Gefen Weekly update 3-7-10
2010-03-08 8:31 | General |

Gefen Weekly Update

March 7, 2010

Important Dates:

3/16 – Parent Education Night – Lower Elementary Language Arts 7:30 p.m.

This week: 

      We had a very short week this week but were still able to fit in some fun works and activities.  On Monday we watched the 1959 version of the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and did a compare and contrast between the book and the movie.  Again it was unanimous that the book was better.  As teachers we focus on the benefits that are provided by the book. For example, students note that the book provides much more detail and depth. The book allows us to develop our own vision of what the characters and setting look like, while the movie shows us how someone else imagined them.  We celebrated Maria Montessori’s gift to all of us with an Italian spaghetti lunch and a reading of “The Giving Tree” in both English and Hebrew.  We gave a brief overview of the obstacles that Dr. Montessori had to overcome in her life and enjoyed a round robin reading of the play, “The Life of Maria Montessori.”  We also used this short week between our Purim and Pesach studies to catch up on English and Hebrew works. Many students took the opportunity to revisit the chagim timeline, the mazalot (Jewish zodiac) sequence, the birchot Yaakov work (a miniature object layout summarizing Yaakov’s blessings to his sons), and other Parasha follow-up works.  Finally, we celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss with both English and Hebrew readings of some of his books. 

Next week:

     We will continue our study of the calendar and the parts of the mountain and volcano.  We will also continue our study of leaves by looking at some of the basic shapes.  Research presentations will take place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.  We would love for parents to join us. Please let us know if you plan to attend so that we can prepare a seat for you.

Important information:

     Avi Balsam’s family will be providing snack for this week.  Please send in snack from the approved list from the beginning of the year.  Fresh flowers for flower arranging are always appreciated. 

In the words of Maria Montessori:        

“And herein lies the art of the educator; in knowing how to measure the action by which we help the young child’s personality to develop.”

Ms. Sarah   Morah Chavi   Morah Sara   

Gefen Weekly update for 2/25/10
2010-02-25 22:41 | General |

Gefen Weekly Update
February 25, 2010
 
Important Dates:

2/26  -  Drop off/pick up at main building
3/1  -  Shushan Purim – Delayed opening – 10:00 a.m. – Please have students daven at home.
3/4  -  No School – Parent-Teacher Conferences
3/5  -  No School – Professional Development Day

This week/Next week:
     Our focus this week has been on Purim. By now the students are very familiar with the mitzvot and minhagim of Purim and surrounding days. The students have been using skills from all of the Hebrew subject areas to create beautiful written work about the Holiday. We have sent this work home in a special Purim folder, which we hope you will review and enjoy with your child. We have also done quite a bit of baking and have prepared Mishloach Manot packages with foods representing all of the brachot. As a follow-up to the work we began at Tu B’Shvat time, the students have prepared labels indicating the bracha rishona (and, in some cases, bracha acharona) for each item. Many thanks to all of you for your generous contributions!

       We finished our read aloud story of “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” and on Monday we will be viewing the movie. Also on Monday, we will be celebrating National Montessori Education Week. We will be preparing a spaghetti luncheon together, having an echo reading of “The Giving Tree” in both English and Hebrew, and performing a round robin reading of a play on the life of Maria Montessori. Our next read aloud book will be “Around the World in Eighty Days.” All 2nd and 3rd years have had the lesson on editing and final draft and should be working on that part of the research project. The due date for the final draft is next Wednesday, March 3rd.  Below are the adjusted due dates for the remaining portions of the project. We will continue our study of the composition of the earth with a look at the parts of a mountain.

Important information:
The Amdur family will be providing snack for this week. Please send in 2 bags of grapes, 2 boxes of crackers (flavor of your choosing) and 1 large pack of raisins.  Fresh flowers for flower arranging are always appreciated.

In the words of Maria Montessori:
“To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.”

Ms. Sarah   Morah Chavi   Morah Sara

New Schedule for Research – 2nd and 3rd years
* Final draft due Wednesday, March 3rd (lesson on making visual aids)
* Presentations will be Monday through Wednesday – March 8th – 10th. See presentation schedule below. Parents are invited to come and watch their student’s presentation.

Schedule for Research Presentations
Monday, March 8th
2:00 _Dina K
2:05 _Shlomo
2:10 _Yael
2:15 _Jessica
Tuesday, March 9th
2:00 _Eva
2:05 _Adi
2:10  Michal
2:15 _Ava
Wednesday, March 10th
2:00 _Audrey
2:05 _Nava
2:10 _Atira
2:15_Emily

Gefen Weekly update for 2/25/10
2010-02-25 22:35 | General |

Gefen Weekly Update
February 25, 2010
 
Important Dates:

2/26  -  Drop off/pick up at main building
3/1  -  Shushan Purim – Delayed opening – 10:00 a.m. – Please have students daven at home.
3/4  -  No School – Parent-Teacher Conferences
3/5  -  No School – Professional Development Day

This week/Next week:
     Our focus this week has been on Purim. By now the students are very familiar with the mitzvot and minhagim of Purim and surrounding days. The students have been using skills from all of the Hebrew subject areas to create beautiful written work about the Holiday. We have sent this work home in a special Purim folder, which we hope you will review and enjoy with your child. We have also done quite a bit of baking and have prepared Mishloach Manot packages with foods representing all of the brachot. As a follow-up to the work we began at Tu B’Shvat time, the students have prepared labels indicating the bracha rishona (and, in some cases, bracha acharona) for each item. Many thanks to all of you for your generous contributions!

       We finished our read aloud story of “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” and on Monday we will be viewing the movie. Also on Monday, we will be celebrating National Montessori Education Week. We will be preparing a spaghetti luncheon together, having an echo reading of “The Giving Tree” in both English and Hebrew, and performing a round robin reading of a play on the life of Maria Montessori. Our next read aloud book will be “Around the World in Eighty Days.” All 2nd and 3rd years have had the lesson on editing and final draft and should be working on that part of the research project. The due date for the final draft is next Wednesday, March 3rd.  Below are the adjusted due dates for the remaining portions of the project. We will continue our study of the composition of the earth with a look at the parts of a mountain.

Important information:
The Amdur family will be providing snack for this week. Please send in 2 bags of grapes, 2 boxes of crackers (flavor of your choosing) and 1 large pack of raisins.  Fresh flowers for flower arranging are always appreciated.

In the words of Maria Montessori:
“To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.”

Ms. Sarah   Morah Chavi   Morah Sara

New Schedule for Research – 2nd and 3rd years
* Final draft due Wednesday, March 3rd (lesson on making visual aids)
* Presentations will be Monday through Wednesday – March 8th – 10th. See presentation schedule below. Parents are invited to come and watch their student’s presentation.

Schedule for Research Presentations
Monday, March 8th
2:00 _Dina K
2:05 _Shlomo
2:10 _Yael
2:15 _Jessica
Tuesday, March 9th
2:00 _Eva
2:05 _Adi
2:10  Michal
2:15 _Ava
Wednesday, March 10th
2:00 _Audrey
2:05 _Nava
2:10 _Atira
2:15_Emily

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