Tefillah is Unraveled for Yavneh Students

Tefillah is Unraveled for Yavneh Students
Rabbi Simcha Schaum’s fourth grade class at Yavneh Academy is studying the meaning behind tefillot. World renowned Chazzan Yaakov Motzen made a special appearance to help them understand the how’s and why’s of the tefillot.

Yavneh Students Volunteer for Sharsheret

Yavneh Students Volunteer for Sharsheret

The committee of students that coordinated the Sharsheret Pink Day, visited the Sharsheret office with Dr. Dalia Nagel and Dr. Aliza Frohlich to deliver the toys they collected for Sharsheret Busy Boxes. Busy boxes are boxes of toys which are given to children whose mothers have cancer. The boxes also contain a book for parents to read with their children about facing cancer, and some information for the mother. Yavneh students also delivered a check of over $300 for Sharsheret raised by the students on Pink Day. The committee was able to put together busy boxes with some of the toys they brought. They also toured the Sharsheret office, while Ellen Kleinhaus, Director of Campus and Community Engagement, shared all that Sharsheret does.

The students were proud to be a small part of the great work of Sharsheret. The visit gave them a face-to-face opportunity to understand how important Sharsheret is to the community.

Yavneh Academy Rocks With Shlock Rock

Yavneh Academy Rocks With Shlock Rock
Yavneh Academy ushered in Chodesh Adar Bet with Shlock Rock. It was an amazing afternoon filled with great songs, ruach and lots of dancing!

FIDF Brings Chayalim to Yavneh Academy

FIDF Brings Chayalim to Yavneh Academy

FIDF (Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces) visited Yavneh Academy this past week. After expressing hakarat hatov to the visiting chayalim and to tzahal for protecting Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael, Head of School Rabbi Jonathan Knapp, introduced Mr. Howard Gases, Director of the New Jersey Tri-State Region chapter of the FIDF. Mr. Gases explained to the Yavneh Middle School students that through the generosity of many people, FIDF works in Israel not only to create social and cultural programs for the chayalim but to establish much needed programs for bereaved families. FIDF also works to bring chayalim to schools in the United States so they can share their important message with younger children.

Yavneh Academy students had the unique opportunity to listen to Yonah, Tikva and Or—three chayalim currently serving in the IDF—explain their current roles within Tzahal. The students also posed thoughtful questions such as, “What is the most frustrating misconception that Tzahal faces?”, “What is the most rewarding part about being in Tzhal?” and “Is it hard to serve near Yerushalayim?”

Finally, as a culmination of one of Yavneh’s chesed projects on Judah Marans Day of Loving Kindness, Lower School students presented the chayalim with large envelopes filled with cards of well wishes for chayalim that will be distributed to troops in Israel.

Yavneh thanks FIDF for spending time with the students and hope that all of Israel’s chayalim stay safe.

Yavneh Students Participate in Chesed4Kids

Yavneh Students Participate in Chesed4Kids

The second event for Yavneh Academy’s fourth grade Chesed4kids (C4K) was held this past Sunday at the Chabad House in Teaneck. Led by Chabad’s Rabbi Goldin, 49 fourth graders participated in making 185 mishloach manot for Tomchei Shabbos.

The mishloach manot contained items made in Israel in support of the Anti-BDS campaign that is occurring around the Tri-State area. In addition to the chesed the students did by packing for Tomchei Shabbos, the project also taught them that they too can help Israel even from New Jersey.

On this chesed-filled Sunday, the children also participated in a painting event with members of JADD (Jewish Adults with Developmental Disabilities) where they painted pictures and ate delicious snacks together.

Yavneh Students Offer Company to Care-One Residents

Yavneh Students Offer Company to Care-One Residents
Yavneh students traveled to Care-One to visit with the residents and brighten their day. The students sang Purim songs as well as songs from their Siddur play and then helped the residents make groggers for Purim.

Yavneh Academy Students Experience the Opera

Yavneh Academy Students Experience the Opera
Yavneh sixth graders and members of the lunchtime Opera Club attended the final dress rehearsal of L’Elisir D’Amore at the Metropolitan Opera. After the performance, they were treated to a question-and-answer session with members of the Metropolitan Opera orchestra and chorus. The students had a chance to hear about what it is like to work at one of the world’s most famous opera houses.

Snakes-n-Scales Slithers to Yavneh

Snakes-n-Scales Slithers to Yavneh
As an introduction to their unit on the Rain Forest, Yavneh’s third grade children were regaled by Erin Mellini from Snakes-n-Scales, who brought several reptilian visitors. The children learned about the ways they eat, protect themselves and spend their time. They were able to get up close to a Rainbow Boa, Chinese Water Dragon, Red Foot Tortoise, Mata Mata Turtle, Asian Water Monitor and a Burmese Python, and even touch the Burmese Python at the end of the program.

Yavneh Students Learn Torah Leadership Skills Through Color War

Yavneh Students Learn Torah Leadership Skills Through Color War

Yavneh Academy’s Middle School students got into the Adar spirit last week with three intense days of competition and camaraderie in this year’s color war! With competitions ranging from Memory Lane Monday (Duck, Duck, Goose; Musical Chairs; Mother May I?) to a building-wide Apache Race to Quidditch (of course we play Quidditch!) and many more, Yavneh’s students demonstrated a wide range of talents and drive over the course of the three days.

Of course, the real heart of any color war are the various events and presentations that help to display the theme. This year, the four teams represented the four models of leadership described in the Torah—Melech, Navi, Kohen, and Sanhedrin—and the students had ample opportunities to learn about and deploy a variety of skills in discussing those models. A fierce four-way debate saw students arguing over which type of leader was most important; a “silent” cheer doubled as a rhythmic demonstration of each team’s theme; beautiful banners depicting the theme were thoughtfully designed and presented; and a final musical presentation featuring every student on every team helped to conclude the color war with an amazing level of ruach.

Perhaps most important of all, this event allowed Yavneh middle school to further develop as a cohesive unit, bringing together many students who perhaps never had the chance to work together previously, and often bringing together the entire student population to cheer, to sing and to celebrate together.

Yavneh Students Celebrate Dr. Seuss

Yavneh Students Celebrate Dr. Seuss
In honor of the birthday of Dr. Seuss, older and younger students at Yavneh Academy celebrated together by reading stories, playing games and making new friendships. Happy birthday!

Yavneh Academy Brachot Bee Culminates at Cedar Market

Yavneh Academy Brachot Bee Culminates at Cedar Market Anyone in Cedar Market last Monday morning would have been privileged to join Yavneh Academy’s fifth graders in a live game show starring the fifth graders’ brachot bee champions. The competitors could be seen speeding through the aisles looking for the answers to questions such as “find something in the produce aisle whose bracha is shehakol.” The rest of the fifth graders as well as their teachers could be found cheering on their friends and screaming out the answers to each challenge. The students also won prizes playing “The Price is Right—Brachot Style” and “Brachot Plinko.” Mazal tov to the finalists, Paige and Elisheva, and to the brachot grand champion... Chanani! Stay tuned for the video release!

Yavneh First Grade Marks 100 Days

Yavneh First Grade Marks 100 DaysYavneh Academy first graders celebrated 100 days of school while wearing their 100 day crowns and playing fun and educational rounds of Bingo.

Yavneh Academy Celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month

Yavneh Academy Celebrates National Children’s Dental Health MonthIn honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, aunt of Yavneh ECD students Dr. Rebecca Block and Yavneh parent Dr. Rachel Jacobs, visited Yavneh Academy. The children learned how and when to brush their teeth and the importance of using toothpaste, a toothbrush and floss. The guests helped the children learn how to keep their teeth healthy.

Yavneh Academy Sixth Grade Presents at Science Fair

Yavneh Academy Sixth Grade Presents at Science FairYavneh Academy sixth grade students proudly presented to fourth graders, during the day, and to parents in the evening, at the 2016 Science Fair. Students chose a particular product to study. Using the scientific method, students researched and investigated if the product they chose did what advertisers claimed.

Yavneh First Graders Receive Their Siddurim

Yavneh First Graders Receive Their SiddurimThe Yavneh Academy Kitah Aleph students were so excited to receive their new siddurim. Dressed in their Shabbat best, they sang and danced in celebration. Their morot are so proud of all that they have accomplished.