The Monthly Roar...2016/04/15  · Classes Resume 5th - 7th grade soccer game at St. Gabriel’s...

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LETTER FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL I admit it - I have an unhealthy relationship with technology. Yes, I use it for all the right reasons – work, staying connected to family and friends, news, productivity and entertainment. However, when my son mentioned to me how often I was checking my phone, I knew that it wasn’t about the endorphins of receiving an email or text. I was playing with my phone as a stress release after a long week. This leads me to wonder about children growing up in the age of technology. Kids are connected to video games, phones, iPads, and TV during those times when we used to have to sit. I see this all the time – kids arriving to school with a game in their hand, or while waiting in the airport, or even while sitting in the grocery cart. How is this immediate and constant stimulation impacting our young children? Are they having time to daydream and think? I witness kids having difficulty calming their bodies and being still in ways that previously didn’t exist. This rise was confirmed by an educational consultant who also remarked about the increase in children needing tools to regulate themselves. I don’t have proof that technology plays a role in this, but I speculate that it does. In pondering the impact of technology, I thought back to a video a friend of mine sent me about how many people get creative ideas in the shower. I am one of the 72%. Shelley H. Carson, PhD, from the Department of Psychology at Harvard narrates the video. She shares that when we shower, we are in a defocused attentional state. We are not controlling what we are thinking about; therefore, this is a fertile time for creative achievement. I listen to a lot of podcasts (yes, instead of letting my mind wander), and over the weekend, I listened to OnBeing where host Krista Tippet interviews Tiffany Shlain. Shlain is a filmmaker and founder of the Webby Awards. She is committed to, “… reframing technology as an expression of the best of what humanity is capable, with all the complexity that entails.” As positively as she views the internet and all that goes with it, her family has instituted the practice of a “tech Shabbat”. They take a hiatus from all technology use for 24 hours as part of their Shabbat ritual. Tiffany speaks of the positive impact this break has on her family. With Passover approaching, I invite all of us who are tech junkies to liberate ourselves from the slavery of our devices, to take a break. Let’s provide ourselves and our children the time to daydream and allow creative thought to enter our brains, slow down, relax our minds and our bodies, and enjoy time together. I wonder what we’ll discover. Shabbat Shalom! Cheryl Hersh The Monthly Roar 7 of Nisan, 5776 April 15, 2016 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Save the Date .............. 2 Advancement ............. 3 AJA Happenings.…..4-6 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST Transitional Kindergarten Announcement Invitation to the Environment Expo

Transcript of The Monthly Roar...2016/04/15  · Classes Resume 5th - 7th grade soccer game at St. Gabriel’s...

Page 1: The Monthly Roar...2016/04/15  · Classes Resume 5th - 7th grade soccer game at St. Gabriel’s 6:15 - 7:15 pm Wednesday, May 4 Fourth grade field trip to San Antonio from 8:00 am

LETTER FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL

I admit it - I have an unhealthy relationship with technology.

Yes, I use it for all the right reasons – work, staying connected to family and friends,

news, productivity and entertainment. However, when my son mentioned to me how

often I was checking my phone, I knew that it wasn’t about the endorphins of receiving

an email or text. I was playing with my phone as a stress release after a long week.

This leads me to wonder about children growing up in the age of technology. Kids are

connected to video games, phones, iPads, and TV during those times when we used to

have to sit. I see this all the time – kids arriving to school with a game in their hand, or

while waiting in the airport, or even while sitting in the grocery cart. How is this

immediate and constant stimulation impacting our young children? Are they having

time to daydream and think? I witness kids having difficulty calming their bodies and

being still in ways that previously didn’t exist. This rise was confirmed by an educational

consultant who also remarked about the increase in children needing tools to regulate

themselves. I don’t have proof that technology plays a role in this, but I speculate that it

does.

In pondering the impact of technology, I thought back to a video a friend of mine sent

me about how many people get creative ideas in the shower. I am one of the 72%.

Shelley H. Carson, PhD, from the Department of Psychology at Harvard narrates the

video. She shares that when we shower, we are in a defocused attentional state. We are

not controlling what we are thinking about; therefore, this is a fertile time for creative

achievement.

I listen to a lot of podcasts (yes, instead of letting my mind wander), and over the

weekend, I listened to OnBeing where host Krista Tippet interviews Tiffany Shlain.

Shlain is a filmmaker and founder of the Webby Awards. She is committed to, “…

reframing technology as an expression of the best of what humanity is capable, with all

the complexity that entails.” As positively as she views the internet and all that goes with

it, her family has instituted the practice of a “tech Shabbat”. They take a hiatus from all

technology use for 24 hours as part of their Shabbat ritual. Tiffany speaks of the positive

impact this break has on her family.

With Passover approaching, I invite all of us who are tech junkies to liberate ourselves

from the slavery of our devices, to take a break. Let’s provide ourselves and our

children the time to daydream and allow creative thought to enter our brains, slow

down, relax our minds and our bodies, and enjoy time together. I wonder what we’ll

discover.

Shabbat Shalom!

Cheryl Hersh

The Monthly Roar 7 of Nisan, 5776

April 15, 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Save the Date .............. 2

Advancement ............. 3

AJA Happenings.…..4-6

SPECIAL POINTS OF

INTEREST

Transitional

Kindergarten

Announcement

Invitation to the

Environment Expo

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SAVE THE DATE!

Friday, April 15

Fifth grade Farm Visit from 8:15 am - 2:45 pm at Green Gate Farm

Jump Rope for Hearts Celebration from 1:15 - 2:15 pm in the JCC gym

Environment Expo from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at the Science and Innovation Center

Monday, April 18 Fifth grade field trip to Whole Foods at the Domain for a scavenger

hunt from 8:30 - 11:30 am

Tuesday, April 19 Passover program from 1:00 - 3:30 pm

Wednesday, April 20

Kindergarten field trip to Coyote Creek Farm from 8:15 - 11:00 am

Intergenerational Art Program from 9:45 - 11:15 am in the MPR

5th - 6th grade soccer game at Austin Jewish Academy from 4:00 - 5:00 pm vs Paragon

Thursday, April 21 Third grade field trip to University of Texas campus from 8:30 am -

3:30 pm

Friday, April 22 - Friday, April 29 Passover Break - AJA Closed; Office will be closed

due to carpet installation

Monday, May 2 Professional Development - AJA Closed for students

Tuesday, May 3

Classes Resume

5th - 7th grade soccer game at St. Gabriel’s 6:15 - 7:15 pm

Wednesday, May 4

Fourth grade field trip to San Antonio from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Third grade field trip to the Texas Museum of Science and Technology from 1:00 -

3:30 pm

5th - 7th grade soccer game at Austin Jewish Academy from 4:15 - 5:15 pm vs St

Theresa

Thursday, May 5

Yom Hashoah

5th - 6th grade soccer game from 4:00 - 5:00 pm at St. Andrews

Friday, May 6

Fifth grade Farm Visit from 8:15 am - 2:45 pm at Green Gate Farm

First grade field trip the Blanton Museum from 12:30 - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, May 10 Parent Association Meeting from 8:00 - 9:00 am in the Becker Science

Center

Wednesday, May 11

Yom Hazikaron

Show Choir Performance at the JCC Community Hall Stageside from 4:30 - 6:00 pm

Thursday, May 12

Yom Haatzma’ut

Fifth grade Farm Visit from 8:15 am - 2:45 pm at Green Gate Farm

Friday, May 13 Portfolio Day

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WE ARE ALMOST THERE! PLEASE DONATE NOW

to the Inspire Annual Campaign to

ensure we reach our goal of $255,000 and 100% participation.

To make your donation click here

or contact Robin Littrell, Development Associate at

512-735-8375 or email Robin Littrell.

from the AJA Development Office

TRIBUTES In Honor of

Nathan Abrahams, Ben Caplovitz , and Eddie Vane “Thank you for making the world and our Jewish community a better place.”

Dana Epstein

In Honor of Abby Baldwin’s Bat Mitzvah Cheryl Hersh

In Honor of Tisha Brown’s

Principal Certification Achievement Cheryl Hersh

In Honor of Lue Coplin’s Bar Mitzvah Cheryl Hersh

In Memory of Leslie Brittman, mother and grandmother of Rochelle Kraus and family

Cheryl Hersh

Speedy Recovery of Brooke Novy Cheryl Hersh

“Tzedakah is not about giving; Tzedakah is about being.”

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson

HELP AJA THROUGH

EVERY DAY SHOPPING

Click

below to learn more.

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PSIA and State

Science Fair

We are proud to report that

Austin Jewish Academy

won second place in the

Elementary School Division

of the PSIA competition.

Also, three of our middle

schoolers went to the Texas

State Science Fair to

present their incredible

projects.

Academic scholarship and

competition, such as the

PSIA and Science Fairs,

represent opportunity for

our students to shine and

push themselves forward to

new heights!

MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILY FUN DAY

Middle School Family Fun Day is

an AJA tradition during which

middle school families and AJA

staff get together for good old

fashioned fun in the sun. The day

started out with a rousing game of

adults versus kids Capture the

Flag. Our athletically gifted

parents were victorious!

Next, the kids and parents faced

off in the classic

schoolyard sport of

Kickball. This time, the

kids punted and sprinted

their way to a win!

It was a beautiful day with

sunshine and good times

for all.

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SOCCER UPDATE The Lions are

ROARing through this

soccer season. We

couldn’t be more

proud of their

teamwork and

perseverance. We’re

about halfway through

the season and have 4

wins and 1 loss. Coach

Bull proclaimed, “This

is the best soccer team

AJA has had!”

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AJA PRESENTS: A NIGHT IN THE BIG APPLE

This year’s family dance was a New York

City themed evening of dancing and delight!

Elementary students from our school and

the greater community came together to

dance, have their faces painted, and create

picture frames for photos of this memorable

evening. AJA alumna, Hannah Eisenberg,

donated her time and talent to create New

York City skyline portraits and donated the

proceeds back to AJA. Parent Association co

-president, Stacy Linkin says, “I have never

been involved with another school that has

shown such support for its community. We

love having fun, and the dance was a huge

success. Thank you AJA!”

Special thanks to our sponsors: Global

Printing Solutions, Balloon People, TimoDJ,

Doodlebug the Clown, Shalom Austin,

Abrakadoodle, Hannah Michele

Photography, Jonathan Garza, Noa and

Eddy Levy, the Horwitz Family, and the

Hensley Family.

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MIX IT UP LUNCH

A national campaign launched by Teaching

Tolerance in 2002, Mix It Up Lunch encourages

students to identify, question and cross social

boundaries. Students have identified the cafeteria

as the place where divisions are most clearly

drawn. So for just a day, our students moved out

of their comfort zones and connected with new

friends over lunch. It’s a simple act with

profound implications. Students from all of our

grades had the opportunity to interact with each

other and learn something new or make a new

friend! If the smiles on everyone’s faces were any

indication… a little change can be very good!

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1st Grade Siddur

Ceremony

Austin Jewish Academy

marks our students’

progress with a yearly

Jewish Milestone

ceremony and on April 6

our first grade class

experienced their Siddur

Ceremony. Each student

receives his or her own

siddur, inscribed with a

message from their

parents. The students led

the congregation in a few

prayers and enjoyed a

yummy treat afterwards.

CHICKENS COMES TO AJA!

It started with three students, grew into a

middle school project, and came to

fruition with a generous donation from

the Ginor family. Be sure to check out

AJA’s new chicken coop and the

feathery residents: Chamudi, Puff,

Cricket, Flash, Cooper, and Diggy.

Look in the May edition of the Jewish

Outlook for the whole story behind this

egg-celent new development!

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AJA Students take

environmental education to a

whole new level at the

Environment Expo!

Young Voices for the Planet film

festival

Student made alternative energy

prototypes

Student guided tours of facilities

and global climate change projects

including solar powered

aquaponics systems, compost and

vermicomposting systems, fruit

grove and gardens, and chicken

coop

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Community Events

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Calling all Jewish Teens Ages 13 – 16! Join Team Austin in Stamford, CT - August 7 - 12 JCC Maccabi Games Team Tryouts Sunday, January 24 & 31 3-6 PM Arts Fest Auditions: Sunday, January 31 2-5 PM

JCC Austin, 7300 Hart Lane

Go to www.shalomaustin.org/maccabi for a complete list of

team, individual sports and art tracks.

JCC Summer Camps Registration Now Open!

Register for JCC Summer Camps! New options this summer include Transportation from Lakeline Mall; Legorobotics and Archery in weekly Camp Shalom activi-ties; Ultimate Arts Olympics; Day Camp for Grandparents and Grandchildren; and more! Visit www.shalomaustin.org/camps to sign up.

AJRT Presents: As Butterflies May 7-22 $10 Students, Seniors & JCC Members/ $15 General Admission

Congregation Beth Israel, 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.

Questions? Contact Jenny Lavery at [email protected]

Visit shalomaustin.org/butterflies for more information and to buy tickets.

There's a Few Spots Left! JCC Pickleball Tournament Sunday, April 17 11 AM

JCC Austin Gym, 7300 Hart Lane

Register at: https://shalomaustin.org/pickleball?srctid=1&erid=3730312&trid=a6cde28a-f2da-4310-ab12-1789e52328e2

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On behalf of the staff at Austin

Jewish Academy, we would like

to wish you and your families a

Shabbat Shalom!

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