aaeds/blog

Leadership Blog - Shining a Light on Community

Dear Parents:

Tonight, we will light the 6th candle on our chanukkiyot. I hope it has been for you, as it has been for me and all of us here at ADAT, a Chanukkah filled with the light and warmth of community.

On Tuesday night, it was a joy to welcome so many of you �" 375 Day School, ECC, JLC, and synagogue members �" to our Chanukkah Fest celebration. What stood out to me most was the vibrant community we have built among our three schools. There are many day schools that do not have the benefit of being part of a synagogue, as well. I was so grateful, looking out at Farber Auditorium that was literally overflowing with people, for the deep communal roots we have here at Adat Ari El, and for the excited screams from children and the many hugs between adults.

The beauty and cohesiveness of our community has also been illuminated by our first-ever Day School Annual Fund. To date, and with weeks still to go in our campaign, we have reached a whopping 94% participation as a Day School �" as a community. The Annual Fund is largely about the collective, the whole. Though individual gifts �" whether big or small �" are critical, it is even more meaningful to see participation in a cause that is so universally important to this community �" your children's education. The success of the Annual Fund thus far is reflected in the strength of this community. And, I am filled with pride and gratitude.

This community emanates light and warmth, and it is seen everyday in the smiles of your children, the shared hugs and laughter between parents, and in moments like Tuesday when our three schools come together in our synagogue home. Thank you for all you do to make Adat Ari El Day School shine.

May you continue to have a chag Chanukkah sameach!

Warmly,

Shara

Inside The Classroom

The classroom pages will return next week! In the meantime, check out this week's ADAT Newsroom. 

School News & Updates

The ADAT Community celebrated Chanukkah in a new and modern way this year: through tinkering and making. Our families took home boxes with tinker kits that allowed our children to learn about the holiday through exploration and play and posted their creations with the hashtag #8nightsofinnovation

The students also designed dreidels with found materials in the lab and had a dreidel spin-off today at school. We are so proud of the deep learning and innovative spirit of our community and were so excited to have the chance to celebrate in this way with you! Chanukkah Sameach!

In the Community

Annual Fund 2018-2019

We're at day 76 of our 100 days, 100% participation 2018-19 Annual Fund campaign. And, if the numbers were to tell a story, it would tell one of community, strength, “firsts”, and so much gratitude for all of you!

The numbers speak for themselves:

Faculty, Staff, and Administration - 100%
Governing Board - 100%
TK - 88%
Kindergarten - 100%
1st Grade - 100%
2nd Grade - 93%
3rd Grade - 100%
4th Grade - 71%
5th Grade - 100%
6th Grade - 100%

Whole School - 94%

It's important to me that I reiterate the WHY of the Annual Fund. There are so many benefits for our school if we can get to 100% participation:

• Our accreditation from CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) will be stronger if the visiting team sees 100% participation from our families
• We will be able to approach outside donors - including foundations - more easily to ask for support
• More funds will be available for programming, facilities, curriculum enhancements and professional development, to name a few.

Remember that “community” does not only refer to you, our parent community, but also to the Board, faculty, and administration. We are filled with appreciation that our Board members are so deeply committed to what an investment in ADAT means - not just of time, but of financial resources, that they have come together with 100% participation. Then, there is our administration and faculty. Whether they have been here for 30 years or 3 months, they have come together in solidarity with ADAT and 100% participation and alignment with our Annual Fund goals.

Now, it's your turn. Help us reach our goal by stepping up to complete the remaining 24%. We are almost there and we have made incredible strides thanks to our Board, faculty, administration, and nearly three-quarters of our community. Together, let's prove how strong we are by making your gift to our Day School Annual Fund.

100 days, 100% participation, 100% commitment to our mission. Together, let's discover the power of giving.

Winter break is coming and that means time for mini camp at ADAT!

From the Synagogue

Chanukkah N'ranena 12.07.18

Join the N'ranena Band for a festive, dynamic and musical Erev Shabbat experience, followed by a bring your own picnic dinner! Meals are also available for purchase. 

Click here to RSVP 

12.09.18

Sunset Healing Service

A calming, spiritual, emotionally healing way to connect to Shabbat and the community.

12.14.18

L.A. Zimriyah Chorale Dinner & Service

6:45 pm - Dinner 

8:00 pm - Musical Tefillah

Click here to RSVP for Dinner 

01.12.19

10:45am to 12:15pm

Havdalah Highlights

We start each week gathered together as a school for a Havdalah ceremony, during which we highlight students who we have noticed acting in ways that carry out our mission. Because we are so proud of our students, we wanted to share their stories with you!

"Every morning, 1st grader Joel G. greets EVERY person he sees on his way to class. He also greets every student in our class with an excited, ""hi"" and ""good morning!"" This adds to our class community of difference makers who care."

5th graders Roy B. and Ella B. brought all of the headphones from their classroom back to ZDL room 5 for their classmates.

5th grader Nathaniel B. very graciously accepted losses and was kind to those he beat during 4-square

In TK, Amelia P. helped Ava with her backpack

Calendar

Mark your calendars for these important dates:

• December 12: Evening parent-teacher conferences
• December 13: TK parlor meeting - 7:30pm
• December 17: 5th grade parlor meeting - 7:30pm
• December 20: Kindergarten parlor meeting - 7:30pm
• December 21: Fall enrichment ends
• December 21: Pajama day - Winter break begins today at 3:00pm
• January 7: School resumes

*click here to view the full calendar

Jewish Trivia question of the week

Each week, we'll pose a Jewish Trivia question of the week and will reveal the answer in the following week's newsletter! Here's this week's question in honor of Chanukkah: Who lit the first Chanukkah menorah?

a. A little boy

b. The Assyrians

c. Moses

d. The Maccabees

ANSWER from last week's question: True or false, according to Jewish law, wine or grape juice must be used for Havdalah?

b. False