Welcome to all returning and new families to our OMJS community. I just have a few pieces of information that I hope will not take you more than the time it takes to toast a bagel spread with butter and cream cheese and perhaps look for a clean plate to put it on which usually means wiping off with your hand the dish that looks cleanest from the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I know from what I speak.
1. We are still trying to figure out the best form of communicating. We will put emails on the website for you to view after we send them out. We will try to limit the paper going home to continue our efforts to have a paperless system.
2. We need to know who you would like to have sign out your children at the end of the morning or if in fact you want your child to sigh themself out if they are in the older grades. See your child’s teacher please.
3. We will be continuing the registration on Sunday from 9:30- 10:30 if you have not yet registered and after that we will do registration on demand.
4. We recommend a snack for our energetic students so please send a light snack that is Kosher as the SJCC is a Kosher environment and please NO NUTS.
5. We will be setting up a family directory and would like to know if you would like to have your name, address, child’s name and grade and email in it so that families can use it to set up play dates, plan BNei Mitzvah guest lists etc. Please advise Diana Rapoport our administrative assistant at diana.rap@rogers.com
6. Thank you to all who participated in the Walkathon last June, it raised $471that went directly to our school. Our Federation allocation went down by about $800 but who’s counting.
7. We will be planning a meet and greet in Oct or November so I will keep you posted.
8. We are still in need of a treasurer so if you are looking for a little something you can do for OMJS that will be greatly appreciated please let me know.
9. I have attached two events that may be of interest to some of you. WE continue our partnership with Rabbi Schaps to provide learning opportunities for our parents and other member of the community. They meet in our classroom downstairs. It runs Sundays from 9:45 am – 11 am. To register call JET at 613-798-9818 ext. 247 or jet@jccottawa.com. If you show up without registering you are still welcome.
Sept 18 it will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah: Discover how the Jewish New Year Day sets the stage for the whole year
Sept 25 Yom Kippur How to return to where you never were
Oct 2 Sukkot: explore the meaning of the Holiday and it message of peace for all human kind.
10. We will also receive postings of activities and events from SJCC that will be of interest to families, children and parents or OMJS. Today I have attached a posting for safety classes.
11. We welcome two new members to the Board (see it’s not that scary). Thank you to Lori and Marius. We meet monthly and there is less work the more people to share the load. Our first Board meeting is Oct 16 at 9:40 in the classroom downstairs. All are welcome.
12. Diana and I keep an email distribution list so please let us know when emails change or if you think you aren’t getting emails (how you would know that is a mystery to me but anyhow).
If you have questions do not hesitate to contact me at this email or by phone at 613-828-7081
Shelley
Shelley Rivier
President OMJS
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Welcome Parents:
This summer has gone so fast and once again it is time to think about the fun times at Ottawa Modern Jewish School. I would like to welcome back the familiar faces and look forward to meeting the new faces. There are so many exciting and new activities to look forward to at OMJS this year. Some of the new activities are trips to Hillel Lodge to sing with the Bubbies and Zaidies, Tikkun Olam projects (helping other people in need) and many more.
The primary of goals of Jk- 1 are to give the children a basic knowledge of the Jewish holidays; to recognize the Hebrew Aleph Bet; to begin writing the letters of the Aleph Bet and their Hebrew names; to learn some basic Hebrew vocabulary; and to be proud to be Jewish in the world today.
Attached is a copy of a schedule of a typical morning at OMJS. The morning is divided into two components: Judaic (Jewish holidays and customs) and Ivrit (Aleph Bet and Hebrew vocabulary). In the Ivrit component each child will be assigned work according to his or her ability.
I appreciate any feedback. Please feel free to approach me with any questions, concerns or comments. “We are partners in your child’s Jewish education”.
Enjoy the rest of your summer vacation.
Morah Miriam
Morning Schedule
Time Activity Content
9:30-10:00 Good Morning Circle Calendar, Hebrew Language, Aleph Bet
10:00- 10:45 Hebrew Language Activities Centers, writing activities
10:45-11:00 SNACK Play time until everybody is finished snack
11:00-11: 20 Judaic/ Jewish Holiday circle Adom Olam, facts about holiday, story, songs
11:20-12:00 Holiday/ Judaic craft activity Gluing, painting and cutting.
12:00-12:30 Clean up and Good Bye circle Review of the whole morning, “Shalom Chaverim”.
• The schedule is subject to change on Yiddish days and special events.
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Dear Grade 6/7 Parents,
Your children had a busy day today, as they started their regular classes at OMJS. The grade 6/7’s started with Hebrew class with Morah Ilona, then went to “Being Jewish” with Janet (our principal) and then to me for Jewish History.
As I mentioned in my introduction letter two weeks ago, your children would be starting a history unit called, “Measly Middle Ages and Pesky Pirates”. Also, to those parents who children were not in class today, this is just an overview of what they have missed.
Jewish History
We started the class with a hook into the lesson. I asked everyone to think about “What is Anti-Semitism?” I then gave them a post-it note to write their answers. We then discussed their answers.
I gave a PowerPoint Presentation introducing the Middle Ages and the amount of anti-semitism that occurred during this time period (ie. Blood Libels, Crusades, using Jews as scapegoats-blaming Jews for the Black Plague, and the European expulsions). Your children were particularly interested in Pope Innocent III and the Black Plague.
They then completed an “exit slip” for me called a “3, 2, 1 exit slip”. This type of exit slip asks them to write “3 facts I found interesting”, “2 facts I did not know” and “1 fact I would like to know more about” while their were watching my PowerPoint Presentation. This last question will help me decide what area to focus on for next class as I have schedule two weeks to learn about the middle ages. Several parents last year expressed a wish for their children to learn more modern history; as such I am squishing a lot of early history into a few weeks so that we can move into more modern history earlier in the school year.
If your children have not shown it to you yet, each child was given a form to take home for you to complete. It asks you to list all the adults that can come to collect your child from school each week. The JCC has recently increased their security and we would like to make sure your child goes home with the individuals you have approved. Also, some parents have asked if their child can walk down to the main lobby at the end of class. Since your children are with me at 12:30pm, if you wish to give your permission for them to wait in the main lobby, please email me. I have already spoken to some of you and will inform our administrative staff of the arrangements.
If there are any questions or concerns, please email me.
-Morah Kami
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Dear Parents,
It has been a great pleasure for me to welcome each of your children into our Kita Bet/Gimmel (Grade 2/3) class at OMJS. We have an exciting year planned and I hope the children will enjoy the classes as much as I do!
I have encouraged the children to take home each week their gratitude notebooks, and their duatangs with their classwork, so that they can share with you some of what they are learning while reviewing and internalizing the lessons of the week. I just ask that these precious books be returned every Sunday for class!!
It has been a busy two weeks already! Here is a glimpse into some of our lessons:
- Our theme of the year is "tikkun olam", meaning "perfecting the world". With every topic and lesson we are striving to internalize how we can become better people and impact the world in a positive way. In particular, using our own unique talents and passions to make the world a better place. We have sent home a page with "Mitzvah Leaves". These leaves can be filled out by parents (one a week is excellent) with a "Mitzvah" or deed of kindness that was done that week. It is my hope to emphasize that every act, no matter how "small", can have a big impact on the world. We will use the leaves to decorate our very own "Eitz Chaim" - Tree of Life in our classroom. During our morning songs and tefillot (prayers) we have also been passing around a "Tzedaka" - charity - box. I have encouraged the children to bring in, if possible, a penny a week. With this will instill in them a positive and enthusiastic feeling for giving! At the end of the year we will decide as a class where to donate our "tzedaka" collection towards.
- With the goal this year of strengthening and refinding our Hebrew reading skills, we have begun a thorough review of all the Alef Bet letters and some vowel sounds. From there we shall continue to built upon and solidify our reading! Any encouragement at home for review would be absolutely wonderful! (These past two week we specifically focused on the letters Alef-Zayin and on the Kamatz and Patach vowels which both make an "ah" sound. With a little bit of encouragement, your child may be proud to show what he/she has accomplished!) My aim is to cater these lessons to each child, so that each one is challenged, while not feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Please let me know if you feel the level for your child needs to be adjusted.
- We have been enjoying preparations for the upcoming Festivals!!! We have been discussing that we are now in the month of "Elul" and that the Jewish New Year of "Rosh Hashana" is quickly approaching! We have enjoyed songs "Yeish" (a song about the four names of Rosh Hashana), "Dip the apple in the honey", and "Let's be Friends"; learnt about the Shofar (and read a great story about 2 of them!) and the three different sounds it makes ("tekiah", "shevarim", "truah"); talked about the meaning behind the holiday and the traditional foods served, and today we worked on making honey dishes with the hopes of a "Shana Tova U'metuka" (a good and sweet new year)!
- This week we welcomed our conversational hebrew teacher, Morah Ilona, to our class....she lesson included discussions of the seasons and the weather, as well as colours!
Thank you again for your entrusting your child in our care on Sunday mornings....we value and treasure every moment with them! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Yehudis
In the end only kindness matters....