Rina Liebeskind
Rina Liebeskind
Education Director


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 Rabbi
       Thomas A. Louchheim

 Cantor Janece Cohen

 Rina Liebeskind
       Education Director

 Artemis Hanusiak
       Administrator/Acct. Mgr.

 Skye Gentry
       Executive Assistant

 Merle Schneider
       Office Receptionist

 Mark Ross
       Cong. President

   Synagogue Staff
   Lay Leadership
   (2009-10)
   President's Message

Congregation
Or Chadash
3939 N. Alvernon
Tucson, AZ 85718
 Office E-Mail

Tel: (520)-512-8500
Fax: (520)-512-8600

From The Desk Of The Education Director ...

   (February, 2010)

By Rina Liebeskind, Director of Education

   The Purim Carnival is just around the corner! Every year, our 6th and 7th graders and their families organize and run the Purim Carnival. The celebration begins with a Purim Shpiel (play) starring our Kindergartners through Second Grade students. At the Carnival, there is something for everyone! You may find a face-painting booth, or if you like music and videos, you can try your skill at the Guitar Hero booth. This year for the first time, we are adding adult games such as Mah Jongg, Poker, and Roulette. The Sisterhood Gift Shop will be open, selling everything from jewelry to Judaica, while the Brotherhood will help in any way they can to make this Carnival a success. For lunch, there will be hamburgers, hotdogs, and even a veggie option for sale. And, what is Purim without some delicious Hamantashen? Our 8th Graders will be holding a Hamantashen sale to help them raise money for their end of the year trip to Jewish L.A. Please be sure to give them a try.

   The proceeds from the Purim Carnival will go towards the Youth Philanthropy Funds for our 6th and 7th graders as well as the Or Chadash General Fund. Wristbands for unlimited use of the booths will be sold for $12 now through Thursday, February 18th. The price will go up to $15 at the door.

   This Religious School event is one of the largest and the most fun events of the school year. We really hope to see you and your friends there. Call or email Rina Liebeskind, Director of Education, 512-8500 or education@orchadash-tucson.org..

Rina Liebeskind

Director of Education



Upcoming School Activities

OUTSTANDING JUDAIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD


Congratulations to our 6th grade Hebrew School teacher, Melissa Truelove who was awarded with the 2009-2010 Outstanding Judaic Teacher of the Year Award from the Coalition for Jewish Education and the Federation of Southern Arizona!

Melissa Truelove, formerly known as Melissa Mendel, has been with Or Chadash for a few years now, teaching students in several different grades and tutoring students in Hebrew as well. A grant will be awarded to her at the Jewish Federation’s Annual meeting on May 13th.

Mazel Tov!


“We Need YOU!”


The members of the Or Chadash Religious School Education Committee need YOU! We know you are busy; you’re hesitant to take on even one more thing. We are too! However, we all are committed to see that Or Chadash provides its families and children with an outstanding educational experience. And, we need YOU to make that happen.

We need YOU to join the Education Committee! Here is what you need to know:

    1. The time commitment is not very big.
   We meet approximately once a month from August through May during the evening for no more than 90 minutes.
   We each take on one or two small tasks during the year such as recruiting room parents, working at open house, helping with teacher appreciation, etc.

    2. We make a difference!
   We discuss and give input to the Board of Directors on everything from curriculum to policies and budget.
   We directly support Rina and our teachers and aides so they can give students their best.

Please join us Monday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. for an introductory Education Committee Meeting. We will wrap up the school year and discuss the upcoming fall session. For further information or to attend a meeting, just contact Rina Liebeskind, 512-8500 ext. 14 or education@orchadash-tucson.org by clicking here.


RELIGIOUS SCHOOL PARENT VOLUNTEERS


Thank you so much to all the parents who volunteered throughout the year in the many Religious School events. I could have never done it by myself.

   Rina Liebeskind
Director of Education



8TH GRADE TRIP TO JEWISH L.A.


Five of our 8th Grade students will be joining 15 other 8th Graders from Congregation Chaverim and Temple Emanu-El on a trip to Jewish Los Angeles from Monday, May 31st to Thursday, June 3rd. While in L.A., they will visit the Skirball Museum, the Museum of Tolerance, and the Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

During the year, the students engaged in social gatherings with the other synagogues’ youth going on the trip. They also organized and participated in fundraisers to reduce the trip’s cost and have succeeded in collecting about $500. We wish them a safe and nesiah tovah, a good trip.


RELIGIOUS SCHOOL TEACHER APPRECIATION


A Shabbat Service honoring our Religious School teachers took place Friday, April 23rd. We thank all of our teachers and teachers’ aides for their hard work and dedication to our children and look forward to another school year with all of our staff. Education/Religious School


Religious School


If you have a child in Religious School you probably know the answers to the following:

   1.   Four different kinds of kosher snacks that our students love?
   2.   When the Purim Carnival is?
   3.   The grade that your child started – or will start Hebrew School?
   4.   How long Rina Liebeskind has been our Religious School Director?
   5.   Why your child’s teacher loves teaching Judaics and Hebrew?

   Now if you are on the Religious School Committee you would also know:

   1.   Which teachers have been with the Religious School for ten years?
   2.   How much work and planning it took to completely revamp the Religious School curriculum this summer (Thanks curriculum task force!)?
   3.   Every celebration, service, party, fundraiser and activity that our students participate in each year?
   4.   Twelve fun, energetic, positive parents and volunteers who make up the Religious School Committee?
   5.   The dedication and guidance our Teachers, Director, Cantor and Rabbi give to our students (well you probably already knew that one)?

   I have been a part of the Education Committee going on five years now and I love being part of this group. There is room at the table for any parent or temple member that just wants to know a little more and at the same time help our children have a positive Jewish educational experience.

   Did I mention we only meet every six weeks during the school year? Call me, I would love to chat!

   Rachel Rivera
   Education Committee Chair
   429-0900 or RachelR@elrio.org by clicking here


OR CHADASH CAMPUS HAPPENINGS IN MARCH AND APRIL


(Never a dull moment)

   1. Repairs completed on the unexpected damage found on the roof of the Religious School

   2. Discovery of 2 water leaks on the property that consumed 44,000 gallons of water in one month

   3.Completion of a beautiful new ark by Peter Gallen to house our newest Torah, Scroll MST-1408

   4.Invaluable volunteer assistance in the office from Lucille Rubinstein and Roberta Greene

   5.Education and Learning in so many areas: Torah Study, First Mondays with the Rabbi and Rebbetzin, Adult B’nei Mitzvah classes, chanting by students in preparation for their B’nei Mitzvah, Conversion classes, Let’s Have Lunch

   6.Hosting for Reshet workshop, a synagogue partnership program sponsored by JFSA


PROJECT ISAIAH HAS BEGUN


All Religious School students were given a paper bag for Project Isaiah. We ask that you help Or Chadash as we support the Community Food Bank hunger project by returning non-perishable foods to the office.Thank you in advance for your help!


VOLUNTEER!


Religious School is still looking for parent volunteers to help monitor and secure the Or Chadash property during Religious School. If you would like to volunteer, please contact David Weintraub at DavidB.Weintraub@gmail.com by clicking here, or Rina Liebeskind, 512-8500. Also, look for a sign-up sheet in the office to help on specific dates.


SIGN UP FOR eScrip


Every time you swipe your registered credit or debit cards at any of over 6,000 participating merchants, Or Chadash receives a percentage of your purchase – at no cost to you! For a complete list of merchants, and to register your debit or credit cards online, visit www.eScrip.com or click here.




Full Calendar of School activities for 2010 school year click here

In PDF format.





Kidz Newz Newsletter Available On-Line (PDF format only)
The current February, 2009 issue of the Or Chadash Youth Kidz Newz Issue is available by clicking here.

The previous issue of Kidz Newz is available by clicking here.



e-SCRIP: HELP OUR SCHOOL ... ...
You can help donate to our Religious and Hebrew School by shopping at Safeway with your club cards. Look for a yellow school bus over participating products in Safeway stores. Ten percent of your purchase price can support our school until September 9th when using your club card. Be sure our school has either your receipt or club card number by October 13th in order to receive your donation. Visit www.BackToSchools.eScrip.com by clicking here for more information or call the office, 512-8500.



                                              Member of the Union for Reform Judaism
(formerly, Union of American Hebrew Congregations)