Dear ,
January is Arts Month at HBHA. Winterims are taking place January 4-8 for all middle and upper school students culminating in the Arts Showcase on Friday, January 8 at 1:30 pm. Winterim is a fun time for students as they get to spend a week taking classes that are typically not part of a regular curriculum. HBHA recently received a nice gift of funding specially earmarked for our Winterims. This funding from the Louis and Frances Swinken Foundation enables us to provide another nice surprise. Students will not have to pay any fees for Winterim classes this year. We are able to cover the cost of all supplies for Winterim classes thanks to the Swinken Foundation.
In addition to performing arts, the Fine Arts Department will have a Student and Faculty Art Show in the Campus Art Gallery from January 11- February 28. Student art work will rotate throughout the show, so stop by often to see the work our student are doing.
I want to wish you a safe and happy winter break. Travel safely, enjoy the time with your family and come back on January 4 refreshed for second semester.
WE HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST AT 11:59 pm to have our MILLION DOLLARS IN PLEDGES WHICH WILL BRING US 3 MILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shabbat Shalom,
Howard Haas
Calendar Reminders
December 18 - No School, Teacher In-service
December 18-January 3 - Winter Break
January 4- School resumes
January 4-8- Middle and Upper School Winterims
January 5- HBHA Blood Drive
January 6- Taste of Kindergarten 6:30 pm
January 6- College Guidance Meeting for 11th Grade Students and Parents 7:30 pm
January 8- Arts Showcase
January 12- Taste of Kindergarten 6:30 pm
January 14- PTO Meeting
January 15- Go Green Day
Save the Date- Driving Risk Awareness Training February 7, 2010
HBHA News and Events
Next Chai Lights will go out January 14. Happy New Year from the faculty and staff at HBHA!
Lower School Lunch
Although plastic lunch utensils such as forks, spoons, knives and cups are no longer provided by the kitchen, we do try and keep a small supply on hand just in case one of these items was forgotten and not placed in a child’s lunch bag. Our supply is now low. If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, it would be most appreciated -- any style will do. Please send them into school to Pat’s attention. Thank you!
HBHA Blood Drive!
The Community Blood Center will be holding a blood drive. For your convenience we are offering the ability to schedule your appointment online by clicking the link below. 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, however only 5% do on a yearly basis.  Schedule your donation today and, "Save a Life. Right Here, Right Now."
Blood is a precious commodity with a limited shelf life. Red blood cells must be used within 42 days. Platelets must be used within five days. Plasma can be frozen and used for up to one year. Please help to insure that this precious commodity is being adequately provided to our local hospital patients. Donate blood at the upcoming blood drive held in the Jewish Community Campus Social Hall, 5801 W. 115th Street on Tuesday, January 5 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. You may also contact Elisa Pener at (913) 327-8189.
ALL REGISTERED DONORS WILL RECEIVE A T-SHIRT!!
Click here to make an appointment
 Krigel Wellness Program Session 2
The Krigel Wellness Program registration for session 2 is now posted on our web site. Students will receive copies in their classrooms along with a visit from Mr. Galler, HBHA Krigel Coordinator. New classes include ballroom dancing, Trivial Pursuit on the big screen, ceramics, Brain Teasers and puzzles and more. Classes begin January 11. Don't miss out on all the fun!
Admissions Office News
Parents and Friends of HBHA: Help us spread the word about our wonderful school and upcoming admissions events:
• Taste of Kindergarten: Wednesday, January 6 and Tuesday, January 12, at 6:00pm (same program offered twice)
• Kindergarten Round Up: Friday, February 5, 2010
Contact Tamara Lawson Schuster: tschuster@hbha.edu or 913.327.8135
David L wins the All School Geography Bee
 9 contestants battled it out in the All School Geography Bee last Thursday December 10. Jonah S. pulled out to an early lead being the only student to get his first 3 questions correct. Jonah also was first to establishing his place in the championship round after the 4th round. The deadly 5th round eliminated 5 contestants leaving David L as the second contestant to qualify for the championship round. Jonah and David then went head to head for 11 rounds, either both students getting the question right or both students getting the question wrong. The following is an example of a question they both got right in the championship round – “After the United States and France, which island country generates the most power from nuclear energy?” After exhausting all the championship tie breaker questions, protocol states to return to the unused questions in the previous round. On this much easier question David sealed his championship: “Beaufort and Charleston are important cities in a region known as the “Lowcountry” in which southern state?” Congratulations to our all school champion David, our runner up Jonah, and the all school geogrpahy bee contestants – Jacob M, Michael P., Ariel M., Nathan S., Micah S., Spencer M, and Sophie S. David will take an exam in January to qualify for the Kansas State Geography Bee. Best wishes for your continued success David!
Weiner Basketball Tournament
The Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Rams and Lady Rams traveled to Baltimore, MD December 2-6 to participate in the annual Weiner Basketball Tournament. Teams from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Toronto were all represented. The boys played seven games while the girls played eight. There was some very stiff competition amongst the boys and girls teams and our students played very intensely this tournament. The boys played in the 5/6th game and lost by 6 to American Hebrew Academy after being beat by this same team the first game by over 20 points. The girls played in the third place game after finishing the round robin portion of the tournament 4-1. Congratulations to both teams for a great showing! We look forward to a great rest of the year!
Class of 2011 College Guidance Kick Off Event – January 6th 7:30 PM
This program, required for Juniors and their parents, will be held on Wednesday, January 6th at 7:30 PM in the Beit Midrash at the Academy. The goal of the presentation is to provide an overview of the college guidance curriculum that students will explore for the remainder of the year. It will include discussion of the four phases of college guidance: Exploration, Selection, Application and Transition and delineation of the roles and responsibilities of the students, parents and counselor.
A quick overview of financial aid and scholarships will be given as well as information and ideas related to visiting colleges, doing research and looking into options for study in Israel. Finally, a detailed description of PSAT results will be presented, along with information about the SAT and ACT tests (which the Juniors will be taking in the winter and/or spring of 2010).
Year End Gift Giving
As you know, the administrative offices will be closed for Winter Break after Friday, December 18th. We will return to the office on Monday, January 4th. If you would like to make a year-end contribution during our absence, it is easy to do so! Just log on to www.hbha.edu and click “donate now.” You can confidentially and securely make your donation online.
If you wish to designate your gift for the “other” box please click on the link to Martha Atlas. She will be checking her e-mail periodically and can answer your question via e-mail.
Thank you so much. Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Sophia P. wins the All School Spelling Bee
20 students made a great showing at the All School Spelling Bee Tuesday December 15, 2009. Good spelling forced the bee into overtime for a total of 13 rounds and almost 70 minutes worth of spelling. Once again our youngest spellers made their mark at the bee. The tiniest contestant, 4th grader Gabrielle A., who had to stand on her tip toes to reach the mike, made the top 10. Another crowd pleaser was 5th grader Elen-Sarrah D who made the top 5 and wowed the audience when she correctly spelled “aggrandizement.” But it was 6th grader Jacob K. and 7th grader Sophia P. who went head to head for the top two slots. Jacob and Sophia went back and forth for a total of 6 rounds before Sophia clinched the championship by spelling “vestige” correctly. Congratulations to our all school champion Sophia P., our runner up, Jacob K., 3rd place Lindsey P., and all the spelling bee contestants. – Jacob M, Elen-Sarrah, Ryan G., Gabrielle C., Jed S., Ethan S., Natalie C., Joel G., Sam S., Lindsey O., David L., Autumn B., Shayna T., Alex S. ,David R., Elana G., and Gabrielle A. Come support Sophia at the Johnson County Bee at Lakewood Middle School on January 30, 2010. Best wishes for your continued success Sophia!
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Community Happenings
On Sunday, January 3, 2010, there is an all city skating party at Skate City, 103rd and Mastin from 4:30-6:30pm. Join with students from all the area congregational schools for a fun afternoon of skating and time to see old friends and to make new friends. The cost is $4 if you have skates and $5 to rent skates. Students are asked to bring canned goods to be given to Harvesters and Yachad, the kosher food pantry. A parent or other adult must sign a release form and needs to be present at Skate City. Contact Patti Kroll at 913-647-7290 for more information.
Calling Jewish Girls.....
Are you a talented writer or artist?
Yaldah Magazine for Jewish girls, by Jewish Girls wants to hear from you!
Writers must be Jewish girls between 9-16 years old and artists between 8-15 years old.
We need:
Fiction between 750-1500 words of interest to Jewish girls ages 9-14.
True Story, inspirational account by a Jewish girl who overcame an obstacle or challenge or learned an important life lesson.
Topic suggestions:
Your trip to Israel, your favorite mitzvah, how you are "repairing" the world, your bat mitzvah celebration--how you made it uniquely yours, a profile of a cool Jewish girl or a holiday memory.
All stories should have interesting anecdotes, good details, and speak directly to the reader. Photos are welcome. Please include your name, age, grade, school, and contact information.
Send complete manuscripts and scanned artwork to: submissions@yaldahmagazine.com
On the subject line write: Fiction, True Story, Article, Reader Gallery
(For true stories and articles, you may submit the idea first if you prefer, so we can tell you if it is a good match or if it was recently done.)
Get published and connect with girls around the world!
Boogie to Broadway auditions
Remember last summer’s fun Jewish Family Services event, Boogie to Broadway? Well, it’s happening again – and you can be a part of it!
Raise your voice in song! Raise your voice for our community! Raise your voice for JFS- the agency that helps al of us in facing life’s daily challenges.
Auditions for the Community Intergenerational Choirs will take place on Sunday, February 21 from 4 - 7 p.m. and Monday, February 22 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Heritage Center at the Jewish Community Campus.
Auditions will be judged by the choir directors. If you are eight to 80-plus years old and love to sing, we want you to become a member of one of these community choirs! (Those 17 and under must have a signed parental permission form provided by JFS.) For more information, please contact Adrienne Kizer at (913) 327-8257.
The Jewish Community Center's CenterSeason presents "Celebration in Song: Sunrise, Sunset - The music of Fiddler on the Roof" opened December 12 and running through December 20 in the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, 5801 W. 115th St. in Overland Park.
The original stage adaption of this beloved musical is something the entire family will enjoy. It is accompanied by a special exhibit focusing on KC's fiddlers on the roof - many émigrés themselves who play. The exhibit also includes the anatomy of how a violin is made presented by KC Strings.
Join the Cast of "Your'e a Good Man, Charlie Brown" Weekly workshops and rehearsals, learn to audition, act, sing and more. Click here for more information. |