Day schools celebrate writing week

East Valley JCC Day School

Students at the East Valley JCC Day School have been busy during the months of October and November.

The first and second graders have been learning about weather. The rain in October allowed the students a great opportunity to observe the different types of clouds using paper cups and paper plates. They created their own anemometers to measure the wind speed.

After studying Bereshit, the first and second graders used several different mediums to construct a collaborative mural for the Tefillah room. Both grades are now focusing on Thanksgiving and are discussing what they are thankful for.

The children in third and fourth grade have just wrap-ped up a unit on Veteran's Day. Students had to research the importance of Veteran's Day and create a project of their choice. Some students even chose to interview a veteran.

The third and fourth graders have also been learning about earth science. By doing hand-on experiments and demonstrations, they are quickly becoming geologists.

Fifth- and sixth-graders went on a field trip to the Arizona Humane Society. The students got to handle several animals one-on-one and learn about all the mitzvot that occur at the center. To celebrate Writing Week, fifth and sixth grade entered the Target Writing Contest. Each student chose a book and then wrote a letter to the author explaining how the book has inspired them.

Lately, college has been on the minds of the fifth- and sixth-graders. Students had to research a college of their choice and then present it to the class. They had to include why they wanted to attend that college and also create a pennant.

The King David School

During National Red Ribbon Week, students of all grade levels learned how to "Just Say No" to drugs and alcohol.

LifeTouch Studios took student group and individual photos on Oct. 27.

KDS kindergartners enjoyed a fun evening with their dads and granddads and guests at the recent Papa Bears Pajama Party.

A new homework hotline was established so middle school students can retrieve their homework assignments each night.

KDS students attended the Deborah Heiligman program at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center on Young Authors Day to learn what it takes to write a book, and participate in age-appropriate discussions. Several classes also visited the JCC to see the exhibit commemorating the Holocaust Museum.

Two speakers from Israel, who were invited to the United States by the Scotts-dale Police Department, spoke to seventh- and eighth-graders about life and security in Israel.

Seventh- and eighth -graders were invited to join other day schools at the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School for writing days.

Student Council coordinated the year's first free-dress day on Election Day. Students all wore red, white and blue.

A memorial service was held for former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin on Nov. 4, the anniversary of his assassination.

The program "1,000 Faces of Israel" was presented to the eighth-grade class.

Rabbi Raphael Landesman of the Phoenix Community Kollel worked with middle school students during the morning prayer service, where students learned about the meaning of and proper wearing/donning of the tzizit, tallit and tefillin.

The Parent-Teacher Organization coordinated a Family Fun Day at Cactus Park.

Pardes Jewish Day School

The seventh graders at Pardes Jewish Day School had a successful trip to Catalina Island the week of Nov. 8.

The Level II Hebrew classes prepared food for an Israeli cafe. The food was sold during lunch hour to their peers. They were able to raise $85, which they donated to a soup kitchen in Kiryat Malachy, Israel.

Seventh- and eighth-graders and their parents attended "High School Night" at Pardes. Heads of school, admissions directors and counselors from Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School, Phoenix Country Day School, Chaparral High School, Scottsdale IB program and Horizon High School presented information about their schools.

Kindergarten students will attend Dugan's Dairy Farm, and second- and third-graders will visit The Seeing Eye.

The elementary and middle school students will be hosting a "Special Person's Day" 8:30-11 a.m. on Nov. 24.. Students are encouraged to bring a grandparent or other important person.

The staff at Pardes enjoyed an in-service given by David Wayne of Tapestries. Wayne's presentation was intended to engage teachers in the strategic planning for the school.

Phoenix Hebrew Academy

Phoenix Hebrew Academy students took part in the election process this November. The classes did their own special vote and 91 percent voted for President George W. Bush. All classes did special projects involving the election process.

The Parent Teacher Association is planning a special Chanukah night for parents with arts and crafts and other activities involving the celebration of Chanukah. They will also be hosting a Kinder Klassic book fair with a wide variety of Chanukah books and a variety of books with Jewish characters and themes.

Fifth- and sixth-graders, under the direction of Margalit and Yair Shlomi, commemorated the Yahrt-zeit of Rochel Imaynu Rochel our mother which took place in October. The students learned about Rochel Imaynu and why it is important to commemorate this day.

The first-grade class visited a fire station. They had a very exciting time spraying the big hoses and climbing around in the fire truck.

The seventh and eighth grades are studying the Holocaust, taught by Rabbi Harris Cooperman. To date, the students have learned the history of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust and examined the rise and spread of Nazi ideology.

Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School

The Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School held its first weeklong Celebration of Writing from Nov. 1-5. The week featured student, faculty and parent writers presenting their work as well as authors from out of town. The weeklong celebration featured writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

On Nov. 7, the school held an open house for prospective students and their families. Current students and faculty provided activities, music and exhibition volleyball and flag football games. The newly formed choir, directed by Eliana Lipksy, performed several songs.

Students Austin Graff, Hannah Wasserman and Andrea Eisinberg attended the Jewish Day School High School night hosted by Pardes Jewish Day School on Nov. 11. Headmaster Janice Johnson and Admissions Coordinator Katie O'Connor also met with many eighth-graders and their families to talk about the growing school.

Fifteen prospective students have visited the school so far this year, shadowing one of the current students. Shadow days provide the best opportunity for students to get a sense of the school community.

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