SPHDS' 36th ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER
Join us on Wednesday, May 20th to celebrate the school’s 36th Anniversary by honoring the school’s Founders, Builders and Visionaries who have played such a key role in establishing and then ensuring South Peninsula Hebrew Day School’s future.

When our founders joined together to turn their vision into a reality, they could only dream that the traditional Jewish day school they founded would provide both an outstanding Jewish education and an outstanding secular education for their children and then for future generations – their dream has become a reality! Through the commitment and dedication of the founders, SPHDS has grown to become a cornerstone of the vibrant, ever-growing Jewish community in the South Bay.

Please contact Yaffa Borison at: yaffa.borison@sphds.org for any questions or information that you may need.

Additional assistance is now needed to solicit ads for the tribute book from your local dry cleaner, grocery shop, hair dresser, toy store, flower shop etc. This is a wonderful way for these businesses to reach a wide audience. Please contact Christine Tachner at: ctachner@gmail.com

The Dinner is the second in a trio of events marking the Double Chai anniversary of SPHDS. On Sunday, May 17, 2009, the first event will take place when 700 cyclists will gather at the school’s Sunnyvale campus for the 4th Annual Foothill Century Bike Ride. The third of these events will be held on Wednesday, May 27th when our students will showcase their knowledge and creativity in the school’s Annual Torah and Art Fair.

We look forward to seeing you at these extraordinary events.

Yom-Hazikaron and Yom-Ha-Atzmaut
We will be marking Yom-Hazikaron and celebrating Yom-Ha-Atzmaut on Tuesday, April 28th and Wednesday, April 29th. We will be holding an assembly on Tuesday, 12:40 in the MPR. All parents are invited. On Wednesday, we will celebrate Yom-Ha-Atzmaut with presentation by all grades, K-5 at 12:45 in the MPR. All parents are invited to join us. Lunch on Wednesday will be falafel serverd by courtesy of the school. This year's theme for Yom-Ha-Atzmaut is Tel Aviv at 60.

ONLY 23 DAYS UNTIL THE FOOTHILL CENTURY

REGISTER: Foothill Century Sunday, May 17, 2009!

Register here >>

Spring is here and we are already spinning our wheels for the 4th annual Foothill Century – the only Kosher Ride in the West - only 23 days away, May 17, 2009 !!

Now’s your chance to lock in the early bird discount, this offer ends May 1st! Enjoy a wonderful sunny day riding around the beautiful South Bay foothills with friends and family. Choose from our 100k, 50k, and 10k Family Fun rides. We have improved road markings, added more activities for children and reached out to the community to organize their own group rides. There will also be delicious snacks at the rest stops. When you return you will receive a goody bag, a commemorative t-shirt and a ticket to our famous kosher BBQ! Time is running out so register now to catch the Early Bird discount - sign up here!

For more information contact Lisa Sobel at lisa.s.sobel@gmail.com or call: 408.738.3060.

We still need volunteers – parents, teenagers and community members. This event will only be a winner with the help of many, many people. In addition to lending a hand during the ride we will also need volunteers a few days before the Foothill Century to shop and do other tasks. Please click here for the attached detailed Volunteer flyer, and forward it to friends, family and colleagues.

ERB TESTING

This is the time during 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. Students who are not fluent in English will not be given these tests. These tests will be given over a 5-day period beginning Monday, May 4th through Friday, May 8th.

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 progress in a few areas over a number of years, as well as to 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. Our General Studies teachers will prepare our students during the next weeks with some pre-tests so they will become more familiar with the type of test. This is especially helpful for the younger students. For your part 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. All tests will be administered in the morning between recess and lunch.

ISRAEL TRIP
The 8th grade class returned from their Israel trip just before Pesach and their trip was indescribable, emotional, educational, illuminating and fun. The only way for us to feel what they felt about this trip, is to read about it in their own words; here are a few samplings of their experiences.

From Daniel Gofman:
"Two weeks ago our 8th grade class returned from a marvelous once in a lifetime experience in Israel.

In sixteen days we toured almost the whole country from seven mile hikes up north to visiting David Ben-Gurion's grave in the middle of the Negev. We floated on the Dead Sea, hiked on Masada, tore our shirts at the Western Wall, rode camels, bargained at the Arab shuk, and much more. Our trip was packed with moving experiences. Some of the most meaningful times, for me throughout the trip, were Yad Vashem, The Western Wall, and Mt. Herzl.

I came on this trip to have a good time but also to bond with my classmates and bond we did. It was a great experience and I encourage everyone else with an opportunity like this to take it."

From Gabriel Haines:
"The trip was very emotional and should be experienced by all Jews, we had a wonderful guide and an awesome time."

From Yael Landes:
"Our trip to Israel was an amazing experience. It definitely makes staying at SPHDS for 8th grade worth it. In two and a half weeks, we went all over the country, from the north to the south, and back again. We saw almost everything there is to see and we learned many new things from our amazing tour guide. We went to the Kotel numerous times, climbed Masada (in a cable car), hiked in Nachal Kziv, rode camels in the desert, swam in the Dead Sea, walked through the Old City, toured Tzefat, explored Yad Vashem, spent Shabbos in both Kibbutz Lavi and Jerusalem, and many more exciting activities. The whole time we took many pictures, recorded videos, and wrote daily in our journals. Everything seemed to work out perfectly and there was never a dull moment. I will always remember our trip as the highlight of my whole education here at SPHDS.

From Sara Cramer:
"On March 16th I left for Israel not knowing what it would be like. I had heard from older classes about how great an experience it would be. I was very excited, but I had no idea what to expect. The trip started out with a four hour hike up and down a mountain and through a valley. We played multiple games on that hike and we all recited our expectations for the trip, mine was to bond and have fun.

The trip was far greater than my expectations. Everyday was action packed, we hiked, we went to numerous museums, and learned all about the history of the state and of our ancestors. I stood at the place where King David fought Goliath, and saw it reenacted by my friends. I learned about Herzl and his journey. I went to Rabin Square to learn about his assassination and we interviewed people about their feelings of his death. I went to the Blind Museum (Holon Chldren's Museum) where a visually impaired woman guided us through different places in the pitch dark. Every aspect of the trip was amazing. On the last day I was sad, because I didn't want to come home. The Israel trip was the most amazing and greatest experience of my life."

YOM HA SHOAH
This past Tuesday was Yom HaShoah and SPHDS commemorated the Holocaust at a special assembly. The following are a couple of the students' reflections of the assembly.

Today was Yom HaShoah, the day of remembrance for the Holocaust. The 7th grade recited poems, sang songs, and read praises. To conclude our assembly seventy-nine year old Holocaust survivor, Phyllis Helene Mattson, spoke to us about her life's experiences. She was ten years old when her parents sent her on a kinder transport to America with ten other children, two weeks later she began a new life in San Francisco, learning English fluently in just seven months. While she was in America she exchanged letters with her mother in Austria and her father in England and Australia. Unfortunately her mother was brutally murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Her father came to America from Australia when she was seventeen years old. She is now married with two children living a happy, peaceful life in Cupertino. She wrote the book War Orphan in San Francisco which was published 2006.
Daniel Gofman

SHE’ERIT HA’PLEITAH*
On April 21, 2009, we commemorated the Holocaust Day. The only day of the year where we take our time to remember, all of those Jews who suffered the last remaining days of their lives in the Nazi Ghettos and Concentration Camps. This year we had a ceremony with one of the older classes reading poems and talking about how a third of our people were murdered in less than a decade.

This year was a special year; we had a guest speaker who survived the Holocaust; she talked to us about her life journey and how she was lucky enough to be talking here in S.P.H.D.S. to our students. We were told about her childhood during the Holocaust until what she became today. It was very touching to us all, everyone sitting down in complete silence and showing respect to our guest. As she finished our students came up with interesting and appropriate questions to conclude the ceremony.

*This phrase is one word used in many prayers and stories. It is used referring to Holocaust survivors. Its literal translation is “the remainders of the refugees,” it was taught to us by our principal, Rabbi Schochet.

Elad Shachar

BELMONT VILLAGE SEDER
On April 2, our 6th grade students visited again Belmont Village to have the Passover Model Seder with the Jewish residents and their family members. Rabbi Schochet led the seder, he asked questions and our students had very interesting answers. It brought back childhood memories for the residents. It was truly a very special seder for everyone who participated, students and seniors alike.

Many thanks to Belmont Village for setting up their Town Hall. Also, many thanks to the Parents’ Association for preparing all the symbolic seder food; Fia Lebowitz for setting-up the room so beautifully before the seder; and to Chanie Lapin and Michal Kimmel for driving our students.

GAN AVIV HAPPENINGS

Gan Aviv Lecture - Potty Training

“Tips to Help with Potty Training" will be the last in this year’s lecture series for parents who have children ready to be potty trained. It will be held on Monday evening, May 18th, from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., in the Tziporim Room (#3), in the preschool wing.

This session will emphasize potty readiness. Parents will share ideas and discover tips that have worked.

Barbara Goldstein will be the facilitator. This lecture is sponsored by the Gan Aviv Honor Fund which is supported by generous donations for various life cycle events. All lectures are open to the community so invite your friends. There is no fee for SPHDS families; community members are asked for a $5 donation, per person.

RSVP to Barbara.Goldstein@SPHDS.org or call: 408.738.3060.

SUMMER CAMP AT SPHDS
With summer fast approaching it’s time to start thinking about what to do with your preschooler during the long summer break. South Peninsula Hebrew Day School is pleased to offer you, once again, the perfect answer — Gan Aviv Summer Camp. A camp geared specifically for children who will be 3 by December 1st, 2009 and for children who will be entering Kindergarten in September 2009.

Activities will be organized around a weekly theme. Children can look forward to Beach Bonanza, Fun with Food, and activities planned for indoors as well as outdoors. Of course, water will be included in this year's activities, especially on hot days. Specialized enrichment classes are a part of this great summer package. Registration forms are available in the office. You may call Barbara Goldstein at: 408.738.3060 or email her at: ece@sphds.org with any questions

PARENT AND CHILD PROGRAM AT SPHDS
We are pleased to announce a special Parent and Child program at SPHDS this summer. Click here for a detailed flyer. Renee Ben David, the lead teacher for this program, is one of our teachers in the two year old room. This program is a great way to meet other families. Please contact Barbara Goldstein at 408.738.3060 or ece@sphds.org with any questions.