Dear ,
I want to thank you for a wonderful year. It has been a year of learning, and our graduation on Monday evening was the highlight of the year. This is the last formal newsletter of the year. I want to wish everyone a safe and happy summer. Our June 3, Chai Lights will have back to school information for all students and parents.
Shabbat Shalom,
Howard Haas
May 23- Jewish Heritage Day at the Wizards
May 25- Middle School Social during mentoring
May 25- 5th Grade Parent Meeting: Preparing Your Child for Middle School 6:30 pm
May 26- Coffee and Chat with the Head of School
May 27- Scavenger Hunt and Picnic for Incoming KDG Families 5:15 pm
May 27-28 and June 1-2 Upper School Finals
May 28- Lower School Recognition Assembly and Talent Show 1:00 pm
May 31- No School-Memorial Day
June 2- 5th Grade Continuation Ceremony 8:30 am
June 2- 8th Grade Continuation Ceremony and Middle School Recognition Assembly 10:30 am
June 2- Noon Dismissal - Last Day of School
August 16 - First Day of School
HBHA Summer Office Hours
From June 7-July 30, the office will be open Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-3:00 pm and Friday from 8:00am-noon.
HBHA News and Events
Graduation 2010
This past Monday evening, 12 students joined the HBHA Alumni Association. In front of family, friends, teachers and the community, the students shared their thoughts, fears, and joys of becoming a high school graduate. Only at HBHA would you find all graduates speak at their commencement. Only at HBHA would the freshman create a senior send off for all the seniors. Only at HBHA would the principal be able to address each individual student, with knowledge of who they are as young people. Only at HBHA would seniors be celebrated by the entire student body. Only at HBHA would everyone be considered family.
Now our students take the next step in their life journey. We wish them well as they take the knowledge and experiences they have gleaned from the last 13 years.
Acceptances – Class of 2010
Bard College
Beloit College
Boston University
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Drake University
Eugene Lang College / New School University
Evergreen State College
Goucher College
Hampshire College
Indiana University
Knox College
Lewis and Clark College
Lynn University
Occidental College
Sarah Lawrence College
Skidmore College
Tulane University
University of Denver
University of Kansas
University of Miami
University of Wisconsin
Yeshiva University
Total Scholarships/Grants Accepted: More than $200,000!
6th Grade Visits Camp Sabra
May 10th through 12th, the sixth graders took a class trip to Camp Sabra. While initially rainy and cold, the trip turned into a beautiful outdoor experience. Students were able to climb rock walls, use a ropes course, and slide on a very high zip line. The class was so well behaved and mature that the manager of the zip line was able to get everyone through twice—something he said has never happened in his entire ten years at Sabra. Hooray for the 6th grade! It was a truly memorable trip.
7th Grade Travels to Arizona
When you hear the word Arizona, what do you think of? The Grand Canyon? The desert? Great. When you hear the word Arizona, do you think of cold? Well, that's what the seventh grade thinks of now, especially since they were camping in tents there for five days! They were there from Monday, May 10 to Friday, Maya 14, with temperatures ranging from the low thirties to the mid-sixties. That didn't stop them from having an amazing time, though. They visited the Grand Canyon, as well as a few lesser known attractions, such as the Lava River Cave, which formed over 700,000 years ago from molten lava! That was among the favorite destinations on the trip. Another favorite was Slide Rock Park. With its forty degree water, it might just be the coldest anyone in the class has ever experienced! They didn't mind, as they slid down the slippery, mossy rocks in small rapids. After their first run, they were numb enough to do it again and again! On Thursday, they went to an Indian Arts fair. There were exquisite handmade glass beads, in addition to hand-beaded friendship bracelets almost an inch wide! Many of the seventh graders bought their parents small gifts here. All in all, thirteen out of thirteen seventh graders agree that they would go again in a heartbeat!
Anticipation by Sophia Porter
What will the result
Of this train ride be like?
A calm place to sit?
A beautiful hike?
Shining shimmering sparkle
As the wind whips through the trees,
Creating a portrait
With its nice, gentle breeze?
Or a desolate wasteland
Covered in litter,
Simply rocks and water,
Deprived of life and glitter?
As we near the station,
I am deep in a dream of
Mountains, peaks, and plateaus,
Of purples, they seem.
I step into the light
And open up my eyes
And see the cloudless opal
Colored exquisite blue skies.
Rocks OrangePurpleBlue-
RedBrownRustGreen
Stacked in a mile of layers
Most vivid I've seen!
And piles and textures of
Grand Canyon Shelf-
But if you don't believe me,
Go see for yourself!
8th Grade Visits Chicago
On May 10th, the 8th grade embarked on our field trip to Chicago, where we spent 3 full days of sight seeing, socializing and a whole lot of walking. The weather didn’t cooperate much, but the constant drizzle did not dampen our spirits (pun fully intended).
We began by visiting the Field Museum, and its expansive gift shop, followed by some fun at ESPN zone, and fantastic ice cream at Ghirardelli’s. Day 2 was Skokie day, we toured the Illinois Holocaust Museum with a fantastic Docent (thank you Wendy!), listened to a survivor tell her story, and visited the gift shop. Later we dined at Ken’s and returned to the hotel exhausted (but not too tired for some Baskin Robbins ice cream)
Day 3 started with the Michigan Avenue scavenger hunt, followed by the zoo, where we saw many interesting animal exhibits, and also… wait for it… the gift shop. Then it was lunch and the airport and then home for some well needed rest.
Chicago was, as always, a great place to visit, enjoy new sights, and get to know each other better!
Organizing Your Incoming Middle School Child (For incoming 6th graders)
• Is your child nervous about middle school?
• How will I know what materials and textbooks I need?
• How will I remember my schedule?
• How will I remember all my assignments from so many teachers? What is a good system for keeping track of my assignments?
• How will I keep track of all my papers to study from at home and at school?
Come get some beneficial tips to help your child be prepared for middle school. Learn how to organize:
• The Supplies
• The Desktop Filing System
• The Planner
Tuesday, May 25th 6:30 p.m. in Mrs. Franks’ room.
Bring your (soon to be middle school) child.
Please RSVP to nkrashin@hbha.edu or 913.327.4645
Admissions Office News
Parents and Friends of HBHA: Help us spread the word about our wonderful school and upcoming admissions events:
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.
PTO Supports HBHA Technology
PTO was extremely generous this year by assisting the school with some additional technology. They donated $17,800 in order to give each teacher in the building a hi-tech projection system and some additional software. Many teachers already had systems from the Technology Grant last year, but PTO wanted all teachers to have the same technology available to them. They purchased the Key Skills program that can be used in grades K-8 to enrich reading and math. They also purchased a new typing program that can be used with all students. For the math department Sketchpad was acquired, a program to enrich geometry that can be used with various levels of students. Teachers all now have a projector mounted to the ceiling which is attached to their computer and a VCR\DVD that can be used to project images from tapes, DVD’s or the computer screen onto the whiteboard. They also bought speakers for better sound. Not only did PTO purchase this equipment, but they also provided funds to pay for all the cables, adapters, mounts and elecrical needs. Thanks to Shane Lingle for taking care of installation of all the equipment. This is just one more example of how parent contributions to PTO and the hard work of the PTO board benefit this school. HBHA THANKS YOU PTO!!!
First Grade Celebrates the Year
The first grade had an exciting morning on May 12, 2010! They began their day with a fabulous performance at the annual Zimriyah, where many of their family members had the opportunity to hear their beautiful voices. Following their performance, their families joined them in the first grade classroom for some end-of-the-year festivities. While enjoying some refreshments, the students and their families viewed a slideshow highlighting some activities from the past year. What a cute bunch! The children exhibited their knowledge of their Siddurim by leading their parents and grandparents through some morning prayers. After prayers, the students honored their parents and grandparents by singing “Parents are People” from the Free to Be You and Me soundtrack. The first graders have been hard at work writing their very own autobiographies, and they each shared a paragraph with their audience. They have become such wonderful writers and readers this year! Finally, each child had the opportunity to share their full autobiographies with their families, show them some of their artwork, and share some of their General Studies and Judaic Studies projects. The children were so proud of their academic achievements, and their parents and grandparents were so proud of their poise and progress. Their teachers are very proud of them, too!
HBHA Students Prepare for Summer Reading!
Two youth services librarians from the Leawood Pioneer branch of the Johnson County Library came to our school library on May 11 to promote their summer reading program to HBHA students in grades 1-5. The library has loads of fun, free activities planned for children of all ages, great prizes for reaching reading goals, and tons of new books on the shelves.
There are many summer reading incentive programs available to our students through libraries and bookstores. All children who meet their summer reading goals are invited to bring their reading logs to Mrs. White when we return to school in August. They will be invited to a special celebration in honor of their commitment to summer reading! Happy Reading!
Mrs. White
Celebrating Trees
Friday, April 30th, was Arbor Day! To celebrate the occasion, the City of Overland Park and Legacy of Greenery Committee promoted the value of trees and landscape with a presentation to school age 
children. The City Forester, Sarah Patterson, was joined by Forest the Fox. Forest visits the children then helped them plant a tree on school grounds. The city presented HBHA with a gift of the Cherry Blossom tree. The children were engaged and did not stop talking about the experience. Nothing can compare to lively tales of students to parents, along with the sharing of their very own tree to plant.
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.
A Heartfelt Thank You from the Dolgopolskai Family
This message is "bittersweet." It is to express my and Lilia's heartfelt recognition for all that you and the school, under your leadership, have done for our daughters, Polina and Elen-Sarrah, in their respective middle and elementary school years at HBHA. To read more, click here>>>>