Grade 6 Weekly News
A big thank you to all who attended this past Friday’s Teacher Appreciation Shabbat service and dinner. It was such a wonderful evening and celebration of this fabulous school year. I’d also like to thank all who contributed to this year’s teacher gift! Be sure to read our weekly newsletter and bookmark this class blog. These are great ways to keep up to date on assignments and important reminders about both ARS and TOS. Audio files of blessings, prayers and Trope that we are studying can also be found on our blog for reinforcement.
Jewish Studies
This week, each student presented his/her favorite Jewish hero/heroine to be inducted into the Jewish Heroes Hall of Fame. We heard how worthy Natalie Portman, Debbie Friedman, Albert Einstein, Hank Greenberg and Yitzhak Rabin (just to name a few) were to be part of our Hall of Fame.
As we transitioned to our mini-mester and the subject of the Holocaust, Hitler and Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), we had a wonderful conversation about the death of Osama Bin Laden and the Jewish perspective on rejoicing in someone's death. Click here to see the article we read as a class which sparked such a wonderful discussion. The students thought it was odd that the anniversary of Hitler's death, the death of Bin Laden and Yom HaShoah all took place within the past few days. We introduced the subject matter of our mini-mester, the Holocaust, by delving into the textbook we’ll be using during the final few weeks of school – Ten Thousand Children: True stories told by children who escaped the Holocaust on the Kindertransport. The students took their books home with them this week so parents can have a better sense of the content of the next few weeks of class. You can also view many pages of the textbook by clicking here. If at any time you’d like to discuss the content of this difficult subject we’ll be learning about as a class, please don’t hesitate to contact me or Shari in the school office.
HOMEWORK (due Tuesday, May 10):
Complete the homework about the Holocaust that was printed on the reverse of the newsletter that went home on Tuesday. If you misplaced your homework, the assignment was to write what you already know about the Holocaust.
Hebrew – B’nei Mitzvah Skills
We’re getting so close to completing our B’nei Mitzvah Checklist! Today, students perfected Av Harachamim (which can be found on page 244 in their blue folders or the siddur) and many passed their challenge! We had planned to begin reading and chanting Aleinu but our Osama Bin Laden and Holocaust conversations were so great that we got a little behind schedule. Each student took home a copy of Aleinu to practice reading at home.
Mark your calendars now for our Super Duper Rockin’ Bimah Challenge Day on Tuesday, May 17. Each student will be asked to chant our entire B’nei Mitzvah Prep Checklist from beginning to end on the bimah. It’s like a make-believe Bar/Bat Mitzvah!
HOMEWORK:
Each week, students must practice reading Hebrew at least 5 minutes every night. Each student must complete and turn in a Reading Raffle Card to prove that they completed their Hebrew practice. This week, students should practice reading Aleinu. I distributed a photocopy to each student today in class (there is also a link to the siddur page on our class blog, both a student version and a “Heblish” version so that parents who can’t read Hebrew can help their child practice). For homework, practice reading the Hebrew (or get ahead by listening to the audio file on our blog and learn the tune).
As always, students should also sing through what we know of the Trope Anthem a few times each day. A copy of the colorful Trope Anthem can be found in the blue folder as well (and on our class blog you can find a copy of the Trope Anthem
REMINDER:
- The BOSTY end of the year trip to Six Flags registration forms are due on Friday, May 13. The trip is taking place on Sunday, May 22! Contact Stacy in the school office with any questions: 617-739-9200.
- Our next Shabbat B’Yachad is on Saturday, May 14. Members of our TELEM Social Justice class (11 & 12 grade high school students) have been hard at work preparing to teach the community about hunger, homelessness and poverty. They would love your support!
