SHABBAT & YOM TOV CANDLE LIGHTING
| Wed., Sept. 12 |
Erev Rosh Hashanah |
7:02 p.m. |
| Thurs., Sept.13 |
Rosh Hashanah |
8:11 p.m. |
| Fri., Sept. 14 |
Shabbat |
6:59 p.m. |
| Fri., Sept. 21 |
Shabbat and Erev Yom Kippur |
6:48 p.m. |
| Wed., Sept. 26 |
Erev Sukkot |
6:39 p.m. |
| Thurs., Sept. 27 |
Sukkot |
7:48 p.m. |
| Fri., Sept. 28 |
Shabbat |
6:36 p.m. |
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| Wed., Oct. 3 |
Hoshanah Rabbah |
6:29 p.m. |
| Thurs., Oct. 4 |
Shemini Atzeret |
7:37 p.m. |
| Fri., Oct. 5 |
Shabbat and Simchat Torah |
6:26 p.m. |
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RABBI’S ARTICLE
As the school year 2006-2007 drew to a close it became more and more apparent that the next academic year was going to bring changes and SPHDS.
The decision to hire an Academic Dean was but the first. This was followed by the decision of Eitz Chaim Academy to join forces with SPHDS and virtually the entire school is now happily settled here. Their presence has given a much needed boost to our Middle School.
It has taken a long time but we have finally found what we believe is the perfect person for the position of Development Director. Sharon Dwek brings with her an element of excitement and energy and has already made her presence felt amongst students, staff, and parents.
And undoubtedly the most gratifying of all was to watch the steady increase in our population to figures we haven’t seen since the end of the last century, effectively increasing our school population by a third.
This growth has necessitated growth in our faculty and adjunct staff. In addition to ESL we have increased resource time to a three quarter position, a second physical education instructor, increased library hours, a stronger extra mural program and a part-time counselor.
The growth in numbers has brought with it an unbelievable growth in enthusiasm. Our back to school brunch saw over three hundred participants. The first Parents Association meeting calling for volunteers was standing room only. It certainly is a wonderful feeling to be part of a winning team. We are confident that with this new invigorated spirit we will only go from strength to strength.
WELCOME TO THE 2007/2008 SCHOOL YEAR
Much has happened during vacation as SPHDS was busy preparing for the new school year. We look forward to a stimulating, enriching and academically challenging year, one that is filled with enrichment and growth.
A hearty welcome to our new SPHDS families, our continuing SPHDS families, our new and returning staff members.
The following faculty members have joined SPHDS’ excellent, warm and nurturing staff: Melissa Lee, Sharon Dwek, Simone Haroush, Courtney Apotheker, Carmit Koenigsfeld, Beth Kurlan, Chani Lapin, Dina Lichtenstein, Shannon McGovern, Shirley Orr, Michal Rockmael and Elana Wenocur and returning to our staff is Linda Bostwick. We will be highlighting, in the Chai Lights, our new staff in the weeks to come. This week we are introducing Melissa Lee and Sharon Dwek.
 Mrs. Lee is SPHDS’ first Academic Dean. She brings extensive education experience as an independent school classroom teacher and an administrator.
She has a Master’s degree in Education with specialization in Gifted and Talented Education. Mrs. Lee is the recipient of two fellowships in which she gained valuable experience in school leadership. She is dedicated to professional growth of teachers and development of curriculum.
 Mrs. Dwek is our new Development Director. She comes to SPHDS from the Jewish Community Federation where she worked for the Israel Center as Director of the Campus Division and Associate Director of the Israel and Oversesas Division of the JCF. She initiated and produced cultural events including concerts, speaker series, leadership retreats and seminars. She worked in Israel , has a law degree and was admitted to the Israeli Bar Association.
We look forward to Melissa Lee and Sharon Dwek’s leadership in directing SPHDS’ academic programs and initiating community and school events.
JEWISH STREET FESTIVAL IS HERE
Join thousands of Bay Area residents at the 8th annual To Life! A Jewish Cultural Street Festival on Sunday, September 9th from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on California Avenue in Palo Alto.
This fabulous outdoor event will feature fine art, traditional Jewish music, dance, kosher foods, children’s activities and much more.
SPHDS will be having an information booth…so…drop by and say “hello”. The Parents Association will have a wonderful arts and crafts booth in the children’s area. (See related article.)
For more information visit www.paloaltojcc.org or call 650 852-3506.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
After graduating SPHDS four years ago, the Class of ’03 has graduated high school and are now freshman at universities and colleges throughout the country. Mazel Tov to them as they continue climbing the education ladder: Tzuri Bublil, SiAH Yedidya Yeshiva; Arielle Cole, State University New York – Buffalo (dance program); Daphna Davidovits, University of California, Berkeley; Keren Eyal, Boston University; Audrey Feldman, New York University; Veronica Ferdman, University of Southern California; Julian Lewis, Cornell; Rachel Lopatin, Stanford; and Leah Starr-Glass, Sarah Lawrence.
EMAIL ADDRESSES
Chai-Lights, the school’s weekly newsletter, will be sent via email to each family. If your email address has changed, please let Rachel know as soon as possible.
LUNCH PROGRAM
This past Tuesday the school’s hot lunch program began and is offered five days a week. Coupon (5) booklets cost $18.75, if purchased separately each ticket is $4. Booklet of 5 coupons for “seconds” is $12. and if purchased separately each ticket is $3. Please make checks payable to: SPHDS. All coupons may be purchased at the school office.
The week’s menu is: Monday - Macaroni and Cheese
Tuesday – Pizza
Wednesday – Hot Dog
Thursday – Spaghetti
Friday – Fish Sticks and French Fries
All lunches come with salad and fruit drink or water.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION NEWS
PA Crafts Booth at Jewish Street Festival
In addition to the school’s information booth at the festival, children attending the fair will have a lot of fun at SPHDS’ Parents Association craft booth in the children’s area. They will create unique items to take home with them.
Volunteers are needed to assist at the booth between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. so while attending the fair please take an hour or two to help. To sign up for a time slot, please contact Holly Mendel at 408 245-3144 or email: Holly@TheMendels.org.
Book Club
The first meeting of the parents’ book club will be on Thursday, October 11th at 12:00. The book of the month is The Liberated Bride by A.B. Yehoshua. The Parents Association has the Bureau of Jewish Education’s “Book Club in a Box” set of 12 copies of the book. Contact book club coordinator, Lena Dickman at 650 251-9557 or lena@dickman.us for a copy.
Parents Association Board Meeting
The first board meeting of the year for the Parents Association was held this past Tuesday, September 4. We had a LOT of new faces and it was great to see so many people! Many, many thanks to all the parents who are becoming, and those who continue to be, involved in the Parents Association. There are a lot of great opportunities to help the school. Please contact Holly Mendel at (408) 245-3144 or Holly@themendels.org to find out how to help.
Izzy's Challah
Izzy's challahs are available for the coming weeks. Since orders are placed on Wednesdays, please have your form in by Wednesday morning to have the challah for that week. Thank you!
Room Parents
Many thanks to the parents who have already signed up as room parents. We need more, please consider signing up; it is an easy way to do something good for your child’s class.
Please remember to turn in your “What a Mensch” form. This will help us plan all our activities during the year.
Ready for your Java fix!
Each Tuesday morning, from 8:15 – 9:00 a.m., the Parents Association hosts a wonderful coffee and nosh. Join them and get acquainted with other parents, school board members and SPHDS staff; it’s a terrific way of meeting one another.
Many thanks to the Parents’ Association for sponsoring these coffees.
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