Dear Friends,
Learning beyond the classroom is a hallmark of a Barrack Hebrew Academy
education, beginning in 6th grade and carrying through to
graduation. In this issue of Benainu,
I would like to share some of the exciting and enriching beyond the classroom
experiences that our Middle School students have enjoyed and will continue to
enjoy this academic year.
Last week, our 7th graders returned from a TEVA Achdut
(Togetherness) trip to Jenny Jump Park in Hope, New Jersey where they experienced
a challenging wilderness adventure and practiced group cooperation that will
help them succeed in school and in life. In November, our 6th
graders will spend four days at TEVA Shomrei Adomah (Keepers of the Earth)
program at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in northwestern Connecticut,
building leadership skills, studying the environment, and practicing Jewish
values. In May, our 8th grade class will visit Williamsburg,
Jamestown, and Washington D.C., a culmination of their Core studies of American
Peoples.
During school, our entire Middle School will participate in
various Chesed projects, giving back
to the community in a number of ways, including: packing food For Philabundance
and JRA; working with the Fairmount Park Conservancy on environmental clean-up,
and volunteering during the city-wide Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
I look forward to sharing more Middle School highlights as
the year progresses.
Sincerely,
Christine Farrell
Middle School Director
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For Learning.
6th Grade Earth Science Explorers
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 What is the state of health of the watershed on the Barrack
campus? What organisms and fish live in the stream that runs behind Barrack Hebrew Academy?
How can 6th graders help protect the environment? For the answers,
just ask Kathleen Saltz's 6th
grade Earth Science classes. As part of their water unit, they worked in small
groups to test the water in the stream and closely examine the quality of the
surrounding watershed and site. From their data, they will make a determination
about the state of health of the local watershed and submit their data for
publication to the World Wide Monitoring Data Base. Does working outdoors and
observing nature first-hand on Barrack's 35-acre campus delight the budding
scientists? "Yes," is the resounding answer from the class: "We really feel
like scientists and love working outdoors. We also believe that we're helping
to protect the environment and that what we discover really counts." The 6th
graders will continue their environmental studies during their TEVA "Keepers of
the Earth" experiences in November.
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Jewish Humor Comes Alive at Barrack
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"So You Think You Want to be a Comedian" is one of the Upper School
electives offered this trimester. Taught by Rabbi Steve Stroiman, the course focuses on the characteristics of
Jewish humor and examines the work of such iconic comedians as the Marx
Brothers, Sid Caesar and Jerry Seinfeld, as well as the plots of TV shows and
movies through the lens of Jewish humor. Student participants are researching
one of the classic Jewish comedians for a report to share with the class. The course
also serves as a workshop for the students to develop and perform their own
stand-up routines. Laughter and learning are combined in this popular elective.
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Clubs, Clubs and More Clubs
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 Barrack students had an opportunity to explore a number of
clubs this week during a very lively Club Fair that invited students in all
grades to learn more about club life at school and to join clubs that match
their interests and passions. Tables manned by club leaders displayed posters,
flyers, and information, as well as giveaways, to attract interest and
membership. Clubs, as far as the eye could see, included: The Harry Potter
Club, Debate, Human Rights, World Affairs, Exploring Arabic, Animal Rights, the
Environmental Action Club, Exploring Arabic, M'Et L'Et Cougar Chronicle, Spanish Club, and the
Israel Club.
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Club Sales
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French Club: French
Club members are selling Chanukah and Winter Wrapping Paper. The order deadline
is Wednesday, November 18. Click here for the Gift Wrap order form. Entertainment
Books are also on sale to support
the club. Click here for the Entertainment Book order form.
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For Leading.
Middle School Peer Mentoring Program
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 How do you help Middle School students navigate the bumpy
road of adolescence? Just ask Shoshana
Fishbein and Ofir Lebenthal,
two 9th graders who felt there was a need to provide a peer
mentoring program at Barrack for Middle School students to help them deal with
the wonderful, but sometimes confusing world of adolescence. Shoshana and Ofir
will train as peer mentors under the guidance of Tasha Vigoda, Barrack Guidance Counselor, and Dr. Wendy Simkin, a clinical psychiatrist. The peer mentors will be
sensitive listeners and serve as big sisters to Middle School students. "National research indicates that peer
mentoring has a very positive effect and is successful in schools across the
country," shares Mrs. Vigoda. "We are very proud that Shoshana and Ofir are
spearheading such a program at our school. "
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Student Association News
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Barra ck's Student Association (SA) is off to a great start
this year," reports Adam Wachs '12, SA President. "We are now
settling into our second year in our new home and are looking forward to an
exciting and successful school year." To inaugurate the school year, SA sponsored
a paintballing trip to New Hanover, PA. Over 30 students and two parent
chaperones enjoyed this colorful adventure. SA also scheduled a Club Fair that
took place this week, introducing the entire student body to an array of club
offerings. "Clubs are a fantastic way to get involved in school life," shares
Adam, "and students are also encouraged to form new clubs that reflect their
interests."
Looking ahead, SA is in the process of planning a homecoming
event in November for the 11th graders returning from a trimester of
study in Israel. Events will be tied to a school-wide Chesed project in the morning and an afternoon of sports, games,
and music. Future plans also include coffee houses, the annual ski trip, Spirit
Week and more. Adam's executive team includes Harrison Grass, vice president; Jackie Retig, secretary, and Emily
Simkin, treasurer.
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Trips...Trips...Trips
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AP Environmental
Science
The AP Environmental Science Classes will explore the
estuary system of Delaware Bay on November 2, 9am-1:30pm.
6th Grade TEVA Trip
Barrack 6th graders will enjoy "Keeper of
the Earth" experiences at the Isabella Freedman Nature Retreat in Connecticut,
November 8-11.
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Sports Scene
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Co-Ed Middle School Soccer
 "Barrack's co-ed
Middle School soccer team
has gotten off to a great start, winning their first 4 of 6 games," reports Coach Larry Benek. Goals scored by Adam Holtz, Nora Abel, Jake Tischler and Michael Cahana helped the team to victories over Collegium Charter
and Westmont Christian Academy. Great defensive efforts from Jared Raikin, Adam Black, and Celeste Marcus, coupled with
outstanding goal tending by Jacob Reich,
resulted in wins against Friends Select and The Philadelphia School.
On the Court: Girls
Tennis Update
This Thursday, Barrack's girls' varsity tennis team visited
the campus of Villa Victoria and returned home with a 3-2 victory. The match
came down to a 2 all situation. The senior doubles team of Jackie Retig and Jenna Hart
defeated their opponents, 8-6. Strong performances were also posted by the
Cougars 1st singles Shoval Dorani
and 3rd singles Andrea Cantor.
Girls Varsity Soccer
News
The Lady Cougars
defeated Girard College this week, 3-1. Sarah Gordon scored a last
trick. Sarah Saltz was very aggressive at the net, making 19
saves. This victory marked Coach
Kim Gillio's 100th League win. On Tuesday, the girls played a strong first half, but struggled in the
second half and lost 4-0. They bounced back on Wednesday and dominated Del Val
Friends, winning 4-0. Seventeen seconds in, Tamara Moskowitz scored her
first two goals, followed minutes later by Jenna Glassman, with Danielle Wachs' assist. Rachel Gordon also scored. Jenna Glassman had three assists in the contest. Lila Manstein did a great
job as goalie in the second half. Defensively, Sivan Ben-Maimon and Zoe Steier were solid, allowing only three balls in the
defensive zone all game. The Lady Cougars
are undefeated in the Tri-County League and are 8-7 overall.
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For Life.
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 Grandparents/Grandfriends' Day
Grandparents and
Grandfriends of Barrack students are invited to experience a GRAND DAY at our
school on Friday, November 6,
9:30am-12:30pm. Our guests will enjoy
a coffee and danish welcome reception, followed by the opportunity to attend classes
with their grandchildren and grandfriends, and enjoy lunch, as our guests, in the
kosher dining commons. Memento photos will be taken and mailed to all
participating grandparents and grandfriends. Please RSVP to Ruth Mancuso, rmancuso@jbha.org, by October 23. We asked you to send in addresses of your "Grands" and you responded. Ninety invitations have been mailed directly to those grandparents and grandfriends whose addresses we received. Invitations have also been mailed to each family so that you may extend the invitation to the grandparents and grandfriends in your family. We look forward to welcoming them!
Chesed: Friendship Circle
Walk
Members of Barrack's Chesed
Club invite fellow students, parents, faculty and the community to participate
in the Friendship Circle Walk set for this Sunday,
October 18 to raise awareness and support for children with special needs
and their families. The walk will leave
from Barrack Hebrew Academy
and the schedule follows:
1:00-1:30: Registration
1:30-3pm: The Walk
2:30-3:30pm: Family Fun
To register, log onto: www.phillyfriendshipwalk.com "If you cannot make it, sign up as a virtual
supporter," invites Hannah Dardashti '10,
one of the Barrack students spearheading support for the walk and the vital
work of the Friendship Circle.
11th Grade Sukkah Sleep Out and In
 Rabbah services. Then it was off by train to enjoy a walking tour of
Colonial Jewish Philadelphia. The tour began at Mikvah Israel, the oldest
continuously used synagogue in America, where students were greeted by Rabbi
Gabbay. Many thanks to Sarah Waxman
and JLI members for organizing this year's Sukkah festivities, to Miriam Leisman, Alan Paul and George Shotz who chaperoned the events,
and to Leslie Pugach and Sarah Waxman who slept over and toured
with the 11th graders.
Hoshana Rabbah Torah Procession
Evan Finkelstein '11
led a joyful Torah procession of students, one of seven processions that were
part of Barrack's celebration of Hoshana
Rabbah, the final day of Sukkot.
Rabbi Judd Levingston, Jewish Studies Director, joined the students as they
paraded across campus and through the halls of Barrack Hebrew Academy.
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Endowment Established
in Memory of Pepi Bloom
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The children of Pepi Bloom established an endowment in
memory of their mother, a beloved teacher at our school from 1979 to 1991.
Teaching Hebrew, Jewish Thought and History were Pepi's passions, and she
believed that "the fun of teaching is learning." Therefore, it most fitting that
her children chose to establish an endowment fund designated for enhanced professional education for Barrack's
faculty. The funds will continue to assure that our teachers have the latest
techniques and tools to prepare Barrack students to succeed in an increasingly
complex world. The Bloom family invites alumni,
former colleagues, family and friends to contribute to the Pepi Bloom Endowment
Fund for the 2009-2010 academic year. For details, contact
Susan Marks, Director of Institutional Advancement or
610-922-2322.
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Parents' Corner
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Flu Vaccinations
Barrack Hebrew Academy will
partner with Maxim Health Systems to offer onsite flu vaccinations with FluMist
(Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intrasal,) an intranasal flu vaccine on Tuesday, October 20
during lunch. FluMist cost: $35; Flu Shot cost: $30. Payment options include
cash or check only. Checks should be made payable to
Maxim Health System. Checks should be
submitted the day of the vaccinations.
Coffee and Conversation with Dr. Brown
Middle School parents are invited to have coffee and
conversation with Dr. Steven M.Brown, Head of School, to learn about new initiatives,
share their thoughts and ask questions in an informal setting. Meetings are
scheduled from 8 to 9:30am in
the Athletic Building's Alumni
Conference Room. Interested parents should
email or call Randi Butow at
610-922-2328 to
reserve a date. Every effort will be made to accommodate requested dates. Meeting
dates follow:
Monday: 10/19/09
Friday: 10/23/09
Tuesday: 10/27/09
Wednesday: 10/28/09
HSA Bagels and Learning Dates
Mark your calendars and plan to join fellow parents and
community scholars for informal discussions about Jewish life cycles. Meetings
are held from 8 to 9:30am in
the Athletic Building's Alumni
Conference Room. The next meeting will be November 20th. "Matters of Life & Death: Jewish Perspectives on Organ Donations & Ethical Wills," led by Rabbi Lisa Malik of B'nai Arron. We look forward to seeing you!
Mitzvah Mania!
On November 1, all members of Barrack Hebrew Academy's
family have the opportunity to get involved in one of the biggest days of Chesed
that takes place in the greater
Philadelphia area- the Jewish Federation's Mitzvah Mania! Barrack
Hebrew Academy is teaming up with Federation in an effort to protect those in
need from the cold by collecting warm clothing, as well as protect the
environment. Plan to join us by donating to the winter clothing drive and
volunteering to help clean-up Morris Park on Sunday, November 1. For details, contact Sarah Waxman: swaxman@jbha.org
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In The Spotlight:
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Middle School
Core Curriculum
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"Core" is the core of our Middle School." This quote
captures the essence of Barrack Hebrew Academy's Middle School curriculum that
couples an interdisciplinary approach to learning with an emphasis on skill
building and technology- - all taught by caring, inspiring teachers in a
nurturing and supportive environment.
The Core curriculum focuses on a central theme in each
grade, using primary and secondary historical sources, as well as fiction,
non-fiction, poetry, art, and music to bring each theme alive. Sixth graders
examine the roots of civilization. Seventh graders explore the role of justice
and law in American life, and eighth graders study American Peoples (Native
American, Immigrants, and African Americans) to discover the meaning of the
American Dream. Adventures beyond the classroom enrich each course of study.
Core subjects are complemented by the study of math,
science, Hebrew, and Jewish studies. Electives in drama, art, music, Judaica, and
sports round out an exciting and stimulating course of study that develops a
sound foundation and a joy of learning, setting the stage for continued
success.
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A New Website!
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Barrack Hebrew Academy Has a New Website!
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We are launching a new website this Monday morning, October 19th, and invite you to take a look at our new look! Our web address remains the same; www.jbha.org. Our new website reflects and supports our new campaign - For Learning. For Leading. For Life. The modern design, compelling photos, updated copy and new features communicate the excellence, energy, and excitement that are synonymous with a stellar Barrack Hebrew Academy education. As in any new endeavor and transition, there are bound to be glitches and the new site remains a work in progress. In fact, sports news will be updated during each playing season. We welcome your feedback. We hope you enjoy our new site, with all its new features and ease of navigation.
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Calendar
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Looking Ahead
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October 16 & November 20: HSA's Bagels and Learning
October 19, 23, 27, 28: Middle School Coffee and
Conversation with Dr. Brown Contact: Randi Butow or call 610-922-2328
October 19-29: Colegio Tarbut Students Visit from
Buenos Aires
October 21: Senior
Mousetrap Engineering Competition/Widener University
October 29: Middle School Open House Contact: Vivian Young or call 610-922-2350
November 1: Mitzvah Mania! November 2: AP Environmental Science Trip November 3:
Open House, 9am to noonContact Vivian Young, 610-922-2350 November 6:Grandparents/Grandfriends' Day Contact: Ruth Mancuso or call 610-922-2330 November 8-11:6th grade TEVA trip November 20:HSA Bagels and Learning
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Life Cycles
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For Everything There
is a Season...
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Mazel tov to:
Coach Kim Gillio. The varsity girls' soccer team's win this
week marked her 100th League win.
Alumni Life Cycles
Mazel tov to:
Michelle Katchen Amin
'94 and her husband Sudeep on the
birth of their son, Sean Amav, in June, brother of Ethan.
Michael J. Bihovsky '05
who just posted two new pieces online. The first is a parody of the song The Phantom of the Opera and the
second is a live recording of the Juilliard Woodwind, Brass and Percussion
Orchestra reading a composition that he re-orchestrated from Vox Lumiere's The
Hunchback of Notre Dame. He also just completed recording a six-track full
cast demo album of his original work, The
New Musical.
Leora Krygier '70 on the publication of her book Juvenile Justice: A Guide to Young Adults
and Their Parents written from her
experiences as a Juvenile Court Referee (Judge) in California. Her book draws
on examples, stories, and excerpts from actual letters and writings by teens,
demystifying the judicial process and helping teens get back on the right
track.
Marjorie Perilstein Wargon
'89 and her husband Brian on the birth of Ava Charlotte, sister of
Jesse and Talia.
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Photo Gallery:
Sukkah Fiesta
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Submit to Benainu
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Please send Benainu information to Beverly Rosen
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