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ERB TESTING
This is the time of the academic year when we pause to evaluate how our students are doing compared to other schools. We will be administering the standardized test, ERB, to our students in grades 3 through 8. These tests will be given over a 5-day period beginning Monday, May 12th through Friday, May 16th, between morning recess and lunch. Students who are not fluent in English will not be given these tests.
These tests are not to be used to judge an individual student’s performance in a given subject. These tests are intended to assist the school in auditing curricular process in a few areas over a number of years. They also provide the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), who mandates this test, with evidence that students in independent schools – as a group – score as high or higher as their public school counterparts.
While the results of these tests are not part of a student’s report card grades, they do become part of their permanent record. It is important that all students understand that these tests are not to be taken lightly.
There is no studying for these tests. We would appreciate if you would make sure that your child gets a good night’s rest and is on time for school during the testing period. Again, tests will be administered in the morning between recess and lunch.
FOOTHILL CENTURY, MAY 18, 2008
The Only Kosher Ride in the West!
ONLY 9 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE BIKE RIDE!!!
GET READY…START ROTATING YOUR WHEELS!!!
VOLUNTEER!!!
We have 260 cyclists signed-up and space is filling up quickly!
REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN for SPHDS’ 3rd Annual Foothill Century bike ride, Sunday, May 18, 2008. See the beautiful vistas and enjoy 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 chicken BBQ. 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 MORE THEN EVER TO VOLUNTEER. Click here for the Foothill Century volunteer form.
The Foothill Century is our annual fundraiser. Its success depends on our parents and community volunteers. It’s a wonderful way to spend the day with family and friends and help the school.
2008 – 2009 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Please click here to access the 2008 – 2009 School Calendar.
PRE-SCHOOL LECTURE
The last topic in Gan Aviv’s lecture series for the 2007 – 08 year is “Potty Training.” It will be led by Barbara Goldstein, our Director of ECE, on Tuesday evening, May 13th from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. She will be discussing the readiness signs and the different methods to successful potty training; parents will be able to share tips that have worked for them. This program is open to the community, so bring your friends.
This lecture series is sponsored by your donations to the SPHDS Honor Fund, specifically the Gan Aviv fund; the Parents’ Association; and individual contributions.
PRE-K CELEBRATES YOM HA’ATZMAUT IN “ISRAEL”
The pre-kindergarten Gan Aviv classes, Parparim, Arnavot, and Chaverim, had a joint Yom Ha’atzmaut round robin program to celebrate Israel @ 60.
They boarded their class-created El Al planes and while traveling to Eretz Yisrael they sang spirited versions of “Haveinu Shalom Aleichem.” They regrouped back to their classrooms and then rotated to each room to experience different activities, in each of them. For security reasons as they entered each classroom their passports were checked and stamped.
 
Each classroom had a special 25 minute activity set-up. In the Parparim room, the children built Israel with props of trees, houses, animals, roads, cars, airplanes, tracks and people. They sang in Hebrew and English “Eretz Yisrael Is Beautiful and Blooming.”
In room Arnavot, the children created beautiful hamsas with special permanent markers, stickers, magnets and of course, the “eye”, which protects them from harm.
 
In room Chaverim, the children chose many of their favorite fruits that grow on kibbutzim and made fruit kebobs which they enjoyed for their kabbalat Shabbat snack.
All the children reconnected in one classroom for the singing of Yom Ha’atzmaut songs and Shabbat songs.
It was a wonderful and sweet way to celebrate Israel’s 60th year!
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION NEWS
Challah Orders
The new challah order forms are available; the last order will be for June 13th. If you are interested in ordering click here.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Friendship Circle
The Friendship Circle will be have a Jewish Summer Camp Program for Special Needs children and teens, ages 4 – 11 and ages 12-18, from August 4th – 15th, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. It will be held at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills.
For more information call 650.858.6990, or email info@bayareafc.org. For the website go to www.bayareafc.org.
Jewish Study Network
The JSN will be hosting a Spring Shabbaton with special guest Rabbi Jeff Wohlgelernter on May 16 -18. It will be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Clara. The cost is $360 per couple; $40 per child; and $180 per individual.
To register call 650.961.4576 or info@jsn.info.
Making Room for Shabbat
Congregation Kol Emeth, in Palo Alto, will be having their monthly family program, Making Room for Shabbat on Friday, May 16th, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at 4175 Manuela Avenue. There will be a kosher, catered dinner, a child friendly service and a madrichim led service.
New families are welcome. The cost is $!5 per adult, $10 for children ages 5 – 10, and $5 for children under 5. To RSVP contact Stephanie Young at Stephanie@kolemeth.org
2008 Russian-American Cultural Fair
On Sunday, May 18th the Albert L. Schultz JCC will host its 16th annual Russian-American Fair at the Terman Middle School campus, 655 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will be a day of delicious ethnic food, children’s activities, arts and crafts vendors, live music and dance performances.
General admission is $5 for adults; $3 for seniors, students, children 12 and under; and children younger than 6 are free. For more information, visit www.paloaltojcc.org or call 650.493.9400. |
