September 14, 2009

25th of Elul, 5769

Dear Families,

Welcome to our Kindergaten website.  I hope that you will check the website each week with your child and discuss the concepts we have been learning.  This is also a wonderful way to share your childs' learning with grandparents and other relatives. 

Our first day flew by...we were SO busy.  After you left us, we came back to the room and had a delicious snack of apples, honey and challah with apple juice.  We recited the correct brachot and took responsibility for cleaning up after ourselves.  Next the students took turns trying to blow shofars.  They really enjoyed that! 

Next we read a book called Sound the Shofar!:  A story for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  We discussed how the two holidays feel different, one being happy and a gathering time for friends and families, while the latter is more serious and thought provoking.  We also discussed how Yom Kippur is a time to think about the things we've done in the past year that we are sorry for.  We don't just "say" we're sorry but we really try to change our behaviors and try to learn from them and not repeat them. 

 We listed 5 things Kindergarteners might say they are sorry for and put them in a line with baskets in varying sizes.  We rated the actions in order of severity and put the least serious with the closest and biggest basket and the most serious with the smallest, farthest basket.  Each child got a turn to pick to baskets to throw a ball into to say say "I'm sorry" for doing.  When they made baskets, we did the right thing.  But when we didn't make a basket, we "missed the mark" and will try to do better next time.  We discussed that nobody is perfect but that we're trying to be the best person we can be.

Finally, we made our way to the learning center.  I know it was a lot for the children to process but the all dove into the centers and got busy!  I am very proud of how well they took to the learning center!  

My only regret about the first day was that there wasn't enough time.  I can't wait to spend more time with your child!  Unfortunately, we will not be back in the classroom until Sunday, October 4th.  Both Oct. 4 and 11 are holidays so we will only have a short time actually in the classroom before going into the main sanctuary.  We will be back on a regular schedule starting Oct. 18th when we resume our time in the learning center.

Thank you so much to those of you who signed up to volunteer in the center as well as with other jobs.  I still have opportunities available if you did not get to sign up.  

If you ever have any questions or concerns about Sunday School or your child's progress, please feel free to email me using the red link on the upper lefthand side. 

I hope to see most of you at synagogue this weekend.  I wish you and your entire family a Happy and Healthy New Year!  As my father-in-law says, "May the best of last year be the worst of this year!"

L'Shana Tova 

Sincerely,

Miss Debbie