Shalom Religious School Parents!
Message from Rabbi Benjy Bar-Lev, Director of Education
Hello Religious School Parents,
Shalom! As always, we had an exciting morning at our Talmud Torah Religious School. In the Upper School (grades 3-8) we began talking up Jewish Summer Camps, specifically Goldman Union Camp (GUCI), our Reform movement camp outside of Indianapolis. During the months of December, January and February, more information will be available about the exciting summer programs at GUCI. Parents will be invited to attend informational meetings both on Sunday mornings and on First Friday, February 6, as Camp Director Rabbi Ron Klotz comes to share Shabbat with us and talk about camp. Check out GUCI at http://www.guci.org. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to discussing the immeasurable positive impact Jewish camping will have on your child’s life. There’s nothing better!
Here are some of the Highlights from the morning:
The first graders had an exciting morning with guest teacher Ginny Inlander. They heard stories, decorated new take-home folders and lots more!
- The third graders played an exciting game about Jewish values. They came up with some pretty interesting team names… ask your child!
- The fifth graders continued learning about the mystery of Masada with an exciting discussion and video about it.
- The lower school enjoyed a service and story with Rabbi Apothaker leading and Leah Apothaker on guitar!
- The upper school learned about Abraham’s journey and discussed journeys we take in our lives. One of the most exciting journeys… going to Jewish camp!
- The 7th and 8th grade Youth Group, JuBeSTY, enjoyed a fun afternoon of Roller Skating, playing laser tag, and playing video games! Stay tuned for the next JuBeSTY event: The Latke Olympics.
Important Announcements:
CONSECRATION ORIENTATION! Next week, November 16th, at 9:00 a.m. there will be a consecration orientation for all Kindergarten parents. Beth Walter will lead projects and discussions for these families. If you have students in other grades who are new to the school or weren’t involved in consecration in the past, we would love to have them at the consecration ceremony as well!
- Consecration Ceremony is Friday, December 5th, at 6:15 p.m.
- Please remember to send Tzedakah (charity) money with your child each Sunday. The classes are working this month to collect money for the Helping Hands Free Clinic in Columbus. Each month the Tzedakah money goes to a charity that is linked to our Jewish value of the month.
We are in the beginning stages of planning a one-night Religious School Family Retreat at Deer Creek State Park (about 20 mins outside of Columbus) to take place in April. We would like to have some ball-park estimate of how many people might participate in this kind of exciting program. The retreat would have family programming, separate programming for adults and kids, social programming, and lots of time to play games, swim, hike and do all kinds of fun activities. THERE WILL BE PROGRAMMING FOR PRE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AS WELL! EVERYONE IS WELCOME! If you think your family may participate in the program, please click here and send me a brief (can be 2 words) email indicating that! rabbibenjy@tbsohio.org
- Wednesday Hebrew this week from 4:00 – 6:30. Join us!
- On Sunday, November 16th, Club 56, the 5th/6th Youth Group will also be going to play Laser Tag and roller skate after school. Please RSVP to rabbibenjy@tbsohio.org. Many of your children indicated that they would like to attend the program. Please RSVP and let me know if you could be one of our parent drivers!
A Message from Mindy Agin and the S.A.S.S Team:
THE “SNACKING REPORT” UPDATE
This year, ALL GRADES have snack during religious school. Everyone has the same snack options, just at different times. Please note that TBS Religious School
is a NUT FREE Zone. FYI, the snack schedule is:
Grades K, 1, 2 – have snack in their classrooms between 9:45/10:00****
Grades 3 – 7 – have snack following tefilah (about 11:00)
Grades 8 – High School – have snack at 11:45
****Parents, if you are picking up your child at 11:00, kindly note that extra tables have been set up in the social hall for these kids/families to hang out/visit for as long as you’d like. However, we ask that you please be judicious when getting extra snack for your child. We don’t want to run out of food before the 11:45 snack time for older students.
Todah rabah (thank you very much) to all of the parents (and teens) who have been volunteering to help set up and serve snack. “Hats off” to Karen Keren for all of her dedicated work shopping and orchestrating snack. Our kids have truly benefitted from these efforts. (If you have any questions or concerns about snack, please email Lauren (lsferrella@tbsohio.org) – She will forward them to Karen Keren or Mindy Agin. We want to be as responsive to the needs of our families.)
That's it from here. Have a great week.
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Benjy
