May 2010
Dear  3rd Grade Parents,
We are looking forward to seeing you at our presentation of  “IT’S A SMALL WORLD,” our cultural arts presentation, on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 2 p.m.  Please review the following to see what costumes are required for your child’s presentation.  We will need these items for our dress rehearsal that same morning.   Please have your child wear this clothing or send these items in a bag labeled with your child’s name on Tuesday, May 25, so that we have everything we need for that day.  Thank you so much for your cooperation.  We look forward to seeing you at the presentation.
Regards,
Melissa Jacobson, Drama Department     Meri Cohen, Music Department
 Adrienne Turk, Art Department


3RD GRADE

3C  (THE BALLAD OF DON GATO):  DON GATO (ELI REITMAN):  WHITE BUTTON DOWN SHIRT, BLACK PANTS, CLOSED SHOES
LADY CAT (ZOE CRAMER):  WHITE BLOUSE, LONG FLOWING SKIRT, CLOSED SHOES
DOCTORS (NICOLE BERMAN, SHANE FRIEDMAN, ARIELA LAURIA, JACOB MEEKS, EVAN JOSZA, ALLISON BERKNER):  WHITE LAB COAT OR LONG BUTTON DOWN WHITE SHIRT
PALLBEARERS (ELISABETH STAHL, SYDNEY BOROWSKI, JENNA TUCKER, JACOB GREEN):  BLACK TOPS AND LONG BLACK PANTS, CLOSED SHOES
FISH SELLER (NOAH SHULMAN):  WHITE LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS, WHITE APRON (WE WILL PROVIDE APRON), CLOSED SHOES
SLATE HOLDER (ALEX BLANCHARD): WHITE LONG SLEEVE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS, CLOSED SHOES

3B (THE MEXICAN HAT DANCE):
BOYS AND GIRLS:  MEXICAN SOMBREROS, SARAPES (FRINGED SCARVES), GREEN TOPS, LONG DARK PANTS OR SKIRTS

3A (COYOTE AND THE LAUGHING BUTTERFLIES)
COYOTE (ABRAHAM LITWIN-LOGAN):  BROWN TOP/LONG BROWN PANTS
MRS.  COYOTE (ALANA RUDINSKY):  BROWN TOP/LONG BROWN PANTS OR SKIRT
CACTUS (MICHAEL SEDLACK): GREEN TOP, DARK PANTS
LIZARDS (BEN LESSERSON/ALEX DOW):  DARK GREEN TOPS, LONG DARK PANTS
BEAVERS (AMANDA FRANK, SARAH ACKERMAN, LUKE WEISBERG):  BROWN TOPS/LONG DARK PANTS
BUTTERFLIES (JOSIE LESSER (1ST BUTTERFLY), DEBORAH GOTTENGER, ELI FENTON, HAYLEY HUBER, ETHAN BLATT, SAPIR FRIDMAN, ADAM  HEROLD):  BRIGHT COLOR TOP, LONG DARK PANTS

Please bring in any butterfly wings that you have for rehearsal.

Please review these lyrics at home and practice your dance moves.  Don't forget to tell your parents about the It's A Small World Cultural Festival performance on May 25 at 2 p.m.

In America we dance on a dance floor
and in Spain they will dance on a table,
And in Russia they dance with a saber
and in Mexico they dance with a hat!
Oh they dance on hot coals in Calcutta
in Wisconsin they dance on fresh butta
Which they squeeze from one cow or an udda.
and in Mexico they dance with their hats

In Mexico they dance with a derby
or sometimes they dance with a cap
They will throw a fedora
wherever the floor is
and start doing horas and taps!

In America we dance on a dance floor
and in Spain they will dance on a table,
And in Russia they dance with a saber
and in Mexico they dance with a hat!
Oh they dance on hot coals in Calcutta
in Wisconsin they dance on fresh butta
Which they squeeze from one cow or an udda.
and in Mexico they dance with their hats

We are finally here! After a crazy long airplane ride, we landed safely and very happily. Then on to the desert we were. As soon as we arrived at the Beduin camp site, we rode camels which was quite an adventure. Some children rode camels through the desert, while the rest rode donkeys. It was so much fun and so unique to see the sun setting behind the mountains in the desert. After the camels, our 8th grade class learned a bit about the culture of the Beduin while they welcomed us with coffee, tea, and bread all made before our eyes. Following our little culture lesson, we got cleaned up and that night was incredible. Words cannot describe the power of a silent desert at night under a blanket of endless stars with people that you can call your family. Praying in a circle and actually understanding the words we were saying in the Shema, the meaning attached to Rabbi Yaron's words as he explained to us about how Abraham had blind faith in G-d and how our ancestors wandered in a desert similar to the one we were in. That night, everyone felt some sort of connection to G-d or to their Jewish heritage and it was absolutely beautiful. Now today... we woke up at four in the morning to tea and cookies and a happy birthday wish to Yaron. We hiked up the Roman's path to Masada and prayed in the temple on top of Masada. Then we sat on top of the bathhouse together and meditated in absolute silence as we watched the sun slowly climb over the mountains. We sang Hatikvah and learned about Masada's history while we walked around and explored. Then the time for the long journey down the snake path had arrived. No one was hurt, but it was very hot. We ate breakfast, swam/floated in the dead sea, and then went on a small hike to Nachal David. There awaited beautiful waterfalls and perfect picture locations. Lunch then a quick visit to the Ahava factory was followed by our trip to Jerusalem. It was peaceful, gorgeous, and so special for both those who had been in Jerusalem before and those who were "first timers". Our hotel is very nice; it is simple with an incredible view of a the walls of the old city and gorgeous buildings. At the moment, we (the students), are all showering, relaxing, and getting ready for shabbat at the Kotel (Western Wall). This experience is beyond words and students are already opening up and connecting. It truly is beautiful to see. Yaron will be posting videos of our many adventures very soon.

The forms needed to enter are on the Doodle 4 Google site on the "Info for Schools" tab. 
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/info.html

Look at the blue box that says Necessary Forms and print and fill out the Entry Form and the Parent Consent form. Any information about Meyer Academy we will fill in for you.  Also the Doodle Templates are where you can find many versions of the Google Logo for your child to doodle on. Good luck and remember that the deadline is March 19th.

*January-February in Art*

Happy New Year!!

Grade 1 : Students enjoyed working on “space drawings” using construction paper crayons on black paper.  Students then had a fun time experimenting with stencils and different materials to create unique projects.  Next they will learn about the famous artist Henri Matisse (ahn-REE mah-TEESS ) and create drawings and cut-paper collages based on his colorful work.  Take a look at this website for some "Fauvist" fun.  "Fauve" is french for "wild beast."   http://www.artbma.org/flash/F_conekids.swf

Grade 2:   Students worked together to create an AMAZING expressive backdrop for their upcoming torah ceremony.  Next they will complete individual drawings of Mt. Sinai after discussing how artists can depict the natural world in different ways, from realistic to imaginative.

Grade 3:  Students are having a blast making unique sculptures out of self-hardening clay.  The clay sculptures will be painted and taken home soon.  If they don’t make it home in one piece - due to the fragile nature of this material - regular craft (Elmer’s) glue should work.  Next they will learn about the art of Georgia O’Keeffe and how she created her extraordinary large scale drawings and paintings of flowers.    

Grade 4:  Students are learning about the American Realist artists Grant Wood, Edward Hopper and Thomas Hart Benton.  Each student will choose one of these artists to create an artist-inspired artwork based on the style and/or theme used by the chosen artist.  They will also learn about methods and techniques of oil pastels.  Next they will learn about the art and life of the famous Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Grade 5:  Students learned about how Vincent van Gogh used color to express his emotion and are creating wonderful  and expressive pastel drawings based on his famous painting Starry Night.  Next, they will learn about the art and culture of Japan and create a number of projects from our studies, including “gyodan” Japanese faux food.

6^th Grade Art Elective:  My wonderful elective class is coming to an end.  They had an amazing art experience creating Abstract Expressionist drip paintings after learning about the life and work of Jackson Pollock.  The new elective starts soon and we will begin with reviewing the basic elements and principles of art.

Grade 7:  Students created wonderful “flip books” showing a simple action or story.  They will soon be working on collaborative door murals for national “No Name Calling Week.” 

Grade 8:  Congratulations on your amazing Maccabiah banners!!!! Students enjoyed the “paper tower contest” to build the tallest structure using only plain paper and tape.  They will soon be working on collaborative door murals for national “No Name Calling Week.”