Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with that comes the opportunity for Beth El Nursery School to give to others. To that end, each of our classes have made a Giving Box that has been placed outside their classroom. We are asking for families to please bring in non-perishable food items by Tuesday, November 26 at noon. The food will be picked up by the Mobile Pantry of HOPE Community (Helping Other People Eat) and will be delivered to families who are unable to get to HOPE to pick up their necessary food items. We thank you in advance for your generosity.
We will be having our annual HavDairy event on Saturday, December 7, 6:00 - 7:15PM. This evening is always a rousing success, and we are delighted to share that this year, Kids Musician and Funster Matty Roxx will be entertaining the children! Further details may be found below. Click here to register.
We will be having our monthly staff meeting on Tuesday, December 3. As a result, After Care Ends at 3:00PM on that day.
To our Anaf and Gesher Parents: You and/or your caretaker, grandparent, etc. areinvited to join us for Havdalah each and every Monday morning beginning this Monday, November 25, at approximately 9:15AM in the Youth Lounge (the room with the couches across from Ronnie and Shery's office). Havdalah is a short ceremony marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week. Although traditionally performed on Saturday evenings, one is permitted to experience Havdalah as late as Tuesday. Whether you come once or come weekly, this is a great opportunity to be part of a wonderful start to the week. Please note that we gather for about 15-20 minutes. We hope to see you there!
Naava, ourAtelierista, is still collecting the following items:
Magnets - Ideally plain, round, or square. Any color works, but blanks only (no advertisements or identifiable words or characters).
Markers - In the Atelier, children have access to a variety of markers that are all different shapes, sizes and colors. We're always looking for more.
Unusual chalk - for our beloved chalkboard
Stickers -We love stickers! All kinds, especially labeling stickers.
Washi Tape -(otherwise known as paper tape). It usually comes in an array of colors and patterns.
Colorful bingo chips and golf tees - Basically things that we can use for interesting collages and 3D pieces.
Small lights - Like tiny votives you'd see on a dinner table. Kids love finding them in our "Wonder box" which is filled with small discoverable objects.
3D printer discards - It may look like trash to someone else, but to us it's opportunity!
Please be sure to scroll down for important information regarding upcoming events at Beth El and the surrounding community so you don't miss out on anything.
Have a good rest of your day, Ronnie and Shery
Highlights:
Please bring in non-perishable food by Tuesday, November 26, at noon to donate. Place in the Giving Box outside your child's classroom.
Monday mornings at approximately 9:15AM: Anaf and Gesher parents/caretakers/grandparents are invited to the Youth Lounge tocelebrate Havdalah. Saturday, December 7, 6:00 - 7:15PM: HavDairy - Click here to register.
HavDairy on Saturday, December 7, 6:00 - 7:15PM Enjoy a dairy dinner, a musical Havdalah experience, and then be entertained by kids' musician and funster Matty Roxx who will bring his super-engaging performance of music and movement to Beth El. Get ready to move, sing and laugh with Matty, and enjoy a memorable evening with the Beth El Nursery School community!
Save the Date
Casino Night is the Nursery School's biggest fundraiser of the year and everyone in attendance enjoys a fabulous night out. Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday night, January 11!
We are continuing our fundraising through Mabel's Labels. With every order we will earn 20% commission for our school. If you are not familiar with Mabel's Labels, they offer personalized waterproof name labels for your children's items. This is the perfect time to get your orders in before the school year begins. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and choose Beth El Nursery School (New Rochelle) from the organization list. Click here to order.
Calling All performers! If you'd like to play or sing on December 15th at the first ever all-new Beth El Cafe Night, email Jack Klebanow at jklebanow@bethelnr.org.
Family Cap expires Wednesday, November 27th. Register today!
Registration closes Monday, December 2nd. $36/adult $18/child
As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El. . THANKSGIVING DIVERSITY BREAKFAST The 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast is in two weeks, on November 21stat Iona University from 7:30–10:00am. As a proud communal partner for the breakfast, we invite you to join the greater Westchester community for this important event. Don’t miss the chance to unite, support one another, and learn from each other. Now, more than ever, your voice matters. Stand with those committed to fostering unity, not division. This is our moment to drive the change we need. Register here.
RUN 4 THEIR LIVES is an opportunity to create community while supporting the releease of the hostages in Gaza. You can read more information about our 'why' at http://Run4lives.org. The group meets weekly on Sunday mornings. Participants can walk or run as much as they would like. Learn more about the upcoming November Israel trip, as well as weekly announcements about meetup locations in the WhatsApp Group, which you can join here.
Saturday, November 16th 9:00am Shabbat Morning Services 10:30am Mini Minyan 10:30am Tot Shabbat This week's kiddush is sponsored by Allyson Wisel & William Vogt in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Dahlia Vogt. 12:45pm Daf Shevui 4:20pm Mincha/Maariv 5:17pm Havdalah 7:30pm Melaveh Malkah (This event is at capacity and registration is closed.)
Mazal tov to Allyson Wisel & William Vogt on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Dahlia Rose Vogt.
Mazal tov to Liz & Eric Alderman on the engagement of their son, Jeremy Alderman to Megan Lacy, daughter of Joyce and Pat Lacy.
Mazal tov to Susan Eichen and Jeff Mittleman on the marriage of their son Jacob to Dr. Lena Chatterjee, daughter of Dr. Harleen Brar and Dr. Deelip Chatterjee, Franklin Lakes, NJ.
Mazal tov to Susan Eichen and Jeff Mittleman on the engagement of their daughter Ilana to Gabriel Weinstein, son of Michele Cydulka-Weinstein and Ed Weinstein, Shaker Heights, OH.
Mazal tov to Florence Taubenfeld on the birth of her great granddaughter Hannah Eloise and to grandparents Anne and Rick Weisbrod, and also to parents, Allison and Sonny Gold.
Condolences to Harvey Wacht on the loss of his wife, Judy Wacht z"l, to Lauren and Michael on the loss of their mother, and to Michelle and Josh on the loss of their grandmother.
Those marking a simcha, observing the loss of a loved one, or someone who is sick or recovering from an illness have delighted/comforted that their lifecycle event has inspired generosity. If you would like to make a donation to Beth El in honor or in memory, please click here.
MISHEBERACH LIST If you would like to add a name to the Misheberach list, please email Rabbi Sitkin at zsitkin@bethelnr.org.
As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El. . THANKSGIVING DIVERSITY BREAKFAST The 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast is in two weeks, on November 21stat Iona University from 7:30–10:00am. As a proud communal partner for the breakfast, we invite you to join the greater Westchester community for this important event. Don’t miss the chance to unite, support one another, and learn from each other. Now, more than ever, your voice matters. Stand with those committed to fostering unity, not division. This is our moment to drive the change we need. Register here.
RUN 4 THEIR LIVES is an opportunity to create community while supporting the releease of the hostages in Gaza. You can read more information about our 'why' at http://Run4lives.org. The group meets weekly on Sunday mornings. Participants can walk or run as much as they would like. Learn more about the upcoming November Israel trip, as well as weekly announcements about meetup locations in the WhatsApp Group, which you can join here.
As delineated in our Parent Guide, a set of seven core Jewish values and ideas guide our work at Beth El Nursery School. Understood as "lenses," they help create a framework for teachers and parents for study, discussion and development of a shared vision in the classroom.
One of the lenses is entitled: Covenant - B'rit – Belonging and Commitment. We believe that the relationships we forge with our families are what enable each of us—parent, teacher, and child—to achieve our divine potential.
This Wednesday, November 20, is the date for our first Parent Teacher Dialogue. In addition to hearing from the teachers about your child’s progress, we also like to use this time to hear from you about how you and your child are feeling about school, and discuss any special concerns that you may have.
How to make the most of your dialogue time:
1. Come prepared - Sometimes, a meeting with your child's teacher is like a visit to the doctor's office. You have a lot that you want to talk about and a limited amount of time in which to do so. The better prepared you are, the more beneficial the meeting will be for both you and the teachers.
2. Write down your questions - Once you're in a meeting with the teacher it may be hard to remember what you wanted to talk about. Jot down your questions beforehand and bring them to the conference.
3. Stick to talking about your child - Our parent/teacher dialogues last only 15-20 minutes. Try not to use this time to ask questions about basic school policies. That kind of information can usually be found in the Parent Guide or by calling the office. This is your chance to get detailed feedback on your child, so grab it while you can. If you have a specific question or issue that doesn't come up, don't hesitate to ask. You know your child better than anyone, so take the initiative.
4. Take a notepad and pen - After the meeting is over, you may forget some of what you discussed. Jotting things down as you go along will help jog your memory later.
5. Share relevant information with the teachers - Let them know of any changes at home. A new baby, a divorce, or a death in the family can all affect the way your child interacts in the classroom. 6. Goals of the Dialogue - It's natural to feel a bit nervous about your upcoming meeting. Every parent wants to hear how wonderful their child is — and the teachers will tell you about your child's strengths and achievements. But an additional component of this dialogue is to point out areas where your child has room to develop. The goal of this meeting is to get an assessment of how your child is doing in school and to look for ways you can help facilitate your child’s continued progress.
We hope that these suggestions help make your Parent/Teacher Dialogue as informative and productive as possible. We look forward to greeting you as we partner to create a covenantal community,
Enjoy the weekend ahead and shabbat shalom, Ronnie and Shery
Dads' Night Out will be next Thursday, November 21 at 8PM. The event will take place offsite at Golfzon Social. You do not need to be a professional golfer or anywhere close to it to enjoy a wonderful night out with the guys!Further details may be found on the flyer below. Click here to register.
The atelier (art studio) has been so enriching for our school and your children are truly thriving during their time spent with Naava, our Atelierista. To enhance the experience even more, Naava has created a Wish List of items she would be delighted to add to her space. Please see a special message below from Naava:
In the Atelier, we love to reuse/repurpose materials in new creative ways. Here are some materials we'd love to take off your hands:
Magnets - Ideally plain, round, or square. Any color works, but blanks only (no advertisements or identifiable words or characters).
Markers - In the Atelier, children have access to a variety of markers that are all different shapes, sizes and colors. We're always looking for more.
Unusual chalk - for our beloved chalkboard
Stickers -We love stickers! All kinds, especially labeling stickers.
Washi Tape -(otherwise known as paper tape). It usually comes in an array of colors and patterns.
Colorful bingo chips and golf tees - Basically things that we can use for interesting collages and 3D pieces.
Small lights - Like tiny votives you'd see on a dinner table. Kids love finding them in our "Wonder box" which is filled with small discoverable objects.
3D printer discards - It may look like trash to someone else, but to us it's opportunity!
Parent-Teacher Dialogues are next Wednesday, November 20. School dismisses at noon for all classesexcept our Shoresh class which dismisses at 11:45AM. There will be no After Care that day, no Lunch Bunch, and no pasta lunch.
Wednesday, November 27 is a regular day of school with classes dismissing at regular times. However, there will be no After Care and no Lunch Bunch.
Looking ahead to the future, we'd like you to make note that Special Persons' Day will be moving from Friday, February 7 to Friday, January 24. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to think about inviting a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or someone who doesn't usually get to experience Beth El Nursery School with your child, to participate in this event. The Anaf and Gesher program will begin at 9:30am, and the Gezah program begins at 10am. Each should last from 45 minutes to one hour.
Please be sure to scroll down for important information regarding upcoming events at Beth El and the surrounding community so you don't miss out on anything.
Wishing you a wonderful rest of your week, Ronnie and Shery
Dads' Night Out on Thursday, November 21
It's time for a dads hang out! Enjoy a night of golf with fellow Nursery School dads at our annual Dads' NIght Out! The event will take place at Golfzon. $50 per person will include pizza and golf.Click here to register.
The Magic of Camp
Are you missing the magic of camp? Interested in learning more about Beth El Day Camp? Mark your calendars for this Sunday, November 17 at 3PM for a Magic Show! Additional details below. Click here to register.
Thinking of Sending Your Child to The Leffell School?
Thinking of sending your child to The Leffell School? Please mark your calendars for The Leffell School's Open House for Young Families - Sunday, November 17 at 10:00 a.m. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage on the Lower School campus and learn about The Leffell School in informational sessions focused on their academic program, Jewish life and learning, and the kindergarten experience, while your child engages in art, movement, and music activities led by teachers. The program concludes with lunch and the opportunity to meet with current parents and members of school leadership. Click here to register.
Sign Up to Participate in Our Parent Association!
We are incredibly energized by the good turnout at our recent Beth El Nursery School Parent Association meeting and are eager to launch the year along with everyone who wants to volunteer to support our school. We put together a list of volunteer opportunities and we’ve outlined what the job entails along with approximate time commitment.
We hope that this will provide some clarity and illustrate that volunteering for the Nursery School can really be as limited or expansive as fits your schedule. We know that many of you filled out the sheets at orientation. We are asking that you now fill out this spreadsheet which we will use as our master list. Should you be interested, please feel free to sign up for more than one job! You can access it, here. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Enjoy the week ahead, Andrea and Kara - Parent Association Co-Presidents
Save the Date
Casino Night is the Nursery School's biggest fundraiser of the year and everyone in attendance enjoys a fabulous night out. Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday night, January 11!
We are continuing our fundraising through Mabel's Labels. With every order we will earn 20% commission for our school. If you are not familiar with Mabel's Labels, they offer personalized waterproof name labels for your children's items. This is the perfect time to get your orders in before the school year begins. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and choose Beth El Nursery School (New Rochelle) from the organization list. Click here to order.
Join us for our first lounge night of the year! We'll have pizza, snacks, friends and fun. Feel free to bring video games and your homework!
Teen Shabbat in December
Saturday, December 14 at 10:30 am
Join us for our last Teen Shabbat of 2024! We will end the week together as we build Shabbat experiences. We want to hear from YOU about what makes Teen Shabbat meaningful!
Our December service will include Torah reading, as well as a change to visualize what Teen Shabbat could be.
What do you do with your old lulav and etrog sets? Some, like Seniors Coordinator Julie Rockowitz makes etrog jam from friends' aging fruit, while some opt to poke cloves into its skin before it hardens into what will be a nicely scented havdallah besamim for the year.
You can also drop off your set back at Beth El in the Green Team's bin for nursery school projects and composting. New Rochelle has recently made a compost drop off available! Any food, napkins and compostable tableware is permitted to be placed in the appropriate marked bin in the rear of the Pinebrook Tennis Courts parking lot. (Consider freezing these items first if you have the capacity). There is also a clothing drop off bin there.
As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El. . THANKSGIVING DIVERSITY BREAKFAST The 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast is in two weeks, on November 21stat Iona University from 7:30–10:00am. As a proud communal partner for the breakfast, we invite you to join the greater Westchester community for this important event. Don’t miss the chance to unite, support one another, and learn from each other. Now, more than ever, your voice matters. Stand with those committed to fostering unity, not division. This is our moment to drive the change we need. Register here.
RUN 4 THEIR LIVES is an opportunity to create community while supporting the releease of the hostages in Gaza. You can read more information about our 'why' at http://Run4lives.org. The group meets weekly on Sunday mornings. Participants can walk or run as much as they would like. Learn more about the upcoming November Israel trip, as well as weekly announcements about meetup locations in the WhatsApp Group, which you can join here.
For event accessibility needs, please be in touch so we can address them.
Friday, November 8th 4:24pm Candle Lighting 4:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday, November 9th Veteran's Day Shabbat 9:00am Shabbat Morning Services 10:30am Mini Minyan 10:30am Tot Shabbat This week's kiddush is sponsored by Nancy & Ari Mayerfield in honor of Emmett's Bar Mitzvah. 12:45pm Daf Shevui 4:20pm Mincha/Maariv 5:23pm Havdalah
Get your Chanukkah gifts taken care of this Sunday!
Mazal tov to Ari & Nancy Mayerfield on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Emmett Mayerfield, and mazal tov also to Emmett's grandparents, Mitchell & Wendy Gross and Sam & Regina Mayerfield.
Mazal tov to Rivelle & Jordan Levine on the birth of their son, Calder Ross Levine, and mazal tov to big brother, Sidney.
As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El.
DC RALLY Learn more about the Stand Together: Unity, Strength, and Resilience rally in DC on November 10thhere. In partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America and the JCC Association, Riverdale will now be a "busing hub" for this Sunday's event. We are providing busing to Washington, DC from Riverdale not only for residents of the Bronx, but also residents of Manhattan, Queens, Westchester and Stamford, CT. JFNA will be covering the cost of the buses.There is still time to register for the event and to secure your spot on the buses from Riverdale. Using our registration form you can register for the event, register for the bus or both.If you already have your event ticket, please register for the bus only.If you already signed up for the buses from Riverdale and paid the original $90 registration fee, there is no need to register again. We will refund your $90 and you will keep your spot on the bus. Please register as soon as possible at www.riverdaley.org/standtogether.The deadline is this Friday, November 8 at noon.
DO A MITZVAH and help women and children in domestic violence shelters.Volunteer with UJA-Federation on Sunday, November 24 10-11:30 am at Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle and pack 300 welcome kits for families escaping trauma and violence and seeking refuge in shelters run by UJA partner the Jewish Board. To register, click here. . RUN 4 THEIR LIVES is an opportunity to create community while supporting the releease of the hostages in Gaza. You can read more information about our 'why' at http://Run4lives.org. The group meets weekly on Sunday mornings. Participants can walk or run as much as they would like. Learn more about the upcoming November Israel trip, as well as weekly announcements about meetup locations in the WhatsApp Group, which you can join here.
If you're looking for a fabulous night out, you will not want to miss Mom's Night Out! Join fellow Nursery School moms on Thursday, November 14 at The Flower Bar to enjoy a floral decorating class together! $60 per person will include flowers, supplies, wine and snacks. Today is the last day to sign up!Click here to register.
