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There is nothing new about book banning. As early as the 13th century, books have been censored by totalitarians seeking to oppress free speech. In 1933, Nazis burned books, many written by Jewish intellectuals, at libraries and universities. Isn’t it erie to see book bans are taking place today, 90 years later, at libraries and schools, some in our own metro area?
Next week’s Banned Book Week is worthy of our attention. Reading is fundamental to learning. Books define and memorialize our history. |
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They share stories that ensure the errors of the past are not repeated. Nobody understands the power of a story better than the Jewish people who have read the same stories aloud three times a week, year after year for millenia. |
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As
Maus,
Night,
The Diary of Anne Frank and other literature about the Holocaust are challenged, people will lose access to the voices of the oppressed, allowing misrepresentations to seep into popular culture. Of course book bans also target authors who address race, sexuality and gender in their writing. Research shows that introducing children to literature that provides both a "mirror" and a "window" helps them gain perspective, develop empathy and think critically.
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At Mirowitz, we structure learning so that our students read literature with content that both mirrors their own identities and opens a window into the experiences of folks of divergent identities. |
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We read in English and in Hebrew. We engage with challenging sacred texts for the sake of empathizing with diverse characters, identifying conflicting values, and raising spiritual and moral questions that we can apply to our lives. My predecessor, Cheryl Maayan, wrote last year about the importance of reading books that broach on uncomfortable topics. She said, “We allow your children — 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.” I could not agree more.
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This weekend, take time to read with your children, and to read what they read. Most importantly, talk with them about books, their purpose and their importance.
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Let’s raise them to be Jewish leaders who will press for the freedom to share writings without censorship.
L’Shalom,
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September 19-22: Middle School Social Justice Trip
Wednesday, September 21: Book Club: Join other Mirowitz parents for a discussion about The Red Tent at 7 p.m. All are welcome.
Friday, September 23 at 9 a.m. (on Zoom): Morning Brew with Morah Raquel: Every other Friday morning, Morah Raquel will meet Mirowitz Parents on Zoom to interview a teacher, student or other member of the Mirowitz community who will share something you don't already know about Mirowitz.
Friday, September 23: Shabbat Shmooze (2:30 p.m.) and Kabbalat Shabbat (3 p.m.)
September 26-27: Rosh Hashanah (no school)
Thursday, September 29: Ask Me Anything at 12 noon on Zoom: Spend lunch on Zoom with Morah Raquel. Come with your questions and ideas that can make our awesome school even better!
Friday, September 30: Shabbat Shmooze (2:30 p.m.) and Kabbalat Shabbat (3 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 4: Erev Yom Kippur (Noon Dismissal. (No after care.)
Wednesday, October 5: Yom Kippur (no school)
Thursday, October 6: Late Start. School begins at 9:30 a.m. (No before care)
October 10-11: Sukkot (no school)
Thursday, October 13: Sukkot Family Picnic at 4 p.m.
Friday, October 14: PICTURE DAY
Friday, October 14: Shabbat Shmooze (2:30 p.m.) and Kabbalat Shabbat (3 p.m.)
October 17-18: Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (no school)
Friday, October 21 at 9 a.m. (on Zoom): Morning Brew with Morah Raquel: Every other Friday morning, Morah Raquel will meet Mirowitz Parents on Zoom to interview a teacher, student or other member of the Mirowitz community who will share something you don't already know about Mirowitz.
Monday, October 24: Kindergarten Grandparent Havdalah
Friday, October 28: 5th Grade TaNaKH ceremony
Friday, October 28: Shabbat Shmooze (2:30 p.m.) and Kabbalat Shabbat (3 p.m.)
Monday, October 31: Professional Development (no school)
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It was a big week for our girls volleyball team. The girls traveled to Immanuel Lutheran in Olivette and earned their first win of the season, 25-16, 25-22. They followed that with a loss last night to Immanuel Lutheran Wentzville, 18-25, 15-25. The team is next in action on Thursday, September 29. |
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Middle School soccer lost a pair of games this week. On Tuesday the team fell to Christ Community Lutheran School, and on Thursday to Immanuel Lutheran Olivette, both scores ended in a 4-1 result. 7th grader Josh C scored his second goal of the season, while 6th grader Evan W notched his team leading 4th goal of the season. The team's record slips to 1-3, and next plays Wednesday the 28th.
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Our youth soccer teams opened up their seasons last week. Here are the highlights:
- Our 3rd/4th grade boys won 11-1 with 3 goals from Yoni S.
- Our 2nd grade boys won 5-1 thanks to 2 goals from both Aaron T and Daniel S. Yishama M added a goal as well.
- Our 1st graders lost 5-4 but got a pair of goals from Kindergartner Nadav S, and goals from Penelope and Karinne.
Looking forward to a great season!
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Need a Lulav for Sukkot? You can order them through school for only $55 per set!
Order here by Thursday, September 22.
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Wondering how Mirowitz students know so much about Judaism? Some of their Jewish learning happens during the time dedicated each week to lessons about Torah, Jewish holidays, history, ethics and values. Sometimes, though, they gain Jewish knowledge during math, social studies, literacy or science class. |
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Take our second-grade students, for example. In science, they witnessed the maturation of pupa into פרפרים (parparim). (That's Hebrew for "butterflies".) They learned about the pupa diet and observed up close the dramatic physical changes as the pupa prepares to morph into chrysalises. They celebrated when orange wings emerged through the cracked chrysalis shell.
As they were preparing to release their winged friends, they shared their hopes and blessings for the butterflies. Then with Debbie Friedman's תפילת הדרך
tefillat haderech (traveler's prayer) and great fanfare, they released 6 adult monarch butterflies into the butterfly gardens.
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Our intention is Mirowitz students see the world through a Jewish lens. We hope they will grapple with their own ability to partner in the repair of the world, that they will lead with confidence and make decisions based on their Jewish values.
As it turns out, all of that can be reinforced in a science lesson.
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Reb Scott and the PTO are planning for a joyful Sukkot celebration!
October 13
4 p.m.
On the Playground
PTO will provide a free Sukkot Charcuterie Box for every family that RSVPs.
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We'd love for Mirowitz to be the first thing people see when they google "Best Schools in St. Louis." You can help! Will you give us a 5 Star Review on on Facebook or on Niche?
Then...tell your friends about the great year your children are having, and encourage them to come for a Taste of Mirowitz. (We're having this info session online so young parents don't have to hire a babysitter.) You can learn more here. |
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In Honor of
Meira K.
Happy Birthday
Love,
Your Grandparents
Mark & Mila
In Honor of
Ayla A.
Happy 7th Birthday
Love, Mom & Dad
In Honor of
Benny A.
Happy Early Birthday Benny! We love you and are so proud of you!
Love, Mom & Dad
In Honor of
Nurse Beca
Happy Birthday, Nurse Beca! We appreciate everything you do to keep us all safe!
Love, Nurse Beca’s
Fan Club
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In Honor of
Eliana W.
Happy 14th Birthday!
Love, Grammy & Grandpa
In Honor of
Eliana W.
Happy 14th Birthday
Eliana! We love you!
Love, Mom, Dad & Gabriel
In Honor of
Nurse Beca
Happy Birthday to Beca!
Love, Mom, Dad
& Leigh
In Honor of
Vad Chesed
We wish Omri and Ayden and the entire Vaad Chesed a successful year!
Love, The Snir and Nelson Families
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Do you have a simcha to celebrate or a person you would like to honor? A birthday, a first lost tooth, an academic accomplishment, a Torah chanting... any occasion will do!
$18 supports the PTO "Teacher Appreciation Fund" and your honoree will be announced at Kabbalat Shabbat and recognized in Kabbalat Shabbat. Orders placed by noon Thursday will be recognized the next day. |
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Mirowitz Middle School is a hidden gem. I'm just so pleased with the way my sons have thrived there.
Naomi Shanker
Mirowitz Mom |
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Stella, Olivia, Leah, Josh, Marni, Aidan, Henry and Benny for their awesome leadership at STEAM Studio Sunday.
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Please order all September meals online by Oct. 23. Sufficient funds must be maintained in your account. |
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Kol Hakavod to Ryan who is the Youth Ambassador for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. |
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Please join Ryan and his family in the walk for the cure for diabetes on
October 16. |
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Our next book club will meet Thursday, September 21 at Abby Kushnir's house. We'll be reading
The Red Tent. |
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to 5th grader Olivia who read Torah and led the school in Torah study. |
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and to our Middle School Torah Readers
Maya, Corey and Orli |
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to
Josh C
who will become a bar mitzvah this weekend! |
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Why do you invest in Mirowitz? We believe that educating the "whole child" includes both quality secular education and a solid grounding in Hebrew and Judaics. Mirowitz provides all of that.
What do you love about Mirowitz? We love the Middle School. Public middle school, when our kids attended, did not begin to reach the standards of secular education that we can see students receiving at Mirowitz. And their Jewish studies far exceeds the very elementary Jewish education most children receive. We also love the garden and the prairie and all the ways Mirowitz models responsible citizenship. |
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to our lunch volunteers:
Mark and Mika Kushnir
Fran Kaar,
Terri Kraus
Tinu Aluko
Clotilde Berry
Mindy Woolf
and
Mike Minoff
Can you serve lunch next week? Sign up here. Or download our NEW app from the Apple Store or Google Play. (See more on that below.)
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George Pepe
(Rachel Pepe's dad)
Deborah Zorensky
(Anya Corson's mom)
Felix Zwiebel
(Judy Weisenberg's Dad)
The Mirowitz family prays for their speedy and complete recovery. |
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Sunday, September 18, 2022
10am-5pm
Come visit our photo booth, and support
Mirowitz 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students who will be singing on stage at 12 noon.
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Our Parent In Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel, the start of the flowering of our redemption. Shield it with Your love. Spread over it the shelter of Your peace, Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth. Establish for them Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of the defenders of our Holy Land. Cause them to inherit, our God, deliverance. Place the crown of victory upon them. Give the land peace and everlasting joy to its inhabitants. |
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