Abrams Extra May 18, 2018

 

 

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ABRAMS EXTRA

In This Issue
Candle Lighting
Translate the Extra
Budowsphere
8th Grade at the U.S. Embassy
Abrams in the News
Toiletries Drive to Benefit Homeless
Outreach at Klein JCC
After School High School Program
Student Government
Toiletries Drive to Benefit Homeless
Science Fair
Security Reminders
Cell Phone Rules
Recruitment
Donor Support
Oorah
School Lunches
Car Pool Rules
Abrams Notes
Dress Code Rules

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May 18, 2018/ 4 Sivan

 

Candle Lighting 7:54 pm/

Bamidbar

 

 

 

Translate the Extra-
Hebrew and Russian 
Translate the Abrams Extra:

 

Translated by Google Translate

 

 

 

Budowsphere

Rabbi Budow
 
Dear Parents:
We are now celebrating Shavuot, the time of year when we received the Torah. The Torah commands us to follow many mitzvot, but there are some that are mentioned repeatedly so that we do not forget their importance.
One of the mitzvot mentioned many times is the obligation to help the needy and downtrodden. The Torah commands us to be kind to the widow who has lost her husband and must provide for her family on her own. The Torah tells us this over and over again so that we understand how important the fulfillment of this obligation is to Hashem.
Another of the mitzvot mentioned repeatedly is to be kind to the convert because Jews know what it is like to be a stranger in a strange land. I understand why the Torah emphasizes the importance of embracing the convert, since we Jews often look down somewhat on people who were not born to Judaism. The Torah reminds us that we were once strangers, too.
I often think about the uniqueness of Abrams and its mission to reach out to all Jews, no matter the level of observance or background. Many area Jewish high schools have strict acceptance requirements and rigorous vetting processes for new students, often turning away applicants. Since there are very few Jewish high school options in the region, many of these rejected children are forced to attend public schools where they do not continue to learn and practice their Jewish values. When I think about these rejected students, I remember the story of Ruth, who came from Moab and converted to Judaism. Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David, one of whose descendants will be the Messiah, and yet I wonder if she would be accepted at any of our local Jewish high schools today. That is why I say that we should not take the issue of turning people away lightly- who knows who that person will become one day?
Abrams embraces Jews from every walk of life and every denomination. I am friends with area Rabbis running the gamut from the Orthodox to the Reconstructionist, and our families include American-born Jews, Israelis, and Russians. Abrams’ mission is to bring Judaism to anyone who wants it- we do not believe in closing our doors to children. Obviously, there is the occasional time when we cannot accommodate a child, but that is a rare occurrence. When our children are ready to graduate I try my best to encourage them to continue at a Jewish high school and do everything possible to get them accepted. I do not take my responsibility to our mission lightly. I believe that Abrams is doing the work that Hashem wants in truly being a kiruv (outreach) school.
It is vitally important to keep Abrams alive- there is no other school in the area that actively seeks to welcome everyone with an open door policy and the belief that every Jewish child is a jewel. This being said, we are beginning a campaign to ensure that Abrams will continue to exist for many years to come. Hashem has been good to us through EITC, Oorah, Children’s Scholarship Fund, and many generous donors, but in order to really secure our future we must retire our mortgage. Abrams needs someone to recognize the uniqueness and value of a school like Abrams and step forward to eliminate the mortgage obligation. The person or entity providing this funding will be given naming rights to the campus, but the real reward and Nachas will come from sharing in the mitzvot that our graduates will perform throughout their lives.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Ira Budow

 

 

8th Grade at U.S. Embassy Site
Abrams 8th Grade Visits Site of
U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem
Abrams’ 8th grade students were privileged to experience a truly historic moment during their Israel trip when they were the first group to visit the new site of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. The Abrams group was there on May 4, 2018, which was the day the new sign was erected.
As we all know, pictures are “worth a thousand words,” so please enjoy these photos of the 8th grade graduates in front of the new embassy sign. We at Abrams are proud to be both Americans and Zionists, and these photos demonstrate what Abrams is all about.

 

Abrams in the News
 
Abrams in the Jewish Exponent!
 
Read this week’s Jewish Exponent article about the Abrams’ 8th grade Israel trip quoting Rabbi Budow and our students:
 

Middle School “Bible Bee”
 

 

 

“Bible Bee”Celebrates Yom Yerushalayim 
The middle school competed in a “Bible Bee” celebrating Yom Yerushalayim last week. The students studied 100 facts about Jerusalem and took a written quiz on what they learned. The children with the top 10 scores competed in a “Bible Bee,” and three of them tied for first place.
 
Finalists:
 

 

David Abergel
Sarah Adler
Adam Beigman
Yonatan Gabay
Jordan Matlis
Michelle Schvartsman
Isabelle Waksman
Daveed Zamkov
Dean Zemer

 

Winners:
 
Yonatan Gabay
Michelle Schvartsman
Isabelle Waksman

 

Congratulations to all of the participants!

Outreach at Klein JCC


 

Community Outreach

 

Abrams continues its outreach within the Jewish community.  Last week Morah Sonia, Morah Raya, Rabbi O, and the Bnot Sherut visited the Klein JCC in North East Philadelphia with the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes.  The children had a great time singing Hebrew and Russian songs and dancing with the residents.
Special thanks to Diana Pivenshteyn for helping coordinate this special event.

After School High School Program
 
AFTER SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL 
HEBREW/JUDAIC STUDIES PROGRAM

 

 

Dear Abrams parents of graduating 8th graders:
I would like to remind you that Abrams Hebrew Academy is continuing to offer an after school high school level Hebrew and Judaic Studies program for the 2018/19 school year. The 2 hour class is taught by Morah Sonia Arusy and focuses on spoken Hebrew Language and current Jewish topics (holidays, Israel news, etc.).
This program was started by a group of parents as an after-school Hebrew/Judaic Studies activity and has been very successful. The students enjoy practicing their Hebrew, discussing Jewish holidays and current events, and keeping in touch with each other post-Abrams.
Class is held once a week in the evening at Abrams. This year the class was held on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. The schedule may change next year depending on the students’ high school schedule. The 2018-19 classes will begin after the holidays during the first week of October and will last until the end of May. The final day and time will be determined at the end of the summer once the high school schedules are published. There are approximately 40 meetings in total.
The affordable tuition defrays the cost of the teacher’s salary, and financial assistance is available from Abrams to any interested student who wants to attend. Tuition for the year -TBA.

 

If you and your future 9th grader are interested in participating in this program please send this form with a refundable $50 registration commitment fee to the school office before June 15.
 Best,
Rabbi Ira Budow
 ***************************
 My Son/Daughter _______________________ will be joining the 2018-19 Abrams After School Hebrew/Judaic Studies program.
Enclosed is my $50 registration fee.
Parent Signature_____________________________

Click below to print out form:

 

Student Government
 
Disney
Disney Day will be on Wednesday, May 23rd

 

 

Cupcakes will be sold for $1

 

Toiletries Drive to Benefit Homefront
 

 

Toiletries for the Homeless Drive 
 

 

Mon. April 30, 2018 – Wed. May 30, 2018

 

 

Ms. Abramowitz and Mrs. Zuazo have organized a toiletries drive collecting personal care items to be delivered to Homefront in Ewing, NJ. 
 
Homefront is an organization that provides housing, furniture, food, emergency assistance and education programs to homeless people living within the local community.
Suggested Items: 
Shampoo
Conditioner
Deodorant
Body lotion
Soap
Liquid soap
Mouthwash
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Shaving lotion/gel
Brushes
Combs

 

Please bring donated items to Ms. Abramowitz’s or Mrs. Zuazo’s classrooms.

 

 

All items must be new and unopened

 

Science Fair

 

 

Abrams Hebrew Academy invites YOU to participate in the Science Fair on Friday, June 8th. All students in grades K-5 are eligible to participate and students in grades 6 & 7 participation is required.
 
Choose how you would like to join in the fun.
Do you want to:
  • Complete a science experiment?
  • Try the engineering challenge?
  • Enter the photo contest?
Choose one and complete the registration form below. All entry forms should be returned to school by Friday, June 2nd.
Photo Contest:
Students are challenged to take a picture that “Celebrates the Outdoors”. Print out an 8″ by 10 “and mat the picture so you can see your name and title of the photo. Also, email Mrs. Hamacher a digital file of your picture by sending it to: ahamacher@abramsonline.org
Engineering Challenge:
Devise a safety helmet or device for a standard large egg. Egg will be dropped from the second story to see if it can handle the stress of the fall without cracking open.
Science Experiment:
Students should choose a topic to explore and design a scientific experiment to test. Students will display their results and present their findings to a science judge. Check out the links below to get you started!

 

 

 

 

Safety and Security Reminders

 

padlock

Reminder- AHA Security Procedures:

  • All parents should use the front door to enter the school with key cards and not the back doors. Parent swipe cards only work at front door.
  • Please do not ask students to open any doors– parents must report to the front office and check-in before entering the school.
  • No student or other person should use the lunchroom doors other than for dismissal or emergency purposes.

These rules are for our children’s safety.

Thank you for your cooperation!

 

 

 

Cell Phone Rules
 
REMINDER: Cell Phone Rules
 
Electronic devices have become a common means of communication and information access in today’s society.  However, these devices have the potential of disrupting the orderly operation of school.  Our cell phone/personal electronic devices policy is designed to keep the focus on education.
At the start of the school day, all cell phones MUST BE TURNED OFF (NOT IN SILENT MODE) AND STORED IN THE STUDENT’S LOCKER OR BOOK BAG FROM 8:30 AM UNTIL 3:30 PM. Students are not permitted to carry them on their person or to use them to make or receive any calls or text messages during the given time.
If a student has an emergency, and needs to be in contact with someone, she/he must use a school phone, or have the permission of  a faculty member, to use his/her cell phone.  Parents should contact the school office, if they have an emergency message for their
Child(ren).
Electric devices, such as iPods, or hand-held gaming devices may be used on the bus/van transportation to/from school, prior to school, and following school.   Students must turn off and place these items in their locker/backpack during school hours.
If any of these items are out at the inappropriate time, they will be confiscated by staff, and given to the director of discipline.
Students will be allowed to bring cell phones on school trips for emergency use only.  Any hand-held gaming device will be the responsibility of the students on a school trip.
The school is not responsible for lost, misplaced, damaged or stolen electronic devices/cell phones.
CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE ABOVE RULES:
1st Offense – Phone confiscated, and returned at the end of the day.
2nd Offense – Phone confiscated, returned at the end of the day, and written notification that requires parent signature.
3rd Offense – Phone confiscated, and parent must pick up phone from director of discipline.
4th Offense – Suspension from school

 

 

Recruitment
 
“New Family Recruitment”
Open houses in people’s homes is an effective way to meet with families who are potentially interested in enrolling their children at Abrams. Rabbi Budow and a small group of faculty members are happy to travel to meet informally with your friends and neighbors to discuss the advantages and opportunities that Abrams offers to Jewish children.
If you would like to volunteer to host one of these gatherings, please contact Rabbi Budow.

 

Support AHA Donor Businesess
Abrams is greatly appreciative of all of the benefactors who donate generously to the school through participation in EITC, LLC, grants, cash donations, etc. Many of these donors are business owners, and Abrams encourages the AHA community to support the businesses of these people whose largess supports the school.
Some of these generous people are:
McCaffrey’s Food Market
Team Toyota
Swartz & Culleton
Rothenberg Law Firm
Flager & Associates
Princeton Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Marcus & Auerbach

 

Marlowe, Zwillenberg & Ghaderi
Your Eyes Center

Espresso Cafe

Center For SmartLipo & Plastic Surgery
* This is not a complete list- we will add businesses throughout the year!
Thank you very much to all of our supporters!

Oorah
Abrams thanks Oorah, a nonprofit organization located in Lakewood, NJ for all of its financial support to our students.

 

Oorah sponsors numerous programs that all share the common goal of opening doors for Jewish children and families. The mission is to reach out to Jewish families everywhere with opportunities to make their Judaic heritage more personal, relevant and meaningful.

 

Abrams received $100,000 in scholarship aid for qualified families this year from Oorah and is extremely grateful for the generosity of this organization.

 

School Lunches

 
Please do not send meat lunches or snacks to school with your children. 
 
Food sent from home must be 
dairy or Pareve only!
 
Thank you very much for your cooperation

Car Pool Rules 

All Parents who Car Pool:

 

Please note that the car pool line is for grades N and K only. All other students are to be dropped off in the front of the building.

 

Parents who use the back for drop off should follow the directions of the teachers in the parking lot. They are there to assist students and maintain a safe environment.  

 

Under no circumstances are parents to park their cars in the middle of the line and leave them unattended to walk students into the building.  

 

** We ask that parents refrain from cellphone use in the parking areas while dropping off and picking up their children.

 

Abrams Notes
 

Birthday Celebrations at School
When sending birthday treats into school to celebrate that special day for your child, please consider sending in a healthy treat, such as frozen fruit bars, rice cakes, fruit salad or cups, sugar free pudding snacks, yogurt cake or pie, cheese sticks, light popcorn or air popped popcorn (when age appropriate), pretzels, carrots/celery (when age appropriate).

Please do not send anything with nuts due to allergies. 

In order to maintain a consistent kashrut policy and to avoid confusion, ALL orders for birthday cakes/cupcakes MUST be ordered from Cramer’s Bakery, 16 E. Afton Avenue, Yardley. Cramer’s will deliver the order to the school at a discounted price.

Please call Kim Pierce at 215-321-5707 to place your cake/ cupcake order.

 

Celebrate Your Simcha at Abrams

 

Abrams Hebrew Academy is a perfect choice to host your family or social affair, business meeting or athletic event.  Whether you’re looking for an inviting space to celebrate a special occasion; a meeting area with state-of-the art technology; a fun, safe environment for a child’s birthday; or a gym or athletic field for a sporting event, Abrams can accommodate your needs and your budget.  For more information on room rentals at Abrams Hebrew Academy, call (215) 493-1800 or e-mail info@abramsonline.org.

Check Your Child’s Assignments with Homework Now

Parents- all homework will be posted on-line by all teachers grades K-8 by Sunday evening each week.

Instructions for use of homeworknow.com:

Click on homeworknow.com

Click on Parent and Student

Click on find school

Click on Pennsylvania

Click on Abrams Hebrew Academy

Click on your child’s teacher

View homework assignments

     

Share Abrams News With Others

Is there a family member (such as a grandparent) or friend who would be interested in hearing about everything going on at Abrams?  Sign them up for our e-mail list today!  Please contact the Main Office.

Information about the Extra

Please submit any information to be considered for inclusion in the Extra to Dale Sattin, Director of Development & Communications: dsattin@abramsonline.org. (215) 493-1800 ext. 22 by
Wednesday of the target week.

Abrams Dress Code
 
Dress Code
 
Studies have found that appropriate dress influences behavior and learning.  Abrams strives through the dress code to maximize the learning environment.
Respect for the sensitivities of others requires that students/parents/guests follow reasonable standards of modesty and privacy.  We ask that students/parents/guests dress in a manner befitting a Jewish day school when entering the building.
Dress Code for Grades 1-8
  • Clothing cannot advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or weapons.
  •  Clothing cannot display writing or pictures that are obscene or suggestive.
  • No writing or pictures on the back of pants.
  • No sleepwear or bedroom slippers to be worn at any time, unless pre-approved for a special occasion.
  • Heavy linked chains may not be worn as jewelry.
  • No extreme hair colors are permitted.
  • All boys must come to school wearing a kippah.  Baseball caps and other head coverings are NOT permitted.
  • No sleeveless shirts, tank tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, tube tops, crop tops, belly shirts, or tight shirts.
Dress Code for Boys Grades 5-8
  • Shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, and tee-shirts should be appropriate for school.  Students may not wear undershirts.
  • Pants or denim jeans must be properly hemmed and not dragging on the floor.  Pants will not have rips, holes, or fraying and will not be too tight or over-sized.
  • Shorts must be to the knee.
  • Pants/shorts will not sag, as underwear may not be visible.
  • Boys are to be clean-shaven.
  • Hair is to be well groomed.  Partially or fully shaved heads and ponytails are not allowed.
  • Piercings of any kind are not allowed.
Dress Code for Girls Grades 5-8
 
  • Dresses/skirts/shorts must be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
  •  Pants or denim jeans must be properly hemmed and not dragging on the floor.  Pants or shorts will not have rips, holes, or fraying and will not be too tight.
  • Leggings of any type are not permitted to be worn in place of skirts or pants, but may be worn under clothing.  If worn, they must be accompanied by a fingertip length or longer, dress, skirt, or top.
  • Clothing that exposes any part of the midriff, cleavage (front or rear), or any clothing excessively revealing may not be worn.
  • Clothing materials for tops and bottoms must be opaque (not see-through).
Consequences for Students Who Do Not Follow the Dress Code:
  • 1st Offense – Explain to student what is wrong with his/her attire.  Student must change into appropriate clothing.
  • 2nd Offense – Written notification that requires parent signature.  Student must change into appropriate clothing.
  • 3rd Offense – Student must change clothes to follow guidelines and parent is called on the telephone immediately.
  • 4th Offense – Suspension from school.
  • Parent conference required for student to return to school.

 

Abrams Hebrew Academy, 31 West College Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067
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