Abrams Extra 11/30/18

Abrams Extra November 30, 2018

Having trouble viewing this email?
Click here

New AHA logo 2011

ABRAMS EXTRA

In This Issue

Candle Lighting

Translate the Extra

Budowsphere

Security Fees

Reviewers Needed

Jersey City Mayor Fulop

Chocolate Sale

Chanukah Concert

Pre-School Teacher Needed

Condolences to Morah Bracha

Basketball Schedule 2018-19

New Look in the Nursery

Kindergarten Opportunity

City of Jerusalem Mural

Donation Bricks

Recruitment

Security Reminders

Cell Phone Rules

Donor Support

School Lunches

Car Pool Rules

Dress Code Rules

Join Our List

31 W. College Ave.

Yardley, PA

(215) 493-1800
abramsonline.org

November 30, 2018/ 22 Kislev

Candle Lighting 4:18 pm/ Vayeshev

Translate the Extra-
Hebrew and Russian

Translate the Abrams Extra:

Hebrew: https://goo.gl/vmq8C7

Russian: https://goo.gl/3XXUvQ

Translated by Google Translate

Budowsphere

Dear Parents:

On the wall in the school’s front lobby there is a plaque that lists all of the previous Board of Directors presidents. The most prominent people on this list are the Dobins. David Dobin, Ed’s father, was president twice, as was Ed. David served from 1948-52; 1954-61. Ed was president 1981-84; 1987-89. It is amazing that two generations of one family showed such devotion and commitment to the school.

When the school was located in Trenton, NJ and named the Trenton Hebrew Academy, there was an active, vibrant Jewish community in Trenton. This community thrived for many years in NJ, and our own Rabbi Leizerowski was actually the last Orthodox Rabbi to serve in Trenton. David Dobin was instrumental in keeping the school alive when it was in Trenton. He actually went to the Jewish marketplace to raise money for payroll on many occasions!

When I became the director of the school when it moved to Yardley and became Abrams Hebrew Academy 38 years ago, Ed Dobin was my first board president. He is a lawyer who lived in Newtown, practiced in Morrisville, and was an incredible leader of the board. Ed has always been a great man, and we became good friends through the years, besides enjoying a wonderful our professional relationship. Even when he and Gloria moved to FL we always remained in touch.

A few days ago, when Ed’s son Mark called to tell me that his mother Gloria had died, I remembered how Ed had “volunteered” her to organize the office when we first opened in Yardley. Gloria was a wonderful woman, and she helped our first office person, Rosalie Paley, to make sure the office ran efficiently. Gloria had many health issues over the past 8 years and fought her battle with courage.

Ed was a wonderful husband to his beloved wife, and basically turned their home into a mini-hospital so that Gloria could remain at home instead of in a facility. His dedication to Gloria was an example to me of performing the mitzvah of caring for one’s family, and I remain a huge admirer of him and Gloria.

A beautiful Menorah hangs outside the school- this menorah was dedicated by Ed and Gloria Dobin, and when we lit it for the first time the Dobin family, including Mark and his wife and child, were all in attendance. The Dobins have contributed to our annual campaign every single year, and when I call Ed to ask for his yearly support he always says that he will donate to Abrams for as long as he lives. The obituary for Gloria in the FL newspaper says that donations may be made in her honor to two places, and Abrams is one of them.

The Dobin family commitment to our school began with David Dobin 70 years ago, and is really extraordinary and a lesson to all of us. Since we are now reaching out to our alumni to purchase plaques on our Jerusalem mural and help the school continue to exist, it is even more important to recognize people who have cared about the school’s survival for so many years.

May Hashem comfort the Dobin family among the mourners of Jerusalem and Zion.

L’Shalom-

Rabbi Ira Budow

Security Fee Reminder

Reminder: Security Fees Are Due NOW!

Dear Parents:

If you have not yet delivered your security fee to the office, please do so by Monday, December 3. The fee is $100 per child or $150 per family.

Since the Pittsburgh attack Abrams has increased the number of hours provided by the Yardley Police for security. A generous donor has been providing funding for the additional time, but now the school needs to bear the additional cost. Our security cameras are outdated and need to be replaced, so the money generated by the security fees will be used towards upgrading the surveillance system, as well.

Thanks to the people who have already sent their fees to the office- we must work all together to ensure the safety and security of our children and our community.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Reviewers Needed

Abrams Publicity

Abrams needs your help to increase its web presence and let the world know how awesome an Abrams education is for Jewish children!

The school is requesting that you post positive reviews of Abrams on Google. If you want to help the school tell everyone what makes Abrams so special by writing a review, please contact:

Debra Goldfarb- dgoldfarb@abramsonline.org.

Debra will send you an email or text message (your preference) with a link to the short survey and review block.

Please help Abrams spread the word that it is #1 in Jewish and secular education!!!

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop

Video Conference with Mayor Steven Fulop

Mayor Steven Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City, held a video conference with Mrs. Kornsgold and her 7th and 8th grade students to discuss public service and his background as a Jewish day school student and Iraq War vet.

The students asked prepared and off the cuff questions about Mayor Fulop’s work, including what motivated him to choose public service instead of a career that might have been more financially lucrative.

He answered that he was working at Goldman Sachs when 911 occurred, and after that he decided to change careers and work in the public sector. He went on to say that Jewish values are the most important things to practice in one’s life.

Thanks to Mayor Fulop and to Rabbi Budow’s daughter Rachel Sieg who arranged this interesting and informative meeting between Mayor Fulop and our students.

Student Government Fundraiser

Student Government

Chocolate Bar Fundraiser

The Student Government is selling chocolate bars as a fundraiser for the yearbook and other student events.

Each chocolate bar costs $1.

The chocolate sale continues through December 16th, and what could be better than chocolate as a Chanukah gift?

The top 3 sellers will receive a great mystery prize!!

Thanks for your support!!

Chanukah Concert

Glazier Center

5:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Pre-School Teacher Needed

Abrams needs a full-time person with classroom experience to teach in the Pre-School.

If you or someone you know would be interested in this position, please contact Mrs. Kornsgold.

Condolences to Morah Bracha

The Abrams community sends its condolences to Morah Bracha and her family on the loss of her grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Rubin.

Basketball Schedule 2018/19

AHA Basketball Schedule

2018-19

Click below to see the basketball schedule for the girls and boys teams. Go Abrams and Mr. G!

2018_19 Basketball Schedule

Nursery Needs

Nursery Gets a New Look!

The Abrams nursery is getting a new look, and everyone is SO excited! We are asking people to donate money so that our teachers can pick out what they want and make our wishes come true!

The list includes the following items:

Doctors kit $20

Puppet theater (already donated)

Puppets $50

Cash register $30 (need 2)

Magna tiles $50

Games $50

Dress up clothes $60

Instruments $50

Large bean bags $50

Table & chairs $75

If you are able to help fund the purchase of wish list items, please bring your check to the AHA office.

Thanks!!

Kindergarten

Kindergarten Enrollment

Current Abrams families with a child not currently attending Abrams who will be starting Kindergarten in September, 2019 will be eligible for special tuition pricing.

This offer is limited to the first 10 new Kindergarten students enrolled.

If you are interested, please call Rabbi Budow immediately.

City of Jerusalem Mural

This year, 5779, is the 20th anniversary of the annual Israel trip, and generous donors have funded a commemorative City of Jerusalem art piece to be installed prominently in the school as a lasting tribute to the relationship between Abrams and the Land of Israel.

There are 78 naming opportunities to memorialize your support and commitment to Abrams by purchasing plaques to be affixed to the sculpture. Each brick, stepping stone, windowsill, or urn plaque costs between $1,000 and $9,000, depending on the size of the plaque, and is an opportunity to give a beautiful tribute to whomever you wish while supporting Abrams.

If you are interested in contributing or have additional questions, please contact Debra Goldfarb 215-493-1800 ext 29; dgoldfarb@abramsonline.org.

Bricks in the Link

Buy a Brick on the Link Wall and

Support AHA

Support Abrams by purchasing a commemorative brick on the wall in the Link for a $100 donation. The bricks are made of colored Plexiglas and visibly located on the wall outside the gym.

Buy a brick to commemorate a special occasion- it is a wonderful and lasting gift to celebrate a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, birthday, anniversary, graduation, or to recognize the memory of a loved one or friend.

Your donation will be acknowledged to the recipient, and Abrams will benefit from your donation.

Please contact the office if you would like to purchase a brick.

**********

Recruitment

“New Family Recruitment”

Open houses in people’s homes is an effective way to meet with families who are potentially interested in enrolling their children at Abrams. Rabbi Budow and a small group of faculty members are happy to travel to meet informally with your friends and neighbors to discuss the advantages and opportunities that Abrams offers to Jewish children.

If you would like to volunteer to host one of these gatherings, please contact Rabbi Budow.

Safety and Security Reminders

padlock

Reminder- AHA Security Procedures:

All parents should use the front door to enter the school with key cards and not the back doors. Parent swipe cards only work at front door.
Please do not ask students to open any doors- parents must report to the front office and check-in before entering the school.
No student or other person should use the lunchroom doors other than for dismissal or emergency purposes.

These rules are for our children’s safety.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cell Phone Rules

REMINDER: Cell Phone Rules

Electronic devices have become a common means of communication and information access in today’s society. However, these devices have the potential of disrupting the orderly operation of school. Our cell phone/personal electronic devices policy is designed to keep the focus on education.

At the start of the school day, all cell phones MUST BE TURNED OFF (NOT IN SILENT MODE) AND STORED IN THE STUDENT’S LOCKER OR BOOK BAG FROM 8:30 AM UNTIL 3:30 PM. Students are not permitted to carry them on their person or to use them to make or receive any calls or text messages during the given time.

If a student has an emergency, and needs to be in contact with someone, she/he must use a school phone, or have the permission of a faculty member, to use his/her cell phone. Parents should contact the school office, if they have an emergency message for their

Child(ren).

Electric devices, such as iPods, or hand-held gaming devices may be used on the bus/van transportation to/from school, prior to school, and following school. Students must turn off and place these items in their locker/backpack during school hours.

If any of these items are out at the inappropriate time, they will be confiscated by staff, and given to the director of discipline.

Students will be allowed to bring cell phones on school trips for emergency use only. Any hand-held gaming device will be the responsibility of the students on a school trip.

The school is not responsible for lost, misplaced, damaged or stolen electronic devices/cell phones.

CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE ABOVE RULES:

1st Offense – Phone confiscated, and returned at the end of the day.

2nd Offense – Phone confiscated, returned at the end of the day, and written notification that requires parent signature.

3rd Offense – Phone confiscated, and parent must pick up phone from director of discipline.

4th Offense – Suspension from school

Support AHA Donor Businesess

Abrams is greatly appreciative of all of the benefactors who donate generously to the school through participation in EITC, LLC, grants, cash donations, etc. Many of these donors are business owners, and Abrams encourages the AHA community to support the businesses of these people whose largess supports the school.

Some of these generous people are:

Expert Home Care

McCaffrey’s Food Market

Team Toyota

Swartz & Culleton

Regional Orthopedic Medical Associates

Rothenberg Law Firm

Flager & Associates

Princeton Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Marcus & Auerbach

Marlowe, Zwillenberg & Ghaderi

Your Eyes Center

Espresso Cafe

Center For SmartLipo & Plastic Surgery

* This is not a complete list- we will add businesses throughout the year!

Thank you very much to all of our supporters!

Oorah

Abrams thanks Oorah, a nonprofit organization located in Lakewood, NJ for all of its financial support to our students.

Oorah sponsors numerous programs that all share the common goal of opening doors for Jewish children and families. The mission is to reach out to Jewish families everywhere with opportunities to make their Judaic heritage more personal, relevant and meaningful.

Abrams received $100,000 in scholarship aid for qualified families this year from Oorah and is extremely grateful for the generosity of this organization.

School Lunches

Please do not send meat lunches or snacks to school with your children.

Food sent from home must be

dairy or Pareve only!

Thank you very much for your cooperation

Car Pool Rules

All Parents who Car Pool:

Please note that the car pool line is for grades N and K only. All other students are to be dropped off in the front of the building.

Parents who use the back for drop off should follow the directions of the teachers in the parking lot. They are there to assist students and maintain a safe environment.

Under no circumstances are parents to park their cars in the middle of the line and leave them unattended to walk students into the building.

** We ask that parents refrain from cellphone use in the parking areas while dropping off and picking up their children.

Abrams Dress Code

Dress Code

Studies have found that appropriate dress influences behavior and learning. Abrams strives through the dress code to maximize the learning environment.

Respect for the sensitivities of others requires that students/parents/guests follow reasonable standards of modesty and privacy. We ask that students/parents/guests dress in a manner befitting a Jewish day school when entering the building.

Dress Code for Grades 1-8

Clothing cannot advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or weapons.
Clothing cannot display writing or pictures that are obscene or suggestive.
No writing or pictures on the back of pants.
No sleepwear or bedroom slippers to be worn at any time, unless pre-approved for a special occasion.
Heavy linked chains may not be worn as jewelry.
No extreme hair colors are permitted.
All boys must come to school wearing a kippah. Baseball caps and other head coverings are NOT permitted.
No sleeveless shirts, tank tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, tube tops, crop tops, belly shirts, or tight shirts.

Dress Code for Boys Grades 5-8

Shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, and tee-shirts should be appropriate for school. Students may not wear undershirts.
Pants or denim jeans must be properly hemmed and not dragging on the floor. Pants will not have rips, holes, or fraying and will not be too tight or over-sized.
Shorts must be to the knee.
Pants/shorts will not sag, as underwear may not be visible.
Boys are to be clean-shaven.
Hair is to be well groomed. Partially or fully shaved heads and ponytails are not allowed.
Piercings of any kind are not allowed.

Dress Code for Girls Grades 5-8

Dresses/skirts/shorts must be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
Pants or denim jeans must be properly hemmed and not dragging on the floor. Pants or shorts will not have rips, holes, or fraying and will not be too tight.
Leggings of any type are not permitted to be worn in place of skirts or pants, but may be worn under clothing. If worn, they must be accompanied by a fingertip length or longer, dress, skirt, or top.
Clothing that exposes any part of the midriff, cleavage (front or rear), or any clothing excessively revealing may not be worn.
Clothing materials for tops and bottoms must be opaque (not see-through).

Consequences for Students Who Do Not Follow the Dress Code:

1st Offense – Explain to student what is wrong with his/her attire. Student must change into appropriate clothing.
2nd Offense – Written notification that requires parent signature. Student must change into appropriate clothing.
3rd Offense – Student must change clothes to follow guidelines and parent is called on the telephone immediately.
4th Offense – Suspension from school.
Parent conference required for student to return to school.

Abrams Notes

Birthday Celebrations at School
When sending birthday treats into school to celebrate that special day for your child, please consider sending in a healthy treat, such as frozen fruit bars, rice cakes, fruit salad or cups, sugar free pudding snacks, yogurt cake or pie, cheese sticks, light popcorn or air popped popcorn (when age appropriate), pretzels, carrots/celery (when age appropriate).

Please do not send anything with nuts due to allergies.

In order to maintain a consistent kashrut policy and to avoid confusion, ALL orders for birthday cakes/cupcakes MUST be ordered from Cramer’s Bakery, 16 E. Afton Avenue, Yardley. Cramer’s will deliver the order to the school at a discounted price.

Please call Kim Pierce at 215-321-5707 to place your cake/ cupcake order.

Celebrate Your Simcha at Abrams

Abrams Hebrew Academy is a perfect choice to host your family or social affair, business meeting or athletic event. Whether you’re looking for an inviting space to celebrate a special occasion; a meeting area with state-of-the art technology; a fun, safe environment for a child’s birthday; or a gym or athletic field for a sporting event, Abrams can accommodate your needs and your budget. For more information on room rentals at Abrams Hebrew Academy, call (215) 493-1800 or e-mail info@abramsonline.o rg.

Check Your Child’s Assignments with Homework Now

Parents- all homework will be posted on-line by all teachers grades K-8 by Sunday evening each week.

Instructions for use of homeworknow.com:

Click on homeworknow.com

Click on Parent and Student

Click on find school

Click on Pennsylvania

Click on Abrams Hebrew Academy

Click on your child’s teacher

View homework assignments

Share Abrams News With Others

Is there a family member (such as a grandparent) or friend who would be interested in hearing about everything going on at Abrams? Sign them up for our e-mail list today! Please contact the Main Office.

Information about the Extra

Please submit any information to be considered for inclusion in the Extra to Dale Sattin, Director of Development & Communications: dsattin@abramsonline.org. (215) 493-1800 ext. 22 by

Wednesday of the target week.