Denver Jewish Day School

Boys Basketball Team Eyes District Championship

sjacobs — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:37:02 +0000

The Denver JDS Boys Varsity Basketball team is on a roll. Having won the last 10 of their 11 games, our Tigers will be playing Community Christian School this Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. in the Strear Family Gymnasium at Denver JDS as 1A District 8 semi-finalists.

The team, made up of juniors and seniors, and coached by Michael Foonberg, has already beaten Community Christian earlier this season, and also beat them last year in this same round. This year’s Tigers have their sights on winning the District Championship, which will be played Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m.

Show your school spirit and support the Tigers on Thursday night. Game starts at 6 p.m., and the YMCA Little Tigers will play during half time. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for children. Denver JDS students and faculty enter free of charge.

Feb. 23 – Boys Varsity Basketball Playoffs, 6pm

sjacobs — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:10:18 +0000

Shofar – February 16, 2012

dmartin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:22:40 +0000

You can click on one of the links below to jump directly to that section of the Shofar. Better yet, scroll through the entire newsletter to read all about the new and important happenings at our school this week.

Head of School/CEO
Support Your School
Admission – Grow Your School
Lower Division News
Upper Division News
Learning Resource Center
Parent Teacher Organization Update
Lunch Menu
Student Council
Community News

Calendar of Upcoming Events

February 20 – No School, Presidents Day
February 22 – The Brain-Reading Connection, 7:00 pm in the Lower Division Discovery Lab; reception for Kindergarten parents at 6:00 pm
February 24 – Kabbalat Shabbat (K-5), 8:30am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 24th – Final Day to Order Mishloach Manot! Click on this link to order now!
February 27 – College Information Night, parents & students invited, 7:00-8:30pm
February 29 – Late start for professional development
March 1 – First Grade Parent Breakfast
March 2 – Shabbat Across Denver JDS

Athletics Calendar

Head of School/CEO

It’s Time to Re-enroll at Denver JDS

Denver JDS re-enrollment packets for the 2012-13 school year were mailed out this week. Please contact the Admissions Office if you have not received your packet in the mail. Be sure to return the re-enrollment contracts no later than Thursday, March 1

These are very exciting times at Denver JDS. The quality of the educational experience at our school is at an all time high and, with the exciting initiatives we are rolling out, the quality of education will only continue to improve in the months and years to come. We sincerely hope that you want to continue to be part of this amazing community and that you will once again give us the privilege of educating your child(ren).

Profile of a Graduate

When considering a Denver JDS education I think it is helpful to reflect on what qualities a Denver JDS graduate will possess. To that end, our faculty recently created a document called Profile of a Graduate. This document, which was affirmed by the Board of Trustees on February 14, 2012, is designed to serve as a companion document to the school’s Middot. Please read through the following profile of a Denver JDS graduate and ask yourself if you would be proud to be the parent of a young adult who possesses these qualities.

Graduates of Denver Jewish Day School will be

Knowledgeable:

Steeped in the traditions of Torah, committed to the nation of Israel and conscious of their role in the unfolding history of the Jewish people.
Well-rounded and academically accomplished in secular and Judaic studies.
Prepared for the challenges and opportunities of higher education.

Principled:

Ethically responsible and committed to the well-being of the community.
Characterized by integrity and confidence.

Effective:

Prepared to lead as critical and independent thinkers with initiative, creativity and perspective.
Able to access, utilize and communicate information adeptly.

Reflective:

Engaged in a relationship with God.
Equipped with personal, social and global understanding.
Ready to act thoughtfully in the world as an expression of Jewish values.

Driven by a Love of Learning:

Poised for a life of learning with intellectual passion and an open mind.

Shabbat Shalom,

Avi Halzel

Follow us on Facebook. School updates are published on our Fan Page

February is Yearbook Month

Yearbooks are officially for sale online at ybpay.com or by check made out to lifetouch. The cost is last year’s price of $45 and we have a limited supply so don’t wait. Last year we sold out. This year’s book features 120 full color pages including all grades K-12. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to purchase history. If you have questions, contact Josh Lake at jlake@denverjds.org

Support Your School

Denver JDS Legacy Society and Rose Community Foundation’s Live On team up for a winning combination

Live On is now in its third phase of a planned giving initiative with Rose. Denver JDS already has over 100 members in its Legacy Society and Live On III provides incentive grants for new members. The committee working on cultivating and steward Legacy Society members is: Nancy Bernstein, D Diamond, Elena Weinstein, Avi Hazel and Krista Boscoe. Funds from our Legacy Society help grow our endowment. Please contact one of the committee members or Krista Boscoe, 720-449-9552, kboscoe@denverjds.org to set up a time to meet and discuss this further.

March 28, 2012 Annual Dinner

♦ View the Save the Date card here for the Annual Dinner on Wednesday March 28. Tickets may be purchased on our website at www.denverjds.org under “coming up.”

♦ Click here to download the Tribute Journal contract for submitting ads. Think about doing an ad in honor of your student’s teachers.

Who are the honorees?

♦ Harvey Alpert is a current grandparent, father of Tanya Alpert Appel (Eloise-3, Claire-1), Rachel, Neil and Scott Alpert. Harvey is a developer and community leader. He belongs to BMH-BJ.

♦ Paula Arnold is a business woman (owner of Newberry Brothers Florist) and a community leader who has been supportive of many Jewish organizations.

♦ Teena Slatkin was very active at the school when her four children attended in the 1980-90s. She is married to Buddy Slatkin, attorney. Teena & Buddy’s son Daniel and daughter-in-law Allison just had a baby boy, the Slatkin’s first grandchild, Gabriel Lev in November 2011. The Slatkins belong to HEA and Aish. Teena is a writer, teacher of Kabala and a community leader.

♦ All of our honorees’ parents (Of Blessed Memory) will be recognized as well, keeping with our theme “L’Dor V’Dor”, from Generation to Generation. All of their parents contributed to the growth, continuity and strength of our school and the Denver Jewish community.

Even if you don’t know our honorees—please, remember the people who graciously accept being honored along with our devoted parents, grandparents, board members, clergy, faculty, staff and members of our community all do this for the kids, traditions and education that is provided by Denver Jewish Day School.

Please, make certain to “Save the Date” Weds. March 28—and celebrate being a part of this elite group.

King Soopers / City Market

If you need your King Soopers gift card or want to get one for grandparents, your students who drive, or college students; then call Krista at 720-449-9552 or email her for a card to be mailed to you or put in a student’s backpack – kboscoe@denverjds.org.

Contact Krista Boscoe at 720-449-9552 or kboscoe@denverjds.org with any questions or ideas to share. Thank you.

Admission – Grow Your School

Re-enrollment

Re-enrollment packets are on the way. Please return your contract by March 1. If you have applied for tuition assistance please know that we are working with FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment to help manage our tuition assistance process. Currently, FACTS is experiencing a slight delay in the processing supporting documentation. This delay on FACTS’s part has caused a delay in the offering of awards, but it will not jeopardize awards for families who met the February 10 deadline for completing the tuition assistance application process. We expect to offer awards on a daily basis over the next two weeks as FACTS is working around the clock to process the documentation. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions at 720-449-9550.

Lower Division News

Dear Lower Division Parents,

A big thank you to Chandra Rosenthal and the PTO for helping us bring “At The Table with Dr. King” to our school today. This program was a wonderful glimpse into the life and the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and caused our students to think about what they could do to help others in their community. Here are some questions to discuss today at the dinner table:

Questions

Who was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr?
Where did he grow up?
Where did he go to college?
According to the show “At the Table with Dr. King,” when did he have his “At the Table” moment? What happened during that moment?

Many adults have lived their whole life without noticing the struggles of others. Sadder still is that many have noticed the struggles of others and chosen to ignore them. Discuss how one can be trained early in life to see the world from another’s point of view. How does this apply to us as Jews?

Quotes – to discuss with 4th and 5th Graders

“…where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick Buechner
“…we are all caught in an inextricable web of mutuality.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“…when principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy.” Abraham Kuyper

This program was a wonderful reinforcement of our Middot and how they are incorporated into our daily decisions and daily school life,

B’Shalom
Susan

Attention all parents of 3rd-5th grade girls

Girls on the Run is starting on March 5th and we would love it if your girl could be a part of it. This program promotes individual achievement and self-confidence. Girls gain self-esteem and learn healthy lifestyle habits while training for a 5K run/walk race. Girls on the run will be meeting at Denver JDS on Mondays from 3:45-5:15. In order to register, please go to www.girlsontherunrockies.org and find our school in the drop down box and follow the registration instructions. If you have any questions, please e-mail Wendy Pomeranz at wspom1@comcast.net.

Upper Division News

Metro Science Fair

Several of our seventh and eighth grade students will take part in the Metro Science Fair competition on Wednesday, February 22 at the Denver Museum of Science and Nature. Registration starts at 8:30; judging ends at 5:00. Seventh Grade Participants: Sara Dufrene, Julia Gergely, Tommy Gergely, Talya Goldman, Avi Kaye, Miles Levin, Ely Merenstein Eighth Grade Participants: Ari Asarch, Liana Brown, Sam Goldman, David Kornfeld Tenth Grade Student Assistants: Esti Shapiro, Shai Karp

Informational Night for Parents of Juniors and Sophomores

Jump Start to College, an informational evening for sophomore and junior parents and students, will be held on Monday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the Denver JDS college counseling process, financial aid, and how to plan for college.

Soccer Meeting

There will be a soccer meeting for interested girls in grades 6-12 on Wednesday, February 22 at 3:30 in Room 105.

DJDS Helps the Homeless

Students were allowed to wear pajamas for a $2 donation on February 9th. Denver JDS’s participation in PJ Day, a charitable effort in area schools and businesses, raised $234.57 for Denver’s Road Home. This is a city initiative to help the homeless in Denver.

Healthy Relationships/Sexuality

Upper Division 7th and 8th graders are currently participating in our “Healthy Relationships” programming. We completed our first session on February 13th and will follow up with a second session on February 27th. This part of our overall health curriculum emphasizes respect and appropriate behavior between genders. Girls and boys are separated for these two sessions. The presenters give students information and promote discussion regarding healthy decision-making. They also explain what constitutes sexual harassment and the consequences thereof. Dr. Matt Brink, a psychologist who specializes in behavior of adolescent boys and Josh Lake, Upper Division Dean, facilitate the boys’ sessions. The girls’ sessions are lead by Amy Jacobs, LCSW, who is a specialist in adolescent girl behavior, Susan Klein, LMFT, the school counselor and Jeannette Portier, school advisor and PE/health teacher.

As you may know, the Upper Division health curriculum begins in 6th grade with the science of human reproduction. The curriculum described above follows in 7th and 8th grade. In 9th grade, human sexuality and healthy relationships are again covered as part of the weekly comprehensive health class taught by Jeannette Portier.

Standardized Testing

On March 26-29 the 7th and 10th grades will take undergo ITBS testing. Parents of students in these grades are asked to make an extra effort to avoid any planned student absences such as doctor or dental appointments during these dates. For tests to be of value to the school, any missed tests will have to be made up by special arrangement.

National Merit Finalist

Congratulations to senior Asher Kaye who has become a National Merit Finalist. Of over1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT scores qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only 15,000 nationwide advance to Finalist standing, as Asher has done. Asher is the latest DJDS student to earn National Merit recognition. Our school has a very strong record of producing National Merit Finalists.

Learning Resource Center

The Brain-Reading Connection

The Learning Resource Center presents The Brain-Reading Connection, a program for parents and teachers of children ages 4-8 facilitated by Lynn Kuhn, Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Division Discovery Lab.

Lynn Kuhn is the professional development coordinator for the Colorado Department of Education. She is a specialist in reading, speech/language, and learning disabilities.

This program is free of charge and open to the community.

Parent Teacher Organization Update

Purim is Coming March 8th!

On Purim, there are four Mitzvot ha-yom, mitzvos that need to be performed during the day. These are

K’riyat ha-Megilla – Reading the Megilla publicly
Matanot le-evyonim – giving gifts to poor people
Mishloach Manot Ish le-rey’eihu – sending food items, each man to his friend
Seudah (Mishteh) – a festive meal

Your Denver JDS PTO would like to help you fulfill the special mitzvah of sending Mishloach Manot for Purim to everyone within the Denver JDS community while at the same time raising money for the whole school. Proceeds from the the sale of Mishloach Manot will help pay for Avid 4 Adventure for the lower school and purchasing an item from the upper school’s wish list! Our beautiful Purim gift bags include Kosher snacks, hamantaschen, Israeli candies and more fun treats for your child. Every member of the community- students, teachers, staff, board and committee members, annual dinner honorees–will receive a Purim Bag with a letter from everyone that has sponsored that particular bag.

To participate in DJDS’ wonderful Mishloach Manot fundraiser, go to www.denverjds.org and click on the link.

Parents, if you are interested in donating an item for the Mishloach Manot bags that represent your business (examples; coupon, skin cream, tooth brush, etc.) please contact Chandra Rosenthal at chandra.rosenthal@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Get Ready for Crazy Hair Day

The entire month of Adar, and not just Purim itself, is a time for silliness and humor -”….Mishenichnat Adar Marbim Besimcha” – “….When Adar arrives, we increase our happiness.” (Ta’anit 29a). What better way to increase our happiness than to have Crazy Hair Day! Stay tuned to find out when, where and how you can participate in this annual DJDS tradition!

Volunteer of the week

A big round of applause and sincere thanks to Chandra Rosenthal (Abe-7, Jonas-3, Kiki-2). Chandra was instrumental in bringing this weeks “At the Table With Martin Luther King” presentations to the school. It took Chandra two years of hard work to get the school to share sponsorship of the program with the PTO. This program was presented to both Lower Division and Upper Division students on Thursday, February 16th. We apologize that many parents were not aware that they were invited to attend. If you missed the program, please click on this link and then on the MLK video to see what you missed and ask your students about what they saw (www.attdrking.org). Chandra is also chairing this year’s Mishloach Manot program, and saving the PTO a lot of money by bringing the program in house, which means a lot more work for her!!! Chandra, go treat yourself to some Starbucks courtesy of the PTO.

Lunch Menu

Please click here for lunch menus for weeks February 6 – February 27.

Student Council

Student Council Clothing for Sale

The upper division’s Student Council is selling school clothing! Featured in this year’s selection are a hooded sweatshirt, sweatpants, and a cozy winter hat. Please consider buying to support the Student Council. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get some great Tiger apparel and show your school spirit! Click this link for clothing forms with more information, or pick up a form in the Upper Division’s front office

Community News

HEA Sisterhood’s 85th Anniversary Scholar-in-Residence weekend

The HEA Sisterhood is sponsoring a Scholar-in-Residence weekend to celebrate our 85th anniversary. Join us for a weekend to remember on February 24th – 26th, with Rabbi Shawn Fields-Meyer. Please click here to read more and here to view the flyer.

2012 JCC Camps Registration Open

Be Active. Be Adventurous. Belong.
Day Camp, Sports Camps, Art and Theatre Classes, Overnight Camps -everything you could want for an action-packed summer! Camp Shai North will be held on our school’s campus for kids going into Kindergarten through going into grade 10. Buses are available from other parts of town. Get more information or register now for Camp Shai or JCC Ranch Camp at www.jccdenver.org/camps.

Day at the J–February 20

Your kids have a day off of school–what better place is there for them than the JCC. The Family, Youth, Camps and Teen Team is working together to create a fun day for the kids!

The first three options below including Taste of Family Programs, Taste of Sports Camp and Ranch Camp is $10 per family. Preregistration is appreciated.

Click here for more details and to register: http://www.jccdenver.org/jcc-events/day-at-the-j/

Taste of Family Programs – Ages newborn–4
Taste of Sports Camp – Grades K-5
Ranch Camp at the JCC – Grades K-5

Full day programs:
Vacation Camp – Grades K through 5
Skinnus for Teens (Grades 8-12), Feb 19-20

Looking for something to do over Presidents day weekend?

Join the Mile High USY Mountain Jews and JCC Maccabi Teen Network for Skinnus Ski Trip 2012! Come spend time in the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains with your friends. Join us for the two day/one night getaway to Keystone. February 19-20, 2012, Grades 8-12

Spaces are limited so to register and ensure your spot and to inquire about the various pricing options, email Kolby Morris ASAP! kmorris@headenver.org

HEA Youth Programs

Hebrew Educational Alliance offers programing for Jewish Youth 4^th-12^th grade in the 3 co-ed Youth Groups: Atid, Kadima, and Mile High USY. HEA also offers gender specific programing for teenage boys and girls. By becoming involved in the programing it is the hope of HEA that Jewish Youth will deepen their sense Kehilla Kedusha (a Holy Community), build character and heightened values, strengthen their connection with the natural world, and become empowered to play their role in creating a better world for all. For a complete calendar of events click here: www.headenver.org/youth.htm

The 2nd Annual Art Mart presented by Temple Emanuel Sisterhood

Sunday, April 22, 10:00 – 2:00 p.m: Join us for Art Mart presented by Temple Emanuel Sisterhood, featuring the Art Mart Café serving light lunch and sweets, music, and over 30 artists showing Judaic and secular works of art; Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape Street, Denver. With selections for every taste and budget, the Art Mart features pottery, paintings, drawings, glass, jewelry, and textiles.

For information about the Art Mart or to inquire about becoming an Art Mart artist, contact Carol Ann Warren, 303-907-4118 or carol-warren@comcast.net

JCC Intergenerational Family Israel Trip

June 10 – 21, 2012. This unique trip is created for families with children 4 – 10 years old and grandparents. Please click here to review the brochure and itinerary. Email cblanke@jccdenver.org for more information.

Denver Nuggets Jewish Community Night

Celebrate Purim with the Denver Nuggets and The Chabad Jewish Center as the Nuggets take on the only Isreali-born NBA player, Omri Casspi and the Cleveland Cavaliers. March 7, 2012. Click here for more details.

Bnei Akiva Updates

‘Bunk with the Beasts’ at the Denver Zoo was a huge success last Saturday night and Sunday morning! Thanks to all who participated.

Shabbat Afternoon Feb 25th: SNIF 4:15 PM DAT. Grades 3 and up!! Peulot followed by Mincha, Bnei Akiva Seudah Shlishit, Maariv, and Bnei Akiva Style Havdalah!

7th Annual Ski Shabbaton: Weekend of March 2-4th.
The Ski Shabbaton is in 3 weeks! Sammy Schaechter and Leora Lewis are coming from New York to lead the programming..which will also include tubing and Broom Ball on Motzei Shabbat! If you’re coming…We need to know now!!
Please respond with your RSVP or be left behind!! If you have friends who would like to go..please have them contact us. The Shabbaton is open to all kids in grades 7-12!!
Limited scholarships are available. Contact Steve Feldman at vetcare6611@yahoo.com

Weeky meeting for high school students interested in programming: Wednesdays at EDOS, 7:30 PM, in the basement teen lounge.

Questions? Call or contact any of your Bnei Akiva Madrichim! Roshei Snif: Elyana Feldman, 720-323-2688, Miriam Clayman, 303-862-0233, Eli Tessler, 303-681-1594, or Steve Feldman, 720-394-3020.

Talya G. (7th Grade) Wins Discovery Channel Poetry Contest

sjacobs — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:32:20 +0000

Shofar – February 9, 2012

dmartin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:40:06 +0000

Calendar of Upcoming Events

February 10 – Kabbalat Shabbat (K-3), 8:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 14 – Board of Trustees Meeting, 8:00 am in the Lower Division Discovery Lab
February 16 – 2nd Grade Chagigat Chumash, 8:15-9:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 20 – No School, Presidents Day
February 22 – The Brain-Reading Connection, 7:00 pm in the Lower Division Discovery Lab; reception for Kindergarten parents at 6:00 pm
February 24 – Kabbalat Shabbat (K-5), 8:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium

Athletics Calendar

Head of School/CEO

Mishloach Manot for Purim

We are very excited that PTO is running the Purim Mishloach Manot Fundraiser again this year. Purim reminds us that being a Jew means being part of a community and sharing celebrations. These Purim gifts help demonstrate our values and promote community.

Last year, working with an outside agency, this PTO fundraiser was very successful and led to the purchase of the gaga pits for the school. This year, the fundraiser will be entirely run by school parents and they hope to make enough money to pay for the amazing Avid 4 Adventure program. Based on our experience with the unique opportunities that Avid 4 offers and their commitment to safety and professionalism, we are thrilled to have them back!

The Purim fundraiser runs through 2/24 so please show your support for your PTO. Click here to register today!

Shabbat Across Denver JDS

We are very excited to be introducing a new program this year called Shabbat Across Denver JDS. On March 2, 2012 all Denver JDS families will have the opportunity to share Shabbat dinner in each others homes. You can sign up to be a host or a guest. Please click here for more information and to register.

Shabbat Shalom,
Avi Halzel

Follow us on Facebook. School updates are published on our Fan Page

February is Yearbook Month

Support Your School

Denver JDS Legacy Society and Rose Community Foundation’s Live On team up for a winning combination

March 28, 2012 Annual Dinner

♦ View the Save the Date card here for the Annual Dinner on Wednesday March 28. Tickets may be purchased on our website at www.denverjds.org under “coming up.”

♦ Click here to download the Tribute Journal contract for submitting ads. Think about doing an ad in honor of your student’s teachers.

Who are the honorees?

♦ Harvey Alpert is a current grandparent, father of Tanya Alpert Appel (Eloise-3, Claire-1), Rachel, Neil and Scott Alpert. Harvey is a developer and community leader. He belongs to BMH-BJ.

♦ Paula Arnold is a business woman (owner of Newberry Brothers Florist) and a community leader who has been supportive of many Jewish organizations.

King Soopers / City Market

Wow! The school received $1,047.53 for January. Thank you so much for participating in this program and generating dollars for the school. If you need a King Soopers gift card or want to get one for grandparents, your students who drive, or college students; call Krista at 720-449-9552 or email kboscoe@denverjds.org to have a card mailed to you or put in a student’s backpack.
Contact Krista Boscoe at 720-449-9552 or kboscoe@denverjds.org with any questions or ideas to share. Thank you.

Admission – Grow Your School

Re-enrollment

Re-enrollment materials will be mailed February 15. Please watch your mail for these materials and return them to school by March 1st. If you have any questions about the re-enrollment process, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Shayna Friedman at 720-449-9550 or email sfriedman@denverjds.org.

We are looking forward to fantastic 2012-13 school year with each and every one of your children, and for those of you who have graduating seniors, we will miss them next year and wish them the very best in college!

Lower Division News

Dear Lower Division Parents,

Often in the Shofar we focus on topics of our secular curriculum. This week, I thought I would take a minute to talk about our Hebrew Curriculum or TaL AM. Here is a program overview:

The Tal Am curriculum integrates three components: 1) The Jewish Year, including daily conversation in the class, at home, and outdoors; 2) Tefillah and Parshat Hashavua; and 3) Torah. The heritage language is experienced through communication, reflecting an integration of content and skills. (http://www.talam.org/about.html)

In addition, the Tal Am curriculum spirals curriculum through the levels, revisiting topics at a deeper level of understanding as the children grow. Hebrew is experienced both for communication and for Torah study and a focus on vocabulary, speaking, listening, and grammar is included. Tal Am is desiged to be taught in two fifty minute blocks.

“Learning a second language at an early age has many benefits such as,

Has a positive effect on intellectual growth.
Enriches and enhances a child’s mental development.
Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.
Improves a child’s understanding of his/her native language.
Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know.
Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries.
Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college.
Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.”
– From The Center for Applied Linguistics

We are indeed fortunate to have such talented Hebrew/Judaic teachers at Denver Jewish Day School and fortunate to have native speakers instructing our children.

B’Shalom,
Susan

[Show as slideshow]

Just like the book “Brian’s Winter” by Gary Paulsen, the fifth grade spent Wednesday snowshoeing around the school’s fields of snow.

Attention 5th Grade baseball players

The middle school baseball team is inviting 5th grade students to register to practice with the team. Practices will start on February 19th. Contact Josh Lake at jlake@denverjds.org if you are interested.

Upper Division News

Head’s Letter Highlights

We hope you take the time to read the quarterly Head’s Letter that was emailed to you earlier this week. It is packed with important Upper Division information. Here are a couple of highlights:

College Update—Our seniors have already received acceptances from the following institutions: Tulane, Case Western Reserve, University of Michigan, Indiana University, Stanford, University of Colorado/Boulder, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow/Civil Engineering, University of Missouri,University of Pittsburgh, University of Texas, University of Vermont, University of Virginia and University of Wisconsin.

School IPads—the Upper Division has received a generous gift of an iPad cart with 20 new iPads. The iPads have already been in the hands of students in a number of classrooms. iPads provide a fresh and exciting way to learn various subjects. Faculty member are still exploring ways to best to utilize this cutting-edge technology to enrich and extend learning.

At the Table with MLK

A very special program will come to Denver JDS on February 16th. In two assemblies, all Lower and Upper Division students will attend “At the Table with Dr. King,” a program which gives students and their teachers an opportunity to take a journey through the American Civil Rights Movement using music, media, and song. Grade 5 will join with the Upper Division for this program. Well known nationally, “At the Table” uses the lives and legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other prominent figures from the era as examples to invite and encourage students to start discovering the responsibility they have to others and to their communities. Go to www.mtmonline.org/at-the-table-home.html for more information. Thanks to PTO for helping to make this program possible. If parents would like to attend please contact Mr. Hay by February 14th.

Grrreat Party!

[Show as slideshow]

Despite the snowy weather, Saturday night Bar Mitzvah Party for Mogy the Tiger was a grand success. The gym was transformed for the “Old Hollywood” themed evening. Over 120 students showed up for a night of fun that included dancing, food, a candy “bar,” casino games, a photo booth, a piñata, bubble wrap popping on a massive scale, a special school video presentation, rapping, Spirit Week awards and more. Students of all ages had a blast together! Student Council did an amazing job of running the event and providing the night’s programming.

Thanks are due to Annie (and Michael) Foonberg for conceiving of a new all-school event of this scope and for working closely with Student Council (and Council Supervisor Jerry Rotenberg) to bring it to fruition, enlisting the help and support of many parents. Thank you to all those parents, including the Foonbergs, whose generous support made this event possible: Anat Charles, Kim Grant and Mira Zevin, Andy and Rana Kark, Kevin and Elaine Kauffman, David and Nancy Kaufman, Louis and Laurie Morris, Arthur and Amy Schinagel, Joe and Melissa Schweid, Mark and Leslie Sidell, Jon and Lindsay Vinnik, Chad and Jodi Asarch, Jonathan and Lisa Perlmutter, Peter and Lisa Gergely, Tim and Hava Kishinevsky, David and Marla Brown, Sol and Patti Leftin, Ron and Mimi Goss, Mark Abzug and Mary Fabrikant-Abzug, Scott and Debra Primack, Michael and Ilene Rosen and Barry and Cindy Noam.

Baseball Meeting

There will be a baseball meeting for all students interested at 3:30 on Tuesday,February 14th at 3:30 in room 105.

Soccer Meeting

There will be a girls soccer meeting on Wednesday, February 22nd at 3:30 in room 105 for girls in grades 6-12 interested in playing soccer this spring. Practices will start on Monday, February 27th.

DJDS Garden-Parents’ Meeting

Parents and community members are invited to a meeting to give input on the student-led garden. Meeting will be 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room on February 16. Please RSVP to Rabbi Goodman at rgoodman@denverjds.org.

Informational Night for Parents of Juniors and Sophomores

Jump Start to College, an informational evening for sophomore and junior parents and students will be held on Monday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the Denver JDS college counseling process, financial aid, and how to plan for college.

Judith Baenen

Judith Baenen, an expert in middle school age students, spoke to our parents last month. If you would like a free copy of Judith Baenen’s booklet “How to Enjoy Living with a Pre-adolescent” contact the Upper Division Office.

Upcoming Chesed Club Event

On Sunday, February 12th, 6th-12th grade students are invited to volunteer at the 4th annual Jewish Disabilities Awareness Day from 3-4:00 pm at the JCC to facilitate a Collaborative Quilt Project. Contact Asher Kaye at 720-384-5106 or kayebro3@aol.com to volunteer. For those interested in attending other aspects of this important event, please go to http://www.jewishfamilyservice.org/services/Jewish-Disabilities-Awareness-Day.

Learning Resource Center

The Brain-Reading Connection

Lynn Kuhn is the professional development coordinator for the Colorado Department of Education. She is a specialist in reading, speech/language, and learning disabilities.

This program is free of charge and open to the community.

Parent Teacher Organization Update

Purim is Coming March 8th!

On Purim, there are four Mitzvot ha-yom, mitzvos that need to be performed during the day:

K’riyat ha-Megilla – Reading the Megilla publicly
Matanot le-evyonim – giving gifts to poor people
Mishloach Manot Ish le-rey’eihu – sending food items, each man to his friend
Seudah (Mishteh) – a festive meal

Your Denver JDS PTO would like to help you fulfill the special mitzvah of sending Mishloach Manot for Purim to everyone within the Denver JDS community while at the same time raising money for Avid 4 Adventure! Our beautiful Purim gift bags include Kosher snacks, hamantaschen, Israeli candies and more fun treats for your child. Every member of the community- students, teachers, staff, board and committee members, annual dinner honorees–will receive a Purim Bag with a letter from everyone that has sponsored that particular bag.

To participate in DJDS’ wonderful Mishloach Manot fundraiser, go to www.denverjds.org and click on the link.

Box Tops for Education

Don’t forget about Box Tops! These cold winter days when you are home in the front of the computer are perfect days to go to www. BTFE.com. Once at the site you and your kids can find easy ways to earn extra box tops for Denver JDS. Go to the earn link where you can quickly and easily click on videos to watch or surveys to take, all which earn ebox tops for the school. This is such an easy free way to bring in extra money to Denver JDS. So don’t wait, start clicking.

Of course keep those regular box tops coming into school with your kids. Check out the web site to see what new products now carry box tops. Clipping box tops is also a great way to get your children involved in supporting Denver JDS. Finally in early March check out the contest board for new class totals.

Volunteers Still Needed for Art Extravaganza

Contact Tracey Douglas to see how you can help with the vendors who will be selling or displaying their arts and work with Colleen Beatty to display student artwork. This activity will be held on Field Day (May 10th, Lag b’Omer) at around 11:30. Help is needed with advanced planning as well as on the day of the event.
Once again we will show case art vendors and are inviting all parents, extended family and friends to contact us if they would like to participate. Now is the time to start stockpiling your creations!

Volunteer of the Week

Three cheers and a Starbucks gift card go to Amy Topelson (Sydney-2) for taking on some of the PTO Presidential duties while Julie Rubin (Noah and Lila-2) recovers from surgery. Amy, please treat yourself to a “mocha-latte-caramel-capu-frappucino” or some other yummy drink.

Lunch Menu

Please click here for lunch menus for weeks February 6 – February 27.

Student Council

Student Council Clothing for Sale

Community News

Sibling Rivalry: How to Increase Shalom in the Home

Wednesday, February 15 10, 6:30—8 p.m., JCC, Reading Jungle (room 205), $10/JCC Member; $12/Guest

Sibling rivalry has been around since the days of Cain and Abel and yet parents still struggle with how to handle conflict when it comes to their children. If you are wondering how to decrease the tattle-telling, bickering and all out wrestling matches between your children this class is for you. Amy Topelson, Child and Family Therapist and mother of two will provide an interactive class on this topic giving you several new strategies to try at home!

KOL Foods Buying Club

For more information about the upcoming KOL Foods Buying Club in Denver, please click on this link.

Celebrate the publication of Rabbi Raymond Zwerin’s first novel

We are proud to announce and share Rabbi Zwerin’s Book Launch on February 11th at Temple Sinai.

Join us on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St. Denver, CO to celebrate the publication of Rabbi Raymond Zwerin’s first novel, “Holy Fire.”

“Holy Fire” features two stories interlaced. The first, set in Biblical times, is based on the strange and brief account of two brothers Nadav and Abihu as described in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter 10. Why did these sons of Aaron the High Priest of Israel offer an uninvited holy fire to God in the Tabernacle in the wilderness? Why – and how – did they die? In the novel, an investigation conducted by their uncle Nachshon casts suspicion on a host of relatives including their uncle Moses, their father Aaron, and their mother Elisheva, among others. The desert setting provides an evocative backdrop for the narrative. The parallel account, which takes place at the onset of World War II, centers around two very young brothers, Natan and Abie. Living in Sarajevo as part of a Sephardic Jewish family, tragic circumstances disrupt their lives as the Nazis enter their town. The narrative continues in Yugoslavia and Israel, where the brothers’ story comes to a remarkable and moving conclusion. Though removed by some 3000 years in time and set in two completely different environments, the stories maintain a parallelism that is often stunning, and share a common theme of redemption.

In conjunction with the publication of his book, Rabbi Zwerin is currently teaching a ten-week course facilitated by CAJE Melton and hosted by Temple Sinai on both the novel, “Holy Fire,” and also on the foundational texts and historical background that underlie the two narratives in the book. Students study the biblical account of Leviticus, chapter 10 with commentaries, “Melton-style.” The historical account of both the biblical period and the sacrificial cult, as well as the largely unknown story of the Jews of Sarajevo during the Holocaust, comprise a second area of study.

Rabbi Zwerin was ordained as a Rabbi from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, in 1964. In 1989 he received his Doctor of Divinity degree from HUC-JIR. He is the founding Rabbi of Temple Sinai and has been serving in the Denver community since 1964. He is the author of a dozen books for children and teachers and the editor of over 400 titles.

There will be a book signing and dessert reception following the book talk.

Please contact Lisa Thorner, Director of Programming and Volunteer Development at Temple Sinai with any questions: 303-759-1827.

HEA Sisterhood’s 85th Anniversary Scholar-in-Residence weekend

2012 JCC Camps Registration Open

Day at the J–February 20

Your kids have a day off of school–what better place is there for them than the JCC. The Family, Youth, Camps and Teen Team is working together to create a fun day for the kids!

The first three options below including Taste of Family Programs, Taste of Sports Camp and Ranch Camp is $10 per family. Preregistration is appreciated.

Click here for more details and to register: http://www.jccdenver.org/jcc-events/day-at-the-j/

Taste of Family Programs – Ages newborn–4
Taste of Sports Camp – Grades K-5
Ranch Camp at the JCC – Grades K-5

Full day programs:
Vacation Camp – Grades K through 5
Skinnus for Teens (Grades 8-12), Feb 19-20

Looking for something to do over Presidents day weekend?

Spaces are limited so to register and ensure your spot and to inquire about the various pricing options, email Kolby Morris ASAP! kmorris@headenver.org

HEA Youth Programs

The first Denver JDS parent to email me at dmartin@denverjds.org will receive a Starbucks gift card.

JCC Intergenerational Family Israel Trip

Denver Nuggets Jewish Community Night

Bnei Akiva Updates

Friday February 10th: Oneg Shabbat for Madrichim, details TBA
Saturday February 11th: Seuda Shlishit for grades 6 and up, details TBA
Saturday February 25th: Seuda Shlishit for grades 3-5, details TBA

Ski Shabbaton weekend of March 2nd at YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch. Registration is now open! Limited space is available. Contact Steve Feldman (vetcare6611@yahoo.com, or 720-394-3020) for registration packet or be left behind!

Weekly meeting for interested high school students, Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the EDOS teen lounge.

For information, contact our Roshei Snif: Elyana Feldman, 720-323-2688, Miriam Clayman, 303-862-0233, Eli Tessler, 303-681-1594, or Steve Feldman, 720-394-3020.

Mishloach Manot Purim Baskets (click to order)

sjacobs — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:53:10 +0000

Feb 22 – The Brain-Reading Connection Program (click for details)

sjacobs — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:24:25 +0000

School Yearbooks on Sale (click to order)

sjacobs — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:55:08 +0000

Shofar – February 2, 2012

dmartin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:50:19 +0000

Calendar of Upcoming Events

February 4 – Bar Mitzvah party in honor of the school’s mascot, Mogy the Tiger. For students in grades 6-12 at the school. 7:30-11:00 pm
February 8 – Late Start For Professional Development
February 8 – 3rd Grade Parent Meeting, 7:00 pm at the home of Lisa and Jonathan Perlmutter
February 10 – Kabbalat Shabbat (K-3), 8:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 14 – Board of Trustees Meeting, 8:00 am in the Lower Division Discovery Lab
February 16 – 2nd Grade Chagigat Chumash, 8:15-9:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 20 – No School, Presidents Day
February 22 – Learning to Read without Labels, 7:00 pm in the Rubinstein Family Library

Head of School/CEO

Storm Coming

We are carefully monitoring the winter storm that is forecast for our area. As always, a late start or cancellation is first announced on our Facebook page followed by announcements on Twitter, the home page of our web site, and the usual news stations. An email is also sent to all parents. No announcement means that school will proceed as regularly scheduled.

Security Fence

I am pleased to announce that a security fence is now being constructed for the east side of our school. The fence will be installed over the next several weeks as weather permits. The fence is six feet tall, made out of iron and painted black. It will run directly in front of the school on the east side of old Wabash St. and will extend all the way past the baseball field. This project was made possible by a Homeland Security grant and through the generosity of several donors. Special thanks to the Buildings & Grounds Committee for all of the time they spend on this project. Please be mindful of the construction in the weeks to come.

Shabbat Across Denver JDS

Shabbat Shalom,
Avi Halzel

Follow us on Facebook. School updates are published on our Fan Page

Help Us Win Up to $10,000!

We’ve submitted a video about the Lower Division to the Avi Chai Video Contest and you can help us win. Simply watch our video at www.dayschoolvideoacademy.org/VideoView and give us top ranks (5 stars) now through Sunday Feb. 5. Share our link with friends and family, too. The more people who see and vote for our video the better our chances of winning (and the more exposure our amazing school gets).

The Impact of Technology On Student Development and Family Intimacy

The Circle of Influence (a program of the ACIS counselor’s group) is pleased to present: The Impact of Technology On Student Development and Family Intimacy. This will be a panel and audience discussion with Susan Klein, LMFT from Denver Jewish Day School, Craig A. Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div. from St. Anne’s Episcopal and DJ McCleary, Technology Coordinator from Stanley British Primary. The presentation is on Wednesday, February 8th from 9 – 11 a.m. at Graland Country Day School (30 Birch St., Denver, CO 80220) in the Hamilton Reiman Building. It is free and open to all ACIS school parents! Come enjoy the fellowship of other parents in an informal setting as we discuss on a deeper level how technology use is impacting the entire family in both positive and negative ways. Learn how you can influence positive practices in your family. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Questions and RSVP to Craig.Knippenberg@comcast.net. Please click here to read more.

Support Your School

King Soopers / City Market

March 28, 2012 Annual Dinner

♦ View the Save the Date card here for the Annual Dinner on Wednesday March 28. Tickets may be purchased on our website at www.denverjds.org under “coming up.”

♦ Click here to download the Tribute Journal contract for submitting ads. Think about doing an ad in honor of your student’s teachers.

Who are the honorees?

♦ Harvey Alpert is a current grandparent, father of Tanya Alpert Appel (Eloise-3, Claire-1), Rachel, Neil and Scott Alpert. Harvey is a developer and community leader. He belongs to BMH-BJ.

♦ Paula Arnold is a business woman (owner of Newberry Brothers Florist) and a community leader who has been supportive of many Jewish organizations.

Contact Krista Boscoe at 720-449-9552 or kboscoe@denverjds.org with any questions or ideas to share. Thank you.

Admission – Grow Your School

Re-enrollment

Re-enrollment materials will be mailed February 15. Please watch your mail for these materials and return them to school by March 1. If you have any questions about the re-enrollment process, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Shayna Friedman at 720-449-9550 or email sfriedman@denverjds.org.

Lower Division News

Fifth Grade Students Inspire, Help and Truly Live the Middot of Denver JDS

By Karen Novick & Debbie Bishop

As student leaders of the Lower Division of the Denver Jewish Day School, the fifth grade class is taking on two charitable organizations in one year. As part of the Helping Hands community service and tikkun olam movement, fifth grade is partnering with Wish for Wheels and Tomchei Shabbat. A busy calendar of events was created to deliver meaningful experiences to both the students of Denver JDS and those that they are helping this year.

Last week, seven students baked dozens of chocolate chip cookies to go into a full Shabbat dinner package for people in need in the Denver area. Tomchei Shabbat provides kosher food and supplies for Shabbat and Yom Tov meals. This important organization is staffed and managed by volunteers. The fifth grade will be making several visits to the EDOS kitchen to help bake as well as package meals.

Wish for Wheels is a locally-based (and Denver JDS-parent created) organization that provides new bikes and helmets to kindergarten kids throughout Denver. The fifth grade class is hoping to purchase 100 bikes and helmets for kindergartners at Rose Hill Elementary School in Commerce City. They will meet the kindergartners and have lunch with them this week to get to know them. By having face-to-face contact, the older kids will see exactly who will benefit from their hard work. Special thanks to TJ Washburn who helped hang a bicycle from the ceiling in the fifth grade hallway. Everyday, the kids will see the bike and hopefully be motivated to help raise money and awareness for Wish for Wheels.

This fifth grade class is excited to roll up their sleeves and make a difference in our Jewish community and beyond. They have come up with fundraising plans as well as hands-on ideas to build relationships with these organizations. We are so proud of our fifth grade students. Their energy and excitement for helping build a better world is contagious!

If you are interested in helping sponsor fifth grade’s efforts in their important work, please email Karen Novick (karen_novick@comcast.net) or Debbie Bishop (mgube@aol.com)

5th graders channel their inner cake boss!

Thanks TJ!!! This bike inspires the 5th graders everyday! Wish for Wheels is one of their Helping Hands Charities. They will raise money to buy 100 bikes and helmets for Rose Hill Elementary School kindergartners.

5th graders baking delicious chocolate chip cookies for Tomchei Shabbat

Dear Lower Division Parents,

Happy Groundhog Day. Apparently we are in for six more weeks of winter so just a reminder to send kids with appropriate winter wear even when the mornings are warm. In that realm and in an effort to keep the hallways cleaner, we are requesting that parents of children in K -2 send in a laundry bag style bag to store clothing for the wet months. This will help us keep from having misplaced clothing.

Please join us for a variety of Tu B’Shevat events next week. Check your individual class newsletter for specific information. Also mark your calendar for Purim events on March 8th. This is an opportunity for kids and their parents to dress up and have a family theme. It is also an early release day at 11:30. Brian Zive and Kol Echad will be joining us for a musical program.

We are all preparing for a possible snow day or late start tomorrow. Please check our facebook page, website or 9news to see the plan. It will be a 9:30 late start if necessary. As always, we make the best decision we can to maximize our school days and to keep our children and staff safe on their journey to school.

B’Shalom,
Susan

Upper Division News

Morning Minyan

Denver JDS holds morning minyan services on Monday and Friday of each week at 7:00 AM. Services are held in the Judaic Library and are open to the entire Denver JDS community. We would love to have you come! If you have questions, would like to get involved, or are interested in sponsoring breakfast for the minyan, please contact Simon Kaufman (Upper Division senior) at sjk114@comcast.net

Poetry Contest Winner

7th grade poetry winner, Talya Goldman

Students in Mrs. Scarborough’s 7th and 8th grade English classes have been given a unique opportunity to write poetry for one of the boats featured on Discovery Channel’s TV show ‘The Deadliest Catch’. The students have been asked to create poems that feature the boat, the Time Bandit, and her crew during the king crab season in October, or the opilio crab season in January. The poems are checked for accuracy by Mrs. Scarborough and then are submitted to the representative of the captains of the Time Bandit. The winning poems will be featured on the Time Bandit website at www.timebandit.tv each month for 2012. In addition, the winner receives a t-shirt from the Time Bandit crew and a Visa gift card.

February’s winner is 7th grader Talya Goldman. Her poem, ‘Time Bandit Winter,’ pleased the Time Bandit captains and crew. Congratulations Talya!!

Metro Science Fair

Students will be at the fair all day on Wednesday, February 22 at the Denver Museum of Science and Nature (registration starts at 8:30, judging ends at 5:00). As this is an academic day please excuse work to the greatest extent possible. Seventh Grade: Sara Dufrene, Julia Gergely, Tommy Gergely, Talya Goldman, Avi Kaye, Miles Levin, Ely Merenstein; Eighth Grade: Ari Asarch, Liana Brown, Sam Goldman, David Kornfeld; Tenth Grade: Esti Shapiro, Shai Karp

Pajama Day

On Thursday, February 9th, students may purchase the privilege of wearing pajamas for $2. All proceeds will go to the mayor’s homeless project.

The Impact of Technology On Student Development and Family Intimacy

Youth Against Genocide Conference

All high school students are invited to take part in the Youth Against Genocide Conference sponsored by the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action on Sunday, February 12th at Johnson and Wales University. The Conference is both for college students and for high school students. There is an $18 charge to participate. For more information or registration forms see Mr. Hay.

Learning Resource Center

“Learning to Read Without The Label”

An evening with Lynn Kuhn hosted by the Learning Resource Center, Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rubinstein Family Library. Lynn is the professional development Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Education. She is an specialist in reading, speech/language and learning disabilities. This program is free of charge and open to the community.

K- 9 Vision and Hearing Screening Week of February 21st

For information about the Learning Resource Center including information about formal psyco-educational testing procedures please use the following link to the LRC webpage: http://www.denverjds.org/learning-resource-center/

Parent Teacher Organization Update

Coming soon…PTO’s biggest Jewish Fundraiser!

For the second year, PTO will offer Purim Mishloach Manot Gifts. Everyone gets the opportunity to fulfill the special mitzvah of sending traditional and beautiful gift bags to the Denver JDS community.

This year we have easier registration, it is entirely parent-run, and all money earned goes exclusively to PTO. With the funds earned, your children will get to experience the beauty and challenge of outdoor individual sports through Avid4Adventure–kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing and orienteering.

Registration will be up and running next week and will go through February 24th for delivery on March 7th. All funds raised will go toward bringing Avid4 Adventure to the students in grades K-5. More information on how to purchase Mishloach Manot gifts will come soon.

Please contact Chandra Rosenthal if you have any questions or would like to help at chandra.rosenthal@gmail.com

Volunteer Thank You

PTO would like to congratulate Lisa again for all her hard work organizing the Scholastic Book Fair this year! Thanks to Lisa and all the other parent volunteers, we were able to raise $1389.75!!

Publishing a Book

We all know someone who is writing their novel. Please pass the word – local literary agent Sara Megibow ( Elan-1) is teaching Publishing 101: How to Publish Your Book; Sunday, February 19, 2012 – 1:00 pm-3:30 pm in the Lower Division Discovery Lab. ALL money will go to the school library and PTO. Click here for information, details and how to RSVP. And, again – please pass the word to the writers in your life.

Lunch Menu

Please click here for lunch menus for weeks February 6 – February 27.

Student Council

Save the Date – Mogy’s Bar Mitzvah Party!

On the night of Saturday, February 4th, Student Council will be hosting a Bar Mitzvah party in honor of the school’s mascot, Mogy the Tiger. The party will have an Old Hollywood theme and will take place at the school. There will be dinner, dancing, and tons of fun attractions! All upper division students are invited. See the invitation for all the details and information about reserving a spot. Get excited, you do not want to miss it! Click here for invitation and RSVP.

Student Council Clothing for Sale

Community News

Celebrate the publication of Rabbi Raymond Zwerin’s first novel

We are proud to announce and share Rabbi Zwerin’s Book Launch on February 11th at Temple Sinai.

Join us on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St. Denver, CO to celebrate the publication of Rabbi Raymond Zwerin’s first novel, “Holy Fire.”

There will be a book signing and dessert reception following the book talk.

Please contact Lisa Thorner, Director of Programming and Volunteer Development at Temple Sinai with any questions: 303-759-1827

2012 JCC Camps Registration Open

Day at the J–February 20

Your kids have a day off of school–what better place is there for them than the JCC. The Family, Youth, Camps and Teen Team is working together to create a fun day for the kids!

The first three options below including Taste of Family Programs, Taste of Sports Camp and Ranch Camp is $10 per family. Preregistration is appreciated.

Click here for more details and to register: http://www.jccdenver.org/jcc-events/day-at-the-j/

Taste of Family Programs – Ages newborn–4
Taste of Sports Camp – Grades K-5
Ranch Camp at the JCC – Grades K-5

Full day programs:
Vacation Camp – Grades K through 5
Skinnus for Teens (Grades 8-12), Feb 19-20

Looking for something to do over Presidents day weekend?

Spaces are limited so to register and ensure your spot and to inquire about the various pricing options, email Kolby Morris ASAP! kmorris@headenver.org

HEA Youth Programs

JCC Intergenerational Family Israel Trip

Bnei Akiva Updates

Weekly meeting for interested high school students, Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the EDOS teen lounge.

For information, contact our Roshei Snif: Elyana Feldman, 720-323-2688, Miriam Clayman, 303-862-0233, Eli Tessler, 303-681-1594, or Steve Feldman, 720-394-3020.

Shofar – January 26, 2012

dmartin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:23:19 +0000

Calendar of Upcoming Events

January 26 – Support Your Tigers-Three Basketball Games
January 27 – Kabbalat Shabbat (K-5), 8:30am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
January 31 – Upper Division information session for parents of 4th & 5th graders, 8:00 am in the Discovery Lab
February 1 – Ninth Grade Parent Meeting, 7:00 pm
February 4 – Bar Mitzvah party in honor of the school’s mascot, Mogy the Tiger. For students in grades 6-12 at the school. 7:30-11:00 pm
February 8 – Late Start For Professional Development
February 8 – 3rd Grade Parent Meeting, 7:00 pm
February 10 – Kabbalat Shabbat (K-3), 8:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 16 – 2nd Grade Chagigat Chumash, 8:15-9:30 am in the Strear Family Gymnasium
February 22 – Learning to Read without Labels, 7:00 pm in the Lower Division library

Head of School/CEO

Shabbat Across Denver JDS

Attention 4th and 5th Grade Parents

We know many of you are eager to learn more about our Upper Division. Upper Division Administrators Bryan Hay, Josh Lake, Jason Snyder, Rabbi Mark Goodman and Susan Klein will be giving a presentation about the Upper Division on January 31 at 8:00 am in the Lower Division Discovery Lab. They will discuss student academic performance, curriculum, student life, and more! Come meet these folks, have a cup of coffee, and bring your own questions too.

Shabbat Shalom,
Avi Halzel

Follow us on Facebook. School updates are published on our Fan Page

Help Us Win Up to $10,000!

The Impact of Technology On Student Development and Family Intimacy

Support Your School

Annual Dinner – Save the Date!

March 28, 2012. Who are the honorees? Teena Slatkin was very active at the school when her four children attended in the 1980-90s. She is married to Buddy Slatkin, attorney. Teena & Buddy’s son Daniel and daughter-in-law Allison just had a baby boy, the Slatkin’s first grandchild, Gabriel Lev in November 2011. The Slatkins belong to HEA and Aish. Teena is a writer, teacher of Kabala and a community leader. Harvey Alpert is a current grandparent, father of Tanya Alpert Appel (Eloise-3, Claire-1), Rachel, Neil and Scott Alpert. Harvey is a developer and community leader. He belongs to BMH-BJ. Paula Arnold is a business woman (owner of Newberry Brothers Florist) and a community leader who has been supportive of many Jewish organizations. All of our honorees’ parents (Of Blessed Memory) will be recognized as well, keeping with our theme “L’Dor V’Dor”. All of their parents contributed to the growth, continuity and strength of our school and Jewish community.

View the Save the Date card here for the Annual Dinner on Wednesday March 28. Tickets may be purchased on our website at www.denverjds.org under “coming up”.

Looking for table captains for the March 28th annual dinner. Click here for more information. Your participation can make a big difference with a successful dinner. Contact Sheryl Feiler at 720-449-9549 or sfeiler@denverjds.org for more information.

Click here to download the Tribute Journal contract for submitting ads.

Contact Krista Boscoe at 720-449-9552 or kboscoe@denverjds.org with any questions or ideas to share. Thank you.

Admission – Grow Your School

Shabbat Across Denver JDS

Remember to register for Shabbat Across Across Denver JDS. On March 2, 2012 Denver JDS families will share Shabbat dinner in each others homes. You can sign up to be a host or a guest. Please click here for more information and to register.

Lower Division News

[Show as slideshow]

1st & 2nd graders dancing, singing and praying in celebration of
Rosh Chodesh Shevat
.

Dear Lower Division Parents,

I was so proud of our Fourth Graders and their poetry reading at the parent breakfast this week. They shared their personal reflections, reflections about the school and about the world they liven in. Additionally, I am enjoying watching the landfill project (AND CLEANUP) in 1st grade and the ididarod unit in 5th. The Flat Stanley are returning from their journey in 2nd grade and the 3rd graders are busy with their science projects. Kindergarten has been learning about the plagues and their impact on humans.

This week, we have plague of our own. We have had six confirmed cases of lice in the school so I wanted to provide some additional information to you regarding our policies. Please see the following link for additional information and recommendations www.time.com/time/health/article.

The following information comes from Colorado State University:

“Pest Tip of the Month: Head Lice in Schools

Head lice cases tend to pop up in winter because hats and coats get thrown into piles and are shared. Head lice cause intense itching but do not carry or spread diseases; the embarrassment of head lice can be worse than the lice themselves. In the past, head lice policies in schools emphasized that a child infested with head lice could not return to school until there are no nits (head lice eggs are called nits) in their hair. “No-nit” policies are discouraged by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. There is no evidence that a no-nit policy prevents or shortens lengths of outbreaks (Pollack et al., 2000, Williams et al., 2001). One treatment alone may not kill all the lice, so use a combination of treatments — lotions, shampoos and combing. Some lice are resistant to commonly used insecticides in head lice shampoos. Vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, enzyme-based compounds, tea tree oil, or other alternative products advertised to dissolve the glue on the nits (to ease their removal) or kill the nits have not been proven to be effective. Mayonnaise, olive oil, melted butter and petroleum jelly allegedly suffocate the nits and lice, but this claim too is unproven.”

At Denver JDS, when we have a report of lice, we check the children in that grade level. We also check the siblings of any children confirmed to have lice. If lice are found, the parents of that child are contacted and informed that the child may not come to school the next day without a treatment. It is not our policy to bar children from school due to nits.

New Amplification System in use in Kindergarten

Some parents have noticed that we are implementing the use of an amplification system in Kindergarten. The researched benefits of amplification systems in classrooms are:

Improved academic achievement, especially for younger students
Decreased distractibility and increased on-task behavior
Increased attention to verbal instruction and activities and improved understanding
Decreased number of requests for repetition

Thanks to Amy Mussler for piloting this exciting program.

Spring Conferences

Spring Conferences Signup still available. Please indicate your desire for a Spring Conference by following this link: Spring Conference Signup.

Social Studies and Science realignment project

The Lower Division teachers have been busy working on realigning the Social Studies and Science curricula to the Colorado State Standards. Please find the matrix showing these alignments here.

B’Shalom,
Susan

[Show as slideshow]

1st graders practicing a play in Hebrew

Upper Division News

Morning Minyan

Denver JDS holds morning minyan services on Monday and Friday of each week at 7:00 AM. Services are held in the Judaic Library and are open to the entire Denver JDS community. We would love to have you come! If you have questions, would like to get involved, or are interested in sponsoring breakfast for the minyan, please contact Simon Kaufman (Upper Division senior) at sjk114@comcast.net.

First Semester Grades Finalized

Grades for semester one will be finalized at noon on Friday on Powerschool. If you have questions, please contact Josh Lake at jlake@denerjds.org.

Alumni Visit

Sammy Forshner, Class of 2008 came to the Spanish classes to speak about his post high school Spanish experiences and to present his Powerpoint on his trip to Santiago de Compostela. It was a great opportunity for DJDS students to interact with a alumnus who speaks fluent Spanish, currently attending American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

Learning Resource Center

“Learning to Read Without The Label”

An evening with Lynn Kuhn hosted by the Learning Resource Center, Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Division library. Lynn is the professional development Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Education. She is an specialist in reading, speech/language and learning disabilities. More details to follow.

K- 9 Vision and Hearing Screening Week of February 21st

Parent Teacher Organization Update

Publishing a Book

We all know someone who is writing their novel. Please pass the word – local literary agent Sara Megibow ( Elan-1) is teaching Publishing 101: How to Publish Your Book; Sunday, February 19, 2012 – 1:00 pm-3:30 pm in the Lower Division Discovery Lab. ALL money will go to the school library and PTO. Click here for information, details and how to RSVP. And, again – please pass the word to the writers in your life.

PTO Volunteer Opportunities!

The following programs need additional volunteers. Please make contact as indicated to determine the exact time commitment and type of help needed.

Purim Baskets – work with Chair Chandra Rosenthal and our outside provider during January, February, and early March to put together parent/student lists, distribute information, answer parent questions, and distribute baskets to all students/faculty/staff/board members. Learn the ropes and chair this activity next year.

Art Extravaganza – contact Tracey Douglas to see how you can help with the vendors who will be selling or displaying their arts and work with Colleen Beatty to display student artwork. This activity will be held on Field Day (May 10th, Lag b’Omer) at around 11:30. Help is needed with advanced planning as well as on the day of the event.

Book Trust

For the first time ever, from January 2012 through March 2012, when you place your Scholastic Book Club orders, both online and in the print catalogs, you can donate $1 to enable children to choose and own books through Book Trust.

Book Trust is a Colorado-based, non-profit organization that uniquely delivers unbounded choice and ownership of books to children in need, increasing their literacy skills and fostering life-long learning. Book Trust serves 22,000 students in 9 states—10,000 of these students are right here in Colorado.

By teaming up with Scholastic, Book Trust empowers school children living in need–who otherwise couldn’t afford to order Scholastic books like many of their classmates—to choose and own books.

Every dollar makes a difference and 100% of your donation will go toward children choosing and buying books!

Please remember to add a dollar to your Scholastic Book Club order this month and visit Book Trust at www.BookTrust.org.

Lunch Menu

Please click here for lunch menus for January 18 through January 27/

Student Council

Save the Date – Mogy’s Bar Mitzvah Party!

On the night of Saturday, February 4th, Student Council will be hosting a Bar Mitzvah party in honor of the school’s mascot, Mogy the Tiger. The party will have an Old Hollywood theme and will take place at the school. There will be dinner, dancing, and tons of fun attractions! All upper division students are invited. See the invitation for all the details and information about reserving a spot. Get excited, you do not want to miss it! Click here for invitation and RSVP.

Student Council Clothing for Sale

Community News

SHMA Summer Camps Open House

The executive director of the organization will be having two open houses in the Denver area next week to familiarize families with their programs. Click here to view the invitation and here for more information about the available camps.

Before you send your kids to college, send them to this incredible program.

We are thrilled to offer 11th and 12th grade students a FREE unique opportunity: the chance to hear a passionate, smart, savvy presentation from Charlotte Korchak, West Coast Campus Coordinator for Stand With Us.

What: Ms. Korchak is 23, freshly out of college and well aware of how hard it is for your kids to defend their beliefs and explain their position on Israel while at college. She is dynamic, engaging and ready to help give kids the tools and understanding they need to join in any conversation with confidence.

Session 1: Empower
Open discussion about what Israel means to each of us, and how students can play a role in being an advocate for Israel.

Session 2: Gain Perspective
Gain an inside look at Israel’s surrounding geography and history. It’s an important step in understanding the context of Israel today.
When: January 29, 2012, Part 1 and Part 2, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: University of Denver Merage & Allon Hillel Center, 2390 S. Race St. Denver, CO 80210

Session 3: Prepare & Educate
We’ll help students understand how they can get involved on campus and how to talk about hot issues such as checkpoints and humanitarian crisis issues as well as techniques on how to determine campus organizations REAL agendas.

When: Wednesday, February 1, Part 3, 6:30-8:00pm
Location: Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe Street, Denver, CO 80237

For more information for parents, click on this link. For more information for students, click on this link.

RSVP to sdelcau@caje-co.org or call 303-321-3191

2012 JCC Camps Registration Open

It’s a new year, which means that camp is just around the corner!

Ramah Outdoor Adventure, is currently enrolling children age 8-15 for the 2012 camping season as well as teens age 16 &17 for www.jewishoutdoorleadershipinstitute.org a leadership training program.

Through an appreciation of nature, campers of Ramah Outdoor Adventure will learn to embrace our world’s beauty and gain a sense of personal responsibility for its treasures. Our unique program encourages its campers to challenge their personal physical limits and to feel confident in their natural surroundings. We strive to build a supportive Jewish community to serve as a paradigm for their adult Jewish lives. Ramah Outdoor Adventure is one of the only kosher outdoor adventure camps in the U.S.

Located on a majestic, 360 acre alpine ranch, Ramah Outdoor Adventure is located in the heart of the one million acre Pike National Forest, only 90 miles from Denver. Come experience the great outdoors: mountain biking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding, farming, pioneer crafts, wilderness survival and much more!!!!.

Interested? Intrigued? Parents and potential campers are invited to meet our camp director, Rabbi Eliav Bock, at our upcoming Denver area information session, Sunday, January 29, 2012, 5:00-6:00 pm, at the home of Rob & Karen Novick, parents of 2011 & 2012 camper, Ayden-5, 11550 East Dorado Avenue Englewood CO 80111

Please RSVP to info@ramahoutdoors.org or call 303 261 8214 X104

LOST VOICES program – the Holocaust Through Sephardic Eyes

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 3:00PM Light Dessert Reception; Music and Poetry program begins at 4:00PM. Seniors & Students $6.00; General Admission $36.00. Location: 3600 S. Ivanhoe Denver, CO 80237 (For ages 12+). Click here for more information

The program is directed by Glenn Zazulia and features the musical talents of Cantor Martin Goldstein, pianist Gabriela Gottlieb,
violinist Michael Brittan and the operatic stylings of Talya Rotbart. Poetry from “And the World Stood Silent” (Ladino, French and Greek with English translations) will feature readings by area high school students from the Denver Academy of Torah, Denver Jewish Day School and Bnei Akiva youth group.

Silent & Online Auction – magnificent one-of-a-kind Hamsas created by local artists, including: Shelley Chaiffetz, Sharon Gelt, Linda Ginsberg, Lisa A. Greenstein, Kit Karbler, Arel Mishory, Penny Nisson, Paulette Rybak and Rayna Wandel. donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=51207

Proceeds to benefit Holocaust survivors and the Righteous in need through the YIZKOR project’s “Share & Care” program. The “Lost Voices” program has been generously underwritten by Mindy & Jeffrey Hecht and is co-sponsored by the Hebrew Educational Alliance.

Exhibit Opening – “Remembering the Past – Acting on the Present”

Holocaust Remembrance quilt project. WHEN: Friday, January 27, 2012 at 11AM. WHERE: Robert E. Loup JCC (350 S. Dahlia), Lobby. The diverse collection of community voices offers more than 40 stories of rescue and survival, escape and activism with photographs, letters and documents. Roxane White, Chief of Staff to Governor John Hickenlooper, will install the Governor’s proclamation designating January 27-February 6, 2012 as “Colorado Days of Commemoration.” Click here for more information.

The exhibit is co-sponsored by the Robert E. Loup JCC with support from Ace Cherry Creek, Colorado Coalition for Genocide

Looking for something to do over Presidents day weekend?

Spaces are limited so to register and ensure your spot and to inquire about the various pricing options, email Kolby Morris ASAP! kmorris@headenver.org

HEA Youth Programs

JCC Intergenerational Family Israel Trip

Bnei Akiva Updates

Weekly meeting for interested high school students, Wednesdays at 7:30 PM in the EDOS teen lounge.

For information, contact our Roshei Snif: Elyana Feldman, 720-323-2688, Miriam Clayman, 303-862-0233, Eli Tessler, 303-681-1594, or Steve Feldman, 720-394-3020.