ashreinews 4-1-16
Parshat Shmini
22 Adar II 5776
April 1, 2016
Candle Lighting 7:04 PM
ws Is This What it’s all About? by Rabbi Avi Barrish You blink away your sleep as you try to figure out where you are. You look out the window and you see a beautiful starry sky, the moon, and the galaxies in all their glory. Your eye then catches a glimpse of the room you are in. Everything is covered in a metallic-like coating, doors, buttons, switches, knobs. You start to think to yourself, “Is this some sort of dream?“ Are you on board the international space station? Suddenly you come back to earth when you realize you are in your kitchen and it’s 3:30 in the morning, and just 20 minutes before you were putting the final touches on covering your countertops with silver-foil for Pesach when you dozed off…. Sound familiar? This is a fundamental of Pesach preparation we are all involved in on some level or another, and we often wonder - is this really what it’s all about? Rav Shlomo Volbe Ztzl writes in his magnum opus, Alei Shur, that as we clean our living spaces of all traces of chametz, which climaxes at the Bedika where we check all the cracks and crevices, all corners of the house, basement, attic, under the stairs and inside pockets of clothing, the thinking person is awakened to another kind of search. As the Gemara explains, the Bedika candle symbolizes the candle of Hashem within all of us-our Neshamos, which can search and remove any trace of spiritual Chametz which we may have. Hashem has given us a gift, an opportunity for a fresh start six (this year seven) months after Rosh Hashana. Rav Moshe Wolfson once related that the rebirth of the Earth during springtime, with trees and flowers budding, birds chirping, warmer weather and sunshine, all come about as the world is expressing the great joy of the Malachim because the great month of Nissan, the month that the Jewish people became the Chosen nation, is approaching.
Building Independence by Mrs. Jennah Schuh, Assistant Principal In elementary and middle school we have many goals for our children. We want them to be happy, academically capable and challenged. We want them to have friends and feel confident. While these are all important aspirations, one of the most essential goals that should be achieved in childhood is forging a level of independence. Helping children become more independent beings can be difficult for both parents and teachers. We often view our role as the protectors of the children in our care. We want to fix their problems, heal their boo -boos and shield them from hurt, frustration and anger. However, helping children build independence will almost ensure success in life. School provides opportunities for children to grow independently. We want our children to become independent readers, writers, mathematicians, thinkers. When planning a lesson, every teacher creates activities in which students must take the skills, strategies and content taught to independently produce something new. According to the research using the psychological theory of developmental continuity, new skills grow from the seeds of prior accomplishments. As adults, rather than protecting our children, we can help them gather the tools to independently solve problems, do homework, navigate through socially appropriate situations, etc.
May we all merit to have this outlook during these special weeks of anticipation, and renew our commitment to our loving father together with the rest of Klal Yisrael,
Though this topic can be expanded and explored extensively, some ideas to consider are:
Bashana Hazeh BYerushalayim.
(continued on p. 2)
IDF soldiers receiving ASHAR sponsored Mishloach Manot in Elon Moreh.
(Schuh, cont. from p. 1)
Let children make their own choices. This ranges from what they wear to how them budget their time. Restricted choices with set parameters let children independently plan while providing guidelines. Ask open ended questions and listen to creative answers. Even when an answer is wrong, letting children formulate responses allows for application of prior knowledge. Model behaviors and attitudes that promote learning. Both teachers and parents can demonstrate how they figure things out, whether it’s building Ikea furniture or writing an email looking for the right vocabulary word. Encourage goal setting and reflection. We should help students define long term and short term goals, and guide them in creating a plan for reaching them. Offer assistance in what steps to take, but allow the child to step by themselves. We are very excited to introduce our Battle of the Books program! Students in grades four through six were invited to a special assembly in which they were divided into teams and instructed about the program. Each child chose his or her first book today and is eager to participate in the challenge.
Health Matters: School Doctor Coming April 12, 2016 The school doctor will be here for the outstanding mandated physicals on April 12, 2016. Please send in a recent physical before then if child has had one within the past year. Any questions, please feel free to call the Nurses office at 357-1515, extension 508.
Tuesdays are Meat Lunch Days:
The Coolest Thing we did in School this week….
1B We started creating our “touch and feel” hagadot. Meat lunches from 1G We are learning to write the ב- אin script and we are going so quickly! home may be sent on 2B We played “verb charades” in centers. Tuesdays only. 2G We made our own dust pans to help our parents clean for פסח. Thank you. 3B We made s siyum on Parshat Vayeitzei! 3G We visited France and our parents came along! 4B We got our first books for the Battle of the Books competition. 4G Ms. Kushner brought n candy, we assorted it into groups and organized it into a bar graph. 5B We visited the Friedwald Center and bumped into Rabbi Stuam’s dad. 5G We finished learning Parshat Bo. 6B We had two parties in a row! First we had a Siyum on Parshat Shelach, then we completed our hundredth assignment in Math. 6G We created a bulletin board about seeing the hand of Hashem and began to swap hashgacha stories. 7B In art, we started a Bar Mitzvah project - we used our own parshiyot to create micography aart. 7G In technology, we created our own websites. 8B In ELA, we sang the national anthem of “Animal Farm.” 8G We investigated the property of waves using a contraption created out of Q-tips and tape.
Rabbi Staum’s Class 5B visits Friedwald Center
Class 3G culminated their study of France with a performance showcasing everything they learned about famous people from France who have had an impact on the world. The girls adisplayed their creative writing as well as artistic abilities throughout the student lounge. Baguettes, Napoleons, wine (really grape juice) and cheese were served. A wonderful and educational time was had by all! - Mrs. Francie Brinn
Late Breaking Torah Bowl News from Flatbush: Boys headed to the Torah Bowl Championships; girls lose a heartbreaker. Now for the details. The ASHAR boys faced Westchester Day School (who defeated Ramaz, MDS and Yeshiva of Flatbush) for a 2 out of 3 battle to decide who will go to the championships. The material that was learned was Parshiot Pinchas, Matos, and Masei with every Rashi. The boys won the first two games easily, and will be returning to the championships that they missed out on last year. A great job answering the hardest questions from Marc Fishkind, Shimshy Gordon, Rachamim Seltzer, Yoni Herschmann, Shua Pariser, Eitan Nissel and Moshe Inger. We wish them hatzlacha, and to their coach, Rabbi Chaitovsky, when they compete in the championships on the entire Sefer BaMidbar with Rashi which will take place after Pesach. The girls faced off against Shulamith in a 2 out of 3 match to decide who would advance to the championships. The ASHAR girls won the first game, and Shulamith won the second. The third game was tied 13-13 going into the final question. The girls from Shulamith answered the last question correctly, winning the match and leaving the well prepared girls from ASHAR heartbroken. An amazing job by Hallie Gordon, Dani Landau, Aliza Kass and Tova Klein who represented the girls in this battle. They can now go on vacation, but they would have preferred to study the entire Sefer Bamidbar for the championships. Congratulations to Rabbi Chaitovsky, their coach, and to the girls for their perfect 15 and 0 regular season performance.
Continue to work hard and know that you have probably inspired some other girls younger than you to work hard and become great Torah scholars. Mazel tov on a job well done. I am proud to know that such great girls represented ASHAR at the Torah Bowl. And of course to Rabbi Chaitovsky: Please continue to inspire all your future students to be great achievers.
MAZEL TOV MAZEL TOV!!!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!! To: Marc Fishkind, Shimshy Gordon, Rachamim Seltzer, Yoni Herschmann, Shua Pariser, Eitan Nissel and Moshe Inger Way to go boys! As an ASHAR Mom, I am very proud to have you represent ASHAR since the beginning of the year, as you have battled several schools to make it to the finals. You should be very proud of yourselves, and I know that you will do great at the finals. (No pressure) Just try your best—you have already accomplished a lot.I look forward to getting an update when you are done and wish you all the best as you continue with your year in school. To: Hallie Gordon, Dani Landau, Aliza Kass and Tova Klein Girls, thank you so much for trying your best throughout the year as you studied hard and challenged several schools to make it all the way tot his point in the Torah Bowl. You have achieved a lot and you should be very proud of yourselves. Sincerely, Laura Kornblum
Wednesday Women's Shiur with Rebbetzin Esther Baila Schwarz, 1:15-2:15 in the library. To sponsor a shiur for $80, please contact Gila Kass at [email protected] or 362-7799. This week's Shiur was dedicated to the refuah shleima of .רחל לאה בת מלכה
22 Adar II 5776
April 1, 2016
Candle Lighting 7:04 PM
ws Is This What it’s all About? by Rabbi Avi Barrish You blink away your sleep as you try to figure out where you are. You look out the window and you see a beautiful starry sky, the moon, and the galaxies in all their glory. Your eye then catches a glimpse of the room you are in. Everything is covered in a metallic-like coating, doors, buttons, switches, knobs. You start to think to yourself, “Is this some sort of dream?“ Are you on board the international space station? Suddenly you come back to earth when you realize you are in your kitchen and it’s 3:30 in the morning, and just 20 minutes before you were putting the final touches on covering your countertops with silver-foil for Pesach when you dozed off…. Sound familiar? This is a fundamental of Pesach preparation we are all involved in on some level or another, and we often wonder - is this really what it’s all about? Rav Shlomo Volbe Ztzl writes in his magnum opus, Alei Shur, that as we clean our living spaces of all traces of chametz, which climaxes at the Bedika where we check all the cracks and crevices, all corners of the house, basement, attic, under the stairs and inside pockets of clothing, the thinking person is awakened to another kind of search. As the Gemara explains, the Bedika candle symbolizes the candle of Hashem within all of us-our Neshamos, which can search and remove any trace of spiritual Chametz which we may have. Hashem has given us a gift, an opportunity for a fresh start six (this year seven) months after Rosh Hashana. Rav Moshe Wolfson once related that the rebirth of the Earth during springtime, with trees and flowers budding, birds chirping, warmer weather and sunshine, all come about as the world is expressing the great joy of the Malachim because the great month of Nissan, the month that the Jewish people became the Chosen nation, is approaching.
Building Independence by Mrs. Jennah Schuh, Assistant Principal In elementary and middle school we have many goals for our children. We want them to be happy, academically capable and challenged. We want them to have friends and feel confident. While these are all important aspirations, one of the most essential goals that should be achieved in childhood is forging a level of independence. Helping children become more independent beings can be difficult for both parents and teachers. We often view our role as the protectors of the children in our care. We want to fix their problems, heal their boo -boos and shield them from hurt, frustration and anger. However, helping children build independence will almost ensure success in life. School provides opportunities for children to grow independently. We want our children to become independent readers, writers, mathematicians, thinkers. When planning a lesson, every teacher creates activities in which students must take the skills, strategies and content taught to independently produce something new. According to the research using the psychological theory of developmental continuity, new skills grow from the seeds of prior accomplishments. As adults, rather than protecting our children, we can help them gather the tools to independently solve problems, do homework, navigate through socially appropriate situations, etc.
May we all merit to have this outlook during these special weeks of anticipation, and renew our commitment to our loving father together with the rest of Klal Yisrael,
Though this topic can be expanded and explored extensively, some ideas to consider are:
Bashana Hazeh BYerushalayim.
(continued on p. 2)
IDF soldiers receiving ASHAR sponsored Mishloach Manot in Elon Moreh.
(Schuh, cont. from p. 1)
Let children make their own choices. This ranges from what they wear to how them budget their time. Restricted choices with set parameters let children independently plan while providing guidelines. Ask open ended questions and listen to creative answers. Even when an answer is wrong, letting children formulate responses allows for application of prior knowledge. Model behaviors and attitudes that promote learning. Both teachers and parents can demonstrate how they figure things out, whether it’s building Ikea furniture or writing an email looking for the right vocabulary word. Encourage goal setting and reflection. We should help students define long term and short term goals, and guide them in creating a plan for reaching them. Offer assistance in what steps to take, but allow the child to step by themselves. We are very excited to introduce our Battle of the Books program! Students in grades four through six were invited to a special assembly in which they were divided into teams and instructed about the program. Each child chose his or her first book today and is eager to participate in the challenge.
Health Matters: School Doctor Coming April 12, 2016 The school doctor will be here for the outstanding mandated physicals on April 12, 2016. Please send in a recent physical before then if child has had one within the past year. Any questions, please feel free to call the Nurses office at 357-1515, extension 508.
Tuesdays are Meat Lunch Days:
The Coolest Thing we did in School this week….
1B We started creating our “touch and feel” hagadot. Meat lunches from 1G We are learning to write the ב- אin script and we are going so quickly! home may be sent on 2B We played “verb charades” in centers. Tuesdays only. 2G We made our own dust pans to help our parents clean for פסח. Thank you. 3B We made s siyum on Parshat Vayeitzei! 3G We visited France and our parents came along! 4B We got our first books for the Battle of the Books competition. 4G Ms. Kushner brought n candy, we assorted it into groups and organized it into a bar graph. 5B We visited the Friedwald Center and bumped into Rabbi Stuam’s dad. 5G We finished learning Parshat Bo. 6B We had two parties in a row! First we had a Siyum on Parshat Shelach, then we completed our hundredth assignment in Math. 6G We created a bulletin board about seeing the hand of Hashem and began to swap hashgacha stories. 7B In art, we started a Bar Mitzvah project - we used our own parshiyot to create micography aart. 7G In technology, we created our own websites. 8B In ELA, we sang the national anthem of “Animal Farm.” 8G We investigated the property of waves using a contraption created out of Q-tips and tape.
Rabbi Staum’s Class 5B visits Friedwald Center
Class 3G culminated their study of France with a performance showcasing everything they learned about famous people from France who have had an impact on the world. The girls adisplayed their creative writing as well as artistic abilities throughout the student lounge. Baguettes, Napoleons, wine (really grape juice) and cheese were served. A wonderful and educational time was had by all! - Mrs. Francie Brinn
Late Breaking Torah Bowl News from Flatbush: Boys headed to the Torah Bowl Championships; girls lose a heartbreaker. Now for the details. The ASHAR boys faced Westchester Day School (who defeated Ramaz, MDS and Yeshiva of Flatbush) for a 2 out of 3 battle to decide who will go to the championships. The material that was learned was Parshiot Pinchas, Matos, and Masei with every Rashi. The boys won the first two games easily, and will be returning to the championships that they missed out on last year. A great job answering the hardest questions from Marc Fishkind, Shimshy Gordon, Rachamim Seltzer, Yoni Herschmann, Shua Pariser, Eitan Nissel and Moshe Inger. We wish them hatzlacha, and to their coach, Rabbi Chaitovsky, when they compete in the championships on the entire Sefer BaMidbar with Rashi which will take place after Pesach. The girls faced off against Shulamith in a 2 out of 3 match to decide who would advance to the championships. The ASHAR girls won the first game, and Shulamith won the second. The third game was tied 13-13 going into the final question. The girls from Shulamith answered the last question correctly, winning the match and leaving the well prepared girls from ASHAR heartbroken. An amazing job by Hallie Gordon, Dani Landau, Aliza Kass and Tova Klein who represented the girls in this battle. They can now go on vacation, but they would have preferred to study the entire Sefer Bamidbar for the championships. Congratulations to Rabbi Chaitovsky, their coach, and to the girls for their perfect 15 and 0 regular season performance.
Continue to work hard and know that you have probably inspired some other girls younger than you to work hard and become great Torah scholars. Mazel tov on a job well done. I am proud to know that such great girls represented ASHAR at the Torah Bowl. And of course to Rabbi Chaitovsky: Please continue to inspire all your future students to be great achievers.
MAZEL TOV MAZEL TOV!!!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!! To: Marc Fishkind, Shimshy Gordon, Rachamim Seltzer, Yoni Herschmann, Shua Pariser, Eitan Nissel and Moshe Inger Way to go boys! As an ASHAR Mom, I am very proud to have you represent ASHAR since the beginning of the year, as you have battled several schools to make it to the finals. You should be very proud of yourselves, and I know that you will do great at the finals. (No pressure) Just try your best—you have already accomplished a lot.I look forward to getting an update when you are done and wish you all the best as you continue with your year in school. To: Hallie Gordon, Dani Landau, Aliza Kass and Tova Klein Girls, thank you so much for trying your best throughout the year as you studied hard and challenged several schools to make it all the way tot his point in the Torah Bowl. You have achieved a lot and you should be very proud of yourselves. Sincerely, Laura Kornblum
Wednesday Women's Shiur with Rebbetzin Esther Baila Schwarz, 1:15-2:15 in the library. To sponsor a shiur for $80, please contact Gila Kass at [email protected] or 362-7799. This week's Shiur was dedicated to the refuah shleima of .רחל לאה בת מלכה
