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Welcome to Kita Gan
Registration forms for Gan can be found on the Calendar and Forms page.

= 5776 TEACHER UPDATES: =

May 2016

Dear Parents,

Your children have now completed the learning of the Hebrew Alphabet Alef to Tav. During the majority of our classes during the year, we reviewed and learned a new letter each week. We also learned words that began with each letter – Abba to Torah and each letter in between. During the school year each child was provided with a Letter Worksheet to review at home with you.

After the High Holidays last fall, we began our Torah Stories with Creation. We will be completing several both this week, May 14th in Shabbat School and next Sunday, May 22nd, which will be our last class for the school year. Ask your child about Adam & Eve, Abraham & Sarah, Jacob & Leah & Rachel and even Moses. Hopefully they will be telling you the stories which they learned.

We celebrated Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur by hearing the Shofar, decorated and made sweet snacks in the Sukkah, danced with the Torah and had a Hanukkah celebration. We learned that trees all have a birthday on Tu B’Shevat, how Esther saved the Jewish population of Persia and most importantly how Moses led us out of Egypt.

We discovered Israel while on a book tour through the country and completed various activity books helping us to find out how To Do A Mitzvah, Find Out About the Synagogue and more.

I look forward to seeing you at the Rewards Ceremony and Lag B’Omer Picnic, Sunday, May 22nd at 11:00am.

Shalom,

Morah Hindy

Hi Everyone,

What a great day we had today in Gan. The children explored the Hebrew Letter ש (Shin). This means that we have only one more letter to learn on during our next class meeting.

We also continued our story about Moses with a review of how he came to be raised in the palace, spoke with God at the Burning Bush and returned to Egypt to free his people from slavery. We heard the story of the 10 Plagues and how the Jewish people were finally told to leave Egypt. Now the children know why we have Matzoh to eat and how the Red Sea parted for the Jewish people and caught the Egyptians in the water when they tried to chase us.

Each child made a paper Seder plate and brought home a booklet, My Own Haggadah.

There are only a few classes left in the religious school year. Our final classes will be on Sunday, May 1st, Shabbat School on May 14th and the final day of Class on Sunday, May 22nd. Please plan on attending the awards ceremony at 11:00am on this day.

Have a wonderful Passover Seder and I will see you all on May 1st.

Shalom,

Morah Hindy

February 28, 2016

Hello Parents,

We had a wonderful day today in Kita Gan. The children were all geared up for a day of review and new information. Everyone was ask to locate a Hebrew letter and provide its sound and I am proud to say that everyone did a great job. We reviewed Hebrew words and letter sounds as well as learning the letter Pay and Parpar (Butterfly). Be sure to have them read you the joke which is found on the front of today’s worksheet.

After snack, dance and song practice we reviewed all of the Torah stories we have learned to date, beginning with creation all the way through Joseph. Ask your children to share what they know and you will be amazed. We then began the story of Moses and how he grew up to be the Prince of Egypt.

In art we made our own Megillah Scrolls in preparation for Purim. March your calendars now for Sunday, March 27th. School will begin at 9:30am followed by our annual ZimRikudiyah. The children will perform the songs and dances they have been working on this past year. You are invited to attend this annual event followed by the Purim Carnival. Children must have a parent to attend this event.

Next Sunday, March 6th is Kita Gan’s Annual Shabbat Day. The children will be working on their own Shabbat bags and they need your help. Please arrive at 10:45am to help your child decorate their Shabbat bag, Challah Cover, Kiddush Cup and Candle Sticks. We will have a Small Shabbat Service at the end of the morning.

I look forward to seeing you all next Sunday.

Morah Hindy

January 31, 2016

The children have been having a wonderful time as we work on our Shabbat Unit. Each class we are working on an aspect of Shabbat. During our last class on January 17th the children made Tzedakah Boxes and today we made Shabbat placemats. We will continue our Shabbat unit throughout the month of February, culminating on Sunday, March 6th with a Shabbat Family Education program at 10:30am. Please mark your calendar as your children will need your help in completing a challah board and Shabbat Bag.

We are continuing with our Hebrew Letters and have now learned Alef to Samech. Please clean out your child’s school bag as I am seeing that they are carrying around papers and art projects from weeks ago.

Even though we are only entering February, please think about helping out at the Purim Carnival on March 27th. It takes many people to help run this annual event.

Morah Hindy

January 13, 2016

Dear Parents,

This past Shabbat School was dedicated to a review of the Hebrew letters Alef to Mem and the words the children have learned associated with each letter. We also spent some time in reviewing the Torah stories from Abraham and Sarah up through Joseph & his family entering Egypt. I encourage you to review all of this information using the worksheets sent home each week with your children.

During the next several Religious School classes, with the exception of January 24th, we will be continuing on with learning each letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, but also be working on our Shabbat Unit. The focus will be on learning the Shabbat Prayers and creating a Shabbat bag of items to be used.

Here is a list of words used consistently in the classroom, and more will be added as we continue


 * || Words we have learned with our Hebrew Letters ||  ||  Additional words we have learned in class  ||
 * א || Alef - Aron Kodesh, Abba, Ima, Ach, Achot ||   ||  Peh  ||
 * ב || Bet - Bayit, Bracha ||   ||  Rosh  ||
 * ג || Gimmel - Gamal, Gleeda ||   ||  Yad  ||
 * ד || Dalet - Degel ||   ||  Ayin  ||
 * ה || Hay - Havdalah ||   ||  Regel  ||
 * ו || Vav - Vered ||   ||  L'kum  ||
 * ז || Zayin - Zehbra ||   ||  L'shevet  ||
 * ח || Het (Chet) - Challah, Hanukkah, Hanukkiyah ||   ||  La'lekhet  ||
 * ט || Tet - Tallit ||   ||  L'histovev  ||
 * י || Yud - Yad, Yarok ||   ||  Likfotz  ||
 * כ || Kaf - Kelev ||   ||  Sefer  ||
 * ל || Lamed - Lulav ||   ||  Siddure  ||
 * מ || Mem - Mezuzah, Mitzvot ||   ||  Kos  ||
 * ||  ||   ||  Ner  ||

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Morah Hindy

December 6, 2015

Dear Parents,

How did it become the 25th of Kislev, as Hanukkah is upon us and the children were all excited today as we sang about the Maccabees and how they fought off the Greek soldiers.

We are continuing to learn the Hebrew Alphabet and will end with the letter Mem this coming Shabbat School. The children know at least one word which begins with the letters Alef through Mem. Our most recent Torah Stories have been about Jacob, Esau and now Joseph, which we will complete this coming weekend.

The children continue to enjoy their time at dance once a month and we will begin to learn songs for the Zimriya after the winter break.

Please take time to review both the weekly Hebrew Letter and Torah story. I find that most of the students are collecting their letter worksheets and Torah stories in the school bags. Encourage them to share what they have learned in class each week as this will reinforce and help each week during the review.

Have a wonderful week of Hanukkah! Morah Hindy

November 4, 2015

Dear Parents,

I want to thank you for your continued support during my absence. Samantha did a wonderful job working with your children.

The end of September and into October the children had a wonderful time decorating the Sukkah and creating their own Sukkah with Graham Crackers, chocolate spread or marshmallow fluff. During Simhat Torah Services they received a Welcome Gift to begin their Jewish Education in our Religious School.

As we begin our Journey through the Torah, the children have had several Sticker pages telling the story of Creation, in art they drew their own creation booklet, the Garden of Eden along with Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel. We read about Noah’s Ark and colored their own Ark’s and animals this past Sunday. This past Sunday we read 2 stories of Abraham & Sarah as well as completing the stickers. Each week I ask questions about the previous weeks Torah story.

We are also learning to recognize the Hebrew Letters. We have covered Alef, Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Hay, Vav, Zayin and Het. The children haves learned at least one word beginning with the letter of the week. We are learning a dance, and will be learning a song for our Annual ZimRikudiyah in the spring.

All of the children are enthusiastic participants as we learn parts of the morning service. We sing Modeh Ani, Sh’ma, Ma Tovu, and Yismehu each week.

Please take the time to work with your child and reinforce what we have learned in class.

Our next Shabbat School will be on Saturday, November 14th at 9:30am. That evening is the Jewish History Night at Kelley Park in San Jose. I encourage your family to attend this event. I have heard that the planning committee has prepared some wonderful activities for everyone.

See you all this Sunday,

Morah Hindy

== The past several weeks have been busy in Kita Gan. The children have learned the first three letters of the Hebrew Alphabet – Alef, Bet & Gimmel. We have also learned several words which began with each letter. Each letter has a worksheet the children have completed and sent home with your child. Please review which your child. The goal by the end of the school year is each child will be able to recognize all of the letters in the Hebrew Alpha Bet, know their sounds and a Hebrew word or two which begins with each letter. Each week will have a review of the Hebrew letters and an introduction to a new one. ==

== We return to our regular Sunday Schedule on Sunday, Oct. 4th and do not forget to add our Simhat Torah Celebration on Monday, Oct 4th. There is a spaghetti dinner to sign up for and services following, where each new student receives a gift to begin their Religious School journey. ==

Morah Hindy
=__ August 23, 2015 __= = = = Dear Families, = = Welcome to Kita Gan! We had a wonderful first day of class and I enjoyed meeting and welcoming all of the children to our classroom. Yes, the room is a bit tight, however just think about our new building, which we will be in soon. =

= Please explore the Religious School Wiki as many of your questions can be answered here. The school calendar as well as J-Guide (the Parent Handbook) are available for review. My goal is to post a synopsis of our activities each week, so please get in the habit of checking on Sunday night or Monday. =

= We will be using your child’s Hebrew name, so please be sure I have that information. And for those of you who were unable to attend the parent meeting, I have copies of the handouts for you to pick up next Sunday. Children also received a School Bag and Kippah which should be brought each week to be used at school. = = Class begins at 9:30am with Attendance, Tzedakah, Mitzvah Notes, Calendar/Counting and our Letter of the Week. From 10:30-10:45am we will have Hafsaka (snack) which is provided by the school, please refrain from sending snacks from home. We return to the classroom from 10:50-12 noon for additional activities, = = except for when we have Dance once a month with Morah Donna, from 10:50-11:10. We finish our day in the Omanut (Art) with Morah Leslie, which is where you will pick up your child at 12:30pm. =

= The children will be encouraged to work on counting, Hebrew prayers and songs, learning the Alef Bet and Torah Portions throughout the year. The Jewish Holidays are always an exciting and interesting time for the children and we will be exploring them through several many types of activities. = = And we must not forget Israel. The children will take a book journey to the land of Israel throughout the year. = = I am excited to use a new program this year – Let’s Discover the Alef Bet, which contains activity pages for each letter. Today was all about Alef. Please review the handout with your child. Ask them to point out the letter on the page and tell you what it is. Ask them which way we read Hebrew and finally ask them if they learned any words which begin with Alef – aryeh, abba, ima, ach, achot, Aron Kodesh and Emet (Truth) = = We also learned how to climb the Middot & Mitzvah Chart by collecting stickers each week. The children came up with a set of class rules and learned about their KAVOD Code, signing their name to the form. = = = = Another part of our program for all children is participation in the Abraham & Miriam Gannes Library Reading Program. Please visit the library and check out a book to take home and read with you. Complete a blue slip with 4 books read and turn it in to me. Morah Iris keeps overall track of the number of books read by each child. Those children participating in the program receive a prize at the end of the school year. = = = = As you can see your child will have a fun filled and busy learning experience this year. = = = = I look forward to seeing everyone next Sunday. = = = = Have a wonderful week. = = Morah Hindy =