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Bais Yaakov פרשת כי of Ateres תשא תשע"“דThe Weekly Newsletter

Dearest Ateres Family, order to allow me to recover as quickly as possible tefilos were so helpful and definitely made a פרשת וישב תשע"ח without any worry other than my health. I am so difference, and still do. So please, please keep on It is so very gratifying to be able to reach out and very grateful to each of them. I deeply miss being on davening on my behalf. communicate with each of you once again, even on the job and interacting, teaching and growing with this very limited basis. Boruch Hashem, I continue to our inquisitive talmidos, our devoted faculty and our May we all be zoche that the upcoming Yom Tov of make steady, albeit, slow and measured progress in phenomenal administration; they are amazing. Chanukah illuminate our lives with emuna and my recovery. I have much to be grateful for, but B’ezras Hashem I will return in the not too distant bitachon, an even deeper appreciation for the much time, rest and rehab is needed for a full future. smiling faces of our children and a greater hakoras recovery. It is, as my doctors explain, a process that hatov and commitment to make the most of the very cannot be rushed. My deepest heartfelt appreciation to all those who gift of life. have been davening, worrying and caring so much With our arrival to our new home we The Board and Administrative team have been on my behalf. Mere words cannot adequately Sincerely, continue to transition, grow and build protectively sheltering me from all school matters in express my hakoras hatov to each of you. Your Rabbi Aaron Fink, Dean not only to our new quarters but in our D’VAR TORAH PARSHAS VAYEISHEV any other mitzvah? different levels of joy experienced with the victory of character as well. the Chashmonaim. Mehadrin of the Mehadrin was Rabbi Yisroel Teichman - Interim Dean A person who loses an object of personal value, such created for people that performing Mitzvos brings As such, we are proud to introduce a

As Chanukah begins this week, I would like to share as a wedding album, is greatly pained by its loss. He joy and the inability to perform Mitzvos brings new weekly column some food for thought when lighting Neiros is elated when he finds the album and his joy is distress. The basic level of one light each night was Chanukah. proportionate to the pain he experienced. Someone created for people who are generally ambivalent “Boneh baShamayim Maalosov” who loses an object of little personal value is not about performing the mitzvos, but perform them with insights from the parsha on In most homes, each person lights his/her own pained by its loss and not as delighted when it is nevertheless. The Mehadrin level was created for Neiros Chanukah, lighting one the first night and two found. During the Chanukah period there were the people in between. refinement of middos and building of the second night and so on. For many, it would be many who were pained over of the loss of not being our character as banim laHashem. surprising to learn that lighting just one candle for able to do the Avodah in the Bais Hamikdosh and Of course, today, everyone lights Neiros Chanukah the entire family on the 8th night of Chanukah will many other Mitzvos. They had an intense joy upon as the Mehadrin of the Mehadrin, to the point that also fulfill the mitzvah. Indeed, the Gemara relates seeing the restoration Bais Hamikdosh and having many are unaware of other levels of Neiros that there are three levels of performing the mitzvah the freedom to perform Mitzvos. There were many, Chanukah. This is because we are declaring that had of lighting the Neiros Chanukah. The minimum is one however, who succumbed to the pressure of the we lived during the Chanukah period, we would Hellenists. They may have done Teshuva upon the have been greatly pained by our inability to perform light for the entire household. The Mehadrin is one  light for each member of the household, and, as we victory of the Chashmonaim for forsaking the Mitzvos, and overjoyed with the victory of the are most familiar with, the Mehadrin of the Mitzvos, but the joy they experienced by the victory Chashmonaim. Mehadrin light for each member of the household was minimal, since their pain over the evil decrees “Vayar adonav ki Hashem ito” corresponding to the number day of Chanukah. Why of the Yevanim was minimal. May our lightingNeiros Chanukah this year bring us did Chazal create different levels of performing joyful experience in performing this Mitzvah and all And his (Yosef’s) master saw that Neiros Chanukah, something not found in regard to The Sfas Emes suggests that the creation of different of Hashem’s Mitzvos. levels to light Neiros Chanukah is reflective of the Hashem was with him (39:3)

Our week started on Sunday as students and their each and every child. Keeping in touch with your The excitement is in the air, getting ready for mothers enjoyed the incredible Mother Daughter daughter’s teachers throughout the year is very Chanukah-they had learned all the halachos and Brunch. Thank you again to all the volunteers and beneficial. Remember to thank your daughter’s the reason why we celebrate Chanukah. This year Since Yosef always talked about to our Nshei Heads who worked tirelessly to make teacher as well. They are so dedicated to your we should be zoche to light the menorah once the event a success. Ateres students thank you all children. We are lucky to have such fabulous again in the Bais Hamaikdash with the coming of Hashem, his master attributed so very much! Everyone had such a super fun time teachers in Ateres. Moshiach. with the Twins from France and all the yummy food Yosef’s success to Hashem being and fun raffle prizes. It was especially nice was that Walking into our hallways, in addition to the Morah Tal's kitah daled has two reporters this every girl when home with a key ring from the with him. beautiful display of the girls hard work, you will be week, Yona Morrell and Blimi Abromowitz who event. greeted by a nice big gift box. Ateres Bais Yaakov is want to share that their week was really exciting collecting toys for Chai Lifeline in honor of the because they are still presenting their biur tefillah PTA Wednesday night was really nice. Although refuah Sheleima for Rabbi Fink. Please send in a toy projects. Seven brachos were presented with there was a last minute location change, all worked or game that you and your daughter think another dances and skits and creative posters depicting the Learning from Yosef, we must out beautifully. Parents who attend PTA are able to child can really enjoy. power of each bracha. These reporters also shared also include Hashem in our partner with their daughters’ teachers in the most that Tuesday is a special fun day during Chumash effective way and this only adds to the success of Our healthy snack policy is in place and the time as Morah walks around with a hand-made activities so it may be said about teachers are reporting healthier snack options are fortune teller and chooses girls who are learning so being brought in by all the students. We are proud well to have a chance to pick a surprise section. us “Hashem is with him”. of their new choices. Some examples of surprises choices include: daven outside with a friend, free Chumash quiz etc. In Now let’s take a peek into the week: addition, the girls received special leadership positions in class this week. Every girl has a NSHEI CORNER leadership role. They learned about leaders and Morah Miriam's Kitah Aleph yelados are so excited their qualities when they learned with Mrs. Samet Our 9th Annual Mother Daughter Brunch was to be completing the Hebrew script letters. They about Yehoshua. The girls are now enjoying a smashing success! Special thanks to all the can now write their names in Ivris for the very first leadership positions such as, bulletin board time. They had a fun assignment where they were parent sponsors and volunteers for working designer, paper collector, cleanup crew and asked to read a page filled with names (some funny so hard on this event. Thank you to all the teacher's messenger just to name a few. Lastly, the ones too just to test their Hebrew reading mothers and daughters who came to the girls took a lot of pride in writing in Ivris about the skills.) They then had to circle only the names of brunch and made it the fun-filled event that miracles they notice in their lives each day. They the girls in our class. Our girls are so excited to be are working on a Chanukah bulletin board entitled, it was. The girls had an absolute blast! welcoming Chanukah. They are enjoying the many "Nissim Shebechol Imanu." stories, songs and beautiful arts and crafts projects.

In fitting with our Paris theme, the Twins They are looking forward to sharing all that they are learning with their families. Mrs. Liff's kitah hei is learning the Chanukah story from France kept everyone entertained; like never before!!! The story is so exciting, the girls mothers and daughters alike. The laughter want to just keep on learning! They even asked to Morah Gluck's kitah beis had a most exciting day and fun in the air was contagious! Something continue learning through lunch! The fabulous 5th on Monday when they began to learn Chumash new for this year; each student received a graders have all worked so hard on their Chumash inside their chumashim. For the past months they tests this week and their effort really showed. They special Eiffel Tower keychain as a souvenir. It have been working in their Lehavin U'Lehaaskil completed perek gimmel and will be beginning was so nice to see the girls' smiling faces books intensely learning the crucial skills they perek daled next week. They are also busy when we handed them their gifts. We are needed to be able to begin reading pesukim inside. preparing for their upcoming chesed trip to the They had so much fun finding the shorashim and already looking forward to next year's Fountainview next week! brunch! prefixes and suffixes in each word. They also started learning about Chanukah. They explored the differences between a menorah in the Bais Mrs. Eckstein's kitah vav traveled to the Thank you to everyone who participated in Hamikdash and our menorahs that we use at Fountainview this week to perform for the our Chanukah Staff Appreciation home. They also began their S.M.A.R.T. goals for residents. The girls created a wonderful program campaign. The staff works so hard for our areas they wish to work on in kitah beis. Ask your full of menorah lighting, song and dance. The finale dance featured the girls dressing up as Maca'bees', daughters all year long; we know they will be daughters what 'smart' stands for and you will be impressed. dancing to a Macabeat song. The creative so appreciative of this effort to show them homemade costumes were absolutely fabulous! our thanks. The day ended with a great Chanukah bingo game This was a great week for Morah Ehrman as she and cute prizes that the girls bought and wrapped. shares the joy she had in meeting her students’ Afterwards the girls really enjoyed the walk to Pita Have a Good Shabbos! parents. She enjoys the nachas she gets from the Land and a delicious lunch. It was a very special day way she sees them grow in Torah and middos. They Ateres N'shei where the girls used their talent for chesed. Kol started learning gematria and the girls are having Hakavod. Chany Silverman & Faigie Walter fun figuring out the numbers on their own now. Mrs. Levin’s Update A Peek into the Week “Parent-thetically” Speaking

Thank you to all of our parents who came to PTA meetings By: Mrs. Jenny Samet Wednesday night. A last minute change in venue did not in any way dampen the Ateres spirit. I so appreciate the positive comments I received from various parents: “My daughter comes home so happy A powerful story depicting the each day”; “My girls love school”; “Everything is super. Thank you!” importance of judging others favorably- a middah that would be a gift (in honor If there are ever any issues you wish to discuss with me regarding of Chanukah) you can give and teach your child’s general studies, please feel free to call me at extension your children. 123. Please leave a message and I will return your call, if not that day, then the next. A woman was waiting at an airport one night,

With several long hours before her flight, Your daughter will be coming home with a Reading Log for Six Flags Read to Succeed program. Any student who completes the log will She hunted for a book in the airport shop, be receiving a free ticket to Six Flags Amusement Park in Jackson, NJ Kitah Vav visits Fountainview Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to stop. (near Lakewood). Please encourage your daughter to read so that she can be entered into this program. She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see, First grade has been learning about Community Helpers. There are That the man beside her, as bold as could be, many different jobs that help people such as a nurse, librarian, bus Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, driver, garbage collector, and a teacher. Mrs. Wingate pretended to Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene. be a guest speaker and read a book to the first grade about being a teacher. The girls thought it was very funny and very entertaining. And then the girls were really surprised with a real special visit from She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock, Ilana’s father, Mr. Eisen. Mrs. Wingate told the girls that they were going on an adventure. Leaving their classroom and going outside to As the gutsy "cookie thief" diminished her stock. see an ambulance and Ilana’s father. It was so exciting for each girl She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, to get a turn walking through the ambulance. Mr. Eisen then came Thinking, " If I wasn’t so nice I'd blacken his eye." into our class and discussed what it is like to be a Hatzolah volunteer. The girls were then able to ask some very wonderful questions. The class really enjoyed it. Thank you Mr. Eisen for With each cookie she took, he took one too, making the time for us. When only one was left, she wondered what he would do, Math demonstration in Grade 6 With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, This week second graders went on a virtual adventure to the continent of Asia. Mrs. Baron read all about Orangutans. The lesson He took the last cookie and broke it in half. encompassed so many fun and interesting activities. Using a Venn diagram, students compared humans to Orangutans. The girls He offered her half, as he ate the other, colored the continent of Asia, and wrote the specific islands that are indigenous to Orangutans. Vocabulary words defined the meaning She snatched if from him, and thought, "Oh Brother," of Orangutan (person of the forest,) and other words such as This guy has some nerve, and he is also rude, herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore. In addition to map studies, Why he didn't even show any gratitude!" vocabulary, and comparing and contrasting, the girls loved coloring, cutting and gluing the pieces together to make orangutans of their She had never known when she was so galled. own. Come by and see our beautiful bulletin board! In math, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. second graders compared numbers using symbols. Students were She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, advised to read directions carefully because some questions required putting numbers in order from least to greatest, while Refusing to look at the "thieving ingrate." others required the opposite skill of ordering numbers from greatest to least. Learning how to estimate numbers can be tricky for second She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, graders. The class caught on quickly and really made Mrs. Baron proud! Creative props for Kitah Daled Tefillah performance Then sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, Third grade has started learning division! They started off by being There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes! told to break up into groups of four. The girl were really excited when they realized that multiplication and division are opposites of each other. They have spent the week practicing division by using "If mine are here," she moaned with despair, their wipe off boards, learning fact families and completing a division "Then the others were his, and he tried to share." number search. This week the class wrote about their favorite book. Their responses are hanging on a bulletin board in the classroom. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, Everyone is invited to stop by and take a look. That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

Before giving out the format for our new book report, a mystery, Mrs. Paley’s fourth grade class read THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING NOSE. The class learned all the words that would be in a detective’s highest aspirations in different life categories, including self- vocabulary and then worked on a fun paper matching those words development, relationships, contribution to the world, future career, with their meanings. The class had a favorite detective word, red and lifestyle. The class discussed how it is important to continuously herring, which is a false lead that throws the detective off track. The review and edit your vision as you evolve and become a deeper and girls will be working on a puzzle poster book report and Mrs. Paley Memories of our fabulous Mother-Daughter Brunch more mature individual. The girls reported that writing these visions can’t wait to see their creativity. This marking period the fourth made them feel "happy” and "excited." One student added, "It graders read 329 library books. Esther Weinstein, the winner of the makes me want to get out there and achieve it all!" HOOKED ON BOOKS contest read a remarkable 113 books. The second place winner was Rikki Kahana with 36 books and Rina Grossman read 28 books, just one more than Lieba Kohl. The class This week in Mrs. Brecher’s Chumash class, the eighth graders did an outstanding job and everyone received prizes for their effort. learned the mitzvah of lifnei iver lo sitein michshal. Rashi explains From the desk of Mrs. Kayla Stimmel This class loves to hear Mrs. Paley shout “DEAR” (Drop Everything the passuk to mean something deeper than the literal meaning of do Thank you so much to all the parents who joined us for PTA this week. It and Read). Keep reading, fourth graders! not place a stumbling block in front of a blind person. We are being was wonderful for all of us to have this opportunity to meet face to face to commanded not give bad advice to someone who is "blind" on a share nachas and discuss progress! This week the fifth grade was gearing up for their Chanukah party specific matter. The class discussed the Sefer Hachinuch which with Mrs. Friedman!! The girls are looking forward to a special treat Our seventh graders worked on division with rational numbers this week explained what an unbelievable chessed it is to spend time thinking from Mrs. Friedman, plus a ‘kumsitz’ during the Chanukah party in Mrs. Karash’s class. They reviewed their basic fraction and decimal about how to advise a friend in a way that will be most beneficial to when she will bring in her guitar!! Stay Tuned!! In math, we have division and added their newly acquired integer knowledge to solve her. At the end of the week, the eighth graders took a Chumash test begun division and are doing long division! Fifth graders are really division problems. They have become proficient in using the "friends or on half of perek yud tes. They studied hard and have accomplished a progressing in their curriculum! In Social Studies, the students are foes" story to decide if their answers are positive or negative. lot. We are having truly proud of them and their efforts! learning about Indian cultures and customs! A special Yasher Koach to Perry Goldman, who gave a presentation to the class on her In Mrs. Teichman's science class, the seventh graders were introduced to Our eighth graders embarked on a new science adventure this week Cherokee Indian background, and the class celebrated her cultural fossil fuels, a nonrenewable energy resource. They learned how these with Mrs. Eisenstein! After a brief introduction to natural energy diversity and enjoyed her speech very much! Our reading form over many years and how Hashem created the world that it should resources, the students were divided up into groups and given one curriculum continues with the trade book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats have within it already existing fossil fuels. Oil, coal, and natural gas provide resource to research and present to the class. We are looking of Nimh. The girls learned many new vocabulary words and us with energy and produce electricity, but they also have a number of developed their comprehension and reading skills by answering forward to their very informative and creatively delivered lessons on disadvantages. Next week the girls will explore alternative sources of questions on the chapters they read. Keep up the reading, girls! As coal, oil, natural gas, solar power, wind power and hydroelectric energy. always, our week ended on Friday with a raffle and gumballs from energy.

Mrs. Friedman’s machine. Mazel tov to our students of the week, Leora Cohn and Esther Stein, who were also the highest scorers on The seventh grade in Mrs. Rube’s class read the story, “Thank you, the math Chapter 2 test! Ma'am.” The girls see the kindness of a woman who appeared to be tough as she helped an underprivileged teenager. The theme of “Keep

Climbing!” was stressed after reading a poem, called “Mother to Son,” by Thank you to all the parents who made the effort to come to PTA, it Langston Hughes. They both share the theme of never giving up hope and was nice to meet everyone and go over all the exciting things going on in 6th grade. This week sixth graders have been very busy keeping on striving. The incredible message of the power we have in working on our hypothesis for our science project about osmosis impacting people’s lives with our kindness and sensitivity is demonstrated (ask your daughters to describe what we are doing and why). They in these stories. are fine tuning their creative writing skills, and are preparing to write an essay about something we take for granted; our shoes! The girls In Mrs. Taubenblat's Navi class, the 8th grade learned about the Chanukas had their first history exam and have made Mrs. Frances so proud Habayis of the first Beis Hamikdash and the 140,000 korbanos that were with all their knowledge and grades. brought in one week alone. Ask your daughter to tell you what happened to the kohanim when the Shechina descended at that time. In Hashkafa Good Shabbos to all!! class, the girls learned how to create a Life Vision. They wrote down their

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