Oct 02
Shanah Tovah! (Literally, “good year” but usually translated as “Happy New Year!”) Our very first session of Shalom Chaverim (“Welcome, Friends!”) for infants and toddlers plus a grown-up was all about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! In our NEW Jewish year we had so many NEW faces, NEW ways to explore, and NEW skills …
Sep 29
This week, all of the amazing community building work the children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st-2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) have been doing culminated in a fabulously colorful community agreement! Then, children chose out ceramic tiles to create our border. They carefully spread the special tile adhesive (“It’s like spreading nutella on …
Sep 23
In Anafim V’Alonim (“Branches” for 4th grade, and “Oak Trees” for 5th Grade), we have so many ideas about how to take care of each other, and how to feel Shalom in our community. We began by sharing different rules for how we treat each other, and then put them into categories: Be kind Be …
Sep 22
In שׁוֹרָשִׁים (Shorashim– ‘roots’ for nursery) and שְׁתִּילִים (Shteelim– ‘saplings’ for kindergarten) we are all active in the process of becoming a community! This week, we learned a new מִשְׂחָק (mischak– game)! This מִשְׂחָק (mischak– game) is called רֹאשׁ הַשָׁנַה (Rosh Hashanah) on the Run. In this game, you run across the room with a card that …
Sep 22
The children in Nitzanim v’Anafim (“Buds” for 1st and 2nd grades and “Branches” for 3rd grade) came into this year ready to learn more Hebrew! There is a such a beautiful range of Hebrew knowledge in our kevutzah (group). Children are working on building all sorts of different Hebrew skills – from getting to know …
Sep 13
Welcome to Anafim v’Alonim (“Branches” for 3rd-4th grades and “Oak Trees” for 5th grade)! After a long summer, we were so excited to see each other this fall. We began the year by playing pictionary with some summer stories, a slew of רֹאשׁ הַשָׁנַה (Rosh HaShannah) games, and sharing our hopes for our year together.
Sep 12
Oh how I love exploring the שׁוֹפָר (shofar) with young children! Morah Sara: What’s the same and different about these שׁוֹפָרוֹת (shofarot, plural of “shofar”)? Child 1: They’re both swirly! Child 2: They’re different colors. Morah Sara: Have you tried smelling the שׁוֹפָר (shofar)? Child 1: Why does it smell like that? Morah Sara: Hmm… …
Sep 10
Shanah tovah u’metukah! (A happy and sweet new year)! I can’t think of a sweeter way to start the new Jewish year than by having children onsite for our FIRST in-person afterschool session since March 2020! One third grader looked around with eyes open wide and called the building, “the new old building.” How sweet …
Sep 30
This week in Nitzanim (“Buds,” for first grade children), we wrapped up the project we have been working on for the new year. This project has been helping us do the work of getting ready for a new year by doing what we’ve been calling “inside thinking.” We reflected on the past year and made …
Sep 24
!שנה טובה (Happy New Year)! Long time no blog. We’ve missed you! Taking the Enrichment Center online has been a learning experience, to put it lightly. I’ve been growing and learning with your children for quite a few years (thank you for letting me love them, too). So this change has felt like an even …
