From the Desk of…page 2

Role Modelspage 9

Annual Campaignpage 3/4

The Tooth Fairy!page 10

Grade 5page 5/6/7

We ❤ NY & NJpage 11

For a Blessingpage 8

Everything elsepage 12

TheLehrmanLinkNovember 21, 2012 • 7 Kislev 5773 Insight Inside the Lehrman Difference Volume 14, Number 6

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From the Desk of…

Jodi Brucehead of school

Grandparents are special to every child; I was no exception. I recall how much I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents. Their bedtime stories, special outings and the games we played were an integral part of my childhood. In hindsight, I now see that the things I learned from my grandparents I could learn nowhere else, especially our family history and traditions. Their experience and wisdom led me to turn to them in times of celebration and in times of trouble; they always seemed to make the good times twice as good and the bad times half as bad. Their knowledge was

invaluable and their love unconditional. No doubt that is why, like most of the faculty and staff at the school, I always look forward to our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

This day is so popular that it has often seen a doubling of our population! last year, an overjoyed grandparent confided in me: “I feel so proud to see my grandchild perform on stage. It is a nice feeling to see lehrman instill such good values in her.” It is a time for our students to display their many talents, hard work and lively classrooms. enjoy the warm welcome, smiling faces, rich curriculum, and the lively performances by our students, as well as this special grandparent-friendly issue of The Lehrman Link.

from our core Knowledge curriculum and sports and arts programs, to our Tal aM hebrew immersion program, we are second to none! To enhance our already strong programming, retain the finest faculty, maintain a diverse student body, and cover unrestricted operating costs, we depend on donations from our parents, grandparents and the greater

community. Just over a month ago we launched this year’s annual campaign, Planting the Present, Our Gift for the Future with very high expectations based on participation levels for the past two years. after experiencing the richness of our programs today, I hope you are asking “how can I help?” To provide you with the opportunity to participate in this year’s campaign, a pledge card has been placed in your gift bag. Please review it and give what feels appropriate. I appreciate your commitment, loyalty and dedication to our students and look forward to our continuing relationship, working together to ensure that lehrman goes from strength to strength.

Warm wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving and a happy hanukkah. as you gather with family and friends, think of the wonderful times you spent together, sharing happy thoughts and dreams with your family. I am thankful for the gift of love…there is so much of it in my life both personally and professionally—thank you!

Jodi BruceHead of School

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Head of School CouncilJana & Roger MillerJeffrey Miller

Head of School CabinetTania & Robert Bassanlee casty family foundationKim & eric MendelsonJane & Michael sabetlenore & adam sender

Mentor’s Club The Bergman Family in Memory of Rafideborah & Neil BienstockRochelle & Bobby finvarblaura & Ronny finvarbsuzanne & Richard leedscarla & chris sloancarrie & Jason Wiesenfeld

Dean’s Listdeborah & stephen Bussel/GoldinJenifer & Michael caplan-BernsteinMelanie & eric GreenwaldJennifer & alberto Gross

Rosalind & saul lanesdana & Tim Martorella suzanne & Brad MeltzerTracy & david MoretJodie & Richard Rozencwaigallison & Jerry sokolRachel & dovid TkatchNikki & Randy WeisburdJaya & dr. Joseph Zebede

Honor RollIves Barroukhadam Ben-shalom, abima corp.Maria Briceno & domingo alvarezJodi & Rick Brucelorena & Gil dezertovMichele & Jeffrey erezMara & adam Geronemusanje & Joe hark-Minoreamy & steven hurwitzJudy & Michael Kapiloffelisa & Graeme lemmercarmen & Jay leonard continued…

An ongoing reflection of our community’s commitment to Lehrman…

✪Donate online.

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Honor Roll continuedBeth & Walter lugoallyson & Mathew PapunenJanet & Michael RappMichelle & Jason RubellValeria & ozzie schindlerBonnie segal & sam BejarNicole & Michael simkins amy & Richard stokessol Taplin charitable fund

Fellowsalejo chouela & Romina Grinberg Mariella & Roni MualemJennifer Rapp & alex ferrolinda & stephen schaffzin

Scholars Nicole abelsonerica albertelizabeth & andy alloccoKaren alvarezamy & andrew atkinsdominique & harold Ballarinsandra & doron BaranesBela & Joseph BarnesMichele Baroneti Ben shalomsilvia Binkiewiczdebbie Brownsilvia cattansilvina & Mario chomer

sandi & Matthew cooperlucia cortavarriaKathy diamondJessica & sharon domfrochtBecky emmanuelJanet & Barry feinlisa & andy feldmanTina ferrerMiriam folwellJoseph (Papa) Galliottedebbie & Roger GoldenbergNancy & Brad GouldJenn & Josh hammelJulia hanan & david shapirolee & Joshua hareelana & lance hellringJamie Kreisbergharry laveauJose laverdeBetsy levylinda luBowNiki & anthony MarkofskyTiki Markscaryn MatatofKarin & Peter MatosBetty MatzMichelle & Ian Mavorahesther Meyerapril Mossashleigh & Mark Muhlradsarit orenshea Polakow

liora Ramati-GironJulie & Jeff Resplerlinda Rivas & eleazar lopezYamileth Rodriguezhannah RodriguezVanina & leonard Roitmanadriana & Joey Rosenlisa & Jaime Rosenberglili Rotholzharilee saltzmanalvaro sanchezdana & Michael schimmelMorgan & Michael servetnicksharon singer & James stephensonamy & Ben smallNoe & carlos solisdjamille & dan sragoviczRenee & eddie steinmansusie & shmuel sternNina & Kenneth stoweorit Tahandiane TaubGrettel & freddy ThompsonPaula TucciPeter TzanetatosJose VelazquezMarianna Zaliganayala & shlomo Zeev

as of 19 November 2012

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I ❤ Fifth Grade!April Moss and Harilee Saltzman Fifth grade teachers

Borrowing from Bill Cosby and the late Art Linkletter, we decided to ask the students to describe their experience in fifth grade. We tend to focus on our fosterng of independence, critical thinking, inference, and organizational skills, but we also seek to engage students. So we decided to ask them not only to write about about their favorite aspect of fifth grade, but also what was challenging, what made them feel mature, what they find interesting. As you can see, kids really do say the darnedest things. Enjoy!

Math:This year has been extraordinary so far. Math with Mrs. saltzman is so much fun. I am working in the seventh grade math book with two other students in the class. I loved doing inequalities, but I had trouble with them until Mrs. saltzman explained how to do them. Aaron

My favorite subject is math. Math is so interesting if you try something new. My favorite part of math is RTfT which stands for Right the first Time.

I love getting stickers everyday for a Right the first Time problem that is on the board that day. I have 26 stickers so far and I hope to get a lot more. My catch phrase is “That is so easy.” I love math, and I hope other people will love it, too. Shaina

one of our favorite subjects is math. sometimes math is a struggle, but when you learn a trick or strategy, it becomes easy. We often wind up doing our homework in class because we have finished the lesson so quickly. during math, everyone is quiet, and that makes it so much easier to concentrate. Jolie and Daniela

Language Arts:In fifth grade we do this thing called d.o.l, which stands for daily oral language. We have to correct sentences and grammar. We also have a dol person who corrects the sentences on the smartBoard. (everyone loves writing on the smart Board!) It’s a fun way to learn grammar and punctuation.

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When we first started D.O.L (daily oral language) it was a little challenging. Then we started to concentrate and focus on it much more. We went home one day and made a sheet to help figure it out, to this day we barely need this sheet. Now d.o.l is easy for us. another thing that also helps us do it is posters all over the room clarifying what pronouns, prepositions, adverbs, interjections, and conjunctions are. Now we are experts at correcting sentences and grammar! Kayla and Ana

If you are looking for a great way to study, come on down to fifth grade where you can participate in our very own “Word collectors.” here’s how you play: you go around looking for our vocabulary words. When you find one in print, you show it to the teacher (or take a picture of it) and tell the definition of the word. (Three words have been “retired” for overuse. We had a retirement ceremony!) Now you know how to play. Natasha

I love everything about 5th grade but, I have to say my most favorite subject would have to be writing. I like writing because I love to express my feeling about things (like I am doing in this paper). In class we write lots of essays and stories. I am in the middle of writing about how important sports are. In writing we have a long process to finish our papers. First we pre-write all of our ideas; then we do our first draft. later we edit and then we do it with a friend, which is called peer editing. after your friend edits with you, you hand in your paper to your teachers and they give you lots of great tips. When you are finally done, you get it in your friday folder for your parents to see. My main reason for loving to write is that I can write about anything—the options are endless! I love writing. JJ

Literature:I liked reading in 5th grade because we read The Wanderer. I liked The Wanderer because I liked cody. cody was a character in the book who would always goof around and be funny.

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sometimes he would make up words like he would say “pull the thingy.” cody also made his own language so he would call everyone’s name in code name. I learned about cody by talking about him. I also learned about him by writing about him. Noah

fifth grade is very exciting. We read The Secret Garden. every day we answered questions about the book. Joy made a tree and we filled it with apple stickers for every answer we wrote. When we had 200 stickers, we got to have a tea party. We ate outside like a picnic. Mrs. saltzman brought in roses, and at the end of the day we were each given a red rose. I can’t wait to finish our next book! Elizabeth

Social Studies:In history we did oral reports on famous people from the Renaissance. We got to choose which person we would write about. luckily, I got da Vinci so that meant I had a lot to write about! first I read about him in our two history books. I also got a book

from Mrs. Brown. after I read all about him, I wrote facts down on note cards. each card was a different topic. after I finished the note cards, I got to practice my oral report with chandler. Then I had to find a visual. Instead of going to the Internet, I got a picture book about him and put sticky notes on the important pages. When I presented to the class, I was so happy because I did it all by myself in four days! I think doing oral reports is a lot of fun. Julieta

Homework:I love 5th grade, but the best part about it is how you’re encouraged to do your homework. If you do all your homework for two weeks you get a homework pass. If you get a homework pass you can use it to not do your homework or delay your homework for a day so you could do it the next day. It’s not that you can just jot down stuff and say that you really tried. It’s that the homework pass really does encourage you to actually do your homework. so if you actually do your homework you’re rewarded. Hallie

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A Memory, A Blessing

lehrman grandparents, lynn and Bernard “Bernie” Kapiloff were generous supporters of lehrman community day school as well as many other causes. during his long career as a plastic surgeon, dr. Kapiloff often helped those too poor to pay, and in a city below the Mason dixon line, he stood for racial equality, serving patients of all races. Through his newspaper work, he and

his brother were principled civil rights activists. Proud identifying Jews, the Kapiloffs were victims of anti-semitism. Their home was fire bombed five times; four times the bombs fizzled, but in 1980 a fifth Molotov cocktail caused extensive damage.

supporters of Israel and many charities, the Kapiloffs exemplify the true meaning of tzedakah—which comes from the hebrew root esm tzedek—“right acting,” fairness or justice. It is something Jews are commanded to do,

yet Maimonides outlines eight degrees of tzedakah. he says the highest degree is giving willingly, adequately according to one’s means and in such a way as to help someone pull himself out of need in the future. In our long history we are a community with a tradition of taking responsibility for the needs of one another. Tzedakah is a tradition we are proud to pass on me’dor l’dor rusk rusn, from generation to generation, and the Kapiloffs are examples of that tradition.

The plaque outside the cafeteria honoring Bernard k"z and Lynn Kapiloff, and helping students understand the meaning of their daily recitation of ha-Motzi thmunv, the blessing over bread.

The image on this plaque is an illustration from The Book of Ruth by Tamar Messer, a highly respected contemporary artist whose gallery is located in a renovated ancient building in old Haifa. Messer studied Biblical texts before she interpreted them through her artwork. This scene portrays the wheat harvest in the Ruth story. It reflects, according to Messer, the yellows, browns and muted greens of the Bethlehem area where the original story took place. We placed this image alongside the blessing over bread said daily by Lehrman students to help them understand the import and the beauty of God’s gift of this very basic of foodstuffs. ✪

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Lehrman parents are special, too!We often (justifiably) take the time to laud the accomplishments of our students and our alumni—that is, after all, what a school is about—and we have many talented and accomplished examples in both categories. This week, however, we are proud to note a number of parents whose accomplishments should be shared and applauded by our entire Lehrman community.

Jaime Rosenberg, father of Ivy (2), Reid (K) and Nica (T), has won the South Florida Business Journal’s Entrepreneur Award for a startup for his new business venture, Kleo. We at Lehrman were very glad to be able to participate in this exciting and worthwhile enterprise. Kleo grew

out of Jaime’s previous endeavor, AdoptAClassroom.org, which raised $18 million on behalf of 85,000 classrooms nationwide and improved learning environments for more than 3.5 million children. Last year’s 4th grade was involved in that project. See the full article at alturl.com/gfhcj

Pianist Marta Brancovich, mother of David (1), recently gave a stunning classical music concert at the Aventura Arts Center on November 8. Marta, who was born in Belgrade, Serbia, had her concert debut in Chicago in 2005. She has given over 100 concerts in the United States and Europe. Marta announced at the concert that she would not be

performing publicly in the next year, but will be working on a CD. A number of the pieces that Marta played at the concert are available on her website: martamilosevicbrankovic.com

Dr. Joshua Hare, father of Jacob (3) and Asher (2), was recently written up in the Herald and, in fact, across the nation for an important medical breakthrough. Dr. Hare, the Director of the UM Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute was the lead author of a study about stem cell therapy—using “unformed stem cells” to correct conditions that have anything to do with scar tissue. For more, see the Herald article at alturl.com/6vp26

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In this age of digital enlightenment, very little remains a mystery. during the recent election, programmers claimed to have written software that could predict our as yet uncast vote by tracking Google activity. If indeed it were that reliable, it would alleviate the irksome experience of standing in line for hours waiting to cast a ballot! depending on where you stand, the good/bad news is that it cannot.

Yet we strive to reach that point where all is revealed, except when it comes to a lost tooth (disclaimer: there is an android app which proports to call the Tooth fairy—caveat emptor! ed.). despite claims to the contrary, the Tooth fairy is alive and well.

Without revealing highly classified information, we can tell you that lehrman has had a direct line to the Tooth fairy for several years. The process is quite simple: when a tooth is lost in grades K, 1 or 2, an e-mail is sent to losttooth@lehrmantoothfairy.org and the wheels are set in motion.

A certificate and official lost tooth sticker are created (the old fashioned way, by a human in front of a computer). Both items are delivered to the appropriate classroom—by an emmisary designated by the Tooth fairy— along with an Official Tooth Fairy Tin so the precious tooth may be stored for posterity.

lehrman will continue to provide a distribution outlet for the Tooth fairy as long as our students lose teeth, a process as natural as the Tooth fairy herself.

Rebecca (grade 1) dropped a note to the TF:

Dear Tooth Fairy,My first top tooth fell out.

So can I have wugglepets please.

For my birthday I got a tooth fairy doll.

Rebeccaand received a thoughtful, personal reply (as always).

Behind the Scenes: The Lehrman Difference

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We ❤ NY & NJMrs. Schimmels’ first graders looked for a means to provide support for hurricane sandy victims in the northeast. a native New Jersey-ite herself, Mrs. schimmel spoke with family and friends to determne the most effective means of support.

The resounding answer was gift cards. Much like cash, gift cards enable recipients to determine immediate needs. The list of stores included home depot and lowe’s for building supplies, cVs and

Walgreens for much needed pharmacy items and toiletries, Target and Walmart for food and clothing, and…dunkin’ donuts (for a hearty breakfast to get through the day?).

Teaming up with the 5th grade yearbook club, the first graders promoted their idea to fellow students, who responded enthusiastically with contributions of cash (to buy cards) and cards. during the Thanksgiving holiday, Mrs. schimmel will deliver the gift cards personally when she joins her family up north.

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Tzedakah Update!

Natasha (in photo) & Joseph, our 5th grade Ambassadors to Federation, joined their advisor,

Mrs. Alvarez, on a mini-mission with CAJE. Locations visited were the Miami Beach JCC, the

Michael-Ann Russell JCC—where they served lunch to seniors (above), and the JCS Kosher Food Bank.

reminders^GThu-Fri Nov 22-23 Thanksgiving NO SCHOOL

Mon-Fri Nov 26-30 ecd Parent-Teacher conferences

Sat-Sat Dec 8-15 Hanukkah: First candle Sat night, Dec 8

Thu Dec 13 Turning Twos/Toddler hanukkah show

Fri Dec 14 class Parties 1:00 pm Dismissal

Tue Dec 18 school’s open K-5

Mon Dec 24-Wed Jan 2 Winter Break NO SCHOOL

Fri Mar 1, 2013 Save the Date ecd Grandparents/special friends day!

see our complete calendar online:LehrmanSchool.org/calendar ✪

Technology is for the young? It may come easier to the young, but it is a boon to the modern long-distance intergenerational relationships. When many of us were kids, we lived if not around the corner, then at least in the same neighborhood or town as our grandparents. Not so today as retirees go where the weather is warm, and young families are more mobile and go where the jobs are. faceTime and skype are by-words in

many grandparent-grandchild relationships. and now there are apps that can enhance those relationships even more. Try one of these:

DoubleScoop: free, for Apple devices and PC. an ultimate digital scrapbook that allows children as young as three to draw pictures, sing songs, tell stories and exchange photos with their grandparents. You can scroll back and see the material that has been shared over time. No ads or spam.

FamJam: free, for iPad only. drawing and photo sharing app creates a communication hub for the entire family. each person in the family

receives a personalized inbox and can create a portfolio. There are pre-made backgrounds, funny stamps and the capability to draw on a photo. Graphically a little dated, but lots of neat things to do.

Care to respond? Have something of your own to share? Visit our blog: WeCareWeShareBlog.org

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