What’s in a Name?

Thank you Morah Suzanne for today’s guest post!

The 5^th graders have been discussing the Jewish life cycle, and the beginning of any life cycle is birth! We talked about some of the Jewish customs surrounding birth, like Brit Milah and Brit Bat, and talked about our Hebrew names and what they mean.

Each child made a poster of their Hebrew name as an acrostic poem, using lines from Psalm 119 for each letter. They illustrated and decorated their name posters and now everyone who comes into room 9 can enjoy them!

We’ve also talked about being a Jewish child and have just started talking about Bar/Bat Mitzvah. This will be a big focus for each of these kids during the next couple of years, so we’ll definitely have a lot to talk about!

Monday Afternoon Comic

This comic was brought to you by the 5th grade class, Caleb’s Challenge and Parshat Noach. Is this the winner of the challenge? Come to CBE for Shabbat services this Saturday morning to find out!

Hello, Morah Cheryl!

Shalom!  My name is Morah Cheryl, and I am very delighted to be teaching the second grade class this school year atCBEReligiousSchool.  I am really looking forward to working with each of my students and together we can all look forward to many exciting and rewarding learning experiences throughout this school year.

Let me tell you a little about myself. 

Apples in the First Grade

“Apples,” by Helen H. Moore

Apples, apples, what a treat,

Sweet and tart and good to eat.

Apples green and apples red,

Hang from branches overhead,

And when they ripen, down they drop,

So we can taste our apple crop.

Rosh Hashanah Card Exchange

This is our first student guest post. Yasher koach to Rena (6th grade)!

As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are fast approaching, the 2nd and 6th graders wrote some Shana Tova cards for one another.

The students could choose any partner they wanted[ except possible siblings!] and then make cards for them!

Jordan, 2nd grade, displays the card she made.

The cards said some wishes the creator of the card said to the buddy.

The 6th graders went to the 2nd graders room to deliver the cards to one another personally!

The kids get to know each other. I am very pleased to report that one parent of a 2nd grader wrote, "She's been a bit anxious about going into the classroom on her own, but she was so happy and excited when I picked her up today to tell me all about her 6th grade buddy."

They had a little bit of socializing time before the 6th graders had to go to Caleb’s Challenge, too.  Have a good Rosh Hashanah everyone!

Here's to a holiday bursting with friendship!

2nd Mondays are great for everyone!

Last week we kicked off not only the first day of religious school, but also the first Second Monday of the year!

(First-Second? Second, the first, oh um, it was a lot of fun!)

The 2nd Monday boys, looking sweet and innocent as can be.

As the title says, 2nd Monday is great for everyone. If you’re a kid, you get to play fun games with your friends. You get a tasty, kid-friendly kosher dinner (though you do have to eat your vegetables if you want dessert). And if you play your cards right, you might even get to play gaga!

(Israeli dodge ball. Not the lady.)

If you’re a parent, then 2nd Monday means that you can drop off your 2nd-7th grader for two hours at the synagogue, knowing that they’ll come back fed, exercised and happy.

Because of Columbus Day, there will not be a 2nd Monday in October.  Join us in November though, for an Obstacle Course Inflatable! (November 14th – don’t miss out!)

2nd Monday was very lively this month, thanks to all the great new 2nd graders who have joined our ranks.

2nd Monday ~ it makes Monday a Fun Day!

Our Newest Member of the Team Is…

The Snack Table!

The Snack Table poses with Morah Mina on Thursday afternoon

For grades 2-7, snack time now comes right at 4:30 when they arrive at religious school.  And the Snack Table is there to make it happen.

The Snack Table explains, “The real point of snack at religious school is to give the kids a boost, to help them focus.  It’s my job to make sure they start their afternoon off right, with a healthy and filling treat.”

The Snack Table kicked off its duties with a great pairing –  Cheeze-Its, with an option of grapes (on Wednesday) or celery (on Thursday).  Not wanting to exclude anyone, the Snack Table was also sure to hide a few bags of gluten-free, dairy-free chips under its tablecloth.

“It’s important to me that everyone who comes through those doors gets something to eat,” the Snack Table said when asked about the chips. “Food is a central part of the Jewish tradition, and it’s supposed to unify us.  So I try as hard as I can not to exclude anyone.”

The Snack Table hopes to be able to provide fruits and vegetables as often as possible, though it admits that there will be plenty of sessions where there will only be dry good snacks.

“Like it or not, in our society it’s harder to put out a spread of fresh produce than manufactured stuff,” the Snack Table said, raising its edges in a shrug. “Still, I keep things as healthy and as tasty as I can.”

The Snack Table, ready for action

Keren, Our Favorite Hebrew Teacher

My name is Keren Smith, and despite my all American name, I am 100% atsabra, a ‘True Blue and White’ Israeli. I was born in Jerusalem and spent most of my childhood in Savyon, a suburb of Tel Aviv. I came to this country while I was in high school, and have lived on the Southwest, East and West Coasts.  I’m happy to call Fox Mill my home now, where I live with my family: My husband Joshua, my daughter Jordan, who is in 2nd grade, and my son Daniel who is attending BEECC.  We also have a small zoo at our house of two big dogs and a cat.

I have been teaching Hebrew to various grades ranging from preschool to high school for over 10 years.  I look forward getting to know the 6^th and 7^th grades and teaching them Hebrew.  This year I will also continue teaching a special Hebrew Integration program to the PreK class we started at BEECC two years ago.

Here’s Morah Ellen, Who Will Be Assisting in 2nd Grade on Sundays

I am originally from Rockville Maryland, where I attended Montgomery County Public Schools.

Like several other CBE’ers, I am a former congregant of Beth El Bethesda. That’s where I received my Jewish education. I continued my education at the University of Maryland College Park where I earned degrees in English Language and Literature and Secondary English Education.

Before moving to Northern Virginia, I taught English atSherwoodHigh School in Olney, MD.  A former BEECC mom, I served as a committee chair, vice president, and president of the BEECC Parents’ Association. I have also served on the CBE board as chair of the Communications Committee, and continue to be an active member of this and other CBE committees.

Since 2005, I have worked at BEECC as a substitute and assistant teacher in the 4-day and pre-K classes, and have received permission from my children to work in the religious school this year, as long as I don’t embarrass them.

Morah Ellen is definitely not going to embarrass Lauren (6th grade) or Aaron (3rd).

Give a Big Welcome to Morah Kaety!

“It is not what is poured into a student that counts, but what is planted.” –unknown 

My name is Kaety and not only do I plan on applying this quote in my own teaching this year, but I have also experienced it first hand, on a few different levels.  I’m a student myself and understand that to be able to achieve the best learning experience, you must be given the right materials.   One of these materials is a teacher that’s willing to work on planting the seeds of learning, rather than pouring in the material.  I’m very excited to start this year at Beth Emeth, to teach 6th & 7th grade Judaics and begin planting those seeds.

As I said, I am a student at George Mason University and am in my sophomore year.  I’m studying Communication with my minor in English.  My hometown is Stafford, Virginia, which is about an hour away from the Herndon area.  Although this is my first time teaching at Beth Emeth, I have worked with the B’nai Mitzvah class at my family’s temple, Beth Sholom.   On occasion, I am also a song leader there and co-led my first Bar Mitzvah over the summer.  I have a few more services and B’nai Mitzvahs scheduled throughout the year and look forward to doing more in the future!