The Monthly Roar - Austin Jewish Academy
Transcript of The Monthly Roar - Austin Jewish Academy
LETTER FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
This past week, a teacher brought a child's forgotten lunchbox to
the office. Even though it had no identification, we knew that it
belonged to a middle school student. A quick glance at the food
left inside gave us a good idea of to whom the lunchbox
belonged. I was about to go find the student when an inner voice
caused me to pause. I had recalled my summer reading
of Conscious Discipline by Becky Bailey. In it was an entire
chapter on consequences and helping children to learn from their
mistakes.
Bailey describes the importance of the Power of Intention behind
giving consequences to children. She outlines three:
1. The intent to punish: The goal is to make children feel
guilty, wrong or bad about themselves or their behavior.
2. The intent to save: The goal is to save children from intense
feelings of discomfort, generally because they are uncomfortable
for us.
3. The intent is to teach: The goal is to help children to feel,
reflect and be responsible for their choices.
As both a parent and a teacher, I admit that I have engaged in all
three. I imagine most of us have at one time or another slipped
into the lecture mode, which is more about making a child feel
unworthy than reflecting on the inappropriate action.
The intention many struggle with is that of rescuing. I see this at
AJA and have been guilty of the same. Parents bring in forgotten
homework, permission slips and lunches.
Teachers extend deadlines or call the parent to
bring in the required permission slip so that a
child can go on a field trip.
The Monthly Roar 12 of Tishrei, 5776
September 25, 2015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Save the Date .............. 3
Advancement ............. 4
AJA Happenings.…..5-6
SPECIAL POINTS OF
INTEREST
Save the Date for the
Middle School
Information Night
Bailey states, “Trying to rescue children from the feelings created
by their choices is a means of control. This rescuing says that
feelings of disappointment are bad, that they will overwhelm you.
It sends the message, ‘You are inadequate.’ Allowing children to
feel and reflect on their choices gives them the opportunity to be
responsible for past actions and given them the freedom to choose
healthier options in the future.”
Jim Fey, founder of Love and Logic Discipline, urges that we not
rob children of a real world experience. In order for children to
learn from their mistakes, they need to experience both empathy
and consequences.
I do hope that next time your child forgets to bring their
homework to school, you will send the message that although it is
upsetting, he/she will survive.
By the way, I saw the forgetful student at pick up and asked if she
had misplaced her lunchbox. I then let her know that it was in the
office. And......that, for me, is progress.
Wishing everyone a Chag Sameach for the upcoming Sukkot
holiday.
Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has
sanctified us through His commandments, commanding us to live
in the sukkah.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Cheryl Hersh
“Trying to rescue children from the feelings created by their choices is a means of control.”
LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL CONTINUED...
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Middle School Information Night!
We invite fifth grade parents and students to learn about the exciting offerings of our
middle school program. You don’t want to miss this!
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
7:00 - 8:30 PM in the AJA Library
SAVE THE DATE!
Monday, September 28- Tuesday, September 29 Sukkot - School Closed
Wednesday, September 30
Flag Football games at AJA from 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Volleyball games at AJA from 5:15 - 7:15 pm
Thursday, October 1 Shalom Austin’s Annual Sukkah Fest from 5:30 - 7:30 pm on the JCC
lawn
Friday, October 2 Volleyball game at the Austin Waldorf School from 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Monday, October 5- Tuesday, October 6 Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah - School
Closed
Wednesday, October 7
5th grade Community First Service Learning Adventure from 8:30 - 11:30 am
Flag Football games at St. Francis from 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Thursday, October 8 Flag Football game at Brentwood from 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Thursday, October 8– Friday, October 9 Consultant for Middle School Hebrew
Curriculum NETA-CET is visiting.
Monday, October 12 Prospective Parent Event at the Levy’s home at 6:30 pm. *See attached
invitation for more information*
Word of mouth is the single most powerful tool in school recruitment … invite your friends with school
aged children to attend this Prospective Parent Evening and learn more about the AJA difference or
make an appointment with Risa Ferdman for a private tour. 512-735-8370.
Tuesday, October 13 Parent Association meeting 8:00 - 9:00 am in the Library
Monday, October 19 - Thursday, October 22 Middle school trip to Camp Young Judaea for
the Nature’s Classroom Institute
Tuesday, October 20 Board Meeting from 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Science and Innovation
Center
Monday, October 26 Student Learning Conferences - Early release at noon. Congregation
Agudas Achim Social Hall. Sign Ups available Friday October 9, 2015!
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Annual Campaign Donation Updates:
The Annual Campaign Kickoff was a ROARING success! The entire school gathered to celebrate and support AJA's
Inspire Annual Campaign. Through generous donations and pledges, we have already raised $71,102!
Want to know how you can support AJA’s Inspire Annual Campaign? Visit with Robin Littrell, AJA Development
Associate, to make your pledge.
Another way you can support AJA is by signing up with Smile.Amazon.com and Target.com. By shopping with
Smile.Amazon and Target.com, you will be donating between .5% - 1% of your dollars spent to our amazing school.
Click on the following to start donating:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/74-2572246
From here you will login to your account and go to account settings. At Account Settings click on “Change Your
Charity” and type in Austin Jewish Academy as your charity. From this point on, every time you shop Amazon you
will donate 0.5% of your amount spent to AJA!
https://www-secure.target.com/redcard/tcoe/home
This works with Target Debit and Target Credit cards. Log into your account and manage your Red Card. You will
be given an option to select the charity of your choice. Type in Austin Jewish
Academy, and select it when prompted. Every time you spend, Target will
donate 1% of your amount spent to AJA!
Tributes
In Memory of Philip Strull
Gregory Sapire
In Memory of Irv Kroot
Cheryl Hersh
In Memory of Stephen Gerald
Joni Lee Jones
In Honor of Helen Gilbert’s
Birthday
Jennifer Greenblum
Tracy Solomon
In Honor of Noa Levy
Robin Littrell
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ADVANCEMENT AT AJA
Library Tributes:
In Honor of Charlie Faris’s Birthday
Marissa Faris
In Honor of Marissa Faris
Aron Wolinetz and Leah Fredman
Jonathan Kaplan and Deborah Pardo-Kaplan
In Honor of Giselle Hidalgo
Shelly Fleishman
In Honor of AJA Library
Alexis Berson
Natasha and Dimitri Chamitoff
Leah Garel
Gali Levy
Joey Ross
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Bee Keeping Kinders
Integrating with our Jewish Studies
focus of apples and honey created
many opportunities for learning
across the curriculum. We will
learn about Johnny Appleseed, do
apple seed counting, plant seeds,
start a fall garden, use emergent
readers about apples, add apple
songs and poems to our Song and
Poem Binders, experiment with
dehydration, make applesauce,
take a trip to Central Market to
find many different kinds of apples
with each child purchasing,
weighing and measuring their
apples, graphing the results of taste
testing, and having our technology
teacher, who is also a beekeeper,
do a presentation about bees and
honey for us.
FIFTH GRADE ROARING IN SEPTEMBER
Fifth grade has been having
an awesome time this
month! Our first few weeks
were spent gaining a
foundation in resources,
including the difference
between renewable, non-
renewable and perpetual
resources. Students did
various simulations and
labs to focus on the key point of
how resources can be used and
misused and honed in on the
point that it is up to us to make
sure we are both conserving our
resources, and making good
choices for the generations to
come! At the Nature’s Classroom
Institute at Greene Family Camp,
our students played hard at the
same time as they learned about
the environment, science, and the
beautiful world around them.
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GO LIONS!
The Lions volleyball team
has been rocking this
season!
Win 2-1 against Texas
School for the Deaf
Loss 2-1 against Redeemer
Win 2-0 against St Louis
Win 2-1 against St Francis
# lionpride #AJAproud
FIRST GRADE FUN
First grade is rocketing into a
fantastic new year! Students
have been getting to know each
other in Social Studies, working
to establish their classroom
expectations, and learning
about their classroom
jobs. First graders are reading
lots of books to help them
make text-to-self and text-to-
world connections about what
they are learning. Mrs. Bryan
visited our class to share her
‘Counselor’s Tool Box’ with us
as part of our ‘3 Things You
Might Not Know About
Me’ share and tell project
(pictured below).
KNESSET ELECTIONS
At AJA, students put in hard work to
develop their public speaking skills
through events such as Portfolio Day
(coming up on December 4th), and
wow, did their work pay off at this
year’s Knesset elections. Students
gave speeches with poise and style!
Knesset, AJA’s student government
organization, is a fabulous
opportunity for middle school
students to practice Tikkun Olam,
bettering the world around them.
Here are the election’s results:
President Roy Klein
Secretary Liora Susswein
Officers
Jessica Woskow
Lue Coplin
Abby Baldwin
Shira Seigal
Ben Caplowitz
Aiden Horwitz
Katie Hendler
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THIRD GRADE FIELD TRIP
AJA Third Grade took
their first field trip to
the the Austin Nature
Center Program -Wild
About Wildlife. It was
ssssssssso much
slithery fun!
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SukkahFest 2015! Thursday, October 1 5:30 - 7:30 PM Front Lawn of the JCC
Sukkot is a festival of harvest, when we give thanks, gather and
share together in temporary shelters. Visit a dozen plus sukkahs and enjoy the holiday celebration. Event will include Sukkot activities, arts and crafts, nature and
crafts projects, music by MazelTov Kocktail Hour, sukkah decorat-
ing, Stories for children ages 4 and up plus activities from the PJ
Library. Mini educational topics by clergy in their sukkahs. Everyone is invited to use the Sukkahs to eat their meals in during
the holiday of Sukkot.Location: Front Lawn of the JCC!
Austin Jewish Film Festival
Saturday, October 24 - Friday, October 30
Regal Arbor Theater
The Austin Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) promotes the love of Jew-
ish films to the Central Texas community by screening movies and
programming other events related to movies.
To learn more go to www.austinjff.org
SNOUT BY SNOUTWEST Dog Festival
Sunday, November 8 12:00 - 3:00 PM
JCC Fields
Raise the woof! While dogs are not typically allowed on the campus
(other than service animals), this special event welcomes all friendly
pups on leashes with current vaccinations.
• Obedience demonstrations
• Live music
• Dog treats
• Doggie wading pools
• Complimentary pet photos
• Rescue groups and local shelters will have dogs available for
adoptions.
• Food & Snacks for purchase
Interested in volunteer opportunities or Sponsorship Opportunities?
Contact Kaci Scott at 512-735-8214.
Your $5 entry goes toward the 2015 beneficiary. Kids free.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
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On behalf of the staff at Austin Jewish Academy,
we would like to wish you and your families a
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
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