BEKESHER IN TOUCH WITH HAMC

BEKESHER
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IN TOUCH WITH HAMC
146 Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869 973-584-5530
June 2009 - Sivan/Tammuz 5769
The Year in Review — Looking Forward
Moshe Vaknin, Head of School
The Mishnah says, “In every generation we face a
tremendous challenge.” It could be war, natural
disaster, economic downfall, or all at the same time.
When we stay together as a nation and a people, we
get though the tough times. This past year was one
of those times, when many challenges faced us as
Americans and as Jews.
As the school year nears its end, we look back on
another great HAMC year and look ahead to a
hopeful future. We are blessed to have dedicated
staff and parents, and we are fortunate to be led by
a professional board and an esteemed
administration. But most of all we do what we do for
our students who represent the future of the Jewish
people.
We are so proud to continue our commitment to
excellence. Our Academic Excellence endowment,
which went into effect last year, has enabled us to
take the school to unprecedented heights. For the
second year in a row, each middle school student
received his or her own laptop computer. We now
have a total of five new SMARTBoards installed, and
a few more are on the way. These technological
advances have brought HAMC into the 21st century,
as we embrace innovations in educational practices.
In addition, our 8th graders get personal attention as
part of our newly-established High School Transition
program, which helps them apply to, prepare for,
and transition into the high school of their choice.
through the accreditation process. After a two-year
self study and countless hours of preparation, we
hosted a team visit from the New Jersey Association
of Independent Schools. We are extremely proud of
how impressed the visiting team was and are looking
forward to receiving official confirmation of our
accreditation this summer. The process not only
accentuated the existing positives of the school but
also brought to light improvements we need to
implement to make us even better, which we are
committed to putting into place.
Let me share with you a glimpse of the future. We
are making major plans regarding our media,
computer, and research curriculums. And we have
already received all the permits for a greenhouse
that is now being installed to enhance the science
program. In addition, we are determined to have our
students improve their ability speak Hebrew, so we
are bringing even more innovations in Hebrew
language instruction to all levels. Next year we will
again have an educator from Israel once a week who
will focus on Israel education and Hebrew language
instruction. Spanish will enter its fourth year as part
of the middle school curriculum. Furthermore, our
music and drama programs got a tremendous boost
this year as we all enjoyed seeing our students
perform in Fiddler on the Roof. We are planning to
continue the new drama program so that younger
students can once again take part in putting on a
play for the entire school.
As much as we attend to the needs of our older
students, we take care of our younger ones as well.
The Junior Kindergarten became a reality and has
proven to be a total success. JK improved the
existing four-year-old program by providing a more
academic structure without replacing fun and play,
resulting in our students being even better prepared
for kindergarten. And our dedication to Hebrew
language is now part of the ECC as well; each ECC
class receives at least one formal Hebrew period per
week.
But most of all, derech eretz — values — will be the
heart of our program. We are planning to continue
our comprehensive character education program
throughout the school. With the help of Melissa
Kasmin, our Director of Guidance, and Rabbi Hami,
we will continue to instill menchlechkite values in our
students. And our love of and commitment to Israel
will continue to be a central part of HAMC when the
8th graders go to Israel on a life-changing experience
in the Holy Land.
One of the highlights of the last year was going
I wish you a great restful summer. Let’s do this again
next year.
T his Month in Midot and Character
By Rabbi Hami and Dr. Kasmin
What Jewish values did we teach this month?
This month we discussed Midot relevant to the Mitzvah of Ve'Ahavta L’Reacha Kamocha;
loving your fellow as yourself.
•
We discussed some techniques to help prevent fights
and arguments.
•
We also learned about the concept of judging another
favorably and giving the benefit of the doubt.
•
We reviewed how the Torah compares embarrassing
someone with taking a life. (One who embarrasses
another is considered to have spilled his/her blood.) In
this context we talked about how easy it is to "save
someone's life" by simply refraining from saying a
hurtful comment or joke about others.
Finally, we practiced all these ideas
by pretending someone did or said
something to the other and tried to
react according to the lessons.
Ongoing Fundraisers that anyone
can do…
HAMC has a number of fundraisers
that are ongoing throughout the
school year. Most take no effort and
offer our families and friends an
easy way to participate in fundraising for the school.
☺Acme Blue Register Tapes:
Send in your blue register tapes
from Acme super markets; Acme
will give us a rebate on the total.
☺Boxtops for Education: Clip the
Box Tops symbols found on General Mills and Kleenex products
and send them to the office.
☺Cell Phone Donations: Go to
www.recyclingforcharities.com
for instructions for sending in
Do you or your child
want more of
Midot and Character?
Do you or your child have any
further interests above and beyond
what is addressed in HAMC’s
Midot and Character classes?
Rabbi Hami and Dr. Kasmin are
available to talk with parents and
children individually about Midot,
character development and peer
relationships. Please feel free to
share your concerns or requests
with us and we will be happy to
work with you in meeting your
needs.
every tub of cookie dough you
your phone. Designate HAMC as
your charity of choice, and they
order.
will send us a cash donation on
☺Lands’ End: Clothing purchased
your behalf.
from the Lands’ End School Catalog earn 3% for HAMC. When
☺Genesis Art Prints: Available
ordering, please use the Preferred
for purchase and displayed on the
school number 9000-7519-3.
right wall of the administrative
Catalogs available in the office.
wing opposite the main office are
works of art originally commis☺Recycle Ink Jet Cartridges:
sioned by HAMC based on ParSend in your used ink jet carshas from the Book of Genesis.
tridges (no laser, please!) in a
Information about each piece is
baggie. We recycle and receive a
posted on our website. Parents
rebate on each one.
receive 30% or more Give or Get
☺Schoolpop: Before you shop
credit. Contact Jill Granik for
online, register at
info.
www.schoolpop.com and then use
☺Joe Corbi’s Cookie Dough:
this site for shopping. A
Register at
percentage of your purchases will
www.joecorbisdirect.com and
be rebated to HAMC.
they will send HAMC $4 for
ECC2 Celebrates Mother’s Day
First Grade Gets Their Siddurim
On Wednesday,
May 13, the ECC2
mothers were
invited to a tea.
Together with
their children, the
moms planted
flowers in pots
that they
decorated and ate
homemade goodies. Then the toddlers gave their moms
a very special present. It was a very enjoyable
morning.
Mazal tov to our beautiful 1st graders who made us all
proud at their Siddur program on May 22nd.
ECC3 Travels to Israel
We are at the airport
getting ready to go
through security.
We arrived in the Negev
and went on camel rides.
Then we went to Safed
where we made a Hamsa
with a blessing for our
home.
We visited a Kibbutz
where we picked oranges
for squeezing OJ. We
used the orange’s shell
for planting seeds.
What a wonderful trip we had!
Yasher Koach, Second Graders
On May 27th, our 2nd graders showed us how
much they have learned when they presented
their Chumash program.
Butterflies Go Free
In science, the 2nd graders have been learning
about the life cycle of
a butterfly. Recently,
the butterflies
emerged from their
cocoons, and they were
released them into the
wild. The students
were very excited to
see them fly off.
News from Fourth Grade
Recently, 4th grade
took a trip to
Trenton. They visited
the Old Barracks
Museum and toured
the State House. At
the Old Barracks they
were "inducted" into
the Continental army,
learned how to fire a
musket, and had a
medical exam and
demonstration, including inoculations for small
pox, tooth extraction, leeches, and blood letting.
At the State House they toured the General
Assembly and the Senate. They loved the gilded
dome!
As a culminating
activity to their
study of Colonial
America, the 4th
graders invited
the whole school
to be their
apprentices at
their Colonial
Fair. The
“shoppes” at the fair included Calligraphy,
Quilting, Pottery, Apothecary, Broom Making,
Farming, Tinsmith,
Potpourri, Toy Making, and
Candle Making.
K-5 Celebrates Lag B’Omer at Field Day
Field Day was a
huge success
this year. We
had four
energetic,
spirited, and
team-oriented
captains to lead
our teams. The Orange team was led by Jacob
Warech, Red was
led by Aaron
Nessel, Green was
led by Zach Nessel,
and Blue was led by
Daniel Hakakian.
The students
participated in
various sports and
demonstrated
excellent skills and sportsmanship throughout the
day. The entire
K- 8 HAMC
family was
treated to a
yummy BBQ
lunch sponsored
by the HSA.
Sharon Nessel,
th
8 grade mom, organized a helpful team of
volunteers
who bought,
prepared,
served, and
cleaned up
our lunch.
Thank you to
all who made
this Field Day
a success.
News from Fifth Grade
Israel Day Parade
The 5th grade has been VERY busy!
It was time once again for
the 5th grade’s “whole day
of holes.” On May 28th
the class spent the
morning reading Holes by
Louis Schar. The students
also ate items with holes,
learned math with holes
(circumference), had
recess with holes, and had a whole day of fun.
The 5th graders
created these
beautiful 3-D
geometric
designs after
their study of
geometry. They
created shapes that they had learned about as
well as original designs. Look up at the ceiling
when you walk into room 14.
On May 26th the 5th
grade took a trip to
the Sterling Mine in
Ogdensburg. They
were able to taste the
life of a miner working
in a zinc mine, and they
participated in the
Rock Discovery Center.
On Sunday, May
31st, HAMC
joined the
community of
Jews and
marched up 5th
Avenue in the
Israel Day Parade. Thanks to all the families that
marched with the HAMC. The weather was
magnificent, and we had a great day filled with
pride for Israel and the school!
Post-Graduate Learning
HAMC’s Post Graduate
Learning Program
(PGLP) is especially
designed for HAMC
graduates who do not
continue in a Jewish
high school. With interesting classes such as
Jewish film and modern
conversational Hebrew
taught one evening a week,
we continue to engage our
students, both while they
are here and after they
leave us. This year the
group celebrated Lag
B'omer at Moreh Moshe’s house with a bonfire,
singing, stories, and roasted marshmallows.
Science Happening
nd
On June 2 the
5th graders held
their annual States
Festival, where
research and
yummy snacks from
the states were
shared by all.
Congratulations to all of our 4th
and 5th graders for their
creative egg
packages and
parachutes.
Everyone did a
terrific job
this year!
In Memoriam
Dr. Alvin J. Turner, a cofounder of the Hebrew
Academy of Morris County
and a long-time
periodontist in
Morristown, died May 16
after a long illness.
At the funeral held in the
gymnasium of the school
that he helped to nurture
into existence, Turner was remembered as a man
who embraced life, family, and friends with
passion, warmth and great humor. More than 200
people, among them HAMC parents, staff, and
former presidents and other community leaders
and friends, joined to pay tribute to Turner. “He
would have loved to know it was here and history
came back to visit him,” said former HAMC
president Marilyn Labendz. “All of these people
have a love for Alvin and Charlotte and the
school.”
Dr. Turner, who was a member of the first class
of the Ramaz School, an Orthodox day school in
New York, faced a difficult situation when he had
a family of his own in Morristown in the mid1960s. There was no Jewish day school in Morris
County. So, he helped to start one. Turner joined
with his long-time friends, Dr. Morton
Wertheimer and Beatsie Wertheimer z”l, and
Michael Rubenstein z”l, a local businessman in
Morristown, to get the school off the ground.
The school began with 12 students in 1967 in
classrooms at the Morristown Jewish Center Beit
Yisrael.
His wife, Charlotte, recalled that in the early
years, he gave very generously to keep the school
going. “When the Hebrew Academy was
threatened with extinction because it couldn’t
pay its teachers, Alvin took out a second
mortgage on our home,” Charlotte Turner said.
“He didn’t even think twice about it.”
Among the HAMC’s earliest students was
Turner’s daughter, Judith, who is now director of
volunteer services for Dorot, a non-profit that
seeks to improve the lives of the Jewish elderly
in the New York area.
Turner’s brain has been donated to the Brain
Donation Program for Alzheimer’s for research.
Memorial donations may be made to the
Alzheimer’s Association
(www.alzheimersassociation.com) or Hebrew
Academy of Morris County (www.hamc.org).
SYNAGOGUE DIRECTORY
The Hebrew Academy encourages all our families to participate in activities and events at our neighboring synagogues.
Adat Israel Congregation, Boonton (C), Rabbi Gerald Chirnomas, 973-334-6044
Adath Shalom, Parsippany (C), Rabbi Mark Biller, Cantor
Jack Korbman, 973-539-4440.
Chabad House of NWNJ, Rockaway (O), Rabbi Asher Herson, 973-625-1525
Chabad Jewish Center of NWNJ, Flanders (O), Rabbi
Yaacov Shusterman, 973-927-3531
Chabad House of Randolph (O): Rabbi Avraham Bechor,
973-895-3070.
Congregation Ahavath Yisrael, Morristown (O): Rabbi
Zelig Mandel, 973-267-4184.
Congregation Beth Hatikvah, Chatham (RC): Rabbi Amy
Small, 973-701-1665.
Congregation Shaya Ahavat Torah, Parsippany (O): Rabbi
Shalom Lubin, 973-335-3636.
Jewish Center of Sussex County, Newton (I): Rabbi Cathy
Felix, (973)383-4570.
Lake Hopatcong Jewish Center, Hopatcong: Rabbi Asher
Krief (C), Rabbi Richard Kirsch (O), 973-398-8700.
Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael, Morristown (C):
Rabbi David Joseph Nesson, 973-538-9292.
Mt. Freedom Jewish Center, Randolph (T): 973-895-2100.
Temple B’nai Or, Morristown (R): Rabbi Donald B. Rosoff,
973-539-4539.
Temple Shalom, Succasunna (R): Rabbi David Levy, 973584-5666.
Temple Hatikvah, Flanders (C): Rabbi Moshe Rudin, 973584-0212
White Meadow Temple, Rockaway (C): Rabbi Benjamin
Adler, 973-627-4500.
Kudos and Life Cycle Events
Please send info for this column to [email protected].
If we don’t know about it, we can’t print it.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
for June
(call the school office for more information on any of these events)
Mazal tov to the following families on their new additions:
• Dr. Phillip and Stacey Rubinfeld on the birth of
Alana Eve on May 15th. Big sister Lily is in Ima ve
Ani.
• Douglas and Jennifer Roach on the birth of Morgan
Shayna. Big sister Madison is in ECC2.
• Gail and Dan Filiberto on the birth of their first
grandchild, Grace Dylan Filiberto, on May 19th.
Tues, 6/2
5th grade States Festival
4th grade trip to Monsey, NY
Wed, 6/3
4th-5th grade Science Happening
3rd grade trip to Cooper’s Gristmill
Thu, 6/4
Last scheduled hot lunch
HAMC Dessert Reception at Crystal Plaza
Fri, 6/5
ECC Field Day
Mazal tov to
• Our guidance counselor, Dr. Melissa Kasmin, for
receiving Rutgers’ School of Social Work Dean's
Dissertation Award and graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
• Parent Kathy Neibart, Alumni Parent Susie Scheer,
and HAMC Major Benefactor Paula Gottesman for
becoming B’not Mitzvah.
• Parent Jonathan Ramsfelder for receiving the UJC
Julius and Bessie Cohn Young Leadership Award.
• Willie Nesson ‘02, a Rutgers University junior, on
being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and for being
honored as a student leader by Rutgers Hillel
• Shoshana Beacken ’07 and Lara Blackman ’07 for
being inducted into the National Honors Art Society
at Randolph High School.
• Lara Blackman ‘07 for winning a photography
award at RHS.
Mon, 6/8
7th grade leaves for Philadelphia
Tue, 6/9
Dress Down Day
Hot lunch rescheduled from 5/12
Wed, 6/10
Incoming kindergarteners’ visitation
7th grade returns from Philadelphia
5th-8th grade Science Fair
Thu, 6/11
Volunteers’ Breakfast
3rd grade Wax Museum
HAMC General Meeting
Fri, 6/12
ECC Year-End Program
Last day for ECC students
Final marking period ends
Mon, 6/15
Kindergarten Step-Up Program
Last day for kindergarten students
Thu, 6/18
8th grade graduation
Last day for 8th graders
Fri, 6/19
Last day for 1st-7th graders
12:00 DISMISSAL
Condolences to the following and their families:
• Anthony Bucca and Barrie Archer on the passing of
their brother-in-law, Perry Greenblatt.
• Alumni parent Beverly Bateman on the passing of
her mother, Jenny Meiersdorf.
• Alumni parent David Tammam on the passing of his
brother, Joseph Tammam
May the mourners be comforted among those of Zion and
Jerusalem.
We wish our HAMC families, staff,
and friends a happy and restful
summer. We look forward to
welcoming you back in September.
Please note that the office will be open all summer,
except for Friday, July 3rd
School will begin again on Thursday, September 3rd.
Visit our website to view the 2009-2010 calendar.
Visit the HAMC website: hamc.org