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The skills we teach at Mirowitz are many, but I’d be hard pressed to think any is more important than reading. Besides the obvious role of literacy in creating opportunities in life, literacy builds knowledge, perspective, language and leads to critical thinking. The number of minutes a child reads has an impact on their future academic and social emotional success. So naturally, we are not satisfied unless each student has developed not only reading skills, but also a love of reading both for pleasure and for information.
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So, when there is a movement in our country to ban books, purge public school librairies and censor content in schools, we take that very seriously.
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You may have heard that the Holocaust memoir
Maus was recently banned in a public school district in Tennessee. So…our 8th graders are reading it.
Maus is a graphic memoir. It’s based on a true story and the experiences of the author’s Jewish family during the Holocaust. In addition to integrating Jewish history and exposing kids to a new literary genre, it’s also an opportunity to explore freedom of thought. Our students will engage in Socratic dialogue about book banning, and explore why THIS particular book, a memoir about the Holocaust, is being banned. They will consider what might replace it in schools, and why it is important to read books that make us feel uncomfortable.
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Our goal is not to lead students to particular answers, but to provoke deep thinking, to stimulate conversations and to leave room for diverse perspectives.
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During their years at Mirowitz, students read
Farenheit 451 (a banned book about book banning), Shakespeare, Greek Myths and yes, Torah…all texts that broach on uncomfortable topics. We allow them — safely and in a controlled setting — to grapple with discomfort because the grappling itself is essential for learning. Doing so allows them to engage with reading on an intellectual level, to develop their own perspectives and to understand the world they will be leading one day.
This Shabbat, pursue these lists of banned books. If you decide to read a book as a family, be sure to discuss not only the content, but what people found so disturbing in the book that they wanted to ban it. Discuss to what extent it was a product of its time or whether it defied social norms of its era. Discuss the concept of open access to ideas. |
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The bonus of this read aloud time will be the quality time they spend with you and the message you send through your actions that reading is something that provokes deep thinking and a skill they will enjoy for a lifetime.
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February 17: Grandparent Date Night
February 18: Professional Development - NO SCHOOL
February 21: Presidents' Day - NO SCHOOL
February 28: 2022-23 Enrollment Contracts Due (for returning students)
March 17: Purim
March 24: Parent Teacher Conferences - Noon dismissal
March 25: Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
March 28: Professional Development - NO SCHOOL
April 15-22: Passover Break - NO SCHOOL
April 25-May 11: 8th grade Israel trip
April 28: Yom HaShoah
May 1: Mirowitz Gala (at World's Fair Pavilion in Forest Park)
May 4: Yom HaZikaron
May 5: Yom Ha'atzmaut
May 19: Lag B'omer
May 26: 8th Grade Graduation
May 27: Last Day of School
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A big win for our 4th-6th girls basketball team last night! The girls beat Immanuel Lutheran-Olivette 20-16. Point guards Abby and Rutie were in control of the game, each delivering multiple assists. Abby led the team with 8 points, and Hallel added 6. Five girls contributed with baskets. The team improves to 3-2 and hosts Principia next Thursday at home.
The 2nd/3rd grade girls eeked out a 28-24 win to improve to 4-1. Seven players scored, led by Samantha B, Hannah B, and Abigail B who each scored 6 points.
The 1st grade boys improved their record to 2-1 with a 36-6 win. Head Coach Mike Besmer said, "The team played strong man to man defense, and was aggressive with offensive rebounds."
Our 2nd grade boys lost their game 32-23, but their record stays above .500 at 3-2. Our 3rd grade boys also dropped their game 31-7.
Next Tuesday, our 4th-5th grade boys and middle school boys teams travel to Andrews Academy of Lake St. Louis.
Baseball registration ends next week. I need to finalize the team by Thursday. If you would like to register your child for a Mirowitz baseball team, don't wait! Send me an email.
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Let Mary know if you did not receive your re-enrollment packet in the mail this week.
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We are hoping to take our annual gala off of your computer screen and into the outdoors. Join us for an evening of celebration, and let us “show you” all the ways Mirowitz adds to our St. Louis and our Jewish community.
Honoring
Randee and Dr. Myron Jacobs
Meyer and Marcelle Kranzberg Visionary Award
Dr. Arlene and Rabbi Jeffrey Stiffman,
Cheryl, Jon, Gabe and Ari Maayan
Community Service Award
And these teachers:
15 years Betti Blumoff
10 years AJ Moll
5 years Lee’at Koertel
5 years: Fran Milsk
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Report cards should arrive to you soon, but it's already time to sign up for spring conferences (March 24 and 25). The app is not working... so please use this link to sign up on your desktop.
Sign in using your personal email and password
- Select Conference Sign Up
- Select 2022 Spring Conferences
- Choose your child's classroom teacher and Hebrew teacher
- Choose a time slot.
Your child's teacher will send out a Zoom link prior to conferences.
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Our ability to help you test for COVID just got better! We received a limited supply of PCR saliva tests and will use them as needed. We do not have any more rapid tests at this time.
If you would like for your child to participate in PCR testing at school when it is needed, please click the link and fill out the parental consent form for children under age 18. Please complete the consent for each child.
Questions? Contact Nurse Beca.
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Make sure your parents know we're hosting a
Date Night for Grandparents and Grandchildren! |
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Date: Thursday, February 17
Time: 7-8 pm
Location: ZOOM (RSVP for the Zoom information)
Grandparents from near and far can join in since we will all be participating over Zoom. The event includes private “breakout rooms” for grandparetns and grandkids to do an activity together!
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In Honor of
Avra A. and Hannah B.
You read Torah and led the Torah discussion
with skill, confidence, and pride.
We are so very proud of you and we love you!
Love, the Bialecki and Arnow families
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Morah Raquel Scharf-Anderson (our new head of school) shared a story and song with us today at Kabbalat Shabbat! |
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Kindergartners paraded around the school to celebrate that the month of Purim has arrived! Be Happy! It's Adar! |
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Mirowitz alumni often say that one of their most defining childhood moments happened in 3rd grade when they chanted Torah for the first time.
Kol Hakavod to Hannah and Avra who, at age 9, led the entire school in Torah study Thursday! |
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And to Zach, Lior and Omri who chanted Torah in the Middle School. |
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To Omri S who became a bar mitzvah a few weeks ago.
(Photo is a throwback to 5th grade.) |
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And to Mirowitz Alum, Idan Lerner. |
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When Idan came to us as a Kindergartner, he loved to jump rope, play connect-four and count by 5s. Now he’s a high school senior with a perfect ACT score!
Mazel Tov, Idan! We are honored that you spent your first 9 years of school with us…and are proud of the curious, capable and kind young man you have become! A bright future most definitely awaits!
and Mazel Tov
to Ezra
whose artwork was
chosen among the
top 100 submitted to
the St. Louis Symphony's "Picture the Music" competition. |
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And Mazel Tov to Alyssa Weisenberg
2020 grad,
who qualified for the state swimming meet today. She will swin the 500 meter freestyle and medly relay representing Parkway Central!
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Thanks Fran Glucroft for helping us serve lunch this week.
If you are able, please sign up to volunteer next week by logging onto the Mirowitz App on your computer here. |
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Deborah Zorensky
Alice Handelman
The Mirowitz family prays for their speedy and complete recovery. |
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Your loving kindness, envelop it in Your peace, and bestow Your light and truth upon its leaders, ministers, and advisors, and grace them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land, grant them deliverance, and adorn them in a mantle of victory. Ordain peace in the land and grant its inhabitants eternal happiness.
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