and school leadership. Each of our children has his own persona with a unique combination of strengths and creativity. The success of the family and school is not a function of the size of the census, but rather the opportunity presented for each person to grow as an individual. Together with this we must recognize the sense of equality which comes as creatures of the Creator and that individually we are at best one-half; we need others to be whole and complete. I was visiting a class this week where the math lesson was about fractions. In introducing the concept of fractions, the teacher began with the statement that fractions are friends. Only in the end did the teacher explain that the spelling of friends is an easy way to remember that the numerator goes on top of the denominator. What struck me was that one number without the other makes the creation of the fraction impossible. This is indeed the season for taking the census of a school community, and perhaps it is no accident that the Torah reading reflects this reality. The measure of our school should be seen in our collective abillty to honor the individual rather than the total size. The success of a family and of our school is the ability to appreciate the worth of the individual and the various ways that we can work together to strengthen ourselves and the community. Our Sages taught us well. Count coins. Value souls. Be happy! It's Adar! Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Eliot Feldman Head of School Notices for Parents REGISTRATION SEASON IS IN PROGRESS! Packages of information have been mailed to families of currently registered students.

3 Return completed forms to the Academy office by March 15, 2014 to qualify for a discount in the registration fee. Calendar Notes Wednesday, March 5th is a 2 p.m. dismissal to facilitate Parent-Teacher Conferences. There will be no basketball on this day Wednesday, March 12th is a 3 p.m. dismissal to facilitate a Staff Meeting. Thursday, March 13th is a 2 p.m. dismissal for the Fast of Esther. Friday, March 14th, school resumes 3:40 p.m. dismissal on Fridays. Sunday, March 16th is Purim and, as has been announced, is a day of school from 9:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Kabbalat HaSiddur for GR 1 takes place on Sunday, March 9 at 11:00 a.m. For those who plan ahead, the significant dates for the academic year are attached. Click Here Saturday Nights During the Winter: Dor L'Dor The last gathering for the season takes place this Saturday night, March 1, with a final raffle and other culminating activities. It meets at HHNE from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences take place on Wednesday, March 5 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Dismissal on that day is at 2:00 p.m. On-line registration for parent-teacher appointments opened at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25 and will close on Monday, March 3 at 8:00 a.m. Click Here for detailed instructions on how to register. Mishloach Manot, Academy Style

4 The Hebrew Academy PTO is excited to share Purim and Mishloach Manot with SHAGH families and the greater Jewish community. We look forward to your participation in this amazing community wide fundraiser to support the Hebrew Academy. Purim is Sunday, March 16th. Orders can be placed February 10th through March 5th. Please visit Make your selections using the username and password which you have received via snail mail. If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact Rachel Cohen at or Aviva Braunshweiger at or them at PTO News Mishloach Manot The PTO is calling for volunteers to help pack Mishloach Manot on Sunday March 2nd, 2014, from 9-11 a.m. at the school. If you'd like to bring your children with you, those who are in 3rd grade and up are invited to help too. We also need drivers to deliver them on Purim day. If you are available to take a route please contact Aviva Braunshweiger at or Rachel Cohen at Civic Luncheon Parent volunteers are needed to chaperone 6th, 7th and 8th graders who will be serving a civic lunch to first responders at the Bloomfield Fire House on Tuesday, March 11th (please note new date). Please contact the school office if you are available. Dr. Seuss Day Dr. Seuss Day is Wednesday, March 5th. There will be plenty of fun activities including hallway decorating, classroom decorating, reading buddies, student readings, dessert and even a surprise appearance by The Cat in the Hat! Students are encouraged to wear wacky clothes for this "Wacky Wednesday." Ideas are mismatched shoes, inside out shirts, crazy hair. Please keep these wacky ideas within appropriate school dress expectations. ShopRite for Education

5 Don't forget to enroll your ShopRite Price Plus card to help the Academy earn points to redeem free equipment and supplies! We currently have points and only 21 people are enrolled. We can certainly do better than that! Please visit to enroll! The Academy code is Celebrations, Appreciations and Acknowledgements Lifecycle Mazal Tov to the Russ-Fishbane family on the birth of a baby boy on Thursday! Condolences Sincere wishes of nechama to Rabbi Baruch Hilsenrath, a former long-serving principal of the Academy, on the loss of his father, Rabbi Yaakov Hilsenrath, a"h. Burial and shiva took place in New Jersey. Shiva has concluded. Kudos Mazal Tov to Eric Wittenberg, class of 1999 and son of Gene and Fran Wittenberg, on the occasion of celebrating his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Issac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. Guest Visits to SHAGH Among the guests who were present in our school this week was Rabbi Joshua Levy, Executive School Consultant of Torah Umesorah. He was here as part of his regular visits to schools affiliated with Torah Umesorah. Among his comments was the cleanliness of the school, the organization of each of the classrooms and the spirit of learning that permeated the classes that he visited. With Thanks The Hebrew Academy extends its gratitude to Geoffrey and Rivka Sue Newman for sponsoring Dor l'dor this week in honor of Miriam Newman's birthday. Acknowledgements The Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy records with grateful thanks funds received: In honor of Dr. Leon Chameides and "The Story of the Yeshiva of Hartford": *Michael and Naomi Cohen

6 *Eric and Lisa Halpern *William and Deanna Leikin *Benjamin and Cheryl Leiser *Gene and Anja Rosenberg *Pia, Mickey Rosenberg-Toro *David and Edna Shamash In honor of: *the birth of a grandson to Harry and Robyn Weller from Ira and Deb Feigenbaum *the engagement of Danny Cohen to Maddy Dennis from Jacob and Danna Saidon *the engagement of Jack Cohen to Rachel Jakob from Jacob and Danna Saidon In memory of Mr. Robert Fishman: *Victor and Lieba Bernstein *Michael and Elise Black *Joe and Beth Fox *Dane and Michele Kostin *Jacob and Danna Saidon *Nancy Schwartz In memory of Daniel Novarr: *Dane and Michele Kostin *Jacob and Danna Saidon In memory of David Feldman: *Michael and Elise Black In memory of Rabbi Yakov Hilsenrath: *Peter and Emily Buch *The Doron Family *Ira and Deb Feigenbaum *Ron and Renana Kadden *Paulette Korn and Family *Dane and Michele Kostin *Steven and Debra Luger *Vera Schwarcz and Jason Wolfe *Barbara Ungar *Bernard and Eileen Weinberg In support of the Annual Campaign: *Ellen Blumberg *Roger and Judith Cowen In support of The Academy: *Aaron Breitbart *Seymour Melnick *Barry and Carole Lynn

7 *William and Deanna Leikin in memory of Sophie Ronner *Susan Salamon *The New York Community Trust/Paul J. Isaac Fund (Karen and Paul Isaac) *Dana and Golan Yehuda School Trips Upcoming School Trips Kosher Shopping Experience - Monday, March 3, Grades 6-8 Click Here for more information. CCSU Welte Auditorium - " We the People" - Friday, March 21, Grade 5 Click Here for more information. Around the School Faculty Committees In planning for the coming academic year, our school leadership recognizes that moving forward requires a unified and consistent approach among classes and their teachers. At the last staff meeting, two ad hoc committees of staff were established. One is the make recommendations for the use of technology in individual classrooms. The second group is charged with recommending the best way for communication to parents of class activities including homework and special assignments beyond what is currently included in 'Highlights.' Included in this mandate is the development of proper time-management skills and the use of the 'yoman'--the daily planner. Also included will be guidance for creating on-line learning for 'snow days.' GR 4 Milestone in Tefillah Students have completed all of Pisukei D'Zimra and Birchot Kriat Shema. This qualifies them to join older students in Tefillah. On Thursdays, they will join GR 5 and the middle school in the synagogue for Tefillah b'tzibur. Trip to Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation The third and fourth graders went on a field trip to the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in

8 Bloomfield on Thursday, February 27. They learned about the history and mission of Fidelco and also met some of the dogs who are being trained to help blind people lead more independent lives. The students took a "blind walk" to experience what it's like to walk with a guide dog. The students gained an appreciation for the important role guide dogs play in the lives of blind people. The field trip was an exciting conclusion to the third and fourth graders study of the eye and the causes of blindness.

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10 Happy 100th Day of School! On Wednesday, February 26th the First Grade and Kindergarten classes celebrated the 100th day of school! First Grade participated in a variety of activities that involved the number 100. They estimated how much 100 drops of water would look like, estimated how many cups 100 jelly beans would fill and played a game called "Roll to 100." The Kindergarten class sorted Fruit Loops into ten groups of ten and used them to make

11 necklaces! Both classes received special certificates and had a blast!

12 Science Night On Wednesday, February 12th, after many a snow delay, we were finally able to hold our joint SSDS-SHAGH Science Night! This year Science Night was hosted by The Solomon Schechter Day School. We thank them for their hospitality. After being allowed time to check out the exhibits up close, we adjourned to the auditorium for the formal presentations. Our 5th graders presented their "Inventions of the Future." Chaya Brenner and Aliza Jaffee invented The Tellochip, a machine which allows for the teleportation of lost, missing or forgotten objects. David Kandel and Menachem Hecht created The Holophone a cell phone that also allows for a hologram of the person with whom you are speaking to be projected, thus allowing for a more face-to-face feel. Avi Loew and Dovid Trencher invented The Whaj which enables the wearer to walk through walls. Finally, Yonatan Cohen and Moshe Dov Sheinkopf invented The Transmorpher, a machine which changes normal (yucky) food into delicious ice cream! Our 7th and 8th graders then briefly explained their science experiments which were as follows: ~Tamar Schreiber - "Food Coloring - Harmful or Not?" (careful with those yellow M&Ms!) ~Nachi Loew - "Hot and Cold Resistance" (so THAT'S why our electric garage door openers don't work in the winter! ~Gabi Ganeles - "Gamed Based Learning" (parents playing video games may have some benefits after all!) ~Ofir Shmueli - "How Music Affects Us" (yes, it seems that listening to classical music has some positive effects!) ~Ariella Snyder - "Best Light for Growing Plants" (red it is!) Finally, our 6th graders presented their inventions which were created based on the rules outlined by the Connecticut Invention Convention. Jake Mendelssohn, CIC Outreach Director, was there to choose the Honored Inventions from the following: ~Chani Gitman - "The W.H.E.N." - a white-out pen ~Asaf Glahn - "The Lazy Person Door Closer"

13 ~Raffi Jeremias - "The Glow Cane" ~Moshe Loew - "The Anti-Sweat/Cool Brace" ~Brian Silberman - "The Hand Held Plow" ~Aaron Snyder - "The Saw Dust Catcher" Mazal Tov to Asaf, Moshe and Brian for their Honored Inventions. Kudos to Dr. Emily Buch for her leadership in organizing the joint Science Night and arranging our students' preparations. The presentations were held with knowledge and grace. It was an exciting evening for students, staff and parents.

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16 Early Childhood Pajama Party The Early Childhood PJ Party was on Wednesday night. Children came in their PJs with

17 favorite stuffed animals and blankets. Rav Feldman and Sharon Budkofsky read <insert stories>. There was a fun craft project and hot cocoa was enjoyed by all! Among the positive comments was a request for the music to the song with which we closed the evening. The parents wanted to learn it so that it could be sung to their child at bedtime. Second Grade Biography Hour On Wednesday, our second graders entertained parents at a delightful "Biography Hour." After reading a biography, each child shared an "interview" with their chosen person, represented by an artistic puppet. They then demonstrated their exceptional math abilities with a song and the solution of difficult math problems. The class sang songs accompanied by sign language about paying attention and the enormous world we live in. Second graders are great problem solvers and they used puppets and "The Chicken Dance" to let us know how they are able resolve conflicts. T The performance ended with the children telling the audience something important about themselves. It was great to see each child's unique personality shining through. There are trifolds on display in the Great Room that display the talented second grade art work and creative writing. Please stop in to see their amazing work.

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19 Nursery Newsletter Click Here to read all about this week's exciting happenings in Nursery and to see fun photos! Calendar

20 Saturday, March 1 Sunday, March 2 Monday, March 3 Monday, March 3 Monday, March 3 Monday, March 3 Monday, March 3 Monday, March 3 Tuesday, March 4 Dor L'Dor, HHNE, 7 p.m. PTO Packs Mishloach Manot, 9 a.m a.m. Library Reader to Ganenu, 9:30 a.m. Adar Celebrations, 11:15 a.m. Parent-Teacher Conference Registration Closes Rosh Chodesh Popcorn, Lunch Grades 6-8 to Big Y, Mikveh, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Boy's Basketball, 4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Library Reader to Nursery, 9:30 a.m. Wedneday, March 5 Dr. Seuss Day! Wacky Wednesday! Wednesday, March 5 2 p.m. Dismissal, Parent-Teacher Conferences Sunday, March 9 First Grade Siddur Party, 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 11 Middle School Civic Lunch at Bloomfield Fire Department, 11:30 Tuesday, March 11 Executive Committee Meeting, 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 3 p.m. Dismissal, Staff Meeting Thursday, March 13 Friday, March 14 Friday, March 14 Friday, March 14 Sunday, March 16 Monday, March 17 2 p.m. Dismissal, Fast of Esther "Pi" Day Registration Deadline Return to 3:40 p.m. Dismissal School in Session, 9:15 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. Library Reader to Ganenu, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 18 Spelling Bee, Grades 1-5 Wednesday, March 19 Board of Directors Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 21 CCSU Trip for Grade 5 - "We the People"

21 Community Happenings Community Hartford Wolf Pack Family Night - Saturday, March 1, 2014, 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation. Click Here for more information and to order tickets! A Women's Passover Experience - Tuesday, March 8, 2014, 6 p.m. The Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford. Click Here for more information. Click Here to register. Click Here for sponsorship form. Click Here for organization letter. Chai Five for HHNE - Sunday, March 9, 2014, 5:30 p.m., Emanuel Synagogue. Click Here for more information, to see who is being honored and to RSVP/register. Purim Under the Sea - Sunday, March 16, 2014, 4:30 p.m. Click Here for more information. Emanuel Synagogue Celebrates 95 Years - Sunday, April 6, 2014, Evening Please visit for tickets and information. You may also call (860) or 95thcelebration@gmail.com 2014 Spring Flag Football, Soccer and T-Ball Leagues - Click Here for more information. Spring Season sign-ups now open in West Hartford. Spring Season starts April 26, Registration deadline is March 28, i9sports Thought For Shabbat Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire You will what you imagine And at last you create what you will. George Bernard Shaw The mission of the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy is To offer the highest level of Judaic and general education to children and families of all affiliations in the community,

22 and to develop Jews who are proud of their heritage, involved in their community and devoted to G-d, Torah, Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people, and Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel. Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford 53 Gabb Road, Bloomfield, Connecticut Copyright 20XX. All Rights Reserved. Forward this em ail This was sent to by Update Profile/ Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy 53 Gabb Road Bloomfield CT 06002