April 4, 2011

It is THAT time of the year:
As I have written prior, the school year has a rhythm. In my four years at EWS, there are things that we can count on such as a lot of holidays in the fall and a late, but longer Spring Break. As a result of our schedule, there are challenges for the teachers, students, and families that are not necessarily common at some of our fellow ISAS schools. For instance, we really struggle to schedule games for our athletic teams during September or October and spring break. We have a tough time getting into academic rhythm in the fall and our students get really tired as we near our Passover Break.

We have been going strong for three straight months with few breaks. Our students spend a lot of time on the weekends together, particularly in the 7th grade, and as a result they have little time away from each other. This manifests itself at school in two ways: they start to have trouble in their classes and social issues really explode. Academically, students tend to recover in May – although some will begin to check out – as they refocus for exams and there is a very real light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Once we return from break we have three full school weeks before exams take center stage and our thespians will help close the school year with a bang with the all-school performance of “Oliver.” Because of the play, because of exams, and because the end is so near the social issues which plague our students right now will diminish after break.

We talk a lot about the social issues of middle school students during the course of the year. I am sure I have mentioned them a time or two in this blog and the primary reason that I receive calls and emails right now is because of these issues. This year we have done some things differently to minimize these problems such as Havurah and more adult supervision in the halls, at lunch, etc. We have not eliminated the problem as middle school children are still learning how to interact and communicate in positive ways. For those who have children who are struggling with these issues, please know that we are making every effort to minimize those, we are thoughtful and reactive when you visit, call, or email, and these issues bother us as much as they do you. The best advice I can give is to hang in there. The dust settles with maturity. However, that does not mean that we will all sit by and wait for it to do so.

Thanks again for all you do to communicate with us. We are in this together to help your children through the three difficult middle school years and our ultimate goal is to provide the best experience possible for our students.

Have a good week.

Athletic Events this week:
• Monday –
Girls MS Softball @ Westbury Christian – 4:15pm
Boys MS Baseball @ Fort Bend Baptist – 4:00pm

• Tuesday –
Boys MS Baseball @ Fort Bend Baptist – 4:00pm
Girls MS Softball v. St. Thomas – 4:30

• Wednesday –
Co-Ed MS Track @ Houston Christian - TBA

• Thursday -
Both Boys Baseball and Girls Softball games originally scheduled on this day have been rescheduled.


Happy Birthday to the following students who are celebrating birthdays this week:
• Ross Aaronson – April 6th
• Solomon Guefen – April 8th
• Alyssa Karpas and Brooke Kaplan – April 9th
• Conny Egozi – April 10th
• Brandon Roseman – April 11th

Mazel Tov to Evan Diebner and Solomon Guefen who are celebrating their Bar Mitzvahs on Saturday, April 9th.

Kallah and Advisory:
• Monday –

MS Music classes perform

• Tuesday
All school Kalla/Ma’amad

• Wednesday
12:30 dismissal

• Thursday
Torah Service for Solomon Guefen and Evan Diebner

• Friday
Clubs

Calendar Events:
• 8th Grade Tikkun Olam – April 6th
• 4th interim grades – should be emailed home by April 4th
• April 6th – 12:30 dismissal

Looking Ahead:
• Passover Break – April 18-26