Denver JDS Shofar – August 21, 2014

Denver JDS Shofar – August 21, 2014
Calendar of Upcoming Events
• August 26 – Picture Day
• August 26 – Board of Trustees Meeting, 8:00am in the Discovery Lab
• August 26 – Grade 10 Parent Meeting About ICE Program – 4:00-5:00pm
• August 26 – Lower Division Back To School Night – 6:30pm for K-2, 7:15pm for 3-5
• August 28 – Upper Division Back To School Night – 6:30pm
• August 29 – Kabbalat Shabbat for K-5 at 2:15pm in the Strear Family Gymnasium
• September 1 – Labor Day, No School
• September 3 – PTO Meeting; 8:15am in the Lower Division Lunch Room
CEO/Head of School
Welcome to the 2014-15 school year. We are having an amazing first week of school. I hope your
children have been as happy in school these first few days as we are to have them here at Denver
Jewish Day School.
Once again I am pleased to introduce you to our weekly e-newsletter called the Shofar. Each
Thursday (or Friday at the latest) we will send you the link to the Shofar or Mini Shofar (a shorter
version of our e-newsletter) by email. Please be sure to read the Shofar each week as we rely on it
as one of our main sources of communication between the school and parents. The Shofar is also
archived on our web site at denverjds.org on the Community page so you can always go back and
check older editions of the e-newsletter.
One of our goals this year is to take our communication to the next level. Our school is amazing and
we want to make sure you know about all the incredible things that going on. We communicate in
many different ways so I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of them.
Our teachers have informative websites that they will be updating regularly. Teachers will also
communicate with you be email so be sure to check you inboxes regularly so that you are well
informed. Denver JDS uses facebook to share updates about things going on at school as well as,
photos, videos and more. We update our page frequently so we encourage you to search for Denver
Jewish Day School on facebook and “like” us in order stay in the facebook loop. Denver JDS also has
a Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/denverjds) and a YouTube account (http://www.youtube.com/user/
Denver JDS Shofar August 21, 2014 - Page 1
DenverJDS). Our Twitter updates also appear on the home page of our web site so you don’t need to
use Twitter to see the updates. We use Twitter primarily to provide reminders about events and
updates about things happening in school. Of course we will also communicate by phone and in
person. Suffice it to say that communicating with you is a priority and we are eager to inform you and
listen to you.
I look forward to seeing you at one or both of our Back To School Nights next week.
Shabbat Shalom,
Avi Halzel
Head of School/CEO
Fall BLAST registration will open at 9am on Monday August 25 and close at 5pm on Friday August 29.
Click here for the link that will go live on Sunday night.
Lower Division
Well it is finally here; we are so excited to embark
on the 2014-2015 school year. We spent the
summer preparing and planning and we are so
thrilled to finally have our students back in the
building again. I am amazed at how much your
children have grown over the summer. Everyone
seems to be just a little bit taller and more mature
as they enter the new school year. Here in the
Lower Division we are planning for a wonderful year
of learning and growth for all of our students. We
look forward to nurturing, supporting, watching and
celebrating each academic, social and personal
growth milestone with your children. We hope to see you all at back to school night next week where
we will share more about the 2014-2015 school year and some exciting plans we have in store. This is
also an important opportunity to learn more about your child’s upcoming year from his/her teachers.
Lower Division Back To School Night - August 26th
6:30-7:00 – K-2 in Classrooms
7:15-7:45 – K-5 in Strear Family Gymnasium
8:00-8:30 – 3-5 in Classrooms
Don’t forget hot lunch registration is due tonight at 7:00pm.
The first Lower Division Kabbalat Shabbat will be held on August 29th at 2:15pm in the Strear Family
Gymnasium. Parents are encouraged to join us!
Mazel tov to all of our teachers, parents and students on a wonderful start to the new school year!
Warmly,
Elana & Shira
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Upper Division
Important Dates:
• September 2 - Powerschool is Live,
• September 2 - Grade 9 Starts Off Campus Privilege (with Parent Permission)
Great First Week
Congratulations to students, teachers and staff for such a good beginning of the school year. We are
particularly excited to have welcomed 36 new students to the Upper Division this week.
Picture Day is Tuesday
Please note that picture day is this Tuesday, August 26th. Forms are available in the Upper Division Office for
group and individual photos. You can also order and purchase individual packages by going to
www.mylifetouch.com and referencing code: CG024540YO
Back to School Night is next Thursday
Back to School Night in the Upper Division is on Thursday, August 28th at 6:30pm Parents will have the
opportunity to experience an abbreviated version of their students' schedule of classes and to hear about the
upcoming year from each of their students' teachers. Please be here before 6:30 and allow a few extra minutes
to park and to pick up your student's schedule of classes. Note that there will not be an opening assembly;
parents who arrive late are likely to miss some of the teachers' classroom presentations. Please note that
parents of students’ in 6th grade should arrive at 5:45 for a light dinner and an orientation to the Upper Division
before the night begins at 6:30. Sixth grade parents joining the dinner and presentation should RSVP to Robin
Helgerson [email protected].
Sports Forms/Fees
Please make sure if your student is participating in a fall sport
(volleyball, soccer) that all forms and fees have been turned
in at your earliest convenience. You can go to denverjds.org
to download forms. This year payments will be added to
your tuition statement through smart tuition. Fall participants
will be billed on September 18th. Prior to that date students
may opt out of a sport at no charge. If you have any
questions contact Josh Lake at [email protected]. If you
need financial assistance contact Cindy Boger at
[email protected].
Support your School
Welcome back for another exciting year.
October 13 7:00pm our first ever adults only Sukkah Schmooze! This fun evening will include dinner and
cocktails. All DJDS parents are invited to eat, drink, and enjoy a fun program! Watch your inbox for details, and
thanks to Lisa Fogel (Samuel-12 and Yaakov-10) and Lisa Engbar (Malka-5 and Levi-3) for spearheading this fun
parent mixer! Cost to attend is $25/person. Invitation and details coming soon.
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Do you have a Denver JDS King Soopers Card?
We get 5% back from all dollars loaded onto the school-linked cards. If you shop at King Soopers, please
use the Denver JDS King Soopers reloadable card. When you use the card, you get points/cash on your credit
card and help the school receive 5% of any amount you load onto your card. In a good month, the school gets
up to $1,000 from Kings. These dollars go directly back into the classroom and help all our teachers and kids
with educational tools. Please call or email Krista at 720-449-9552, [email protected] to get one or more
cards for all your family grocery and gas needs. Give one to grandparents to use too. Thank you!!
Apple Walk on September 9 - Please click here for pledge forms for your student and the letter of
explanation. Students will walk/run during gym class on September 9th to launch our year-long annual appeal.
We thank parents and grandparents for their support of all students.
Grow your School
Welcome to the new school year! It has been wonderful seeing our returning and new families join us!
We were thrilled to welcome 50 new students to DJDS this year!
There are some terrific upcoming events that we want you to know about and please save the dates for
these terrific community builders and learning opportunities:
Run. Schvitz. Kibbitz.
Malena Jackson (Geddy-5, Yonah-3 and (Peninah-K) and Shirley Gien (Eli-3 and Oliva-K) are organizing a
running club for the DJDS community. They will organize runs and let DJDS folks know about upcoming
races so that DJDS community members can find each other at these events! If you are interested in
getting on their mailing list, please sign up in the Upper or Lower Division office. Find out more here.
September 14 9:30-Noon "Tween Talks, Understanding and Supporting your 4th-8th grader"
Parents in grades 4-8, please join us in the Upper Division for this informational event. Workshops led
by DJDS faculty and expert parents will be followed by wisdom from keynote speaker Dr. Harley Rotbart.
This event is free of charge and open to the Denver community, so please invite a friend! Register at
denverjds.org "Upcoming Events."
This is just the beginning! Watch this section of the Shofar for more about adult learning opportunities
and fun events at DJDS!
And remember, we love to welcome new people to our community. Know a great prospective family?
Come see Shayna to talk about how we can welcome them to our terrific school!
PTO
Room Parents Wanted -- All Grades
Room parents assist the teachers, parents, and PTO in communicating with each other. They also help organize
class projects and field trips. The room parents are responsible for finding volunteers, not necessarily for
doing all the work themselves. This is a great way to get involved and to meet the parents of your child’s
classmates.
Room parents are also instrumental for communicating simchas and sad occurrences to the class. Being a room
parent is a great way to assist families in need and keep the class informed.
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If you would be interested in helping in this way or if you have any questions about becoming a room parent,
please contact the room parent coordinator, Rachel Green (Sara-7, Michael-5, and Jessica-2) at
[email protected].
Thank you!
To Amy Topelson (Sydney-5 and Ilana-1) for helping with the PTO ice cream at the back to school picnic, and Jill
and Stuart Bombel (Ellie-4) for their leadership this week with the Back to School Coffee!
There are many ways to get involved with PTO and support our school--Please contact Melanie Gruenwald
(Koby-4, Hannah & Micah-1) for more info: [email protected] or (303) 949-8321
Entertainment Books Are Here!
Get your 2014-2015 Entertainment book before they run out! Entertainment books will be for sale in the Lower
Division front office for $30. Entertainment books offer a variety of discounts on local restaurants, amusement
parks, movie theaters, ski resorts and more helping families to save hundreds of dollars! All proceeds will
benefit DJDS PTO. Box Tops for Education—time to start clipping
Get those scissors ready; it is time for box top clipping. Each box top you clip and bring in is worth 10 cents to
the school! Send in box tops with your student. There is a box top collection container in every grade. The
class that has the most collected box tops and the class that has the most box tops per student will earn an ice
cream party at the end of the year.
There are hundreds of products that have box tops on them. Click here to see how you can easily help DJDS
earn money.
Remember done't throw away or recycle free money, bring those box tops in to school. If you have questions
about the Box Top for Education program please contact Mona Jacobson (Shira Miller-4) at [email protected]. Community News
CAJE
Parents – Take some time to learn for yourself!
CAJE offers a variety of classes around the city, both during the day and in the evening. This year’s classes
include “So, Nu?” which serves as an experiential introduction to Jewish vocabulary, “Wrestling with Prayer”
which seeks to strengthen your connection to prayer and God, “Beyond Borders” which is a text-based history
of the Arab/Israeli conflict, and much more! Information about these and other classes can be found at
www.caje-co.org/adult-education or by contacting Director of Adult Education, Sarah Levy, at [email protected]
JCC
Join JCC Family Programs and Swallow Hill Music this Sunday, August 24 at 3 pm at the JCC, for our Back To
School Concert with Jonny Barber. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit http://
swallowhillmusic.org/denver-concerts/station-wagon-sessions-road-trip/aug-24-2014-3-00-pm/
Israel Emergency Campaign Parlor Meeting
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Our brethren are in need. Please join us at our home on Tuesday, August 26th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm to be
updated on the current situation in Israel and learn how you can help. Please click here to view the
invitation in your browser and RSVP. Feel free to pass this along to anyone else who may be interested.
David & Nancy Kaufman
The Denver Jewish Bowling League sponsored by B'nai Brith Begins its 68th Year
All Jewish Men & Women are invited to join The Denver Jewish Bowling League starting its 68th consecutive
year of bowling.
First night: 6 P.M. Thursday September 4, 2014. The league bowls every Thursday evening @ 6:30 P.M. at AMF
Monaco Lanes (Leetsdale & Monaco)
All JEWISH Men & Women are invited to join. No experience is necessary. 4 person teams. Individuals will be
placed with a Team.
This is a handicapped league which allows for inexperienced bowlers to compete with the higher bowlers. The
League is affiliated with the US Bowling Congress & the B'nai B'rith International Bowling League which offer
Trophy's & Prizes.
The Denver Jewish Bowling League observes all Jewish Holidays falling on Thursdays as well as Thanksgiving,
Christmas, New Years. The League will bowl for 26-28 weeks thru the end of April. For more information please contact Connie Suson (303) 399-0035 or League President, Ed Koplin @ (720)
480-9079 or League Secretary Shel Speigelman (720) 291-5500.
Smokey Joe’s Kosher BBQ
Enjoy a delicious BBQ and support family, youth and Shabbat programs. All proceeds to benefit Rodef Shalom,
JCC South and JOI. Sunday, August 31 at 6:00 pm at Silo Park - 9300 E Orchard Road. Please click here to view
the flyer.
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