Dear MJDS Families:

Conferences:  Thank you for signing up for Parent/Teacher Conferences!  We are all looking forward to talking about your children with you.  Please be sure to be on time, as conferences are scheduled back to back.  Teachers will be glad to schedule a follow-up time by phone or in person if it is needed.  Remember, there is NO SCHOOL for children on Wednesday, and we have no child care available, even during your conference time.

Auction:  We are gearing up!  Please think about the donation requests you’ll be making.  Items that especially have high bidder value include electronics, high end home goods, and vacation homes.  Every family is being asked to bring in at least one donation item this year, and members of the auction committee will be following up with phone calls to be sure we are all on track.  We are hoping to make this year our most successful ever and are counting on you!

Wet Weather:  Be sure your child always has a clean dry change of clothing at school.  Even when it is not raining, our field can be pretty muddy and slick.

Morning Drop-Off:  Drop off is between 8:00 – 8:20.  Please note that we cannot accept children on campus before 8:00.  Students arriving after 8:20 need to come into the office to sign in.  TK students arriving after 8:20 may enter the TK classroom from the office door.

Afternoon Pick-Up:  We will be forming 2 car lines to alleviate the problem of cars extending into the street from our driveway.

Parent Surveys: Thank you to those of you who have turned in your Parent Surveys.  If you have not yet done so, we'd very much appreciate your response.  If you need a new copy of the document, they are available in the office.  Please get them in no later than Tuesday, November 17.
 
Parent Teacher Conferences:  These will be held on Wednesday, November 25th.  Please stop in the office beginning TUESDAY to sign up to meet with your child's teachers.  Note that there is no transition time between appointments, so adherence to the schedule is a must!  Progress Reports will be distributed during your conference.
 
Coats:  Everyone needs one!  Please be sure your child is warmly dressed every day....winter coats, hats, and gloves are all needed when the weather turns cold.  We go outside every day, unless it's really pouring or extremely cold.
 
Lunch and Snack Utensils:  Please provide these for your child.  We try to have some plastic spoons and forks in cases of emergency, but many children are using the school's plastic ware daily and we cannot continue to provide this.  Send bowls, spoons, forks - whatever your child needs to eat the lunches and snacks you pack.  Thanks!
 
Book for a Birthday:  Our library is really happening!  Morah Julie, Morah Karen, Morah Angela, and many students have worked hard to organize our materials.  You can help by donating a book to our library in honor of your child's birthday, or in honor of any happy event.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, November 25 No School Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Friday, November 26 and 27 No School Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday, December 14 No School Teacher In Service

Dear MJDS Families:
 
It's been a beautiful fall week!
 
Auction News:  We are excited to bring fresh ideas and approaches to our annual auction.  The first committee meeting takes place on Wednesday, November 18, at 2:00 on campus.  Call the office and let us know you are attending so we can be as effective and prepared as possible.  Please join us!
 
On Wednesday, November 11, school is dismissed at noon for a Teacher-In-Service day.
 
Thank you for completing and returning your Parent Survey.  Please contact the office immediately if you have not received or have lost yours and you'd like to respond.
 
Grades TK and Up began PE this week with our new teacher, Morah Gail Bruner.  Morah Gail has taught children through Portland Parks and Recreation, several public schools, and the MJCC.  She's also a great yoga teacher.  We're happy to have her!
 
 
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, November 11   Noon Dismissal   Teacher In Service
Thursday, November 12      TK/Kg to Robison Home
Monday, November 16        8:30 - 9:00 TK/Kg Zoo Museum
Wednesday, November 25   No School Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 26 and 27          No School Thanksgiving Holiday

Dear MJDS Families:
 
The Rain has Begun!  Please be sure your children are appropriately prepared for outdoor play in the wet weather.  Our goal is to have children play outside every day, and we will take them out unless it's really pouring...a little bit of "Oregon Mist" doesn't stop us!  So, send rain boots, rain coats, hats, etc, and be sure that every child has a complete change of clothes to change into in case of a mud mishap.  Thank you!
 
Student Arrival and Dismissal:  The school day officially begins at 8:20.  Student drop off is between 8:00 and 8:20.  The morning drop off is staffed by Morah Karen.  She stands in the drive to help open car doors and get children from the car.  The gate remains propped open during this time.  Morah Karen closes and ensures the gate is locked at 8:20 when she returns to the office.  Please stop in the office to sign in your child if your arrival is after 8:20.  Preschool students may sign in in their own classrooms.
 
For 12:30 dismissal, students gather on the bench or, in case of rain, remain in the preschool classroom with the door open.  Two teachers are present at this time to supervise students and the gate.  Parents need to park, enter the gate area, and sign their children out.  The gate is checked to ensure it is securely locked once all children have been signed out.
 
At the end of the school day, the gate is propped open and supervised by several teachers.  Teachers walk students to their cars.  At the end of the carpool process, the gate is relocked.
 
Friday 2:30 Dismissal:  PLEASE be on time to pick up your children.  Several families are getting to school as late as 3:45.  Especially when Shabbat arrives so early, this is a real hardship on teachers.  Students are on the bench by 2:25 on Fridays, and carpool begins punctually at 2:30.  Parents arriving later than 2:40 will be charged a fee of $1 per minute per child.
 
Auction Notes: Please save Sunday, March 14 for the Annual MJDS Auction!  The Administration and Board are meeting to get things organized and we will distribute a list of ways you can help very soon.  Please start thinking about items you can procure.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER
Thursday, November 5         Grades 1 and Up to Central Library, 12:30 - 3:30
Wednesday, November 11    Noon Dismissal    Teacher In Service
Thursday, November 12       TK/Kg to Cedar Sinai Park, 10:10 - 11:30
Monday, November 16         TK/Kg Zoo Museum, 8:30 - 9:00 in our classroom
Wednesday, November 25    No School, Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, November 26       No School, Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27           No School, Thanksgiving Break

Thanks to so many of you for attending our Curriculum Night Presentations on Wednesday.
 
We are very excited by all of the wonderful things going on at MJDS this year, and appreciate your terrific children and your support.  The accreditation process promises to provide us with a clear understanding of our strengths and opportunities for improvement.  Please be sure your voice is heard by completing the Parent Survey that was distributed on Wednesday night.  If you didn't receive yours on Wednesday or at Friday carpool, expect in the mail.  Surveys are due back in the office in a sealed envelope no later than November 3.
 
Thank you to Rabbi Mishulovin for arranging the delivery of our new refrigerator.  We once again have real ice for “owies”!  We still are in need of assistance in getting our oven to the school.  We have included a list of volunteer opportunities within the body of this letter.  Please call the office to let us know how you can help.
 
*** Note:  Not all teachers were able to complete newsletters this week due to Curriculum Night preparations.  Please look for news from your child's teacher next week.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, October 28                          TK and Kg Zoo Field Trip
Thursday, November 5                             Grades 1 and Up Central Library Field Trip
Wednesday, November 11                       Noon Dismissal, Teacher In Service
Thursday, November 12                           TK and Kg to Cedar Sinai Park Field Trip
Wednesday, November 25                        No School, Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Friday, November 26 and 27      No School, Thanksgiving Break

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Front Gate/Fence Repair (we have the parts, just need two people to work together)
• Supply Organization (organize and inventory)
• Move the Stove!
• Help set up the Library
• Playground: Build a tricycle parking garage/shelter
• Playground: Paint parking lines for tricycles
• Playground: Paint 4-square lines
• Playground: Paint hopscotch lines
• Put tile around a blackboard.
• Talk with the teachers for more opportunities!

Maimonides Jewish Day School is excited to announce that we are embarking on a formal accreditation process. Attached below is the presentation given to the parents at Back To School Night on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. 

Dear MJDS Families:
 
What a precious gift each child is!  At MJDS, every child is valued for the many gifts they have to share, and known by their teachers in order to support optimimal and continuous learning.  Hear all about your child's program this year by attending our annual Curriculum Night on October 21.

Curriculum Night, 2009

Wednesday, October 21

5:30 – 5:55                   Preschool 3's Curriculum Presentation in Preschool Classroom        
6:00 – 6:25                   TK/Kg Curricluum Presentation in TK/Kg Classroom
6:30 – 6:50                   All Community Welcome in 1st/2nd Grade Classroom
6:55 – 7:20                   1st/2nd Grades Curriculum Presentation in 1st/2nd Grade Classroom
7:25 – 7:50                   3rd/4th Grades Curriculum Presentation in 3rd/4th Grade Classroom

Presentation times are brief.  Please be sure to arrive on time in order to learn as much as possible.  Individual concerns may be privately addressed with your child's teacher by scheduling an appointment.

***Please note that the Preschool 2's Presentation will take place on Tuesday, November 3, time to be announced.***

DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday, October 21,   Curriculum Night 5:30 - 7:50
Wednesday, November 11, Noon Dismissal, Teacher In Service
Wednesday, November 25, Parent-Teacher Conferences

Dear MJDS Families:
 
We hope that you all enjoyed beautiful yom tovim with your families, friends and community.  We are glad to be back at school and settling in once again after the holidays.  Please take a few moments to read the attached health information.  Be advised that all families are urged to vaccinate against both the seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses in the strongest possible terms.  According to health professionals, the likelihood of contracting the swine flu without vaccination is more than 95%; with vaccination, the opposite is the case.
The Multnomah County Health Dept website has a swine flu section that lists all dates and times for free vaccinations. Click here for this page:   http://www.mchealth.org/swineflu/vaccine.shtml
 
 
PLEASE be diligent about your family's health.  Practice good hygiene, including thorough handwashing, coughing into elbows, using a tissue, etc.  And if your child seems ill, err on the safe side and keep him or her at home.  These practices help keep us all well.
 
SUBSTITUTES NEEDED.  Several of our teachers have been ill, are ill, or have ill children.  We are on the road to enlarging our pool of qualified general studies substitute teachers.  Please let us know if you or someone you know is available for Jewish Studies or Hebrew language.  Thanks!
 
MJDS

Shalom MJDS Families:
 
We've had a short but happy week preparing for the happy Chag of Sukkot.  Many classes will be taking trips next week.  Be sure to read your children's newsletters to find out about all the where's and when's and how many drivers are needed.
 
Thanks to Shir and Zahav for the wonderful display they created for our outside bulletin board.  They will be using this board to help us celebrate and learn about Israel and the chaggim.  Kol HaKavod!
 
Volunteers:  We know you are all busy, but if you can spare some time to help with getting our appliances into the kitchen, we would so appreciate it!  We have a great (and delicious, educational!) tradition of classes making vegetable soup and other goodies to share in the sukkah during the upcoming holiday; we won't be able to enjoy these without our oven and refrigerator.  Please call the office to let us know when you can assist.  Thank you!
 
Thank you to those of you who volunteered to help us with the Highlights book orders.  We'll be contacting you shortly to discuss the schedule.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Friday, October 3                No School, Erev Sukkot
Friday, October 9                No School, Hashana Rabba
Wednesday, October 21,      Curriculum Night, All Grades.  Schedule TBA.
Wednesday, November 11     Noon Dismissal, Teacher In Service
Wednesday, November 25     No School, Parent-Teacher Conferences

Dear MJDS Parents,
 
We hope you all had a wonderful Chag Rosh Hashana.  We've had a full week at school during this special time of year.
 
Volunteer News:
Thank you to Mr. Chedester, Mr. Palermo, Mr. Kessluk, and Mr. Bates for helping to build the school sukkah!  Thank you to Jamie Bates, Fred Humber and others for helping with the office and for various home tasks that helped the teachers.
 
We are still in need of volunteers to help us load our new refrigerator and range onto a truck and into our kitchen.  We are unable to bake challah, make soup, or give injured children ice packs (we use chemical replacements) until these are installed.  Please call the office to let us know you can help; we'll do our best to arrange the time to suit your schedule.
 
We are looking for a parent volunteer to manage our Highlights for Children book program.  Monthly, a flyer is distributed to children with a great selection of good quality, low priced books for purchase.  The volunteer's job is to collect book orders and checks, send in the order, and distribute the books upon delivery.  Please call the office if you can help us with this.
 
Materials Needs:
Preschool would like your empty TP and paper towel rolls.
TK/Kg would like your empty, well-rinsed 1/2 gallon milk or juice cartons
 
Books for a Birthday:
Please consider donating a book of your choice in honor of your child's birthday to the MJDS school library.  We will announce the donation, show the book, and thank your child at the weekly Shabbat party.
 
Shabbat Shalom and G'mar Chatima Tova to all.
 
MJDS