CELEBRATE WITH THE FIRST GRADE
On Wednesday, February 27th, at 6:30 p.m. the First Grade students will be celebrating an important milestone in their school career - their Siddur Party. The entire school community is invited to join them on this special occasion.
FOOTHILL CENTURY, MAY 18, 2008
The Only Kosher Ride in the West!
 Registration is now open for SPHDS’ 3rd Annual Foothill Century bike ride, Sunday, May 18, 2008. The Foothill Century offers beautiful scenery and a memorable, healthy day for everyone! This year’s ride features our renowned kosher food at all rest stops, improved road markings and concludes with a delicious BBQ (yes, we will have chicken). Choose from our 100K, 50K and 10K Family Fun routes. We will also be adding activities for young children who have not yet mastered the skill of two wheel bicycles. Check out our website for more information by clicking here.
If you have cycling experience or other organized sporting events experience WE NEED YOU, if you don’t ride bikes, WE NEED YOU EVEN MORE.
The Foothill Century is our annual fundraiser which is highly dependent on our parents and community volunteers. It’s a wonderful way to spend the day with family and friends and help the school.
SCIENCE-O-RAMA
Middle School students (grades 5 – 8) exhibited their science projects at last week’s Science-O-Rama sponsored by Synopsis.
 
The students’ projects covered nearly every aspect of the sciences. Life Science topics ranged from the effects of hand soap on grass growth; to sports and their effect on sleeping; and which music has the best beat for effective exercise. Physical Science subjects included the effect of temperature on candle burning; the rate of evaporation of various liquids; and which insulation is the most effective.
 
For judging, the fair was divided into two divisions: 5th and 6th grades were in one division while the 7th and 8th grades were in the second. There were both individual and team projects and the judges spent much time in their deliberations. All projects were deemed worthy of a prize and the choice was difficult.
Congratulations to all the participants…and Mazel Tov to the following prize winners:
| 5/6 Grades: |
1st place – Daniel Lerner (Temperature and Candle Burn Rate)
2nd place – Aaron Pluemer (Handwriting: Lefty vs. Righty)
3rd place – Yosi Lerner (Evaporation) |
| 7/8 Grades: |
1st place - Omer Hazon and Elad Shachar (Water Rocket Launching)
2nd place (tie) – Eli Solymani (Building Insulation)
Elad Yanai (Falling Objects) |
Our thanks and appreciation to returning judges David Bostwick and Benjy Flusberg and to our new judge Steve Shapiro.
STEPHANIE SUSSMAN MEMORIAL CONCERT
The Stephanie Sussman Memorial Fund was established by family and friends at Congregation Emek Beracha to honor Steffi's passionate legacy of community involvement and her commitment to enrich Jewish life in the Bay Area. She was an active SPHDS parent and school board member.
The Memorial Fund will be presenting an exciting evening of music with the Andy Statman Trio, Sunday, March 9 at 7:00 pm at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. This concert is the first of what is envisioned to be a series of annual educational and cultural events, open to the entire community, to further perpetuate and honor her memory.
Andy Statman is one of our generation's premier clarinet and mandolin players. He has enthralled audiences around the world with his distinctive musical style that blends elements of klezmer, jazz, bluegrass and Chasidic music. To hear and see more of Andy Statman go to: www.andystatman.org.
Admission is free of charge. A minimum donation of $18 to the Sussman Memorial Fund is suggested (please make checks payable to Congregation Emek Beracha). For additional information, please contact Stan Sussman at 650.493.2141 or ssussman@mindspring.com.
CONNECTIONS’ LUNCHEON
 This year the Women’s Philanthropy of Silicon Valley Federation will be having its annual Connections’ Luncheon on Sunday, March 9th at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Women’s Philanthropy raises and allocates funds to help communities maintain and strengthen Jewish identity locally and throughout the Jewish world.
Connections honors women who are nominated by South Bay organizations for their volunteer efforts on behalf of each group. This year’s SPHDS’ Distinguished Volunteer is Parents’ Association president Holly Mendel.
Holly is the mother of two sons, who attend SPHDS, and has been actively involved since her sons entered preschool. She began with classroom sewing projects and most recently, Holly created beautiful lace panels which turn the ordinary MPR into a beautiful, sophisticated hall.
Under her guidance, the Parents’ Association has continued to expand its activities by successfully involving a greater number of parents; thereby, effectively raising funds to provide our students with the little extras that are not always in the budget.
Plan to attend this very special event and sit at a school table as we honor Holly. Check-in time begins at 12:15 p.m. and the luncheon starts at 1:00 p.m.
Reservations are $65 if made by February 25th and $75 after that date. Click here for more details.
ENROLLMENT 2008 – 2009
Enrollment applications are being accepted for Fall 2008. Applications need to be completed and submitted to the school office for all new students entering Gan Aviv or Grades 1 - 8.
All students entering Kindergarten including those presently attending Gan Aviv must complete an enrollment form, and submit it with the enrollment fee of $75.
Forms are available at the school office or online at www.sphds.org.
School tours are available: for preschool contact Barbara Goldstein at barbara.goldstein@sphds.org and for Grades K -8 contact Rabbi Avi Schochet at headmaster@sphds.org; both can be reached at 408 738-3060.
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION NEWS
Coming Soon…the Barton’s Pesach Candy order forms.
Challah Orders
Reminder...challah orders are due each Tuesday for the following Friday.
Save the Date
The annual Family Ice Skating social will be held on Sunday, February 24th, at 12:45 p.m., at the Winter Lodge, 3009 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. The cost is $10 per person.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Ethics Seminar at Stanford
Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler will be the keynote speaker on Sunday, March 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Hillel, on the Stanford University campus, 565 Mayfield Avenue.
Rabbi Tendler will talk about “Organ Donation: A Torah Perspective.” Lunch and break-out sessions will follow with Rabbi Avi Lebowitz and Rabbi Yaacov Benzaquen. The program will conclude with a Q and A session with Rabbi Tendler.
To register: info@jsn.info or 650 961-4576. $15 per person.
Children’s Pajama Shabbat
On Friday, March 7th at 6:00p.m., Congregation Beth David, in Saratoga, will be having a mini-Kabbalat Shabbat service for children up to 5 years old. The service will include songs, story time and a child friendly Shabbat dinner. Cost is $6 per adult, no charge for children. RSVP by Wednesday, March 5th to reservations@beth-david.org or call 408 257-3333.
Women's Musical Evening
SPHDS will be the venue for the Women's Musical Evening, sponsored by the Almaden Valley Torah Center, on Sunday evening, March 2, 2008, at 7:15 p.m. Click here for more information on this event.
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