The stick person is....Noah!

Every Monday morning before we go down to the Community Room we gather together briefly to pick the new leader for the week. The children seem to look forward to the whole process...we shake up the wooden sticks with the chidren's name on them,the teacher says, "Children the drum roll please", then the teachers and children proceed to tap their lap with their hands fast at first, faster and faster etc. The teacher then picks a stick and shows the entire class the name clerly written on the stick. Today the stick person was...NOAH! When he read his name Noah was simply delighted! Noah's face lit up like a light bulb! He smiled from ear to ear! Noah proudly led the group down to the Community Room to celebrate Havdallah. He acted as our Havdallah helper(passed out the cinnamon sticks), and held the Torah ever so tight as we sang our welcome song! Noah can't wait to take home our little buddy, Chester!

Silly Rainbow Pasta Experiment!

The Lunch Bunch children decided in honor of Purim they wanted to do a silly experiment with pasta and food color coloring. After all Purim is, the silliest holiday!

Everyone took turns coloring the pasta with food coloring. I asked the children "What do you think will happen to the pasta when we cook it?" Will the pasta hold the food coloring and still be like a rainbow when the pasta is cooked?"
"Will the pasta still taste like pasta?" After an interesting discussion we cooked the pasta, and got ready to go outside to play on this beautiful Purim day. Before we went out, the children had the opportunity to taste the pasta. They were pleasantly surprised because the pasta actually tasted like pasta, and it was good! However the color changed, it was a pale red.

Thanks for a fun and very silly day! HAPPY PURIM!

Bucket Filler = Giving Mishloach Manot

Purim is celebrated by giving mutual gifts of food and drinks! Today the Sunshine and Tel Aviv partnered up and made Mishloach Manot Baskets for some very special people!

At circle time we asked the children "Who do you want to make a Mishloach Manot Basket for? Who here at TBS do you appreciate?" The names went on and on Ellen, Daniel, Mom(Rebecca),Rabbi Jay, Rabbi Todd, Maria,Mary Ann, Tina... Tel Aviv made the cards and the Sunshine children decorated the bags. Then the Sunshine and Tel Aviv children worked with a partner and put together individual Mishloach Manot bags that the Tel Aviv children will hand deliver today and tomorrow.

What a wonderful, beautiful tradition!

Challah on Shabbat!

Making challah on Shabbat is always a popular choice in the Tel Aviv classroom! The children gather around the table roll, chat, knead and create their own special challah that they take home to share with their family. Some children like to braid their challah and others like to make letter shaped challah. Regardless of the shape of their challah, some how they all taste the same...delicious! When the challah cools off from the hot oven, the children love to find their challah and wrap it up to take home all by themselves.

Shabbat Shalom!

A Very Special Shabbat!

Last Friday we celebrated Shabbat with Rabbi Todd and Sherri Garf. They came in to make challah with us, then they stayed and played for a while. Both Mia and Aden were so delighted to have their Dad and Mom join us for most of the morning! Sherri helped the children braid the challah and Rabbi Todd seemed to enjoy playing and dressing up with Mia and her friends in the Dramatic Play Center! We want to thank you both for coming in to spend time with us, and making our Shabbat so special!

Havdalah

Havdalah was extra special for Sam R this week as he was the Havdalah helper(he is the stick person for the whole week)! Sam was so happy/proud to take part in the Havdalah ceremony. Every week as Havdalah comes to an end, we all stand up, hold hands, and dance and sing. Today for some reason the singing and hand holding kept right on going all the way back to the classroom.

We Love Challah Time!

Lisa Kaplan come in on Friday and prepared Challah with us. Eric was delighted to have his Mom come into the classroom to help out. Lisa helped the children braid the Challah dough. Not everyone made their own, but friends like Lexi and Eric were at the Challah table for a while, and made some extras. Lisa thanks for coming into make Challah with us!

Our Own Camera!

The children had a ball taking pictures on their own camera! Teddy Fox and Mia had fun taking pictures of everyone's "tushies." The giggling was infectious! They all posed and shouted out silly words, when their friends were taking pictures. Ruby's Drama Story was acted out in our second circle, and Teddy F volunteered to be the photographer. He took some great pictures!

Guest Reader!

Today was a special day for Ruby...Her Mom (Sarah) came into the classroom to read a few books! Look at the names of the books, Ruby the Copycat and Tea for Ruby. How many of us can go to the book store or library and find a book with our name in the title? Ruby found two books..Isn't that something!

Happy Birthday Joshua!

We started the school year with a Birthday celebration! We gathered around Joshua, held hands and sang "Happy Birthday"(the silly way and in English)! Caroline read one of Joshua's favorite books from home and the special birthday book the Tel Aviv All Stars made for him.

Over the course of the school year everyone will have the opportunity to celebrate their birthday with family and friends! We can't wait!

Joshua, once again we all wish you a very Happy Birthday and may all your wishes come true!!!