Parshat Miketz
Candle Lighting 5:06 p.m.
Havdalah 6:07 p.m.
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This week we are thrilled to share Rabbi Jordan Silvestri, RMBA Head of School's Parsha Perspectives, which examines the significance of Chanukah, drawing parallels to the enduring Jewish hope symbolized by Yosef and emphasizes the resilience beyond the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.
Click here to continue reading. |
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Hakarat HaTov - Recognizing the Good |
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We are so grateful for all our volunteers this week! A huge shoutout and thank you goes out to:
Shoshi Azran, Laura Harroch, Tamar Ratchcovski, Regina Shamooelian
If you would like to volunteer at RMBA please click here to view our opportunities.
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Mazal Tov to David Amsalem and his family on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah! |
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Through the Looking Glass |
In the last of our three part mini-series, we wrap up the Midyear Review by naming the areas we have not reached the intended growth milestones and share a clear call to action for our second half of the 23-24 academic year as we grow from strength to strength. Click here for Episode 16. |
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LS Menorah Competition Shines Bright
Kol Hakavod to all our lower school students who participated in this year's Menorah Building Competition! We were truly impressed by the thoughtful dedication and creativity each of you poured into crafting your menorahs. The diversity of themes was astounding, ranging from Pokemon, magical gardens, and basketball to cars, flowers, rainbows, chess, animals, Lego, and a strong emphasis on Israel and the IDF! A special Mazal Tov goes to our grade level winners, who not only showcased incredible talent but also walked away with exciting Chanukah prizes and certificates:
Kindergarten: Aria L. and Moshe B.
1st Grade: Yonatan M. and Liya S.
2nd Grade: Ami T. and Sam L.
3rd Grade: Mali L. and Liam L.
4th Grade: Maor C. and Shmuel G.
5th Grade: Sammy K. and Eden H.
We hope that everyone enjoyed the warmth and glow of lighting their beautiful menorot at home! Chag Sameach!
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Legacy Illuminated: Grandparent & Special Friends Day
We were delighted to host our school-wide Grandparents and Special Friends Day this week, providing guests with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the diverse programs offered by each of our school's divisions. It was a wonderful chance for them to catch a glimpse of our students' daily experiences and gain insight into the essence of an RMBA education. This year's theme, "Lights of Legacy: Honoring Our Heroes Through Time," allowed us to showcase the lasting impact of our heroes and the rich tapestry of our shared legacy. The morning commenced with guests participating in tefillah, followed by a delightful breakfast and a brief program. During this time, Robin and Sammy Fleschler unveiled a special scholarship at RMBA, established in loving memory of her parents, Herbert George and Marilyn Muhlbauer z”l. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our guests for their presence and enthusiasm. We hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again soon! Please click here to access the event photos.
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Math Fun
This week, Mrs. Rosenzweig's middle school math classes enjoyed a spirited session of Chanukah Math. Students honed their math skills through engaging activities such as puzzles, coloring, and more.
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Skyward Adventures
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a CLOUD! This week, Mr. Matt's STEAM classes talked about the fascinating world of cloud formation, types, and the weather cues they provide. The highlight? A 'Cloud Hunt' using cloud frames to capture and identify the diverse cloud formations outdoors.
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Pharaoh's Dream
This week in Morah Sandy's EC3A class, students delved into the intriguing story of Pharaoh's dream in Parsha Miketz. They explored the symbolism of 7 skinny cows consuming 7 fat cows and 7 skinny grains engulfing 7 fat grains, representing 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of scarcity. This narrative ultimately leads to the heartwarming reunion of Yosef with his brothers. To reinforce their learning, the class engaged in a creative activity—crafting cow pictures using handprints, providing a sensory and fine motor skill experience. Additionally, students discovered that the word "cow" starts with the letter 'c,' contributing to their growing ABC book.
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Bison Chronicles
In Mr. Cell's 9th-10th grade on-level U.S. History class, students are delving into the historical significance of the American Buffalo through Ken Burns' documentary. The focus is on understanding the pivotal role that the buffalo and its near removal played in the history of settler Westward expansion and its impact on Native American culture and life.
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World of Sound Energy
This week, students in Mr. Simon's third-grade class delved into the fascinating world of sound energy. They discovered that sound is created when particles vibrate or come into contact with air, matter, and water. Exploring the concept further, they found that sound waves accelerate as the pitch increases. The class also explored the intriguing realm of ultrasound, realizing that their first photograph might have been an ultrasound! In the above image, students are seen engrossed in reading and hands-on sound experiments.
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Fun and Games
This week, students in Morah Tzippe's Kindergarten Judaic Studies class enjoyed a lively game of 'Pin the Shamash on the Menorah.' Laughter filled the room as they had a fantastic time with this engaging and amusing activity!
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A Festive Chanukah Week in US
What a blast our upper school students had this week diving headfirst into the Chanukah spirit! High school students hit the ice skating rink for a morning of spins, races, and glides, while middle school students faced off in an epic Latka Wars showdown. And as if that wasn't sweet enough, the joy continued as everyone came together to creatively decorate delicious sufganiyot.
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LS Chanukah Celebrations
Our lower school students experienced a delightful week of Chanukah celebrations, marked by a special performance from our upper school students during an all-school Chanukah assembly. Each morning, the students gathered to collectively light the menorah and sing Hallel. Engaging in a variety of themed games added to the festive week, and thanks to our awesome PTO, everyone enjoyed sweet treats with candy-filled dreidels.
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Better to Serve
This week, students and seniors in the Better to Serve program joyfully celebrated Chanukah at the Medallion. Engaging in creative activities, participants painted beautiful Menorahs, enjoyed lively dreidel games, and indulged in delicious latkas and sufganiot. The day was filled with laughter and joy, fostering meaningful connections between the students and their senior buddies.
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Chanukah Learning and Games
A heartfelt thank you to Rabbi Johnny Ouzzan for graciously hosting our high school students this week at his home for a delightful gathering filled with pizza, ice cream, learning, and lively games! In his engaging middle school classes, students enjoyed friendly trivia competitions and Chanukah Jeopardy, showcasing their proficiency in Gemara and Chanukah knowledge.
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Frog Anatomy
This week, Dr. Arnold's sixth-grade class explored the captivating realm of animals in Life Science by utilizing dissection kits to study frog anatomy. A heartfelt thank you to the Gross Family for their generous donation of the kits, enriching the hands-on learning experience for our students.
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Light Up Learning
Now that the Chanukah projects are wrapped up, the students in Morah Aviva's EC4A class are delighting in a variety of wonderful Chanukah activities within their classroom centers. A particular favorite has been the Chanukah sandbox at the sensory table! The children had the opportunity to explore the sand, uncovering hidden treasures like dreidels and candles. In the spirit of teamwork and individual fun, the class engaged in exciting activities such as Chanukah Memory Match and Chanukah Bingo. Morah Aviva instills a motto that echoes through the classroom: everyone is a winner! Additionally, this week, the class focused on the letter "Kk," complemented by a unique and illuminated Share and Tell experience.
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Scavenger Hunt & Chanukah Adventures
Morah Clara's EC3B class reveled in the joy of celebrating Chanukah together. Each day, they eagerly counted the candles lit at night, practiced the brachot, and sang festive Chanukah songs. The mornings were filled with excitement as the entire class embarked on a scavenger hunt to locate "Gerad, The Mensch on a Bench," who is making a special visit during the holiday. Additionally, the class delved into the history of the Maccabees, crafting their own miniature versions to commemorate this meaningful part of the Chanukah story.
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Pizza Night Success
A heartfelt thank you to Pizza TLV for satisfying our cravings with delectable pizza and generously contributing 50% of the profits from Tuesday night! Together, we enjoyed delicious food, and through our collective efforts, raised an impressive $1177.78 for RMBA. Thank you to everyone who participated! Please show Pizza TLV our appreciation by continuing to enjoy ordering in or taking out and trying out their extensive menu.
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Join us for the 1st Grade
Mesibat Siddur
a special milestone celebrating the first grade class receiving their siddurim
Thursday, December 14, 2023
3:00 PM
RMBA Ulam
Kindly RSVP by December 7
Click here for special sponsorship opportunities
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Join us for our
EC Chanukah Performances
Friday, December 15, 2023
8:30 AM - 11:15 AM
See flyer pictured above for details.
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Join the Diamond Family at the JCC Houston Maccabi Info Session hosted at their home
4915 Cedar Street
Bellaire, TX 77401
December 21 at 7:00 PM
Find out how you can get involved by hosting, volunteering, coaching and more!
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Please see the Beren Academy Calendar as your most up to date source for information. The Week at a Glance is a snapshot, but does not reflect any changes made after that date.
MS Girls Basketball
The MS Girls Basketball team will travel to St. Marks Episcopal on December 14th for a 4:30 game to finish out their 2023 schedule. They have a very busy January 2024 coming up.
MS Boys Basketball
The MS Boys Basketball team will take on TDS on Thursday, December 14th at 5:00 at Beren Academy.
HS Boys Basketball
The HS Boys Basketball team beat Family Christian and lost to Brazosport Christian and are currently sitting at 2-1 in TAPPS play. They will play a non district game against St. Constantine on Thursday, December 14th at 6:00.
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