The Fall 2015 issue of Darchei Noam, the official newsletter of Yeshivat Noam.
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FALL 2015 | 1 Recreating Hakhel at Yeshivat Noam By Caryn Nat, Third Grade Teacher O n Friday, September 25, Yeshivat Noam reenacted an ancient ceremony and made it come alive in an emotional and meaningful way for all of our students and teachers. During the time of the Beit Hamikdash, men, women, and children assembled in Jerusalem once every seven years on Sukkot, marking the end of the shmita cycle. During this gathering, known as Hakhel, the king of Israel read the Torah before the crowd, symbolizing the experience of Har Sinai. In school, over the loud speaker, Rabbi Uzi Beer, Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies in the Elementary School, began reading the pesukim from Sefer Devarim that describe the mitzvah of Hakhel. He then explained the pesukim in English and how we at Yeshivat Noam were about to experience this mitzvah. Dressed in a talit and kittel and carrying a Torah, Rabbi Beer began dancing and singing through the halls of the school, picking up one grade at a time, creating a long procession leading outdoors. Class by class, the students proceeded to the fields, which CONTINUED ON P. 10 DARCHEI NOAM FALL 2015 סתו תשע”וWe at Yeshivat Noam were experiencing Hakhel for the first time.
Transcript
FALL 2015 | 1
Recreating Hakhel at Yeshivat Noam By Caryn Nat, Third Grade Teacher
On Friday, September 25, Yeshivat Noam reenacted an ancient ceremony and made it come alive in an emotional and meaningful way
for all of our students and teachers. During the time of the Beit Hamikdash, men, women, and children assembled in Jerusalem once every seven years on Sukkot, marking the end of the shmita cycle. During this gathering, known as Hakhel, the king of Israel read the Torah before the crowd, symbolizing the experience of Har Sinai.
In school, over the loud speaker, Rabbi Uzi Beer, Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies in the Elementary School, began reading the pesukim from Sefer Devarim that describe the mitzvah of Hakhel. He then explained the pesukim in English and how we at Yeshivat Noam were about to experience this mitzvah.
Dressed in a talit and kittel and carrying a Torah, Rabbi Beer began dancing and singing
through the halls of the school, picking up one grade at a time, creating a long procession leading outdoors. Class by class, the students proceeded to the fields, which
CONTINUED ON P. 10
DARCHEI NOAM
FALL 2015
סתו תשע”ו
We at Yeshivat Noam were experiencing Hakhel for the first time.
President’s Message
As you can see in the Darchei Noam, the Fall season has been filled with wonderful programming for our students and families, thanks
in large part to the YNPA, the Parent-School Partnership, volunteer subcommittees, and of course, our wonderful teachers and administration. Each of these groups, along with the Board, is incredibly focused on providing high quality programming and educational opportunities for the entire Yeshivat Noam family. Together our goal is to make this year an incredibly successful one for our students.
The Board has several subcommittees that work behind the scenes to ensure that our school’s mission is realized. From the Schol-arship Committee, which ensures that every student can get a yeshiva education, to the Finance Committee, which works with Finance Director Sheryl Levine to prudently manage the school’s expenses, each of our committees and volunteers gives significant time to make our school the best it can be. Other committees that comprise the Board include the Develop-ment, Communications, Building, Technology and Security Committees.
The partnership that we have with families in our school is unique. As the current President, I was incredibly proud to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new Donor Recognition Wall, a beautiful work of art rec-ognizing the families who participated in the building of our school. What makes this so sig-nificant is how many families contributed, each giving amounts that were meaningful to them at all levels. We are now entering the next phase of the Campaign, and our goal is for every family to participate and to be recognized with a special plaque reflecting their contribution.
We often refer to our Yeshivat Noam family and the unique partnership between our school and our parent body. As we welcomed over 30 new families to YN this year, it is important that we make each new family feel a part of the school. The New Family Melave Malka, which was so generously hosted by the Hagler family, was incredibly well attended. Each of us has an opportunity to contribute and to play a role in making Yeshivat Noam the best possible school for our children. If you would like to get involved or if you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact me at [email protected].
Nachman Paul
…our goal is to make this year
an incredibly successful one
for our students.
Principal’s Message Feel the Energy
I often wish that we could bottle the energy and excitement that is present in Yeshivat Noam and share it with all of our parents and grandparents. Our exciting special events
(the Hakhel program, Tevat Noach, Friendship Circle, Daughters of Miriam visits, Color War, World Series party and more), and our dynamic ongoing programs (such as Shabbat parties, Ongei Shabbat, Shabbatonim, Yemei Iyun, and Yom Tefilah) are just the beginning.
However, the real energy of Yeshivat Noam is in the day-to-day excitement, the exhilaration of learning new things, discovering new talents, making new friendships and sharing new ideas. I watch each morning as the children get off of the bus, greeted by teachers (often with music and dancing), and are excited to see their friends, as they rush to their Morah to share something special that happened the night before. I watch as the children beam with pride when they are the chazan or chazanit, take out the Torah or sing a beautiful Hallel on Rosh Chodesh.
I watch as the children are enthralled when they program their own robots in Buds, code on their MacBooks in Fourth Grade, tool with various electronic devices in their Middle School Makerspace, or create new electronic inventions in Eighth Grade in their engineering course.
This year, we have increased our effort to share this excitement with family and friends. We are producing several videos, creating numerous slideshows, posting more pictures on our website and uploading dozens of pictures and videos to our Facebook page. Please be sure to follow Yeshivat Noam and share in the excitement.
But most of all, I invite you to come into school and feel the energy and excitement for yourself. Join us at our various parent and grandparent programs, set up a time to read or present to your child's class, or let us know when you would like to come and it will be our pleasure to show you around.
Rabbi Chaim Hagler
…the real energy of Yeshivat Noam is in the day-to-day excitement.
2 | DARCHEI NOAM
FALL 2015 | 3
All About MySELF By Amy Kagedan, Director of Early Childhood Support Services
This year, in our Early Childhood department, we have introduced a new program to foster important social-emotional and student skills
in our children. These skills are as essential as the academic skills that the children learn throughout their years at Yeshivat Noam. As Director of Early Childhood Support Services, I developed the MySELF program for our Buds and Kindergarten classes. This program is based on the theories of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and the MindUp curriculum (a collaboration of the Hawn Foundation and Scholastic), as well as on current research in the fields of developmental cognitive neuroscience, mindfulness training, and positive psychology.
At a national conference in Atlanta for Early Childhood Specialists on October 7-9, I had the opportunity to hear the latest research about SEL programs for young children and to discuss the importance and success of such programs with colleagues from across
the country. MySELF , “My Social-Emotional Learning and Friends,” helps children learn about themselves—“how I think, how I feel, how I act”—and how to be a friend.
Each week, I visit every Buds and Kindergarten class and lead a group activity, which fosters skills in the areas of:
• focus, self control and self-regulation• listening and communication• conflict resolution• social skills such as empathy, patience,
and perspective taking• resiliency and decision making• enthusiasm for and love of learning.
In order for parents to learn how to support and reinforce these new skills at home, explanations and practical suggestions will be sent home throughout the year. We are confident that our Early Childhood children will develop all of the skills they need in order to learn, achieve success, and feel happiness in school and in life.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
4 | DARCHEI NOAM ELEMENTARY
1 & 2 Fourth Grade sunrise minyan
3 Fifth Grade trip to Fort Lee Historic Park
4 Fourth Grade Sukkah Fair
5 Fifth Grade boys celebrate Mets in World Series while learning how to keep score
6 Oneg Shabbat in support of Israel
7 First Graders’ Chesed Project
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FALL 2015 | 5SCHOOL
A Warm Welcome for New StudentsBy Linda Stock, Assistant Principal, Elementary School
Switching to a new school can be an anxious time in a child’s—and parent’s—life. At Yeshivat Noam, we roll out the red (and orange and blue) carpet for our newest students. Over the summer, new students receive phone calls from other children in their grade who welcome them and invite them to their homes. On the day before
school starts, new students and their parents are invited to visit their classrooms and meet their new teachers. This visit makes the night before school—and the first day—easier as well. Parents tell us how happily their children leave for school on the first day.
From the start, the “new child in the class” is like a celebrity. Everyone wants to hang out with him and find out who he is and where he came from. On that first day, members of our support staff from our Learning Center check in on individual new students and call parents with an update by midday.
During the first few weeks of school, Dr. Miryam Benovitz, our Elementary School psychologist, arranges for new student luncheons. In small groups, by grades, Dr. Benovitz and the administration have the opportunity to meet and chat with new students. In this relaxed atmosphere, everyone has the chance to get to know one another. Within a month of school, Dr. Benovitz checks in with teachers to see how new students are adjusting. Dr. Benovitz is always available to students at any time if there is a need.
We plan to meet with all of the new students again in a few weeks. We are looking forward to both checking in on them and getting their feedback on their transition to Yeshivat Noam.
We’re already receiving great responses. As one of our new Fifth Graders told us, “I like my new teachers. They’re really fun and cool!” A new Second Grader added, “I like Yeshivat Noam because I have so many new friends.” We wish all of our students a wonderful and successful school year.
From the start, the “new child in the class” is like a celebrity. Everyone wants to hang out with him and find out who he is and where he came from.
6 | DARCHEI NOAM MIDDLE
Summer Math for TeachersBy Sari Sheinfeld and Deena Bloom, MS Math teachers
What do teachers do during their summer break? Students (and parents) are often surprised to learn that we go to school! Whether to reinvigorate instructional methods, learn how to “up the ante” in curricula, network with other teachers, or just to challenge ourselves, many Yeshivat Noam teachers have attended
professional development classes over the summer.
For the past three summers, Montclair State University has hosted the Creative-University-School Partnership (CUSP)/PRISM grant program to educate NJ teachers in Common Core math and how best to prepare students for the future. The intensive two-week schedule is structured much like YN is for our students. The classes at Montclair utilize small and large group sessions, individual and group assignments, as well as one-on-one time to speak with instructors about specific challenges or ideas.
As representatives of our Middle School Math Department (the only two private-school teachers who take part in the grant), we have attended the conference all three years. A third teacher, Rena Lehman, joined for this past summer’s emphasis on Geometry. The rigorous training at Montclair is geared toward teaching all students, from the most challenged to the most advanced learners. The overarching idea behind the seminar is how to get kids to think mathematically and to be able to show us what they really know.
Math is no longer the rote subject we learned as children. The Common Core is designed to help students redefine their math knowledge and to use it in the real world. For children growing up in the 21st Century, the skills needed change rapidly and as a school, we are given the mission of teaching students how to think. Children will need to know how to utilize the tools we give them in order to become independent learners and problem solvers. “Old” math instruction has often been described as “a mile wide but an inch deep.” The Montclair seminar provided hundreds of
real-life, fun examples to keep students interested and engaged in their math learning so that their level of understanding goes much deeper.
While knowing basic math facts such as multiplication tables remains essential, the reality is that our students are inheriting a world full of problems and need to become a generation of problem solvers and fast thinkers. Using word problems as the impetus, students are provided multiple opportunities to think logically, organize thoughts into step-by-step solutions, and accept that there is more than one way to think about a problem and get to its answer. Possible misconceptions of students are addressed throughout the learning process, and students are encouraged to use language to describe how they intend to solve the problems and why.
Yeshivat Noam is thankful to the CUSP/PRISM faculty at Montclair University for welcoming our teachers into the summer program and for their continued guidance during the school year. Now let’s see our students’ math progress add up!
…our students are inheriting a world full of problems and
need to become a generation
of problem solvers and fast
thinkers.
FALL 2015 | 7SCHOOL
1 Seventh Grade boys enjoying recess
2 “Good Things Happen Here” Middot Bulletin Board
3 Marshmallow team-building challenge in Advisory
4 Great Big Challah Bake
5 Sixth Graders visit Daughters of Miriam
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8 | DARCHEI NOAM
Parent-School PartnershipParent Book Discussion: Mindset by Carol DweckBy Bena Schwartz, PSP Co-Dhair
Yeshivat Noam parents gathered on October 27 at the home of Tammy and Paul Malek for a book discussion led by Aliza Chanales,
Middle School Assistant Principal for General Studies. The event, presented by the PSP’s Parent Education committee, focused on the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck, a psychologist and leading researcher in the fields of personality, social, and developmental psychology. This groundbreaking book has practical implications for adults and children alike. The discussion centered on how we can use Dweck’s research to improve our children’s success both in school and at home.
Carol Dweck discovered that people generally have two ways of thinking about their capabilities—the “fixed mindset” and the “growth mindset.” People with the fixed mindset believe that their strengths and weaknesses are set and there isn’t much a person can do to change that. This leads to an unwillingness to take on challenges, a fear of failure, and an overall lack of drive to succeed. People with a growth mindset, however, believe that there is always room for improvement and with effort and persistence they can achieve ever-greater success.
Ms. Chanales related that she has seen this in action among her students. When Sixth Graders meet their first challenging math problem, many seem to shut down in panic or blame external factors. This reflects the fixed mindset. Other students seem to relish the new challenge and plunge in.
Obviously, it would be ideal if all children could develop a growth mindset for optimal success. Dweck presents strategies for helping children attain the growth mindset that parents and teachers can employ. These include being careful never to label a child’s abilities or traits, providing highly specific feedback on a child’s work and actions, and praising the process more than the outcome.
The YN faculty is using these and other growth-mindset strategies in school every day. The growth mindset is critical for more than just academic success, says Ms. Chanales. It is instrumental in improving one’s character as well. With practice and effort one can become more empathic or perhaps less shy. “In the same way that practice can help you improve in basketball, practicing a growth mindset can also help you become more outgoing, empathetic, or grateful,” she says.
YN Parents Association: Fall Spectacular
It’s been a fun-filled Fall at Yeshivat Noam. More than 140 families kicked off the start of the new school year at our Opening Event on September 20, as children and
parents had a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new families.
To their delight, children received animal balloons and face painting from Areyvut volunteers. Our favorite coaches from Dube Zone organized relay races. In a friendly
CONTINUED ON P.10
People with a growth mindset believe there is
always room for improvement.
Be the first to name all three volunteers pictured and win a prize! Email [email protected].
Book Night with Aliza Chanales (left)
FALL 2015 | 9
New Shamati Torah L’Shma ProgramBy Rabbi Uzi Beer, Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies, Elementary School
A new and special learning initiative, the Shamati Torah L’shma Program, was introduced in November to both the Elementary School and Middle School as all the students gathered in anticipation. This program, dedicated in memory of Dr. Yitzchok Belizon z”l, grandfather of YN students Bella, Rafi, and Sofia Koslowe, is designed to encourage and support all First through Eighth Grade students in learning Torah L’shma,
learning outside of school for the sake of Torah.
Dr. Belizon’s son-in-law, Rabbi Tavi Koslowe, spoke of Dr. Belizon’s pure dedication to Torah and his passion for both learning and teaching Torah. Dr. Belizon was a pillar of the Teaneck community and known for his commitment to and love for Limmud Torah. Whether it was waking up very early to learn before work or staying up late after work, Dr. Belizon was constantly looking for opportunities to learn and hear words of Torah.
The Shamati Torah L’shma Program was started by Dr. Belizon’s family to inspire the next generation of Jewish children to love and appreciate Torah learning. Thus, to help encourage and further his legacy, five different Torah L’shma programs have been established:
• Elementary School Torah L’shma: a program which recognizes and rewards the hours students dedicate to learning on their own time, encouraging them to progress from Talmid (three hours) to Shamati (25 hours).
• Elementary School Vacation Learning: designed to reinforce daily tefilla, learning and middot over vacation.
• Middle School 5 for 5 Learning: an opportunity for students to learn five Mishnayot a week on their own and receive prizes for answering questions.
• Middle School Daf Yomi: a unique study of “Daf Yomi for Students” each day during lunch.
• Middle School Vacation Learning: designed to reinforce constant limud Torah, especially over vacation, with the goal of completing a masechet of Mishnayot.
Since the introduction of the program, an atmosphere of excitement has filled the campus as students are talking about what they plan to learn next and for how many minutes or hours.
Within the first days of the program’s inception, Yeshivat Noam students have already learned over 100 combined hours of Torah L’shma. Kol HaKavod and Yishar Kochachem to all students who have already begun their Torah L’shma adventure. Your rewards will be greater than you can ever imagine.
Director of Educational Technology & InnovationSeth Dimbert
Director of AdmissionsEsther Feil
Executive DirectorEnid Anziska
Director of Finance Sheryl Levine
Director of DevelopmentAmy Vogel
BOARD OF TRUSTEESPresident Nachman Paul
Founding PresidentHeshy Mortkowitz
Past PresidentsNachum Barishansky Laurence Schreiber Dov Adler
Vice-PresidentsYale Baron Abie Cohen Jonathan Kepets Tamar Rothenberg Robert Scharf
TreasurerVictor Wittenberg
SecretaryShifra Bendheim
TrusteesChaim Birman Shaindy Brothman Josh Chaitovsky Rachel Cyrulnik Stefanie Diamond Deborah Goldberg Fiorino Jonathan Gellis Aliza Goldgewert Batsheva Goldstein Miriam Hermann David Isaacson Becky Katz Esta Luber Sara Prager Tammi Schachter Joseph Shatzkes Yudy Sheinfeld Dovid Warshawsky Ronnie Weinblut
Community TrusteesRodney Grundman David Kahn Nathan J. Lindenbaum Jerry Milch Binyamin Rieder Alan WeisfeldClive Lipshitz, JEFG Rep
YNPA PresidiumPaula Cohen, Jennie Mohl
Parent-School PartnershipBena Schwartz Sara Leah Ehrlichmann
were decorated with Israeli flags. The air was filled with beautiful music played by Morah Adina Mermelstein and the spirit of the event was celebratory.
As I arrived with my Third Grade students, the Middle School students and teachers were already dancing with Torahs, joined by all of the rabbanim who were also wearing their talitot and kittels. Rabbi Chaim Hagler addressed everyone, Buds through Eighth Grade, reminding us that the 1,000 who were gathered here represent the millions who were Bnei Yisrael.
Special long, thin, silver trumpets were blown, and then Rabbi Hagler leined a short portion of the Torah. The Torah was raised for hagba and all recited “Vzot haTorah.” Finally all boys who are Kohanim said Birkat Kohanim under talitot. The program concluded with more dancing and singing.
While watching this moving program, I couldn’t help but think that these experiences are the reason we send our children to a Jewish day school, and certainly why we send to Yeshivat Noam. In the words of Rabbi Hagler, “Like the real Hakhel experience, we are sure that our public display of Kavod HaTorah and Ahavat HaTorah [honor and love of Torah] left an indelible impression on our students.” You can watch the video of Hakhel at yeshivatnoam.org.
May we all be zocheh to experience this mitzvah first hand in Jerusalem!
HAKHEL CONTINUED FROM P. 1
Celebrating Hakhel at Yeshivat Noam
competition, friends knocked each other over with the large inflatable wrecking ball.
The highlight of the day was the exciting BMX stunt show. Both children and parents eagerly watched as the Dialed Action Sports Team performed flips and tricks. These athletes passed along the message about the importance of wearing bike helmets and bicycle safety. Brave volunteers wowed the crowd as the riders soared above their heads.
The Fall fun continued as our Yeshivat Noam family bonded over a Sunday morning Family Hike around Lake Henry in Mahwah on October 11. Rabbi Yaakov Nadler, who delivered a beautiful Dvar Torah about nature, led the one-mile, child-friendly hike. Walking through the Fall foliage on a beautiful day gave everyone a sense of wonder and provided our families with a chance to socialize.
One of the special qualities of Yeshivat Noam is its warm and inviting atmosphere. This year, our school welcomed many new families. The YNPA arranged for the mothers of our new students to get to know the other moms in their children’s classes. Hosted in parents’ homes, these Meet-the-Moms nights are an informal way to get together and connect. Many thanks to all our hosts and welcome to all our new families!
If you’d like to volunteer for future YNPA events, please email [email protected].
YNPA CONTINUED FROM P. 8
YNPA Family Hike
FALL 2015 | 11
Ribbon Cutting of the New Donor Recognition WallYeshivat Noam unveiled the new
Donor Recognition Wall on Sunday, September 20, at a beautiful ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the
momentous occasion. The Donor Wall is a colorful and whimsical tree surrounded by apples, doves, leaves and foundation stones.
According to past president Laurence Schreiber, “This is an important day in the history of our school because we are thanking each donor who contributed to building our campus since its inception. Every plaque has a story. Some are in memory of loved ones and others in honor of important people in our lives. Every gift is meaningful and important.”
Two of the stories shared at the ceremony are major gifts made in memory of loved ones who are no longer here to see their legacy. The naming of the Middle School was generously dedicated by Becky and Avi Katz in loving memory of Becky's grandparents, Frida and Munysz Grossman, z”l. Like many other immigrants from Poland, the Grossmans struggled to make ends meet. For them, the most important goal was sending their children to yeshiva. Although they could only afford to send two out of their four sons to yeshiva, today their names are forever associated with Torah learning and the education of thousands of Jewish children for many years to come.
Alissa and Shimmie Horn generously dedicated the Judaic Studies program in loving memory of Shimmie’s grandmother, Genia Horn, z”l. Genia Horn was an amazing woman who was devoted to her family and Jewish causes. She was exceptionally generous and enthusiastic in her giving.
The guests were greeted by beautifully packaged “Lego” candy with a tag thanking each donor with the message, “There is nothing ‘sweeter’ than ‘building’ the future of Jewish education.” Yeshivat Noam’s campus, which was completed four years ago, offers a beautiful and modern learning space and makom Torah for the students of today
and tomorrow. As the school celebrates the generosity of parents, grandparents and community members who made this a possibility, opportunities are available for the next generation of donors to prioritize the school. Schreiber shared that “there are empty plaques at every donor level to allow for Capital Campaign gifts on an ongoing basis.”
Rabbi Chaim Hagler, Principal of Yeshivat Noam, shared a dvar Torah about the importance of building Jewish institutions and thanked each leader and donor for their dedication in building the yeshiva. Yeshivat Noam President Nachman Paul thanked the Site and Fundraising Committees as well as the past presidents, Heshy Mortkowitz, Nachum Barishansky, Laurence Schreiber and Dov Adler, who all contributed to this success.
Starting from top: Executive Board members: Victor Wittenberg, Robbie Scharf, President Nachman Paul and Yale Baron
Alissa & Jeffrey Kigner generously sponsored the Donor Recognition Wall in honor of their children, who are YN alumni and a current student.
Founding Board member and leaders, Naomi & Marc Knoller, President Nachman Paul and Principal, Rabbi Chaim Hagler
Tammi & Bennett Schachter and family generously sponsored the Middle School basketball court in loving memory of “Sabba” Avi Blumenfeld z”l.
Laurence Schreiber, past President and Board member and leaders, Becky & Avi Katz, cutting the ribbon.
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Thank you to all the families who “shared the love”
in the f irst-day photo contest. Congratulations to
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