Remind your parents about your performance on June 3 at  1 p.m.

Go over your lines

Work on ideas for your costumes, start gathering materials

Hard to believe how amazing Shabbat in Jerusalem is. After checking in to our hotel (it's nice and simple, not fancy but has all that we need and is located in the best place in town, a few minutes walk from the old city!) We all dressed up and walked to the Kotel. The walk itself was an experience as a river of people were headed the same direction as us, other tours, orthodox families, young Yeshiva students - all walking in a hurry to greet Shabbat. We arrived to the Kotel, made a circle and had our own Kabbalat Shabbat, then we stepped down to the Wall and had an opportunity to pray. When we returned to our group Yaron surprised us with letters from home - I can't even stat describing the excitement...and the tears. We walked back to the hotel, had dinner and could barley stay awake until dessert - we were just exhausted...everyone slept like a baby last night.

We began our Saturday morning Shabbat in Jerusalem by going to breakfast. Who would have known that the view from the dining room at a youth hostel would be so beautiful? The view from the area where we had breakfast was unbelievable! Everyone tried new things such as the wonderful fruits from Israel or the 5 different cheeses they serve. We moved on to a short walk to the Big Synagogue of Jerusalem (Beit Ha'Kenesset ha'Gadol). The girls and boys sat separately. Everyone was amazed at the beautiful art work (especially the glass windows) It was amazing to see the ark open and the amount of Torah's inside the ark. After spending an hour at this synagogue, the entire group took a walk to these tents where people protest about the situation with Gilad Shalit. There were three women there who explained a little bit about the cause and gave everyone the choice of signing a piece of paper saying that they support and are aware of what is going on. Yaron spoke about how we as Jews don't just talk about justice - we act on it as well. 

 Walking back to the hostel, we decided to take a rest under a shady tree. There everyone sat in a circle and shared their thoughts from their experiences. Some people made really wonderful comments about the way that everyone is getting along and that the thought of who is sitting next to you while we sit in a circle doesn't matter anymore. When we eventually arrived back to Beit Shmuel, we had a beautiful lunch where everyone found something that they liked to eat! We sang V'shamru and the blessing after the meal. Everyone had four hours to relax before meeting up again to go for a walk.

 Many students had visitors and others just enjoyed the company of their friends. After saying goodbye to everyone who had come to visit, we went for a walk to the first building built outside of the Walls of the old city. Everyone learned something new from the many things that were said. Later on we walked up Mount Zion to the Wall that surrounds Jerusalem. Our thanks were expressed to Will G. and Andrew K. for helping get Spencer J. all the way up with his hurt leg! We visited a room that is in a building that is both King David’s Tomb and The place Christian tradition mentions as the last supper room. But its not all - the two rooms are all in an old mosque. Yaron talked about coexistence in Jerusalem and we held hands and sung the song "Salam."

During dinner Yaron taught the true words of the blessing after the meal to everyone since there had been confusion about it earlier that day. The Havdalah service was full of high sprits since we were joined by a Rabbi Aron and his friend Erez the singer. Time to go to bed... Tomorrow we have a great day ahead of us! Shavua Tov!

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.

Glogster
Students in middle school  are continuing  to work with Glogster this week.  In an interdisciplinary unit between language arts, Jewish studies,  and technology,  the students will learn a new way to spice up reports and make learning and sharing exciting.  The students will be creating electronic, interactive posters online  in computer class on a Jewish studies topic to be assigned by the Jewish studies teachers.  These posters will be shared online at Glogster.com.

Public Service Annoncements
The sixth and seventh graders continue to create their public service announcements on iMovie.  They are incorporating many of their public speaking techniques which they have just learned in language arts class, as well as research skills and writing skills to come up with wonderful PSA's.  They can't wait to share these later with their parents and friends.

Welcome to Glogster
Students in middle school  are being introduced to Glogster this week.  In an interdisciplinary unit between language arts and technology,  the students will learn a new way to spice up reports and make learning and sharing exciting.  The students will be creating electronic, interactive posters online  in computer class on a Jewish studies topic to be assigned by the Jewish studies teachers.  These posters will be shared online at Glogster.com.

PowerPoint/Keynote

The sixth and seventh graders are completing their presentations of their slide shows in class.  The presentations have been outstanding!   Just some of my personal favorites have been:

Scuba Diving by Noah (6B)
The Baltimore Orioles by Jakob (6B)
Origami by Ori (6B)
Gymnastics by Samantha (6B)
Snakes by Nicole (6B)

New York by Stephen (7A)
Washington, DC by Austin (7C)

Congratulations go to all the students for doing such a fine job!   I am especially proud if those listed above. 

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.

Please put your script in a three ring one inch binder and bring it and a sharpened pencil to every class. Please read through your new script. For a trip to the treasure box (contains chocolate!!), solve the following problem: How to divide the parts so that seven people can play 14 parts! Hint: Remember, an actor cannot play two characters that are in the same scene. See you on Friday! Have a great long weekend!

Power Point/ KeyNote

The students in sixth and seventh grades are working on their Power Point and Key Note presenations.  Seventh graders have the option to use KeyNote ( Apple's Version of PowerPoint) on which to do their projects.  We began by researching the Internet for ideas, topics, and information.  Then we created our first slide learning or reviewing inserting pictures, text boxes, and clip art.  We will be animating these objects and continuing to add slides with additional information.  We have inserted sound and learned how to insert hyperlinks.

These presentations should be finished in the next week or so.