March 15, 2019
Rosh Chodesh Adar II kicked off a month of celebrations leading up to Purim in the Elementary School. In the spirit of V'nahafoch hu, the Elementary school lobby and second floor was transformed on Thursday into Eretz Yisrael by our Bnot Sherut Rotem and Hila.
Walking into the building Thursday morning, students and faculty alike were in awe of the transformation to their familiar building. The entrance was made into a model of Ben Gurion Airport. After providing boarding passes, Rotem and Hila directed Lower Division students and faculty to the staircase, which was decorated like an airplane. At the top of the stairs, students learned about Tel Aviv's Azrieli Towers, along with various other landmarks, including Tzfat and Tevaria.
Our auditorium was transformed into Yerushalayim, where students had the opportunity to write notes to place on the "Kotel" and enjoy hamentashen and popcorn.
The entire Middle Division floor was transformed into the Persian Empire during the time of King Ahasuerus. Students marveled at the makeshift arches and entryways adorned with fabric giving the feeling of royal entrances to places. The walls were covered with palm trees and scenery depicting life at court to complete the royal ambiance.
The celebration was concluded with a Kumzits and Rikkudim in the auditorium.
This week, Lower Division students made each day special in a unique way. Monday was Hat day; Tuesday: Stuffed Animal Day; Wednesday: Sports Day; Thursday: Topsy Turvy Day; and Friday: Color Day (1st grade wore red; 2nd grade, orange; 3rd grade, yellow; 4th grade, green; and 5th grade, blue).
Middle Division adopted the minhag called Takanun Purim. Each day had a fun Adar themed initiative. Thursday 3/7, every Torah Studies class began with a joke; Friday 3/8 period 4 teachers shared cookies or cake with his/her class; Monday 3/11, if a teacher stepped on the XX on the floor, then there was no homework that night; Tuesday 3/12, if a teacher said "open" in English or Hebrew, the class must stop and do 25 jumping jacks; Wednesday 3/13, each class began with a song; Thursday 3/14, everyone wore the craziest socks they owned; Friday 3/15, teachers shared some candy in period 2. On Monday 3/18, one student will teach the class for the first 5 minutes of period 5; on Tuesday 3/19, Period 6 teacher will bring a picture from when he/she was younger and will tell the class about it; the final day, Wednesday 3/20, will be COLOR DAY! On top of their YOF Wardrobe, all 6th graders will wear something green, all 7th graders will wear something purple, and all 8th graders will wear something red.
Early Childhood students enjoyed a Purim Puppet show, during which they learned and participated in the story of Purim by booing the evil Haman.
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