February 27, 2012

The Upcoming Week:

This week we have ERB testing from Tuesday-Friday. The tests will begin at 7:45 a.m., so please be sure to have your children at school on time. Make-up tests will have to be administered to those students who cannot take a test because they were not here to start on time. This can add to the stress that many students feel during this week. In order to ease some of the burden, students will have minimal homework during the week.

Outside of testing, it is a pretty mild week. Due to the ERB schedule, we have clubs on Monday and a special all-school Ma’amad/Kallad on Friday to preview the Upper School production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” We will not have advisory, Kallah or clubs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Lastly, spring trips are right around the corner. The parent meetings will be held on March 6. There are two opportunities to come – 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. Please feel free to attend either, but there is no need to attend both. We will cover the itinerary, packing lists, emergency contact information and answer any questions that you may have.

Thanks for another terrific week.

Mon, Feb 27	Clubs Boys WHT Baseball @Baytown Christian – 4 p.m.
Tue, Feb 28	ERB TESTING Boys NAV Baseball @Fort Bend Baptist – 4 p.m. Co-Ed MS Tennis v. Kinkaid – 3:30 p.m. Co-ED MS Track @Northland Christian – 4:30 p.m.
Wed, Feb 29	ERB TESTING MS Girls Softball v. Grace Presbyterian – 4 p.m.
Thur, Mar 01	Happy Birthday, Jamie Penn! ERB TESTING Boys NAV Baseball v. Grace Christian – 4 p.m. MS Girls Softball v. Grace Presbyterian - 4 p.m. Co-ED MS Track @Houston Christian – 4 p.m.
Fri, Mar 02	ERB TESTING All-School Ma’amad/Kallah – “Little Shop of Horrors” Preview
Sat, Mar 03	Mazel Tov to Grant Schneider and Noam Cohen on their Bar Mitzvahs! Happy Birthday, Abby Shreyberg!
Sun, Mar 04

Song:

“I believe that children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride
And make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how it used to be

Whitney – The Greatest Love

The Upcoming Week:

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a good long weekend. It seemed about the right time for an extra day off here at school as kids looked a little bleary-eyed on Friday. This week we have another pretty normal week on campus. However, next week we have ERBs. These necessary standardized tests will be given from Tuesday-Friday, February 28 - March 2 at the start of each day. Please, make every effort to drop your child off on time to school as the testing begins by 8 a.m. If a student does not start a particular test, then a make-up must be given the following week. Students will have their normal afternoon schedules on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. In the mornings, however, students will resume the normal daily schedule once testing concludes each day. On Friday afternoon, there is a special all-school preview of “Little Shop of Horrors” to end the week.

On Thursday, February 23, Dr. Bob Weinberger will be speaking to 8th Grade students and parents about drug and alcohol use in teenagers. The program will be held in the MS Seminar room (formerly, RM 130) and will begin at 8:43 a.m. Following the student presentation, parents are encouraged to stay for a 30-40 minute question and answer session with Dr. Weinberger. This program is the concluding event in the 8th Grade drug and alcohol prevention advisory program.

Please make sure to clear your calendars for the spring trip parent meetings on March 6. The meetings will be held at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. to accommodate your busy schedules. We will cover the itinerary, the packing list and answer any questions you may have.

Lastly, the PE department and the MS consolidated the lost and found items and now we are overflowing. If your child is missing some clothing, please come in to the MS Office and take a look. Clothes not claimed by March 2 are going to be donated to charity or become part of the MS uniform shop.

Thank you all and have a great week.

Mon, Feb 20	School Closed – Presidents’ Day
Tue, Feb 21	Happy Birthday, Noam Cohen! MS Girls Softball v. Trafton – 4 p.m. MS Co-Ed Track @Fort Bend Christian Academy – 4 p.m. Boys NAV Baseball @Trafton – 4 p.m.
Wed, Feb 22	Clubs Boys WHT Baseball @Grace Presbyterian – 4 p.m. MS Girls Softball v. Grace Presbyterian – 4 p.m.
Thur, Feb 23	Grades 6/7 – Torah Service – Evan Sack, Nikki Schwartz, Rachel Morris, Grant Schneider, Noam Cohen, and Jake Plantowsky 8th Grade – Dr. Bob Weinberger speaking to students and parents about teenage drug and alcohol use Co-Ed MS Tennis v. Kinkaid, Honor Roll, Briarwood Match Boys NAV Baseball v. John Cooper – 4:30 p.m. MS Girls Softball v. John Cooper – 4:30 p.m.
Fri, Feb 24	Happy Birthday, Ben Blachman! Kallah – Special Speaker – Tikvah Juni – Woman with down syndrome speaking about inclusion and acceptance
Sat, Feb 25	Mazel Tov to Nikki Schwartz and Rachel Miller on their Bat Mitvahs! Happy Birthday, Lucy Frankfort!
Sun, Feb 26

February 13, 2012

The Upcoming Week:

I hope all is going well as we are flying through February. This week we welcomed grandparents and special friends of Middle School students on to campus on Tuesday. Grandparents enjoyed a special Kallah that highlighted the many talents of our students. Following kallah, there was a brief break for students and grandparents to visit. It was great seeing all the grandparents and we hope they enjoyed the time they spent on campus.

This week the 8th Graders will meet with the US registrar, Josh Blice, and the College Counseling staff – Lynn Slaughter and Chris Teel. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce 8th Grade students to the course requirements of the Upper School and the role of college counseling. This is an event for all 8th Grade students, even if they may not attend the EWS Upper School next year.

Finally, we have an early dismissal on Friday leading into a long weekend. Monday, February 20 is Presidents’ Day and the school will be closed. Later that same week, the next round of interim grades will be sent home. You can expect these grades via email on Friday, February 24. The second semester is an opportunity for grades to start over as first semester and second semester grades do not get averaged together until the final report card in June. The grades you will receive on the 24 are only from the last seven weeks.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call. Have a great week and long weekend.

Mon, Feb 13	6-8 advisory – EWS Pictionary Happy Birthday to Libby Jarnagin!
Tue, Feb 14	Grandparents’ Day – special Kallah MS Girls Softball v. Lutheran South – 4pm Boys WHT Baseball v. Lutheran South – 4pm MS Co-Ed Track @Northland Christian – 4:30pm Boys NAV Baseball v. Lutheran South – 5:30pm
Wed, Feb 15	Clubs
Thur, Feb 16	Grades 6/7 – Torah Service – Lewis Graubart, Jacob Arnold, and Evan Sack 8th Grade - Meeting with US College Counseling and Registrar Boys WHT Baseball v. Westbury Christian – 4:00pm
Fri, Feb 17	12:30 Dismissal
Sat, Feb 18	Mazel Tov to Evan Sack, Jacob Arnold, and Lewis Graubart and their families! Happy Birthday, Bram Cox and Evan Sack!
Thurs, Feb 23	Dr. Bob Weinberger is coming to speak to 8th grade students and parents at 8:43 a.m. in the MS Seminar Room

February 6, 2012

The Upcoming Week:

I hope you all had a great weekend. We are starting to gear up for trips this week with our first student meetings. On Tuesday, students will get their first introduction to their respective class trips in March. As part of the experiential learning component of the school’s philosophy, all three trips incorporate elements from the classroom. During planned activities, students are exposed to content specific to their science, history and Judaic Studies classes. In addition, time is built in on each trip for reflection and journaling during appropriate moments. There will be an informational night for parents on Tuesday, March 6 at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m.

This month in advisory, we will focus on digital awareness. This week, Mr. Stern will discuss with students the importance of privacy setting when using internet tools. Wednesday we will have clubs once again as the schedule has allowed for more consistent meetings this semester. Thursday, we have a Torah Service for Michael Talisman. Also on Thursday, 8th Graders are encouraged to bring their own computers from home as Mr. Stern will actually walk them through some procedures for repairing their digital footprint and limiting their personal information that can be found on the internet. On Friday, we begin course selection discussions for next school year. This initial conversation will focus on the Foreign Language requirements and options available to rising 7th and 8th Graders and the Fine Arts electives available. You are asked to review the information with your child and assist him and her in those selections. On Friday, the 8th Graders will participate in an activity about risk awareness as part of their drug and alcohol prevention.

Looking ahead to next week, students should show up to school and expect a surprise in their lockers on the morning of the February 14. SGA is going to “surprise” each Middle School student with a “share the love” card and candy treat. In addition, to celebrate the day, students will be allowed to wear a shirt or sweatshirt of any shade or red or pink as part of the dress code. In addition, Grandparents are invited to join us on that same Tuesday for a couple of hours in the morning to see the school in which their grandchildren attend. The Kallah on that day is always special and I would expect nothing short of entertaining this year as well.

Thanks and have a great week.

Mon, Feb 6	MS Kallah – 6-8 – Controlling your Privacy Settings Happy Birthday, Ariella Teller!
Tue, Feb 7	6, 7 and 8 Grade Meetings on Spring Trips – Kids will be introduced to their respective trips and have a chance to ask questions.
Wed, Feb 8	Tu B’Shvat Seder
Thur, Feb 9	Grades 6/7 – Torah Service – Michael Talisman 8th Grade – Erasing their digital footprints – Students are encouraged to bring their computers to school as Mr. Stern will walk them through erasing unwanted material from their online profiles.
Fri, Feb 10	Grades 6/7 – Advisory – 2012- 2013 Foreign Language and Fine Arts’ Elective discussion. Forms will be sent home with students for parents to review and return to school. Grade 8 – Risk Awareness as part of drug and alcohol prevention program
Sat, Feb 11	Mazel Tov to Michael Talisman and his family! Happy Birthday, Ethan Dreyer!
Sun, Feb 12	Happy Birthday, Gavin Roth!