Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Children's Motivational Behavior Center in Kansas City, Missouri.  This school has been in existence for over 15 years and offers specialized care for infants and a progressive pre-school for up to 100 children.   It is their goal to offer quality programming to families by promoting the healthy growth and development of children and to promote family values that enhance the well-being of the children and families in their community.  The school has recently purchased the old BIAV building on Holmes and is in need of children's educational toys, furniture and books.  The students recently came to HBHA to visit with our 4th and 5th grade students, listen to stories and do a project on the computers.  We are going to continue to partner with this wonderful little school.  If you would like more information about the school or opportunities to help, please stop by and see me. 

Shabbat Shalom,
Howard Haas

March 25 - Upper School Play- Greater Tuna  7:00 pm
March 26 - 4th, 5th & 7th Grade Science Pioneers Field Trip
March 29-April 9 - Pesach Break
March 31 - Deadline for Financial Assistance Applications and Tax Forms
April 7 - March of the Living Begins
April 12 - School Resumes
April 13 - 4th and 5th Grade Field Trip to Coterie Theatre
April 13 - Reaching the Write Minds Workshop, 9th & 10th Grade
April 13 - The Outrage Performance 7:00 pm
April 15 - PTO meeting 8:00 am
April 15 - 7th Grade Field Trip to Topeka
April 19 - 5th Grade Shadowing Day
April 19 -  3rd Grade Field Trip to EarthWorks
April 19 - MAP testing begins
April 20 - Yom Ha'atzmaut Community Wide Celebration
April 21 - Creative Kids 2:15 pm
April 23 - Go Green Day
April 28 - Coffee and a Chat with the Head of School 8:00 am
April 29 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Exchange City
May 2- HBHA Annual Civic Service Award Dinner

Next Chai Lights is April  22.
 
HBHA News and Events

How to be Organized for 2010-2011 School Year
"The assignment is due when? Tomorrow?"
We've all been there at some point. Somehow, that assignment due date just slipped right up on us without our noticing.
That is why organizational skills are so important to school performance. Who can afford to lose points on a paper, just because we didn't pay attention to the due date? Who wants to get an "F" because we forgot to put our completed project in our book bag the night before it was due? 
Poor organization skills can reduce your final scores by a whole letter grade. That's why you should learn to use a day planner the right way.
If you are entering seventh grade and above and would like to order an effective student planner, that works best for our block period schedules, please fill out the order form and send $4.00 (cash or check to Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy) to Netta Krashin by May 7.  You will receive a 2010-2011 planner in August.  Click here for the order form. 


Morris Fingersh Scholarship Fund
Scholarship funding for Academy students is available through the Morris Fingersh Scholarship Fund.  Written requests for applications must be received in the office of Kehilath Israel Synagogue by April 15th. Mail requests to KI at 10501 Conser, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.  You do not need to be a member of KI in order to apply.

Admissions Office News
Parents and Friends of HBHA: Help us spread the word about our wonderful school and upcoming admissions events:

Re-enrollment for 2010-11 School Year
Re-enrollment packets for the 2010-11 school year were mailed on Wednesday, February 3.  Please help us plan for next year (staffing, supplies, etc.) by completing and submitting your forms ASAP. Thank you!

Now Accepting Lateral Entry Applications for 2010-11
You are HBHA’s best advertisement! Please tell your friends about HBHA’s wonderful academics and warm community as well as our reduced tuition under the Academy Access Program (AAP). Private tours available weekly. Click here for Admissions Process & Procedures.
 
Get Me to the Ceremony On Time
Debbie and Alan Edelman were determined not to miss their daughter and HBHA alum Katja’s, swearing-in ceremony that concludes basic training for all Israeli soldiers.  They were supposed to arrive in Israel at 8:30 Thursday morning and the ceremony, which was happening several hours drive away in Sde Boker, was to begin at 4:30 in the afternoon. No problem, right? Wrong. After a series of missed connections and mechanical issues, the undaunted couple arrived in Israel at 3:15PM.  Prior to taking off from Newark, they were already aware that they were in danger of missing the ceremony. Their tenacious family looked to people from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to see if there was any way to help them arrive on time. Nothing galvanizes Israelis more than bringing parents from abroad to attend this most sacred of national observances.  The JFNA employees, the helicopter company, the airport authority, the military all had to be involved to authorize a helicopter flight from the airport to Sde Boker.  Normally, arrangements of this kind take days but this had to be done in less than a few hours. It was clear that everyone from the UJC, to the helicopter company and the military were personally invested in making sure Debbie and Alan would not miss the ceremony.  They arrived just as the soldiers were marching in. Much to the surprise of the family, their arrival made news in Israel’s top selling newspaper, Yediot Achronot.
Only in Israel! Kol hakavod, Katja!

Upper School Play
Ever wonder what small town life is really like?  Come be a part of the madness! From yippy dogs to reprobate teenagers, join the Upper School students as they walk you through the wacky world of Tuna, Texas.  Tonight, March 25, is the last performance.  7:00 pm in the Social Hall.  Doors open at 6:30.  Tickets are $5.00.   This hugely successful play chronicles the abnormal lives of the residents of Tuna, Texas.  Watch the Upper School students change into and out of costume to guarantee you a night of hilarity and fun.  Some of the humor may not be suitable for little ones. 

President’s Volunteer Service Awards Due Date – April 30, 2010
Reminder: Upper School students can earn the Presidential Volunteer Service Award by completing over 100 community service hours in a calendar year.  Completing between 100-174 hours earns a bronze award, 175-249 hours earns a silver award and over 250 hours earns a gold award.  These awards recognize students for extraordinary service within a school year.  All completed hours must be properly documented and submitted by April 30th, 2010 for any students who would like to be recognized at the spring honors assembly.  Nearly 40% of students each year achieve these honors, which speak well to the level of service our students perform in many areas of the community.
Additionally, all other upper school students are reminded to complete their annual service requirements by the last day of school (June 2nd), while seniors must complete their requirements no later than May 12th.  Any questions about community service should be directed to Todd Clauer at tclauer@hbha.edu.

Spring Exam Exemption guidelines are available for students and parents on the HBHA Web site. Click here for the link.  The deadline for submission is May 14.

What does your family need to stay healthy?  Click here to find out.

Recycle your Recycler
Hochim Yarok, the Going Green Leadership Club, is seeking to aid in the collection of recycling paper in the classrooms. We are asking for any unused clean curbside bins that can be used in the classroom.

A Walk Through Jerusalem
Topeka’s Temple Beth Sholom, Grace Episcopal Cathedral, and Islamic Center are co-hosting a program aimed at promoting religious and cultural understanding.  It is a traveling interactive exhibit called ‘A Walk through Jerusalem’ and will be offered free to the public from May 30-June 20, 2010 in Topeka – the program’s only stop in the Midwest. For more information, contact Michael Massesy at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, Kansas. 816-608-0003. 

Community Wide Holocaust Service
The Community Holocaust Service, Sunday, April 11th in the White Theatre.  The students from the HBHA choir (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades) will participate in this service.  Students will meet in the Heritage Center at 12:45 pm.  They should wear white tops and Khaki bottoms. We appreciate your child’s commitment and help for this important community gathering. If you have any questions please call Devra Lerner at 913-642-2043.

To all Parents of 2nd & 3rd Grade Students
Your child will receive a CD with songs they need to know for the Zimriyah on May 12th.
It is very important that they listen to these songs over Pesach break so they will know these songs when they return to school and they will be prepared for the Zimriyah program. Listen to them in the car or download them to their MP3 players…Enjoy the songs of Broadway.
Thanks for your help.