Caps off to NEJA’s Class of 2022, who received diplomas during Sunday’s graduation ceremony.
Future plans call for them to travel near and far this fall, as graduates plan to attend the University of Hartford, Yale University, University of Maryland, Bridgewater State University, Mechinat Atzmona, Tzohar Seminary, Drexel University, and UMass/Amherst.
We are so proud of our graduates as they go out into the world, but we will miss you, Efrayim, Harry, Elijah, Nico, Jack, Rivka and Zachary.
This past Tuesday, first graders participated in a program at Auerfarm. The program, What Do We FInd in Water and On the Land? had the class find items for a scavenger hunt, pretend to be either a stream bordering plant or a raindrop, got to continue the scavenger hunt while on a tractor ride through the farm and saw many of the animals that live on the farm. They saw mini horses, baby chicks, some newly shorn sheep, rabbits- lop eared and chinchilla like, cows, ducks and peacocks.
The children wrote thank you notes when we got back to school and many want to go and participate in the many programs that the farm holds.
This week the first and second graders had the opportunity to “hitch” their recycled dog sled to their KIBO robot and complete their portion of the Iditarod trail which commemorates the 1,100 mile dogsled mail route. This commemorates the dog sleds that brought much needed medicine during a diptheria epidemic in Alaska. The robots held the recycled dogsleds and were programmed to run a part of the course.
Pi day activities included making a cityscape using the first 50 numbers of Pi, and making Pi bracelets
The NEJA girls basketball team played their first game of the season on Tuesday at Beth Chana Academy High School in Orange. Ever mindful that the show must go on – and after a last minute referee cancellation – our very own Head of School Naty Katz stepped in to ref the game.
After falling behind – for the first time during the game – with just 48 seconds left, the girls showed grit and determination to tie the game up in regulation. They then took the lead and secured the 18-16 victory in overtime.
The girls are next in action Thursday, February 10th at 4 p.m. vs the American School for the Deaf in the NEJA gym, followed by the boys playing ASD at 5:30 p.m. Students and NEJA players’ immediate families are allowed to attend the game.
In celebration of Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year of Trees, the first and second graders at New England Jewish Academy, (NEJA,) along with their Hebrew teacher, Mrs. Maya Schwartz, their Judaic Studies teacher, Mrs. Shifra Silver and the General Studies teacher, Mrs. Helen Schwartz, combined lessons to have the students create artwork that was then used by the KIBO robot to help celebrate Tu B’Shevat. The history of the holiday, the Hebrew words for tree parts, customs and rituals were covered in Hebrew and Judaic Studies classes. The recycling and robotics focus was taught during science class. First they worked with recycled materials- long and short cardboard tubes, packing material, (that made great nests,) an old white shirt that when cut up became great snow and eggs for the nests, as well as left over construction paper for leaves and fruit. The group made 4 trees to represent the four seasons and then programmed KIBO to approach each tree and share what it needed. For instance when the light bulb was blue, it was “watering” the tree, white was snow for some trees, red light was sun, When KIBO shook, it was either shaking down fruit or planting some seeds and when KIBO turned in a circle, it was replicating playing in the leaves. When KIBO sang it was making the trees happy.”
Some of the comments from the students were-
The classes enjoyed this multi-day project and worked well in small and large groups as well as planning together for what they were going to do and what KIBO’s parts could represent.
Morah Nechama’s enrichment project group drew pictures of hibernating animals and wrote sentences about their animals. Did you know that bees hibernate and only the queen lives in dirt? Hedgehogs hibernate and sleep in dens. Bears live in their dens over the winter and use different ones each year. The Common Poorwill is the only bird that hibernates usually in a hollow log. Bats love to hang upside down and sleep in caves for up to six months. Chipmunks dig a hole or burrow to hibernate in and often their cheeks bulge out with their stash of food
Tuesday morning the NEJA Upper School celebrated with Rabbi David Fried who made a Siyum on his completion of study of the entire 6 Orders of The Mishnah!
Rabbi Fried spoke about the profound value of daily study of Mishnah and encouraged the students to consider joining the community of learners as the new grand learning cycle begins this Friday.
Finally he spoke about the greatness of SHALOM/Peace, emphasizing that we value vigorous argumentation but always and only in the context of the greater value of respect and honor for our fellow man.
After the special Kaddish and singing, everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast.
10th grade biology presented their 3D cell models on Monday. Student’s creatively displayed cellular components using styrofoam, clay, household materials, and even edible ingredients.
