Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Our Chanuka Songs


Dear Parents,
Our Pre-K class will be performing the following songs. 
Please practice as much as you can :)


סביבון - סוב סוב סוב,
חנוכה הוא חג טוב.
חנוכה הוא חג טוב,
סביבון - סוב סוב סוב.

סוב נא סוב כה וכה,
נס גדול היה פה.
נס גדול היה פה,
סוב נא סוב כה וכה.

Sevivon, sov sov sov

chanukah hu chag tov

chanukah hu chag tov

sevivon, sov sov sov.


Sov na sov, ko vacho,

nes gadol haya sham

nes gadol haya sham

sov na sov, ko vacho.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Highlights of the Week


Gym!!!


Thank You very much for your participation in our school wide food drive!


Our friends were super excited about it and had a great time doing "Chesed." 
Keep up all those Mitzvas, Pre-K!

More Chanuka!

We did a science experiment to see what kind of liquids burn.

We tried burning, apple juice, milk, vinegar and oil. Only oil burned!

We tried estimating how long the oil would burn. When we lit the oil at 12:20. When we left school at 4:00 it was still burning! In the morning, however, the fire had gone out.


In the Bais Hamikdash when the Kohen Gadol lit the oil. Everyone thought it would last one day. A cup of oil usually burns for one day. They were a little bit sad because to make more oil it would take them 8 days long! They’d have to go to the olive trees, pick the olives etc. etc.

But Hashem loves when we do Mitzvos and he wanted to help us! Hashem made something not normal happen. The little bit of oil kept on burning for 8 days long! It was a miracle! 


To remember the miracle of the oil, we eat oily food on Chanuka, like Latkes and doughnuts. These foods are fried in oil. 

Some friends in our class got to experiment and see what happens to oil when you add it to other ingredients such as water, vinegar etc.


Our class observed that no matter how much you try to mix it, the oil always rises to the top!


Latka Song: 
Latkale Latkale hop, hop, hop.
Dance around in my pot.
Fry and sizzle merrily,
Cuz you’re the one I’ll eat you see!


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Please Note:

The letter Tes homework was accidentally sent home on Friday.
We did not learn the letter tes yet.
If your child could not read the letter tes, this is the reason. :)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Chanuka

This week we started learning about the history of Chanuka. A long time ago the Jews lived in a place called Israel. They lived peacefully there and were able to do lot's of Mitzvos and learn Torah. They had a very special house for Hashem called the Bais Hamikdash. Every day a Kohen would light the Menorah there.

One day, a Greek king named Antiyochus came to Israel. He didn’t like that the Jews had one G-d. He thought they should serve idols or not have any Hashem at all.
Antiyachus said: “No more doing Mitzvos!” No more learning Torah, No more doing anything for Hashem! No more Shabbos! No more Torah! No more Kosher food.”
Anyone who is caught will be put in Jail! The Greeks did everything to make things not nice for Hashem, they broke Hashem’s beautiful house and they put not-Kosher pigs inside.
            The Jews were not happy, they didn’t want to listen to the Greeks, and they knew that the Greeks were telling them to make bad choices. Jews decided that if the Greeks won’t let us learn Torah, we will learn Torah in caves where they can’t see us!
Song:
I am Antiochus and this is what I say:
You will eat not Kosher food, that is what I say!

Chorus: 
What do we say?  We say neigh. Only I can control me!
 Who helps us fight with all our might is Yehudah HaMacabee.

I am Antiochus and this is what I say,
You will not keep shabbos, that is what I say:
 Chorus

I am Antiochus and this is what I say,
You will pray to idols, Whichever way I say:
Chorus

            There was a Tatty named Matisyahu who had five sons: Eliezer, Shimon, Yochanan, Yonasan, and Yehuda. They said we are not going to make the wrong choices and listen to Antiyachus! We will make the right choice and listen to Hashem!

We can also be like Maccabis, just like the Maccabis didn't let Antiyochus control them, they controlled themselves. So to we can "Stop, think and make the right choice"  and control ourselves.
Here is how we can make "maccabi choices:"

Chava: "When I make a mess, I clean up right away."
Yonni: "When my fish fell out of her cage with water, I gently gave her to my Mom."
Jacklyn: "I do my homework right away."
Zaylin: "When my friends are on line and they are pushing me, I don't push them, I just say: 'don't push me."
Shlomo: "When my brother breaks my toy, I wait for my Daddy to come and fix it."
Aaron: "When Moshe Eli breaks my toy, I say "please don't break my toy."
Emy: "When my babys sister bites me, I say: "I don't like it."
Ariel: "When I stick my finger in the fish's water, they bite me, so I will not stick my hands in the water."
Alan: "When morah tell me something, I listen right away."
Shimon: "When someone pushes me, I don't push them back."
Nosson: "When my brother breaks my toys, I tell him:  "I don't like it!"

When we stop, think and make the right choices we are controlling ourselves and acting like Makkabis!

Letter Ches!

This week we learned the letter Ches!
Ches has big line on top and two big lines that come down.
"Chupa Ches"
Ches looks like a Chuppa, a Jewish wedding Canopy!
We has a Chasuna (wedding) under a Chuppa with a Chassan (groom) and a Kalla who's name starts with the letter ches, Chava!
Our Friend Chava starts with the letter Ches!


Food Drive!

We are holding a Thanksgiving Food Drive in Mazel!
Please send in a can/cans of food so that your child can participate in this School wide Mitzva.

Please Note:

We will be going to the gym this Monday!
Please bring your children to school on time.
Thank you!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

2010-11-11

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Feeling Afraid

This week we talked about when we feel afraid. We found out that no one likes to be scared or afraid. This makes us alike. We found out that different things make us feel afraid like things that we don't know anything about, or scary thoughts. When we are scared we might feel helpless, or might feel like running away. Friends said that  they are afraid of dark rooms, strange dogs and monsters. We discussed that a good way to resolve our fears is to talk to someone about it. Sometimes we'll find out that we don't need to be scared or afraid of what is scaring us. At the same time it is better to avoid (don't do) things that might scare us like watching scary movies, listening to scary stories, or thinking scary thoughts. Feeling afraid is ok. The important thing is to do whatever we can to resolve our fear.

 

Highlights of the week

Observing the pumpkin decomposing

Rosh Hodesh Rally

Making faces

Using the sixth sense- Balance

Friday, November 12, 2010

Zayin

This week we learned the letter Zayin.
Zayin has a little slanted line on top and a big line that goes down.
It looks like a "zemer zayin," like a person with his head back playing a musical instrument.
Yonni makes stamps using real "zeitim" (olives)

For more Zayin information, please check out:

Parsha

Parshas Vayaitzai
In this week’s parsha, Yaacov ran away from Eisev who was in Eretz Yisroel and started traveling towards Charan. On his way, Yaacov went to sleep, surrounded by rocks to protect him. He dreamt of a tall ladder that went from the ground all the way into the sky. There were some malachim (angels) going up and some coming down. Hashem was telling Yaacov that the malachim from Eretz Yisroel were leaving him but new malachim would come down to protect him. He also promised Yaacov that the land he was laying on, Eretz Yisroel, would belong to him and his children and grandchildren,  (the Jewish people.)
 Yaacov got to Charan. There, Yaacov met his cousin Rachel at a well. Yaacov realized that Rachel is the girl he should marry. Rachel ran home to tell her father Lavan that Yaacov came! Yaacov begins to work for Lavan, by being a shepherd, watching Lavan’s sheep. Yaacov asked Lavan that instead of being paid, if he can marry Rachel.  Lavan agrees, only if he works for another seven years!
But Lavan was very tricky…when the wedding day finally came, Lavan tricked Yaacov, and gave him his older daughter Leah in marriage. Leah was covered by a veil and Yaacov didn’t realize she was not Rachel until the morning after the wedding, and he was very angry at Lavan. Lavan said that in his country one doesn’t marry off the younger sister before the older one. Yaacov agrees to work another seven years for Lavan in order to marry Rachel. He marries Rachel a week after his wedding to Leah. (At that time a man could marry more than one wife at a time.)
Leah gave birth to seven children, Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehudah, Yissachar, Zevulun and to a girl named Dina. Rachel didn’t have any children and this made her very sad. She asked Yaacov to marry her helper (maid) Bilhah so that she should have children instead of her. Bilhah has two sons, Dan and Naftali. Leah also gives her helper Zilpah as a wife to Yaacov and she too has two sons, Gad and Asher. Finally, Rachel gets pregnant and has a son, Yosef!
Yaacov decided it was time to go back to Eretz Yisroel.  However, Lavan didn’t want to let him go! He convinced him to stay, he offered to pay him by giving him sheep so that Yaacov can have a flock of his own. Hashem blessed Yaacov with his work, his flock became bigger and bigger.  Finally, Yaacov left Lavan’s house and together with all his wives, children and animals, started traveling towards Eretz Yisroel.

Show and Tell

The host of this week's Show and Tell was Zaylin. To everyone's surprise, Zaylin brought his pet hermit crab, Nemo. Zaylin told everyone that he got Nemo this past summer while on vocation at the Jersey Shore. Zaylin described his pet as a perfect gentleman who likes to dance and flip. While being in our class, Nemo was very peaceful. He took a little tour in our classroom, but didn't hurt anyone. Zaylin told everyone that he takes good care of Nemo-washing his box, washing his rocks and Nemo's shell. Everyone noticed the colorful shell he carries on his back. Zaylin explained that it is Nemo's house. Once he gets too big for this "house," he will crawl out and find a new bigger shell.  Everyone was wondering what Nemo likes to eat. Zaylin said, that he eats crab food and drinks bottled water, never tap water! Thank you, Zaylin, for showing and telling us about your pet Nemo.
Next week Show and Tell host is Emy.

Weekly Reader

This week's issue discusses the importance of getting along. The children will learn about some of the different ways they can get along with others in the class. Look at the pictures with your child ask him or her to identify the pictures that show children playing fairly. On the cover of this issue, there is a picture of Martin Luther King. Children learn that Martin Luther King was an African-American man who wanted people to learn how to treat one another fairly. He taught people how to solve problems without fighting, to help one another and to share.
When looking at the pictures together, ask "How are the children helping one another? Why might they be doing that? What do you think the children might say to each other?" Expand your child's critical thinking. Ask : "If someone one does not let you have a turn on the swings or on a tricycle, how do you feel? How might you let that person know he or she is not being fair?"

This week we learned

The letter of this week was the letter C. To make the letter C one needs start on the top and make a big curve. We thought it would be easy "shmeezy"... but we need a lot of practice.
Morah told us that the letter C doesn't have its own sound. Two friends, the letter K and the letter S, decided to share with the letter C. That is why in some words that start with the letter C we hear /k/- curve, cup cake, clown, carrot and cucumber, but in other words we hear /s/ sound - like city and center.
To review the letter C go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-c/load.htm?f
To preteach the next week letter O go to http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-o/load.htm?f

Monday, November 8, 2010

Chanuka is Coming!

Dear Parents,
Today we ushered in the month of Kislev with a Rosh Chodesh rally in the Shul!
This means that Chanuka is coming up, hurray!
We are going to have a Chanuka display table in our classroom.
Each friend may choose one Chanuka related object to be displayed, i.e. your child's menorah, a dreidel, oil etc. (If you are sending something that you need to be returned in time for Chanuka, please email me: morahminna@gmail.com to let me know, and it will be returned before Chanuka.)
Thank You!
Morah Minna

Friday, November 5, 2010

Parshas Toldos




Parshas Toldos Song


Rivkah Eemeinu had twin sons, Esav was red


He was a hunter, Yaakov learned Torah instead

Yaakov was cooking beans, Esav was hunting

"I am hungry! Give me soup! Esav came in grunting

"Please sell me your b’chorah I’ll give you soup so red."

Yaakov told this to Esav, "Take it!" Esav said.


Rivkah put fur, on Yaakov as a disguise

Yitzchok touched his son, because he, had weak eyes.

"It sounds like Yaakov, but feels like Esav’s hands"

Yaakov received the bracha, of the stars and sand.

When Esav came home, his anger burned

Yaakov had no choice, to Lavan’s house he turned.

The next week letter is the letter C

http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-c/load.htm?f

Mazel Tov!

Mazel Tov to our friend Alan! Who turned four years old this week!
Pre-K Friends and Morahs wish Alan to learn Torah, have a lot of friends, to be happy and healthy, and have a lot a lot of toys!

Mazel Tov to Alan's parents!
May you have only simcha from Alan!
Pre-K friends are very thankful for the  fun  birthday goods  in honor of Alan's Birthday!

Feelings Talk

We continue to learn about Feelings. We learned that some feelings are good and some are not. Happy feeling is a good feeling, it is a peaceful feeling.  It means that we calm and cheerful inside. When we are happy we smile.  In our class discussion we agreed that everyone likes to be happy. It makes us the same. But different things make us happy.  There is what makes Pre-K friends happy…
I feel happy when my mom gives me a chocolate cake. (Aaron)
I feel happy when I have different flavor ice cream. (Yonni)
I feel happy when I get a new toy car. (Ron) 
I feel happy when my Mom let’s me sleep over. (Jacklyn)
I feel happy when my Mom and Dad give me a present. (Shimon)
I feel happy when I go up and down in the park. (Ariel)
I feel happy when I see my Mom. (Chava Evalyn)
I feel happy when my Mommy and Tatty hug me. (Natan)
I feel happy when I get new stuff like green balls. (Shlomo)
I feel happy when it is winter and I see snow. (Alisa)
I feel happy when my family plays with me. (Emy)
Sometimes when we are very very happy, we feel excited. It happens when we are sooo happy that we are ready to jump and shout with ecxitment. There are different things make us excited.  Some friends shared that they get excited when they go to the park with their families and friends. Other friends said that getting a new toy is very exciting from them. Ron shared that he is excited about his trip to Israel. Thursday, was the most exciting day: surprise cookies from our parents, Dr. Zhanna's visit, the Diamond doves escaped.... WOW! What a day!
Some feelings are not happy feelings. Everyone agrees that sadness is not a happy feeling. When we feel sad we want to cry, we don’t feel calm inside, we feel unhappy.  People get sad for different reasons: sometimes we are not able to do things that we really want to do. We feel sad. Sometimes something that we like very much is lost or ruined. We feel sad. But we don’t have to feel sad forever. There are things we can do to make ourselves feel better. We better to have "GREAT ATTITUDE"! It is not easy but we can try. When we cannot do something we want to do, we find something else to do.  When something that we like is lost or ruined, we will be thankful for the other things that we have. Then, use and enjoy those things. When people we love leave us, we can find out where they are going and when they are going to be back. Then, keep ourselves busy until the people we love return. 

Highlights of the week



Gym is always FUN

Dr. Zhanna, an emergency room doctor, is often a guest and volunteer in our classroom.
This Thursday, she surprised us with exciting gifts: scrubs and a doctor's outfit. We had so much fun playing with a real doctor.  

As you know, at the beginning of the school year, the Mazel School got a present- new pets, Diamond Doves.  The Kindergartners are taking care of doves. On Thursday, while we were in the Big Room watching " The Letter Factory" video, the kindergarten Morah, Morah Mushki, decided to feed Diamond Doves. Accidentally, she opened the door too wide and.... three doves flew out. WOW! Some of our friends got very very excited, some got scared! The Morahs heroically saved two doves. The third one escaped "through" the window. Pre-K Friends discussed the matter and decided that this dove will find new friends outside  and will live happily ever after.

Gym, Alan's Happy Birthday, Open House and much more

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Vov

This week we learned the letter Vov.

It has a little line on top and a big line that goes down.
-Vered Vov-
Vov looks like a vered (a rose.)

More Vov info for Mom and Dad :)
http://www.bje.org.au/learning/hebrew/alphabet/06vav.html