Rosh Chodesh Adar Alef
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January 31, 2014 We were so happy to see all of the children on Monday and welcome them back to school. We immediately delved into a fun and exciting week. On Friday, the entire Early Childhood family gathered together to cele- brate Rosh Chodesh Adar Alef. While we waited for all the children to join us, we played: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in Hebrew. As the children moved their hands from body part to body part following the Hebrew directions, Morah called more and more children up to the front of the room to lead the rest of the children. By the time all the classes arrived, the children were singing along in Hebrew and moving correctly from body part to body part. Happy Birthday to our Adar Alef birthday children: Oshrit Bar David, Rena Boss, Orah Levi, Dovy Schreiber, Shira Schwartz, Netanel Spaeth, and Hadassah Remez. Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland • 360 New Hempstead Road • New City • New York • 10956 For more information please call Jacqueline Borgen at 845-357-1515 ext:503 or visit us at www.ashar.org The Morahs lined up with the Chodesh cards and we sang the Chodesh song. When it was time for us to find the month we were saying goodbye to, Morah reminded the children that the month began with the “sh” sound. She then asked the children to remind her what letters in Hebrew and English, make that sound. It was amazing how many children remembered! We sang goodbye to Shvat and wel- comed our new month, Adar. We then learned that this year is very special because it is a leap year. Instead of having just one month of Adar, we have 2 months of Adar, Adar Alef and Adar Bet. Morah asked the children what holi- day came in Adar, and explained how we will celebrate Purim this year in Adar Bet. We woke up Mitzvah Man, who explained to us why we had two Adars this year. (So that our Chagim would remain in their correct seasons. Ex: Pesach in the Spring, Chag Ha’aviv.) Then Mitzvah Man gave us a clue about the new Mitz- vah. It had something to do with all the Mitzvot we have learned, and the last few Parshiot. In connec- tion and continuation of the previous Mitzvot, we will learn about treating people with Derech Eretz. We learned how in the last few Parshiot, Hashem gave us the Torah, and then taught us the Mitz- vot we must do towards our fellow Jews. Why start with such Mitzvahs? Because how we treat each other is so important to Hashem. Derech Eretz Kadma L’Torah! “Derech Eretz comes be- fore Torah" (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 9:3) – one cannot personify Torah until he demonstrates Derech Eretz in everything that he does. We all listened as Mitzvah Man explained and modeled the importance of this Mitzvah to all of us. We must be very careful in how we treat one an- other. We must be respectful and kind, and then we can perform the Mitzvot of the Torah properly. Morah then showed us pictures of her visit to the Hadassah Children’s Hospital and explained how the Morahs performed the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim with Derech Eretz. Morah gave us stickers for having Derech Eretz, and a special strawberry treat from Eretz Yisra- el to thank us for putting smiles on the sick chil- dren's’ faces in Hadassah Hospital. Applications for next year are now online If you have a child entering Nursery, Pre-K or Kindergarten for the 2014-2015 school year, please visit our website, download an application, fill it out and drop it off at the ASHAR front office. We are beginning registration for new families and would like to save spots for our existing families. Below is the direct link to the application: www.ashar.org/Application You can also click on the Parent Information bar, Forms and then Application for Admission. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail: 357-1515 ext:503 or [email protected] Over vacation, some of our Morahs met in Hadassah hospital to distribute the teddy bears, necklaces and Refuah Shelaima cards that we collected. We met Milka from Yad Eliezer and she took us up to the pediatric oncology ward where we hand- ed out the bears. It was wonderful to see the smiles come across the faces of the children as we handed them a teddy bear and spoke to their parents. We asked the children, “What was your favorite part of the Rosh Chodesh assembly?” Here are some of their answers: I liked seeing the pic- I liked the tures of the bears in strawberry that Eretz Yisrael. It made Morah Jackie the children happy. gave out. I liked when I I loved the candy answered Morah that Morah Jack- Jackie’s ie brought from question. Israel. I liked when Morah I liked getting Jackie showed us the sticker pictures of giving about Derech teddy bears to the Eretz. sick children. Mazel Tov to Liel on becoming a BIG sister! Mazel Tov to Mr. and Mrs. Robet on the birth of a beautiful baby boy. We wish you much nachas from your newest addition! Mazel Tov to Morah Tovi and her husband, Ar- yeh, on the birth of a beautiful baby boy, Shaya. We wish you much nachas from your new addition! Mazel Tov to Morah Adele and Mr. Koolyk on the engagement of their daughter, Naomi, to Aryeh. We wish them Hatzlocha as they build a Bayit Ne’eman B’Yisrael. Dates to Remember: Wednesday, February 5th: Kindergarten trip to the Hudson River Museum and Planetari- um. Monday, February 17th: Presidents’ Day break. No sessions. Tuesday, February 18th: Teacher Professional Development Day. No student sessions. Wednesday, February 19th-Friday, February 21st: Regular sessions. No bus transpor- tation. Wednesday, February 26th: PreK trip to the Paramus Children's Museum. Shabbat Shalom! Early Childhood Director: Jacqueline Borgen .