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Aren’t we fortunate that Judaism gives us an annual opportunity to begin with a clean slate? But acquiring that clean slate takes the hard work of tshuvah, apologizing for both intentional and unintentional wrongdoings.
For Eric and me, it was important to raise our children to become kind, caring, and responsible humans. We wanted to teach our children to have remorse and to express apologies. At Mirowitz, those lessons start well before kindergarten and continue through adolescence. Here’s how we do it:
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We model apologies. Your children are watching. When we make a mistake (and we all do), we apologize. A child who never hears an apology will not understand the process of tshuvah and will never learn to apologize when they make a mistake.
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We start early. Peek into our kindergarten classrooms, and you may see our youngest students offering a hug to make a friend feel better.
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They must have witnessed that behavior by the grown-ups around them. When a person is calm and ready to receive a hug, they also are able to accept a verbal apology. |
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We believe manners matter. We teach your children to say “excuse me” when they interrupt a conversation (and to wait to be recognized). We teach them to say “excuse me” when their bodies make sounds. When the response to natural function is laughter, children may make those sounds even more often.
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We model forgiveness. At home and at school, children understand that an apology without forgiveness is incomplete. Real healing in a relationship happens only when the person who has been offended releases the person who hurt them. At Mirowitz, we guide your children to “make peace” with others, as accepting an apology is just as important as giving one.
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We teach sincerity. The Torah teaches that apologies come from the lips and the heart. A sincere apology is better received and feels better, too. As the guiding adults, it is our responsibility to ensure that apologies happen in a way that both parties can move forward with good feelings.
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It is our intention that your child grows up knowing that the work of tshuvah (righting mistakes) is part of being a contributing human being to each relationship, to the community, and to the world.
If I have wronged you, please accept my heartfelt apology.
Shana Tovah U’mituka,
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Typically at Mirowitz, the Jewish ritual of
tashlich
has involved tossing a handful of breadcrumbs or bird seed or stones into a body of water, symbolically “casting off” behaviors we would like to change in the new Jewish year.
Some of the great rabbis of our tradition have railed against the practice of tashlich, warning that it could be seen as “magic” or as an inappropriate atonement process which would undermine the challenging work of
teshuvah necessary to make real change in our lives and in the world. |
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This year, to solve a problem on our campus, we performed the act of tashlich...but upside down! Instead of casting off, we collected! Each grade spent time this morning gathering litter from our school grounds. |
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Middle school students then separated the collections into 2 denominations: trash likely created by Mirowitz students, staff and families and trash that most likely came from elsewhere. |
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They weighed each and at Kabbalat Shabbat, reported that:
- There was a total of 39.75 lbs of trash.
- 15.5 lbs (39%) is Mirowitz trash.
- 24.25 lbs (61%) is non-Mirowitz trash.
Our intention this year was to turn the ritual into one of collective tikkun, repair, and to help us reflect on and adjust our behavior to be better stewards of our sacred world.
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Shana Tovah U’mituka,
Reb Scott
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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. School doors will open for drop off at 9:15 a.m. (No before care)
October 10-11: Sukkot (no school)
Thursday, October 13: Sukkot Family Picnic at 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 13: Grandparent Circle Kickoff Event at 2:30 pm
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 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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With nearly 20 Jewish congregations in a 20-mile span, the St. Louis Jewish community offers a wide range of religious services, learning programs, and opportunities to engage and connect, especially around the holidays. Find information on all the local congregations in the St. Louis Synagogues Directory here. |
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School picture day is October 14. Order your prints in advance, and you'll receive free shipping to the school. |
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There are many benefits to fidgets: increased learning and alertness, decreased stress, a physical outlet of emotion. Fidgets easily, however, become toys instead of tools.
In an effort to prioritize learning and maintain the use of fidgets as tools, we are asking that you keep all fidgets at home. Every classroom has a supply of quiet, durable fidgets, and every student has the opportunity to use them for learning and emotional regulation. If you have any questions, please contact our school OT, Risa Shyers. |
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Mirowitz 4th-7th grade soccer earned a big win this week, defeating the Fulton School 5-1 on Wednesday. 6th graders Evan and Charles each scored two goals, and 4th grader Yoni added another. The team improves to 2-3 on the season.
Last Sunday, our 3rd/4th graders earned a 7-1 win. Playing up a grade, 2nd grader Aaron T scored 4 of the 7 goals in the win. Henry A added a pair. The team improves to 2-0-1.
Our Kindergartners earned a 4-4 tie led by two goals each from Damilola and Nadav.
Our volleyball team defeated Child of God Lutheran 25-17, 23-25, 15-6. The team improves to 2-3 with the win.
Our middle school soccer team shutout Andrews Academy of Lake St. Louis 4-0. 8th grader Corey W. scored 2 goals, 6th grader Benny and 7th grader Isaac H. each added a goal. The team improves to 3-3 with the win.
Basketball registrations have begun. Our youth teams will play in league play on Sundays, and Middle School teams will play a schedule against other independent schools. Let me know if your child would like to play Mirowitz basketball this winter. |
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By Ada V.
Do you know what metamorphosis is? Well, it's when you start one way and become another way, step by step. We've been studying metamorphosis in 2nd grade. |
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First, we saw monarch caterpillars develop into pupa, spin a silk web to become chrysalises, and then emerge as butterflies. That process took about 14 days and was really cool to see. |
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But wait until you meet our new chickens! They also went through metamorphosis. First we got some eggs and we didn't know if they were fertilized or not. A week later, we looked through a microscope and could see inside the egg. Some were just yolk. Those were not fertiilized. But some had a little chicken growing inside. We could see the heart beating and veins. That was also pretty cool.
And now we have baby chicks in our classroom. They are wet when they hatch, but about 2 hours later, they are much cuter and fluffier. We are choosing a few names for each of them, and all the kids at Mirowitz will be able to vote on the best name.
Come visit us in 2nd grade. You'll hear a lot of chirping. If you're lucky, Morah Sallie will let you hold one of our new friends. |
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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
Amazing Staff & Middle School Teachers
“Thank you for making the Middle School Trip possible this year.”
From, Michael Nathanson
In Honor of
Vivienne Z.
“Happy 9th Birthday to Vivienne.”
Love, Mom & Dad
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In Honor of
Karinne
“Happy birthday Karinne! We love you so much!”
Love, Mom & Dad
In Honor of
Joshua R.
“We are so proud of you! You did an amazing job chanting Torah."
Love, Mom & Dad
In Honor of
Benny Abraham
Happy Birthday!
Love, Mom, Dad, Henry and Joey
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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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Did you miss last week's Morning Brew? You can hear Morah Raquel and Morah Shannon discuss our curriculum and how we choose it by watching this rerun.
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Reflections from the Middle School
Poverty and Food Scarcity Trip |
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In the global village, we experienced how people around the world live. Some live in homes with holes in the roof, unsturdy walls and spaces that are too small for the amount of people living there. I never realized how many people live in those conditions.
Jordyn
8th grade
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I learned that even if you feel you don’t have something you need, there is always someone who has less. I feel so fortunate, even though I know there will always be someone even more fortunate.
Gabriel
6th Grade
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This trip made me realize that some people don't have what they need. I have everything I need and more. I feel like I need to do something about that. I'm not sure what yet, but I'll think of something.
Josh
7th grade
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When we were cooking, it started raining and we went inside. Some people don’t have an “inside”. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to live like that...worried about whether you will have shelter from the rain or the ability to prepare your food.
Marni
7th Grade
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My group could not get our fire started, and for a minute I worried that we would not be eating dinner that night. (Of course we did.) I can't imagine living like that...not knowing when I'd have my next meal.
Dylan
7th Grade
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Friday is Tzedakah Day! We invite you to make a practice of bringing food for the Jewish Food Pantry OR cash to school. Each class has a tzedakah box (made by creative 2nd graders) outside the classroom.
Below: Morah Raquel and Morah Val dressed as food boxes to explain our Tzedakah program. |
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Look what's growing in our garden! |
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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 Wednesday, October 26 at Sara Klenofsky's house. We'll be reading
The It Girl by Ruth Ware. |
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to 5th grader Aaron who read Torah and led the school in Torah study. |
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and to our Middle School Torah Readers
Ari and Ayden. |
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to
Dayo, Tinu and Damilola
who welcomed a new son and brother this week! |
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to our lunch volunteers:
Jackson Salasky
Tinu Aluko
Diane Rosen
Elizabeth Lieberman
and
Wambui Waruingi
Can you serve lunch next week? Sign up here or on our
new app.
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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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Enjoy 2 Israeli films and Israeli-style refreshments.
Sunday, October 30, 3:30 – 8 pm
$5 donation requested
The film festival is open to the entire community. Guests are welcome to attend one or both films. |
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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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