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The Monthly Roar

21 Adar II, 5779 March 28, 2019

LETTER FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents,

We look forward to seeing you at this weekend’s adult Purim party at the

JCC. As the seasons change from winter to spring, from Purim to Pesach,

our planning efforts turn to the end of the school year. Graduation has

been on our minds, especially the preparation that we afford our eighth

graders as they write their valedictory speeches to our community. We

pair each student with a teacher or community member to help them

compose.

When we speak about the AJA middle school experience, we never fail to

mention opportunities for leadership. Cultivating relationships with

teachers, joining service organizations, and serving as community stewards

and ambassadors are always at the top of our list. This year, we have

added to that list.

During the weekly middle school Kabbalat Shabbat time through the fall,

the faculty met students with challenges to think, then rethink, and reshape

the weekly Torah portion, elements of Shabbat and holidays, and an array

of Jewish values. After some study and consideration, middle school

students have been offering drashes, or short divrei Torah, words of Torah,

to their peers and teachers. In these drashes, our students haven’t just

explored our rich tradition more deeply; they have boldly called out our

sacred texts and customs and asked challenging questions in the most

impressive of ways.

Leadership has been a hallmark of an AJA education. In this case, the

point of pride shouldn’t only be that our students speak in public. Of

course, they do. To be sure, the heart of an AJA education is concerned

with the “why” and the “how” of leadership. What our students do with

their leadership matters even more than leading. We couldn’t be more

proud of their contributions week in and week out.

Shabbat shalom!

Chris

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Friday, March 29 Austin Symphony visits AJA in the MPR at 10:00 am BookPeople Spring Book Fair ends

Eighth grade optional off-campus lunch

Saturday, March 30

Adult Purim Party – www.purimaustin.eventbrite.com

Monday, April 1

Soccer Game, 4:00 pm @AJA

Soccer Game, 4:30 pm @AJA

Wednesday, April 3 PTO Meeting at the Galaxy Cafe at 7:00 pm

Friday, April 5

Fifth grade trip to Green Gate Farm Second grade Kabbalat Shabbat in the CAA Social Hall at 5:00 pm

Monday, April 8 to Thursday, April 11

ERB Testing, grades three through eight

Friday, April 12

Eighth grade optional off-campus lunch

Jump Rope for Heart, 2:00 pm

PTO Community-wide Shabbat Dinner

www.austinjewishacademy.org/aja-shabbat/dinner

Monday, April 15 - HOT LUNCH IS NOT AVAILABLE

PSAT exam for eighth graders

Soccer game, 4:00 pm @AJA

Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday April 17 - HOT LUNCH IS NOT AVAILABLE

Health Screenings

Thursday, April 18 – Friday, April 26

Passover Break

Monday, April 29

Classes resume

IMPORTANT DATES!

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78%

Faculty/Staff

Participation

52%

Parent

Participation

100%

Board

Participation

2018-19 Inspire Annual Campaign goal = $250,000 Donations raised to date = $172,438

Only $77,562 left to reach our goal, and we need your help! Please consider your donation to the Inspire Annual Campaign.

Donate Now

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Sarah & Eric Abrahams Chris Aguero Esther & Fredric Ancel Mike Baum Irit & Dr. Hillel Ben-Avi Robin & Dr. Bruce Blakely Andrea & Andrew Bowen Steven Braunstein Marchelle Levy Rahul Brito Marvin Brittman Susan & Eric Broockman Tisha & Glenn Brown Anna Bull CAA Sisterhood Allison & Bryan Caplovitz Cirrus Logic Mandy Masters Dr. Meredith & Sean Clifford Drs. Dani & Karen Cohen Leslie Cohen Darla & Jason Cohen Brian Copland Dee & Don Coplin Doug & Jackie Coplin Scott Day Aileen & John Duncan George Edwards Maya Fela Risa & Alex Ferdman Carly & Adam Fox Felicia Frazee Sandra Freed Jessica & Mark Frein Suzanne Fremont Paige & Colby Gaines Scott Bader & Laura Genet Ann & Daniel Girardot Alysa & Addie Gisser Cooky & Dr. David Goldblatt Lindsey & David Gordon Yoshiko Goto Lindsey & Evan Gremont Lauren & Seth Halpern Elaine Handelman David Hazan Elizabeth & Al Hendler Adrienne Hensley Sally & Brennan Hensley Cheryl Hersh Karen & William Hidalgo

Kelly Hill Christopher Hornsby Dr. W.K. Horwitz & Barbara Horwitz Treva & Dr. Jeffrey Horwitz Invision Meridith January Heather Kantrowitz Hillery & David Kaplan Olga & Michael Kardonik Stacey & Brian Eisenberg Susan & Michael Kerr Natalie Ogura & Josh Kivenko Sigal & Efraim Klein Lori Kline Susan Slomowitz & Uri Kolodney Rochelle & Dan Kraus Dana Baruch & Mike Krell Wayne Kurtz Heilla Lain Kelley Lauer Marla Levine Jessica & David Levy Noa & Eddy Levy Robyn Lindenberg Stacy & Rob Linkin Marge & George Lippman Sheri Lippman Robin Littrell & David Hurrell Phil & Adam Loewy Katie & Richard Lumsden Alisa & Jeffrey Marrow Meryl & Alan Metni Steven Meyers & Dr. Lauren Meyers Daniel Hoffpauer & Cyndi Miller-Hoffpauer Rain Minns Efrat Mizrahi David Newberger Dana & Mike Nisenfeld Joanne & Rafael Pelc Emily Pinkwas Kinereth & Roman Polner Elana & Andrew Priesman Meredith Prukop Alicia & Paul Ranucci Amie & Jayson Rapaport Abby Rapoport & Samuel Baker Rachael Rayburn Alexis & Christopher Roberts Sheila Rosenberg Rick Rosenberg Kathy & Yoav Rosenmann

Libby & Danny Ross Terri Rubenstein Roni & Jonathan Saad Sharon Yam Sananes & Moises Sananes Anna Boza & Gregory Sapire Rosie & Samuel Schmidt Karina Schumer Lillian & Danny Schwartz Melanie & Harvey Seigle Lois Shaevel Shaftel Family Rachel & Julio Shahar Tal Shahar Tal Silberstein Kayla Solomon-Lane Lisa Starr Melanie & Gary Susswein Joan & Peter Swartz Sharyn & Mark Vane Jyll & Jim Vertuno Aron Wolinetz Clifford Zeifman & Family

THANK YOU TO OUR FOLLOWING SUPPORTERS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS/PLEDGE

CLICK HERE TO

DONATE TODAY

YOUR NAME GOES HERE

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AJA HAPPENINGS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND JEWISH STUDIES

Eighth grade headed to Chaparral Ice to learn about physics on Ice!

Fourth and first grade AJA students visited the Austin Central Library this week to

do research for their PBL Expo projects. First grade will present their Cultures Fair

and fourth grade will present on Heroes of Texas History. PBL Expo takes place on

May 17 - look for more information coming soon.

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AJA ROARS PRIDE AT PSIA

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The AJA soccer team started off their season with a win against Paragon on Monday! Join us for the following games at the JCC!

Monday 4/1 4:00 vs Paragon

Monday 4/8 4:30 vs Trinity

Monday 4/15 4:00 vs Paragon

Wednesday 4/17 vs Paragon

Wednesday 5/1 vs Paragon

Our tennis team has their first match this Saturday at St. Stephens!

GO LIONS!

AJA ATHLETICS

Way to go #AJALIONPRIDE

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PTO MEETING

WEDNESDAY,

April 3 7-8 PM

MESSAGE FROM THE

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

It’s ShabBarBQ Time! Please buy your tickets now at www.austinjewishacademy.org/aja-shabbat-dinner/ for our second community-wide Shabbat dinner on Friday, April 12. We hope to see everyone there!

We are changing things up for our second-to-last PTO meeting. Please join us on Wednesday, April 3, from 7:00-8:00 pm at Galaxy Café. Come schmooze, nosh, and get informed! PTO will provide appetizers and door prizes! You won’t want to miss it!

Cheers,

Lillian Schwartz and Dana Nisenfeld

AJA PTO Co-Chairs

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Donate your Chametz (and other needed items)!

Jewish Family Service welcomes food pantry donations as you prepare for Passover. Collection bins will be located in the main lobbies (JCC, ECP, and AJA) starting April 8th. High priority items include canned soups and vegetables, hot and cold cereals, pasta sauce, and crackers or healthy snacks. Only sealed, unexpired packages please! Contact denise.kleinman@shalomaustin.org with questions or if you’d like to help transport donations.

Whether you are looking at college for your graduate, want to

consolidate your loans, or need money to start a small business

Hebrew Free Loan of Austin can help.

Hebrew Free Loan of Austin provides short-term financial support for members of the

greater Austin Jewish community through interest-free loans that springboard you to your

next step in life. Contact us today www.hfla.org

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On behalf of the staff at Austin

Jewish Academy, we would like

to wish you and your families a

Shabbat Shalom!