December 2019

Our Early Childhood Department has been booming over the past few months!  Keshet got off to a strong start, with several new families and so many new opportunities for our students.

We have partnered with Jewish Senior Life to create a program called Circle of Friends.  Once a month, our students have gone to Wolk Manor to do crafts, sing songs, and play games with our Senior Buddies.  At the end, they will take a field trip to visit us. We tried this twice last year, and it became such a meaningful experience for all involved.  We decided to expand the program, so our children can develop truly meaningful relationships with our senior citizens.

Keshet has also embraced the Shinshinim.  On Wednesdays, Keren and Gilad come and do music with our students and bring in developmentally appropriate musical games.  All of the age groups get to interact with them during music, and then again during lunch bunch. On Fridays, we’ve embraced them for Shabbat.  Ori and Yael help lead Shabbat blessings, and become an incredibly dynamic trio with Mike Miller. Then, during the morning, the whole school combines for centers.  Yael and Ori bring in gross motor Israeli games and lead a center. Our children are truly getting a taste and appreciation of Israeli culture at such a young age.

Our youngest students in Limmud are flourishing from new activities and structure.  On October 6, went to Ori Shaham’s Bach Yard Concert with the RPO through PJ Library.  The children had the opportunity to interact with the orchestra and hear Jewish music done by the RPO.  Our second graders are partnering with Jewish Senior Life for Yad v Yad- hand in hand. They will visit Wolk Manor three times throughout the year to do various activities around Jewish values at the Summit.

We are looking forward to various activities around Hanukkah and Thanksgiving time.  Our Keshet students will create their very own Thanksgiving feasts on November 28, where the Shinshinim will take part at each grade level.  We also have our first Friday Tot Shabbat on November 6, which will be led by Mike Miller. We will have two more Tot Shabbatot- one on December 7, which will welcome in the Winter, and then we will have Tu B’Shevat Tot Shabbat on January 18.  This will focus on the species of Israel.

Finally, Keshet is trying something new.  Since winter break is two weeks this year, on January 2 and 3, we will be open for camps.  For just a small fee, your children will be able to come to Keshet from 9-1 for camp-like programs.  More information will follow.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or stop by anytime for programs or adventures for your youngest congregant!

L’Shalom,

Mandi Warner