Quarterly Digital Newsletter

April 2018

5778

NISAN - IYYAR

Cooki Levy

The Jews have been called “the people of the Book”. In its narrowest meaning this refers to our connection to the Torah, our Book of Books. But in a broader sense, this description epitomizes the importance of books – all kinds of books – in our tradition. Most Jewish homes have as a minimum one or multiple copies of the Siddur, the collection of our prayers and liturgy, and the Bible – the five books of Moses, the books of the Prophets, and the Writings – the collection of wisdom literature and scrolls.

Patrick Essiminy

The holiday of Passover is a time when we remember our past and look towards building our future. At Akiva School, we can look back at the past few weeks with much pride at all of the learning experiences that we have shared together as a community. Among them, the Akiva Art Fair, Hebrew Language Week, Tu B’Shvat Seders and celebrating Purim are just a few examples of the opportunities which showcase the amazing school and home partnership that is unique to our school.

Stacey Smilovitch

An important part of the Akiva strategic vision is an emphasis on professional development for our Akiva staff.  In the past weeks, while our students have been learning, so have our team of educators with comprehensive sessions focusing on both the academic and social/emotional needs of our student.

Rabbi Eric Grossman

As we get ready to enter into the holiday of Pesach, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish the Akiva community a Happy Passover. The story of Passover is symbolic of new beginnings and in that spirit, I and my family are eager to join the Akiva and the Montreal community and start this new chapter in our lives in August. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in the coming weeks and hope I get a chance to talk with you all at the May 9th Meet and Greet Breakfast.  In the meantime, I want to thank all the people in Montreal that I have met up to now. Your warm welcome and support have been a wonderful introduction to this community.

Chag Pesach Kasher v'Sameach.

Annual Giving Campaign 2018

The Innovation Lab will help us reach to a new level of learning. We want to use this space to support our unique programming and our STEAM focus, bringing new project-based learning to life in our curriculum.  Through the resources in the Innovation Lab, our students will be inspired to collaborate, create, and confidently take charge of their own learning. We will empower our students to become part of a global community of designers, creators and inventors, all linked by motivation to continually improve and learn more.

We need your help. Please give to our Annual Giving Campaign 2018 to help us build our vision and light up our learning with bright new ideas.

Find out more about our Innovation Lab

Including an amazing poetry slam

The Akiva Grade 6 "Art Speaks" program has been running annually at Akiva for over 30 years. The program is timeless in its cross curricular focus, developing students' writing skills, public speaking and creativity, while inspiring a love of art and history. This year, the program included again, for the second year in a row, a unique "Poem-Slam" piece where students explored the art of poetry. They wrote beautiful poems that spoke to their art creations based on the works of a female artist of their choice. Kol Hakavod to all the grade 6 students and teachers on their impressive work and presentations.

Grade 1 Kabbalat Siddur and Grade 2 Chagigat Bereishit

February was filled with much celebration and joy in grades 1 and 2 where students marked very special milestones in their Jewish learning.  Grade 1 celebrated receiving their first Siddur and Grade 2 were presented with their first Chumash (Bereshit).  Both grades put on beautiful presentations for their families to mark the occasions. Kol HaKavod to the grade 1 and grade 2 students and their teachers! 

Kabbalat Siddur 1A Photos

Kabbalat Siddur 1B Photos

Chagigat Bereishit 1A Photos

Chagigat Bereishit 1B Photos

Inspiring a love of the Hebrew language

This year, Akiva School celebrated Hebrew Language Week, coinciding with the birth date in the Hebrew month of Tevet of Eliezer ben Yehuda, the driving leader in the revival of the Hebrew language. Throughout this special week, our love for the Hebrew language and its proper use in speech, song, reading and writing were explored and expressed through a variety of unique and fun activities, further strengthening our students’ connection to the essential place the Hebrew language holds in the State of Israel as well as in our Jewish heritage, culture and community.

WATCH VIDEO

"Creativity at Work" 

In February, in an evening organized entirely by Akiva parents, our students explored their creativity to inspire beautiful art, while developing an appreciation of how this creativity can be used in future career possibilities. Great job to all those involved in this project!

Mazel Tov to our alumni on their latest accomplishments

We are so proud of our Akiva Alumni that go on to do amazing things after their time at Akiva School. Find out more about our latest Alumni news...