SPHDS Newsletter

A NEW YEAR BEGINS AND IT’S NOT EVEN ROSH HASHANAH
There is a certain quiet that flows through the halls this year. The freneticism that the beginning of a school year seems to generate is definitely absent and remarkably no one seems to miss it. School began on a Monday morning and everyone seemed to know exactly where he/she should be and when. Even our grade one students managed their changing of classrooms during the course of the day with aplomb. This is certainly a reflection on the thorough training they had undergone in Kindergarten. All the classrooms without exception looked warm and inviting. Our grateful thanks to the faculty both new and veteran for the extra effort they put into making their classrooms look as good as they do.

We continue to strengthen our base, thus two classes in Kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2; and simultaneously we note a 70% growth in our middle school. What a positive difference there is in teaching a class of 13-14 students instead of only 7-8.

We are fortunate to have Mrs. Devorah Steinberg join our Jewish Studies faculty this year. Mrs. Steinberg who hails from Los Angeles has already succeeded in engaging our Middle School Student in serious Torah study. Morah Chanie Lapin has expanded her role in the school by returning to her first love of teaching the primary grades, one and two.

We can truly boast about our outstanding faculty; between our veterans and new recruits we are looking forward to a great year.

Elaine Chau

Alexandra Braunstein

Mica Oppenheimer

From over two hundred resumes, numerous interviews and finalist demonstration lessons, we are pleased to have chosen three experienced faculty members to join the General Studies staff in the fall of 2008.

Becoming part of the Lower School team will be Elaine Chau and Alexandra (Alex) Braunstein. Elaine has a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She has teaching experience at The Dalton School in New York. She has a passion for teaching reading and an interest and background in integrating technology into the curriculum. Also joining the Lower School faculty will be Alexandra Braunstein. Alex has a BA from Santa Clara University and has completed the Day School Leadership Through Teaching Fellowship program at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. Alex has experience teaching in a Jewish Day School in the Bay Area and has a special interest in teaching science.

The Middle School team welcomes Michelle (Mica) Oppenheimer. Mica has a BA from Hunter College, City University of New York, and an MA and ABD from Brown University. She is an experienced Middle School teacher who emphasizes “critical thinking, student responsibility and a desire to instill in the students the joy of learning.” She has taught at several South Bay Middle Schools.

The entire faculty and staff welcome these teachers to SPHDS and look forward to working with them as we begin an exciting new school year.

LECTURE: “HEALTHY EATING HABITS FOR CHILDREN”
Gan Aviv Preschool will present the first in its series of five lectures, “Healthy Eating Habits for Children” on Wednesday, September 17th, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. This talk is for parents who have children of all ages, not only preschoolers.

Karen Ross, MA, RD, is a registered dietitian who specializes in wellness. Among the topics she will cover are: what is a nutritious diet and how to get your children to eat it; what is the parent’s job in feeding his or her children, and how to develop strategies for helping children eat in healthy ways. The lecture will also include information on fat, sugar, protein, fiber, and supplements in relation to children’s health.

Ross is an instructor from Parents Place. She is also at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation teaching ”Taking Charge of you Body,” a non-diet weight control program.

The Gan Aviv Honor Fund sponsors this series; there is no admission charge for school parents. There will be a $5 admission for non-school parents.

The next lecture will be held in November on “Kindergarten Readiness,” more information to follow.

BASKETBALL AT SPHDS
There will be a basketball academy, Atid Tzahov, at SPHDS from the beginning of September 2008 through May 30, 2009.

First and Second Grades will practice on Mondays from 3:50 - 4:35 p.m.; third, fourth and fifth grades will practice on Tuesdays from 3:50 - 4:35 p.m.; and sixth, seventh and eighth grades will practice on Mondays from 4:35 - 5:20 p.m. Click here for more information. Applications may be picked up in the office.

MABEL’S LABELS
Have a child with food allergies? Have a child whose stuff always seems to end up in the lost & found? Have a whole bunch of children who are always taking each other's items by mistake, then we have just what is needed!

Go to our customized Mabel's Labels website (www.sphds.mabels.ca ) to place your order, and help SPHDS raise needed funds for early childhood education! If you'd rather call, be sure to mention that you're with the SPHDS fundraiser when calling 1-866-30-MABEL (1-866-306-2235).

If you have any questions, please contact Gan Aviv parent Christine Tachner at ctachner@gmail.com or call 650-964-7905 and please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested!

LIBRARY NEWS
The school Library opened this week and students have started borrowing books. They may borrow the library books for one week and once returned, the next set of books may be taken out. Please remind the students of the book borrowing policy.

Parents are welcome to borrow books for their preschool and kindergarten children anytime during Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Our librarian, Judy Wallach, would appreciate volunteer help in processing new library materials and shelving books; she will train volunteers.

COMMUNITY NEWS
The 9th annual To Life! A Jewish Cultural Street Festival will be held on Sunday, September 21st, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on California Avenue, in Palo Alto, between El Camino Real and Park Blvd. Join the thousands of people from throughout the Bay Area who attend this wonderful festival.

It will be a day filled with live music, entertainment, dancing; and art, handcrafted jewelry, clothing, and beautiful Judaic ceremonial objects that will be for sale. There will be a children's area with games, activities, inflatable slides and much more.

SPHDS will have two booths at the festival. One will be located in the Tents of the Community area - come by and say "hello"; and the second will be an arts and crafts booth in the children's area. Stop by and your children will have a great time creating an art project to take home.

We need volunteers to help, for a couple of hours, during the day. Please contact coordinator Avril Landes at avrillandes@hotmail.com to volunteer at the school's booths.

What would a street festival be without food! Delicious kosher, Israeli, and vegetarian foods will be available.