After Pesach Mayhem

It is wonderful to be back in the Torah Center!

A special thank you goes to Marci Barnes for filling in for me during my maternity leave… for helpings things to go smoothly in my absence. And of course, a big thank you to Helaine Labovitz, the Education Secretary, for her continued support as well.

With the eating of matzah behind us, time seems to be flying by as we we count down the weeks to the end of the year (just ask your children, they know how many Torah Center classes are left!). There is still so much left to do – mayhem – in the form of excitement and good (is there any other kind?!) chaos ensues!

A glimpse of what has been happening these past few weeks:

Our Pre-K students were joined by other soon-to-be-kindergarteners for Kindergarten Orientation. The morning included hearing a story, taking a pretend trip to Israel, decorating flower pots and planting flowers for Earth Day:

The Parent Connection concluded with a ceremony honoring our 1st Graders for reading at least 8 books with their parents. Way to go!

The 2nd Grade students made challah…the sweetest bread ever!

The 6th Grade worked on HaKotel (the Western Wall) to be used during next week’s special program for Yom Ha’Atzmaut:

Thanks to everyone who brought in cereal (and other food) boxes! Be sure to stop by next Sunday and see what you helped us to create!

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In the Jewish High School, the 7th Graders painted ceramic butterflies that will become part of the San Diego Jewish Academy’s  Zikaron V’Tikvah (Remembrance and Hope) project, an evergrowing collection of handmade butterflies created to memorialize the children who lost their lives in the Holocaust. For more information on this worthwhile project, check it out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?  v=N362ncgPEvI

Our 9th Grade students have been studying Israel through a curriculum that uses posters from previous Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebrations:

Stay tuned for pictures of next Sunday’s Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration!

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Coming Up:

9th Grade Parents are invited to join Rabbi Locketz for an important meeting regarding next year’s Confirmation Class THIS Monday, April 30th at 6:30 pm.  Please let Helaine know of your attendance plans.

Our last Shabbat LaMishpacha Dinner and Family service of the school year is on Friday, May 4th! This is also Shabbat Limud – the service at which we thank and honor our teachers and Madrichim for their commitment to The Torah Center. Please let Lori in the main office know if you are able to attend the dinner. The cost is $15 for adults, $5.50 for children under 14. Can’t make it to the dinner?  Join us for the service.  This is a “don’t miss” event! See you there!

6th Grade Family Day is on Sunday, May 6th from 9:30 am – 12 noon. Please plan on joining your children at Torah Center for activities that will allow you to learn and experience Judaism together. Please let Helaine know of your attendance plans.
 
On Saturday, May 12th at 6 pm, plan on joining J-TEAM the PERM (Pittsburgh Establishment for the Reform Movement) group for havdallah down by the river followed by a Pirate Game  @ 7:05 . The cost of the ticket was originally $21 but PERM is able to subsidize the cost and so now a ticket and a Roberto Clemente jersey costs $15!!!!!!! A limited number of tickets have been purchased so please RSVP to Jayna [email protected] by May 1st to reserve your a seat!!!!