WED., MAY 31 - THURS., JUNE 1

SHAVUOT BREAK

FRI., JUNE 2SCHOOL RESUMES

LATE AM START 9:15ISRU CHAG

TUES., JUNE 13, 7pmMOVING UP

GRADUATION CEREMONY

THURS., JUNE 15, 1pmKINDERGARTEN

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING

TUES., JUNE 20PRESCHOOL

GRADUATION CEREMONY

THURS., JUNE 22LAST DAY OF CLASSES

12:15 DISMISSALPM STAFF MEETINGS

B”H

10735 144 St., Edmonton, AB T5N 3L1 Phone: 780.451.1848 Fax: 780.451.2254 menorahacademy.org ~ office@menorahacademy.org

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9

Mazel tov Kitah Aleph on receiving your first Chumash! You have begun a beautiful journey of learning the Torah! Grade One began their day with a trip to our local shul - the Kollel. They were joined by Rabbi Sass who showed them around. He taught them about the Aron Kodesh and the different beautiful items we find in a shul. They also got a chance to find the letter of their first name in the Sefer Torah.

The children got back to school and welcomed their parents! Each child was bedecked in a beautiful crown and sash. In a moving performance they explained that they are part of the mesorah- the chain - of Torah transmission that links them all back to Moshe Rabeiniu at Har Sinai.Everyone was invited to partake of the beautiful Chumash cake and engage in a craft with their parents to mark this milestone. It was a day to remember!Mazel tov!

After many months of preparation the Kindergarten children celebrated receiving their very first Siddur! They have worked diligently to learn the Hebrew letters and vowels and blend them into words. The Kindergarten presented a beautiful show to their parents about Tefillah - how, when, and why we Daven. Yasher Koach Kindergarten on all your efforts in reaching this milestone! Thank you Morah Daniella, Sylvia, Ms. Scheelar, Rabbi Sass and our guest parent speaker, Rabbi Pinson, for your support in making this event such a success!

PAGE 2 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017

“Colour Shalom, Colour Shalom… It’s Colour Shalom time!” Students and staff were anxiously looking at the skies as it seemed that, once again, it would be a wet Lag B’Omer field day. Fortunately, the rain clouds cooperated with us, and remained captured, and we had a fun filled day of activities celebrating Lag B’Omer and Colour Shalom. Congratulations to all the teams for showing great ruach, derech eretz, and Achdus-teamwork and unity.

As part of our probability unit, Grade 4/5B perfected our bottle flipping skills. After our initial bottle flip we calculated mean, percent success, and percent failure. We have tons of fun, so ask us to show off our bottle flipping skills!

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 PAGE 3

In the past weeks, Toddler & Nursery class were very busy with preparations for Lag B'omer, making a paper bonfire. They exercised their fine motor skills by us ing sc issors and glue a l l by themselves. They enjoyed the nice weather outside on our playground and now, they are focused on the next holiday of Shavuot in which Bnai Israel got the Torah.

Edmonton Menorah Academy Girls were privileged to join in the international Lunch Brake initiative, run by the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation (CCHF) with the aim of promoting kosher speech during lunch and recess. Following the daily jingle, the girls learned a question and answer from halacha, with practical application to their daily lives. To kick start the project in the school, the girls made banners and posters during Zimra and decorated the school. We look forward to working together with the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation again in the future.

Menorah participates in international Lunch Brake initiativeMachsom L'fi is a truly inspirational program. It really opened up my eyes to make sure that I wasn't talking or hearing lashon hara for a whole hour. I think that we all benefited from it - even if we won't specifically be looking out during lunch hour anymore - that we now know 32 more laws of when Loshon hara is/not permitted. One thing I really enjoyed was hearing from other girls every morning. Every day, we would listen to a message about the program from somebody anywhere on the globe, in addition to a song. That was really nice.Let us all try our best to guard our tongues-even out of 'lunch brake'-from speaking loshon hara.

-Shoshana W., Grade 7

THIS MONTH in ZIMRAThis month’s Zimra program, together with Mrs Salter and Morah Sima, has included exciting events including Lunch Brake decorating, an educational video from the CCHF and a fun packed afternoon of games and ice pops in M c Q u e e n P a r k . T h i s w e e k , i n anticipation of the upcoming Yom Tov of Shavuos, the girls are making Har Sinai chocolate fudge cakes to take home to their families.

PAGE 4 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017

Our Nursery students have been busy getting their graduation caps decorated and practicing for their Preschool Graduation that will be held on Tuesday, June 20. Invitations will be sent home soon!Zoo trip like no otherThe Grade 3's and Grade 4/5 Boys were delighted to embark on a field trip to the Edmonton Valley Zoo. While we were there, we learned all about endangered species and the lives of many animals. We were even permitted to touch different animals and interact with them. It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun learning and exploring.

Right before Pesach, Grade 4/5B got the opportunity to participate in a STEM project. The goal of the project was to create a football field out of a limited number of supplies. After that, we all received “football” erasers and tried to score touchdowns! Who knew we were all such great football stars!

You have probably seen weather vanes atop barns, houses, or mailboxes used to show wind direction. When wind hits the weather vane, it pushes on the larger surface. In this case, the larger surface is the end of the straw with the index card glued into the slit. As a result of this pushing effect on the index card, the other end of the straw will point into the oncoming wind. Grade 4/5 Girls had fun creating their weather vanes, and when we tested them outside, they worked amazingly well! What a fun learning experience!

Wind Vanes with Grade 4/5G

Pink is Sweetnessby Zahava S., Grade 4

It sounds like kids laughingIt tastes like sugar at a carnival

It smells like a lollypopPink feels like cherry blossoms

Sapphire Seaby Aliza L., Grade 4

Calmness is like the ocean breezeIt sounds like the whoosh of the wind

It tastes like the salty sea waterIt smells like fresh fish from the seaTurquoise feels like a sandy beach

Ruby of DestructionHanna B., Grade 5

Anger is internal fireIt sounds like fire cracklingIt tastes bitter like saffron

It smells like ashes burningCrimson is mean & uninviting

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 PAGE 5

withMRS. LEE

Our Grade 4/5 Girls completed their study of tulips with banners. The tulip was drawn on a large sheet of paper and traced on to the banner. The material was wet for the painting of the tulip and leaf, using a mixture of fabric acrylic paints. The background was painted on the dry surface with watered down acrylics. The use of harmonious colors in the tulip and complimentary colors to the first in the background lends to truly stunning finished work.

Inspired by the images in 'Elmer' by David McPhee, the Nursery and PreK artists made a mixed media project. Squares were glued to elephant cut outs. Circles were glued to larger circles. Tree stems were decorated by sponge painting with square and triangle shapes. The salad spinners returned to the PreK room for more color mixing. This year's spraying of the fabric was a success! Countless decisions were made by these young artists on placement and color - congratulations to them on a job well done.

Gr 4/5 Boys made monsters, each using two pinch pots in the air dry clay. There are a few clay building skills, but mostly imagination reigned in this adventure.

Sea creatures of the colorful sort arrived in the back area at the hands of the Gr. 6/7 Boys. Their first attempt was thwarted by the rains, but the second was impressive. Temporary art installations may have many names, but this is simply fun with color in the sunshine.

Our Toddler/Nursery class likes when Mrs. Lee brings in the bubble wrap! I t makes an excellent stencil and when the project is over, makes an excellent toy!

PAGE 6 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017

VISIT MENORAHACADEMY.ORG

***Newest Feature*** THIS WEEK at Menorah

Quicklinks to: Monthly Lunch Menu,Menorah Highlights,

2017-18 School Calendar, 2017-18 School Registration Forms

Grade 6-7B designed their own motivating chart to mark off progress - amud (one side of page of Talmud) by amud - towards their ambitious goal to complete Perek Elu Metzios by the end of the year. Hatzlacha - we know you can accomplish this!

Future EngineersIn Grade 3 Science we have been hard at work testing materials and designs. We explored the strength of triangle shapes by creating trusses out of marshmallows and popsicle sticks.

We used this knowledge to create bridges that could withstand a variety of weight and span a specific distance. Great job, Grade 3!

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 PAGE 7

Our Grade 4/5 Girls have been learning the significance of Lag B’Omer and why we perform the different minhagim on this special day. One of the minhagim on Lag B’Omer is to light a bon-fire, for this the girls had a great time making bon-fire pompoms.

Spring has finally arrived and with it, our two feathered friends. These female pheasants, according to Sylvia, Menorah’s Office manager, have been returning to Menorah for years! If you see our awesome friends, please give them space as they are only looking for food and will be on their way shortly.

Morah Weinrach and her Pre-K class hosted an indoor bonfire party and invited a few of their friends to join them. Nursery, Kindergarten and Pre-K enjoyed songs, marshmallows and learned about Sefirat Ha’Omer.

Pre-K students were also learning about Rabbi Akiva’s teaching, “V’ahavta L’reyacha Kamocha” - loving each other as we love ourselves. Morah Daniella helped her Pre-K students create amazing picture frames and took beautiful pictures.

Pre-K also likes to bring their letters to life! Here we are posed as a shin and a sin!

PAGE 8 MENORAH HIGHLIGHTS VOLUME 5 ISSUE 9 TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017

Mazel Tov to all of our Pesach Mitzvah Chart winners!

Mazel tov, Team Purple! Colour Shalom Champions 2017

Teacher for the Day

Teacher for a Day is a strategy that recognizes student voice and choice. T h e t e a c h e r bequeaths students with the responsibility of all educators—creating a learning environment that reveres the multiple roads of knowledge and constructing bridges amongst them. Students in Grades 2, 4 and 5 shared amazing lessons with their peers over a week’s time. We learned some wonderful new things, and also had the chance to review concepts already learned. Thanks to our fabulous "Teachers.” You did an outstanding job presenting!

Mr. & Mrs. Amir Lehrer & Family

on the birth of your son, Hillel Binyamin

Wishing the entire family health, happiness, & nachas!

Jermia & Sylvia Benjamin

on the birth of your grandson!Wishing the entire family health,

happiness, & nachas!

Congratulations on becoming Bat Mitzvah!

May you bring us much joy and nachas as you embark on this new

stage of life!

Mendy Drelich and Shoshana Goldshmidt on your engagement