hillel celebrates hour of code and computer science education week
by marnie diem - director of technological adventures
This week is Computer Science in Education Week, a week when students across the globe are exposed to computer programming, often referred to as coding. Hillel students are no exception! They joined the more than 1 billion kids participating in the global program known as Hour of Code.
Coding is a way for children to practice problem solving skills in an entertaining and engaging way. For example, to code, one often needs to break problems into smaller steps to complete the task. Sometimes, those problems take a lot of perseverance to solve. Both of these skills, breaking problems into smaller chunks and perseverance, apply universally, not just in coding. Working through these challenges gives children positive experiences from which to draw in other subject areas. For example, when students encounter a challenging word while reading, they can break it into chunks, or try multiple times to read it.
First and second graders experienced Code Spark Academy’s “The Foos” game where they coded increasingly complex steps to help a green monster get donuts. Third graders were introduced to their code.org accounts where they can access a variety of tools and activities for more advanced coding. Fourth graders reviewed their code.org experience from last year in preparation for their upcoming introduction to Scratch, a coding site for children that uses a visual interface allowing students to create stories, games, and animations. Sixth grade took a virtual tour of Amazon's Robotic Fulfillment Centers and then completed a corresponding Amazon Cyber Robotics Challenge through the Coderz website.
Hour of Code was designed to help schools demystify coding, and bring the concepts into everyday learning. We are proud that our students are learning to enjoy these important skills!
student government leads the way
Fifth through Eighth grade students are embarking on an exciting new opportunity to participate in Student Government and lead the way in making positive changes for students throughout the school. Supervised by middle school teachers Emily Nagle and Jamie Blank, the group is open to all students wishing to participate as positive role models and leaders.
Students began by brainstorming about ways they hope to make a difference at Hillel in four categories - Leadership, Kindness Counts, School Spirit, and School Improvement. Some of their ideas are more recycling bins, appreciation notes, and volunteer opportunities within the school. After dividing into sub-committees, each groups began planning events and campaigns. Student Government will continue to meet throughout the year as they put their plans into action.
STUDENT DESIGNS REUSABLE COLLECTION BOXES
When Seventh grader Noam Kantor organized a Chanukah toy drive, he recognized that the large cardboard collection boxes were not very environmentally or user friendly. Since the school organizes many collections throughout the year for coats, toys, books, etc., Noam decided to design a reusable collection box. Working with Engineering/MakerSpace Coordinator Lisa Wilson, Noam created a prototype collection box in the MakerSpace. The wooden collection box is on wheels so it can be moved throughout the school and has a chalkboard paper front which can be decorated and then erased for each drive. Noam tested his prototype during the Chanukah toy drive and will make design modifications based on his experience using it. Eventually, Noam hopes to make enough reusable donation boxes to spread them throughout the school to fully replace all of the cardboard boxes for any future collections.
WEEKLY D'VAR TORAH - PARASHAT vayigash - never alone facing a challenge
Think about the last time you faced a challenging time? What happened? How did it feel? We learn from this week's Parasha Vayigash that in Judaism we are never completely alone when facing a challenge. In this week's Parasha after Joseph is reunited with his brothers and forgives them for throwing him in a pit and trying to kill him, we learn that Jacob, Joseph's father, although wanting to see his son Joseph, is concerned about going down to Egypt to escape the famine in the land of Israel. Jacob (Yisrael) has not seen his son Joseph in years, and at the same time is worried about leaving the land of Israel, the only place and home he has known to face the challenge of moving to a new place and new culture, at an old age. God comes to Jacob in a night vision and says (Genesis 46:3-4)
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ מֵרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךךָ֥ שָֽׁם׃
אָנֹכִ֗י אֵרֵ֤ד עִמְּךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וְאָנֹכִ֖י אַֽעַלְךָ֣ גַם־עָלֹ֑ה וְיוֹסֵ֕ף יָשִׁ֥ית יָד֖וֹ עַל־עֵינֶֽיךָ׃
And He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there into a great nation. I Myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will also bring you back; and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
God tells Yisrael that he is not alone for God himself will go down into Egypt, into the suffering and be with the Jewish people and bring them out. The rabbinic commentary says that at this moment God promised Yisrael that God will bring his numerous descendants out of the land of Egypt to a good land of milk and honey, the land of Israel. Is God here talking to just Jacob, Yisrael, in this moment or to all of us as K'lal Yisrael, the entirety of the Jewish people, telling us when we journey to a new place when we are unsure facing a challenge that he is with us? When you face your personal journey to Egypt, a time of challenge or struggle, remember even if you feel alone, God joins us in our challenge and our struggle and God also will bring about redemption.
table talk
QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR CHILDREN INSPIRED BY THIS WEEK’S PARSHA
Share about a time you were in your personal Egypt, a time of challenge. How did you get through it?
What can you do to remind yourself that God is with you during challenging times?
Who in addition to God can you lean on for support?
ADVANCEMENT NEWS
thank you to this week's donors to the 2021-22 annual fund
Rebecca Abel | Jennifer and Mitchell Bass | Sharone and Joe Bigelman | Lilly and David Broner | Erika and Jason Cohn | Francy and David Colton | Marissa and Brett deMarrais | Jennifer and Aaron Ellenbogen | Pamela Farber | Julie and Aaron Feinberg | Carrie and Benjamin Fleishman | Cathy and Nate Forbes | Lori and Larry Garon | Rebecca and Jordan Gersten | Lisa and Ryan Gindi | Mychal and Jason Glass | Danielle and Bradley Gordon | Judith Holtz | Elana and Bret Hopman | Patti and Garry Javizian | Julie and Randall Kaplan | Erin and Jason Katz | Mariya Zhinchyshyn and Stanley Kaufman | Amy and Matthew Kessler | Lisa and Jason Klein | Kate and David Kurzmann | Eileen Lachover | Jennifer and Daniel Lader | Alexandra and Ryan Mollen | Lisa and Patrick North | Heidi and Jared Owen | Jamie and Michael Rager | Lisa Zeskind and Mitchell Rosen | Julie and Eric Rosenbaum | Ann and David Rosenberg | Robin and Rabbi Steven Rubenstein | Leah and Joseph Sanders | Sholom Sanders | Hayley and James Schafer | Jennifer Schanes | Melanie and Glen Schwartz | Zachary Slabotsky | Jodi Tepper | Leah and Richard Trosch | Nancy Weisman | Sherri Rosenfeld and Jeremy Yagoda | Debra and Brian Yamstein | Rachael Grushko and Ryan Yates
save the date for the annual gala
SPONSOR A DAY OF LEARNING
pto corner
donate to the pto staff appreciation gift fund
Join PTO and Hillel families in showing our appreciation for Hillel Day School staff this holiday season. Please consider making a contribution in any amount and your family's name will be listed in the thank you card. Donations can be made online by December 13th.
Thank you for thanking the staff who make Hillel run smoothly for our children!
library volunteers needed
PTO is excited to relaunch our library volunteer program! Volunteers will help once a week to help shelve and process books. There are three time slots to choose from. Register here and librarian Rae Manela will be in touch with more details.
ecc artsonia volunteers wanted
PTO is seeking ECC parents to help photograph and upload ECC student artwork to Artsonia. Artsonia creates a digital art gallery for each student and offers a variety of custom artwork keepsakes, with 20% of the revenue being donated back to our school’s art program.
We got spirit, yes we do, we got spirit, how about you?
MAZAL TOV!
PRE-ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY
Order your yearbook today! Deadline extended-yearbooks are $40 each. The PTO is generously donating $5 to emboss each Eighth grader's yearbook with their name. These arrangements are being handled by the school and should not be entered at the time of ordering. Should financial assistance be needed for a yearbook purchase, please contact COO John Pitcher.
fja applications are now open
plum market gift cards available for curbside pickup
Plum Market gift cards are for sale through the Advancement Office -- $42.50 for a $50 gift card and $85 for a $100 gift card. Call 248-539-1483 to place your order, and we will arrange for you to pick up curbside at school, at which time we will collect payment (checks only).
Add Hillel Day School as your smile.amazon.com organization and Amazon will give a percentage of your sales back to Hillel. It's a very simple way to provide additional support to our school. Thank you!