2.25.08

Dear Parents,

I hope you all stayed warm and dry this weekend and snuggled in to relax.  Here’s what’s happening in 4A:

Literature:  We are continuing our study of Nothing Here But Stones, where we are focusing more on the plot than the writing style.  This story blends many of the values taught in Kaylee’s class with the pioneering difficulties we will be discussing in General Studies.  The students are practicing their questioning skills as we weave through the challenges the main characters face.  

Social Studies:  The Explorer’s Journals were sent home last week to be completed.  The final drafts and the cardboard pieces are due into our class by Thursday so we can assemble them.  If you have any questions on aging the paper, or where to find cardboard, please let me know.

In addition, we have begun our unit on California Missions.  Last week the mission system was introduced to the students. We discussed the impetus for Spanish colonization of Alta California and the reasons for using a religious organization to get the job done.  This week we will continue with an overview of the mission system and what life was like on the missions.  

In addition, the students have been given their mission report assignments and have been asked to find at least one book on their mission(s). We will begin the research phase of the report process this week.  The reports will be done in class.

Science:  Now that the inventions have been sent home, we can begin our next science unit, which will focus on magnetism and electricity.  This is a very fun, hands-on unit.  More information on this unit will follow.

Auction Project:  We have begun the final artwork for our auction project and, I have to say, the drawings are looking beautiful!  Within the next week I will send home an order form for the original framed artwork and note cards.  So, more information will follow on this topic as well.

That’s it for now.

Have a good week,

Debbi

Fourth Grade Judaica over the last 2 weeks

Dear Parents,
Many thanks for your support and participation in our "Jewish Tradition
Week" unit. It was very special for each student to learn about his/her
own family and share real-life stories, recipes, and pride in personal
challenges and accomplishments. Our parents, grandparents, and great
grandparents came to the United States from Estonia, Lativa, Lithuania,
Poland, sections of Russia, the Ukraine, Palestine, Spain (1492!!) and
Germany. They traveled in search of opportunity or refuge, and most came
with little or no possessions. Some families have kept precious items from
generations ago - kiddush cups, old Siddurim, Tallitot, Baboushka dolls,
hand-carved chess sets, and teacups from 'home in the Ukraine', and a
watch worn during the Holocaust, to name a few; we got to see the items
and experience history first-hand. Especially moving were the anecdotes
from parents and grandparents who were not able to admit to, nor celebrate,
being Jewish in their native countries, people who came here to be free....
and merit having their children study at Wornick! It certainly brought our
history lessons to life and gave an added dimension to discussions from the
text. One family has been in California for 5 generations; their story is
quite parallel to our heroes in "Nothing Here But Stones!" Thank you, one
and all, for making this study dynamic and delicious, providing lively
detail and a host of Ashkenazic and Sephardic delicacies.

We began our study of Megillat Esther and themes of Purim, and will
continue discussion in depth over the coming weeks. In addition, we will
be editting our 'Precious Jewish Items' reports, preparing them for display
later in the year (for Israel Independence Day).

More to come, of course!
Shavua Tov,
Morah Kaylee

Havdallah leaders for Monday, February 25th

Dear Parents,
There were several changes made in the upcoming havdallah leader list.
Tomorrow’s havdallah leaders are:
Ben Engel,   Sam Wolf,     Cami Nemschoff,     and   Emma Mester.
Thank you and Shavua Tov.
Morah Kaylee

On 2/6/08 1:25 PM, "Kaylee Frager" <kaylee@wornickjds.org> wrote:

Hi Parents,
Attached is our latest Havdallah leader lineup.
Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine.
Morah Kaylee

 
Feb. 11th      Sigal            Sophie        Shura        David

Feb. 25th      Sam W.      Danya          Cami         Emma

Mar. 3rd        Ethan          Cassidy       Dylan        Jillian

Mar. 10th      Ari               Max              Talia          Hannah

Mar.  17th     Josh F.        Noah             Abby         Becky

Mar.  24th     Lizzy             Ben              Leora        Shayna

Mar.  31st     Sam S.       Matthew       Amit          Abigail

April 7th        Becky         Jules             Jacob        Jordan

April  14th    Josh F.        Sigal             Emma        Ethan

FW: You're invited to a CAbi event!

________________________________

From: Dana Kornfeld [mailto:dskornfeld@gmail.com]
Sent: Mon 2/18/2008 4:19 PM
To: Cheryl and Jeffrey Selman; Judy Fridman
Subject: Fwd: You're invited to a CAbi event!

Hi Cheryl, Hi Judy
would you mind forwarding to the other 2nd and 4th grade classes? thanks
Dana and Pam

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dana Kornfeld <dskornfeld@gmail.com>
Date: February 18, 2008 4:02:35 PM PST
To: Grade-2A <Grade-2A@wornickjds.org>, grade-4B@wornickjds.org
Subject: You're invited to a CAbi event!

Mark your calendars and join us to check out the new spring line. No pressure to buy - you can ust come for food, coffee and friends (though you'll like the clothes!)

Formal invitation to follow but mark
your calendar now!
A CAbi show, hosted by Pam Bodin & Dana Kornfeld

Date:
Tuesday, March 4th

Time:
9:00 AM

Location:
Pam's House at 4008 Marshall Ave, San Mateo
Presented by Independent CAbi Consultant Debi Birger

http://www.debibirger.cabionline.com/ <http://www.debibirger.cabionline.com/>

CAbi, Carol Anderson by invitation, is available exclusively through Independent Sales Consultants. Join us to view Carol's latest Collection in a relaxed and fun environment in the company of friends.

FYI Divorce Group for Adults

Divorcing Group for Adults

Date & Time:	Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Sponsoring Agency:	Family & Children Services
Event Type:	Support Groups
Location:	375 Cambridge Avenue Palo Alto 94306 Santa Clara County
Description:	Adults in the process of divorce find support and education in this 8-week group run by a licensed marriage and family therapist. The group will meet on Wednesdays from 7 PM - 8:30 PM in Palo Alto beginning on February 20. Group members help to choose the topics, which may include helping children through the transition process, healthy ways to resolve conflict, and communication strategies. Preregistration is required. Call Nancy at 650-326-6576 x 5503 for information and registration. Fees are set on a sliding scale.
Cost:	Sliding scale
Contact:	Nancy 650-326-6576 x 5503 info@fcservices.org
Registration:	Call
Website:	http://www.fcservices.org
Age Group:	All Children (Ages 0-18)
Event Subject:	Emotional/Behavioral Issues; Parenting; Family separation
Target Audience:	Parents & Guardians

 

 

Rachel Lewin

Middle School Principal

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School

800 Foster City Boulevard

Foster City, CA 94404

650-378-2600

 

Peers, Popularity and Power: Understanding Girls' Friendships (9-13 years)

            Peers, Popularity & Power: Understanding Girls' Friendships (9-13 years)

Date & Time:	Thursday, March 6, 2008 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sponsoring Agency:	Parents Place
Event Type:	Classes
Location:	Parents Place 200 Channing Avenue Palo Alto 94301 Santa Clara County
Description:	In this parenting workshop, you will learn to better understand and navigate your daughter's social relationships, and what your role is in supporting her. Led by Denise Salin, LMFT. Pre-registration required.
Cost:	$30
Contact:	Diane Wasson (650) 688-3040 dianew@jfcs.org
Registration:	call, website
Website:	http://www.ParentsPlaceOnline.org
Age Group:	Preteens (Ages 9-13)
Event Subject:	Emotional/Behavioral Issues; Parenting; Girls
Target Audience:	Parents & Guardians

 

 

Rachel Lewin

Middle School Principal

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School

800 Foster City Boulevard

Foster City, CA 94404

650-378-2600

 

Synagogue photos

Hi All,

We will begin working on the auction project Tuesday morning, so I need your synagogue photos sent to me before then.  Remember that we are looking for synagogues with interesting architecture and that have some connection to your family, even if it’s remote.    I’m attaching Ben and Jordan’s synagogues to this email so that you can get a sense of what type of image we’re looking for.  Also, please be sure to send me the name of the synagogue and the city/country where it is located.  So far I have images from Ben, Ari, Jacob, Jordan, and Amit.

Thanks for your help!

Mrs. Seligman

FW: 4th grade Spring auction item

Dear Parents,

As has become a fourth grade tradition, the students are creating synagogue note cards for their class auction items.  This year each student will research a synagogue that has some particular importance to their family history.  I'd like students to have conversations with their parents and grandparents about a temple that has some connection to the family.

By Monday we’d like for you to discuss with your child which synagogue they would like to use for this project.  We need you to find a picture of this synagogue and have you email the image or link to me.  With the link, we also need the name and the location (city/country) of the synagogue. We are specifically looking for synagogues with interesting architecture.

To ensure we can find information about that temple, it will be important for each student to choose one or (preferably) two temples. The student will research that temple and will then trace a picture of it onto a note card. The note cards will be sold in class sets.  In addition, the original drawings will be individually displayed and offered for sale.  Forms will be sent out in the next few weeks with the details of how you can purchase your child’s original artwork and the class note card sets.

Please email me with any questions you may have.

All my best,

Debbi

Nothing Here but Stones - Torah reflections

Hi Parents,
Our 4th grqde Judaica classes shared some wonderful insights about stories
in the Torah that feature "stones" - with much symbolism. Cain killed
Abel with a rock, as David defeated Goliath with his slingshot. Moshe
brought the two tablets of stone down from Sinai, and altars (as in the
story of Akeidat Yitzchak, the test of Isaac) and wells (as in the story
of Rebecca meeting Isaac) were built of stone.

Stone could represent strength, permanence, and hope for the future.
Stone is indestructible and lasting, and this is one of the messages the
author of Nothing Here But Stones might have had in mind when giving the
book this title. The students read in chapter 1 about a family that comes
from Russia to America with expectations that are quickly dashed, and that
the family will need to face and overcome many challenges to survive and
succeed. Our discussion paralleled this lesson throughout examples in the
Torah; how true, that to succeed and build, we need to begin with dreams
and then provide "building blocks," hopefully to establish permanence on
some level.

Morah Kaylee

2.11.08

Dear Parents,

The students tell me that I begin every week with the phrase, “We have so much to do this week”!  Well, in this case, it’s absolutely true.  On the agenda for the week is the Invention Convention, Nothing Here But Stones (our new literature book), the Explorer’s Journals, and the introduction of our Auction Project.  Whew!  

Invention Convention:  We are in the final stages of preparation for the invention convention.  The students have discussed what “bugs” them and have brainstormed solutions to their problems.  They have chosen one solution which will then become their invention.  This week in class the students are writing paragraphs describing how they got their idea and how their invention works.  For homework, the students need to bring in their “backboard” by Friday.  The backboard is a presentation board created out of a cardboard box and covered with either wrapping paper, fabric, paint, etc.  They were sent home with specific directions on this project.  Beginning next week the students will work at home finishing their backboards and creating a model of their invention.  The model does not need to work. The backboards and models are due back on Monday, March 3.

Nothing Here But Stones:  We began our fourth literature unit today.  Nothing Here But Stones is based on the true story of a group of Russian Jews who created a new community in Cotopaxi, Colorado in the 1880’s.  This book is a fascinating blend of fact and fiction, and merges our Judaica curriculum with our General Studies curriculum.  We read the first chapter together in class today.  The second chapter is homework tonight.

Explorer’s Journal:  We have begun our third entry in the Explorer’s Journal. Our focus continues to be on descriptive language and the inclusion of facts in historical fiction.  The goal is to finish our fourth entry later in the week and to begin revisions next week.

Auction Project: It has become a tradition in the fourth grade to create pencil sketches of synagogues around the world for our auction project.  The pencil drawings will be turned into note cards, which will be sold as class sets (one of each child’s design in each set).  The original drawings will be framed and available for sale to each family. To make this project work, we need your help.  We want these drawings to be personal and meaningful to each family.  Therefore, we would like to know if you have any special connection to a specific synagogue from anywhere around the world.  For instance, if your great grandfather helped start a synagogue in Australia, or if your grandmother was a teacher at a synagogue in Augusta, Georgia, we want to know.  We will send the details of this project home later in the week.

As I said, it’s going to be a very busy week – which is just the way I like them!  

Have a wonderful week,

Debbi

Oops...Corrections for April 14th Havdallah leaders

Hi again,
Yes, I need to correct two oversights; on April 14th, please change Josh
Fridman to Josh Levy (Josh F. is leader earlier on) and change Ethan (who
is havdallah leader a few weeks prior) to Phillip.
Thank you for checking! Any other changes?
Morah Kaylee

Havdallah Leaders, 2/11 - 4/14/08, with one more round to go!

Hi Parents,

Attached is our latest Havdallah leader lineup.

Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine.

Morah Kaylee

 

 

Feb. 11th      Sigal            Sophie        Shura        David

 

Feb. 25th      Sam W.      Danya          Cami         Emma

 

Mar. 3rd        Ethan          Cassidy       Dylan        Jillian

 

Mar. 10th      Ari               Max              Talia          Hannah

 

Mar.  17th     Josh F.        Noah             Abby         Becky

 

Mar.  24th     Lizzy             Ben              Leora        Shayna

 

Mar.  31st     Sam S.       Matthew       Amit          Abigail

 

April 7th        Becky         Jules             Jacob        Jordan

 

April  14th    Josh F.        Sigal             Emma        Ethan

Drama Program in 4th grade!

Dear Parents,

We are extremely pleased to announce the return of the 4th grade drama program!  The program will once again be led by Scott and Shannon Guggenheim of Guggenheim Entertainment.  The Guggenheims are well known for their Jewish - based performances, such as The Meshugunutcracker, which played in four cities during the holiday season.

The students will be working with the Guggenheims on most Wednesdays from today to the end of May.  They will be divided in a variety of ways, including by gender and by class, providing many opportunities for the children to interact with each other.  Scott and Shannon will teaching the 4th graders basic stage skills, theater games, choreography, music and staging.

The students will be presenting their Showcase in an evening performance on May 29th and again during the day on May 30.

Once again, we are very pleased that we can offer this program to our students.  More information will be forthcoming.

Sincerely,

Steve Blatteis  
Debbi Seligman

Explorer's journal

Hi All,

The students have been working diligently on their Explorer’s Journals.  We’ve discussed the introductory entry extensively and have spent several periods adding and augmenting their writing.  Today we started their second journal entry in class.  Depending on their explorer, they are either discussing their passage through the Straits of Magellan (if they are traveling with Francis Drake) or their first encounter with natives (if they are traveling with Cabrillo or Viscaino).  I’ve asked them to spend 15-20 minutes on this entry tonight, and to focus on including imagery and similes.  These are rough drafts, so they do not have to be perfect (but legible would be nice.)  

I look forward to reading all about their adventures tomorrow in class.

Have a good evening,

Debbi

1492 homework

Hi All,

If your child is not reading The World in 1492, please feel free to disregard this message.  For those of you whose children are reading 1492, please remind them that, when they are answering questions on their homework, they should be writing more than one sentence answers.  I would like to see a full paragraph answer for their questions.  We have discussed this in class, but I wanted to reiterate it before they turn in their homework tomorrow.

Their homework is the read the section in their books (it’s different for each group) and to write questions as they read.  They should then write one solid answer for one of their questions.  This assignment is due tomorrow.

Thanks for your help!

Debbi