Past Events and Photos







Upper School Renovation Taking Shape
July 2010

Schechter's school is unrecognizable -- sawdust, plaster, studs and lots of hammering -- as a total transformation project is well underway. By the first day of school, students will enjoy a new state-of-the-art 2,000-square-foot library, fully remodeled and redesigned art studio, music room and classroom spaces as well as Polyvision Eno Boards. The Lower School will unveil a Math Technology classroom with computers for every student.

 

Click here for photos of what has been happening.


Israel's 62nd Birthday Celebration
April 2010

Israel's 62nd birthday celebration was a joyous virtual trip to Israel, including many day-long activities. At the Lower School, 2nd and 3rd graders "visited" six important sites in Israel with a map and stickers to apply to their map to signify completion of each site's activity. Highlights included the transformation of the library into a Bedouin tent, exploring life on a kibbutz, science experiments based on recent Israeli scientific accomplishment, sand art and more.

 

Click here for photos from different activities.




Israel Study Tour
March 2010

This two-week study tour in Israel is the culmination of the Schechter educational experience.

 

Click here for photos from different activities.









Mitzvah Sunday 2010
March 2010

Over 650 community members participated in Mitzvah Sunday, Schechter's community service day. Students and parents alike rolled up their sleeves and volunteered for over forty local and international charitable causes. Mitzvah Sunday's driving theme of tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a testimony to the ideals of former Schechter parent, Jo Ann Toledano z"l, in whose name the day is organized.

 

Click here for photos from different activities.



 




Opening Day at the Lower School
September 2009

 

Click here for photos.



 


Schechter 7th graders with 2nd Graders
at the Shaw School in Dorchester
May 2009

This month, Schechter 7th graders celebrated their partnership with 2nd graders from the Shaw School in Dorchester by inviting them to the Upper School campus for a pizza lunch, time to play with their reading buddies and time to reflect on what they have learned from each other. Schechter has worked with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and its Greater Boston Jewish Coaltion for Literacy to form a partnership with the Shaw School. The Coalition provided training and resources to our students who visited 2nd graders at Shaw four weeks in a row to promote reading and make reading fun for students in this underserved community. Schechter and Shaw students alike learned much about each other beyond the books that they read together.

Click here for photos.





Kol HaNeshama,
the Day School Music Festival
April 2009

Students raised their voices to promote healing in the world at Kol HaNeshama, the Day School Music Festival which was held Tuesday, April 28 at Newton North High School. Ushering in Yom HaAtzma'ut, the event included performances by students from Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston, South Area Solomon Schechter Day School, Jewish Community Day School, the Rashi School, Gann Academy and MetroWest Jewish Day School. All proceeds from the festival will benefit the trauma unit of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.

Click here for photos.




Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration
April 2009

Israel's 61st birthday celebration was a joyous virtual trip to Israel, including many multi-sensory day-long activities. At the Lower School, each child's "Israeli passport" was stamped as students went from room to room participating in activities such as an obstacle course mimicking the Israeli army's exercises, creating Israeli coins with foil and designing artwork inspired by the Israeli flag and more.

Click here for photos.



Mitzvah Sunday Rally
March 2009

Over 650 community members participated in Mitzvah Sunday, Schechter's community service day. Students and parents alike rolled up their sleeves and volunteered for over forty local and international charitable causes. Mitzvah Sunday's driving theme of tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a testimony to the ideals of former Schechter parent, Jo Ann Toledano z"l, in whose name the day is organized.


Click here for rally photos.
Click here for Mitzvah Sunday's Projects.




Purim Celebration at the Lower School
Purim 2009

As part of the Purim celebration at the lower school, the children dressed up and participated in a Purim Carnival.

Click here for more photos.






Adar Celebration at the Lower School
Adar 2009

Ushering in the month of Adar, leading up to Purim, are special fun-filled days at Schechter. Students and teachers shined with creativity on Crazy Hair Day and on Hat Day.


Click here for more photos.




200th Brithday of Abraham Lincoln
February 12, 2009

This year, as the country celebrated the 200th anniversary of Lincoln?s birth on February 12, the Upper School library highlighted this former president and his accomplishments and invited students to participate in our own birthday celebration. The library contains a number of very powerful books that were featured during the week of February 12. These books include biographies, history books and poetry. In additional to our prints collection, the wealth of reliable information of the internet gave our students an opportunity to research Lincoln?s life, read his speeches and watch videos about his major accomplishments.

Click here for more photos.







Brownie Troop Makes Saris
February 2009

Saraswathi Singh, grandmother of Sarah Priyadarshan (Grade 3), made individual Indian saris for Schechter?s Brownie troop to celebrate Girl Scout World Thinking Day.

Click here for more photos.








2nd Grade "Family Journeys"
February 2009

From the costumes and props to a song in Ladino, second-graders dazzled in "Family Journeys," a musical play in both Hebrew and English, depicting stories of Jewish immigration. In conjunction with classroom activities, "Family Journeys" rounds out the students' immersion in the many aspects of immigration.

Click here for more photos.








Tu B'Shevat Seder
February 2009

Seventh-graders and their parents celebrated Tu B'Shvat in the format of a seder. Much like the making of a Passover seder, the idea for a seder Tu B'Shvat was innovated by the kabbalists in northern Israel in the town of Tzfat. According to Rabbi Miles Krassen, "The notion of a Tu B'Shvat seder, that is, a ritual involving the eating of specific fruit, drinking [grape juice], and studying or reciting specific selections from the sacred literature of Judaism, does not seem to have been known before the late 17th century." The seder was a wonderful opportunity for parents and their children to learn together the texts of our traditions, and for all of us to celebrate an often overlooked holiday.

Click here for more photos.






Kindergarten Shavuot Celebration
June 2008

Kindergarten families Israeli-danced together and set out picnic blankets for a cheerful Shavuot celebration. Students' brightly-colored tissue paper crowns and festive fruit baskets topped off the morning as each student received a miniature Torah to mark the holiday and the "graduation" from Kindergarten.

Click here for more photos.






Schechter Celebrates!
June 2008

The Schechter community gathered for its annual meeting in recognition of exceptional volunteer, faculty and staff. The inspiring sunflower theme for the evening emphasized Schechter's ongoing commitment to the growth of students, families and the school itself. The evening also served as a welcome to incoming Board of Trustee members as much as a tribute to outgoing leaders.

Click here for more photos.




Third Grade Salutes the 50 United States
June 2008

At the annual State Fair, third graders demonstrated their expertise on the major cities, economies and history of many of our 50 states. Parent visitors learned interesting facts about state songs and mascots as well as famous state citizens from students, each of whom represented a "great state."

Click here for more photos.






Lag B'Omer Celebration at Lower School
May 2008

Students had a field day with sunny weather, friends, sporting events and lots of water at the Lag B'Omer celebration.

Click here for more photos.






Yom HaAtzma'ut Celebration
May 2008

Israel's 60th Birthday was a celebration of the first order! Over 600 Schechter students, faculty, staff and parents Israeli danced in Stein Circle as the kick-off to a multi-sensory day-long festival. At the Lower School, each child's "Israeli passport" was stamped as students went from room to room participating in activities such as an obstacle course mimicking the Israeli army's exercises, creating Israeli coins with foil, listening to a speech by Herzl (a.k.a our Head of School) and designing artwork inspired by the Israeli flag and more. The day was a joyous virtual trip to Israel. What better way to celebrate Israel's 60th?

Click here for more photos.

Yom HaShoah Ceremony
May 2008

Yom HaShoah marked a solemn, but beautiful day of tribute as Upper School students, faculty and staff participated in moving ceremonies to honor those who perished in the Holocaust. Yarhzeit candles, emotional song and dance as well as a wall of memory in the front lobby helped to memorialize Holocaust victims in different ways throughout the day.

Click here for more photos.





Purim Shpiel at the Lower School
March 2008

It's Adar and there are lots of reasons to be happy: a Purim shpiel starring teachers, wearing costumes to school and playing carnival games in the gym all day!


Click here for more photos.



Mitzvah Sunday Rally
February 2008

Over 650 community members participated in Mitzvah Sunday, Schechter's community service day. Students and parents alike rolled up their sleeves and volunteered for over forty local and international charitable causes. Mitzvah Sunday's driving theme of tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a testimony to the ideals of former Schechter parent, Jo Ann Toledano z"l, in whose name the day is organized.


Click here for rally photos.
Click here for Mitzvah Sunday's Projects.




Lower School Brownies Troop
March 2008

Bring a clown is serious work...or so the Lower Schechter Brownies troop discovered when two professional clowns from Boston University visited. Not only did the girls make their own balloon animals and practice laughing as if they really meant it, they learned that all clowns must have a red nose! Earning the Clowing Around patch was certifiable fun.

Click here for more photos.







Lower School Balloon Day
March 2008

Be happy! It's Adar! And what could make it easier than a giant balloon for every child in the Lower School? Volunteer parents filled 250 Mexican balloons with air turning morning recess into a wonderfully colorful and fun-filled affair.

Click here for more photos.







2nd Grade's Kindness Celebration
March 2008

Second-grade students were recently challenged by their teachers to identify and illustrate 100 acts of kindness throughout the school. In learning how community, courage and friendship are integral parts of a classroom, students acted as "Kindness Detectives" for a week. Second-graders recorded in a journal each act of hesed that they had witnessed or discovered. Kindergarten students visited second-grade classrooms to listen to stories. On the walls outside the classrooms, a paper chain detailing the children's observations spreads down the hallway.

Click here for more photos.







TELEM Eldercare program for 7th Graders
March 2008

As part of the TELEM Eldercare program, 7th grade students visit Newton's Coleman House once a week for six weeks. Students and residents alike enjoy conversation, intergenerational Torah study activities and each others' company.

Click here for more photos.





Lower School Students Engaged
in Tactile Projects
March 2008

What would it be like to create art if you could not see? Lower School students engaged in a number of tactile projects while blindfolded in an effort to understand how differently abled people use their hands and sense of touch to create.

Click here for more photos.





2nd Grade "Family Journeys"
February 2008

From the costumes and props to a song in Ladino, second-graders dazzled in "Family Journeys," a musical play in both Hebrew and English, depicting stories of Jewish immigration. In conjunction with classroom activities, "Family Journeys" rounds out the students' immersion in the many aspects of immigration.

Click here for more photos.





5th Grade Buddy Program
February 2008

As part of the Buddy Program, 5th graders spend time playing with their Kindergarten partners.

Click here for more photos.










8th Grade Hebrew Musical - D'Rom Pacific
January 2008

Eighth-graders dazzle in a tour de force all-Hebrew performance of the musical D'rom (South) Pacific. From the authentic costumes and tropical sets to the fantastic dance and song numbers, the students' exhibited Hebrew fluency alongside their talent and enthusiasm. Three sold-out performances are testimony to the school community's excitement for the annual musical, one of the highlights of the Schechter experience.

Click here for more photos.





Alex's Lemonade Stands
December 2007

Both Lower School and Upper School students hosted Alex's Lemonade Stands after school to raise money for pediatric cancer research. The students mixed gallons of lemonade, designed brightly colored posters to explain the sale and served cup after cup until they sold out. The lemonade stands together raised over $150.00.

Click here for more photos.



Kindergarten Building Community
November 2007

Kindergarten students build community with a festive friendship lunch in the classroom.

Click here for more photos.







Cafe Vulic
November 2007

At Cafe Vulic, seventh grade students have a chance to dine on lunch while working on math papers or discussing math problems with friends and their math teacher, Erica Voolich.

Click here for more photos.





Science at Lower School
November 2007

The Lower School science laboratory is humming with experiments as Grade 2 students begin their states of matter unit. Students conducted weight and measure tests to confirm that solids have a definite shape. By filling a basin of water, students probed the concept that gas fills up space.

Click here for more photos.




Grades 4-6 Science Afternoon
November 2007

Using nothing more than straws, balloons, small boxes and lots of tape, students and parents design and build a race car that can compete in a test for distance on a test track. The afternoon combined engineering, construction and Newton's laws of motion with fun and prizes.

Click here for more photos.




The Rainbow Choir
November 2007

Schechter's newest choir, the Rainbow Choir for first and second graders performs with Lower School music teacher Gene Gerstein.

Click here for more photos.




Lower School Multi-disciplinary Project:
Understanding the Effects of Drought

November 2007

Lower School students engage in a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the effects of drought and the lack of clean drinking water for Darfur refugees. Students created water filters, carried two gallons of water, talked about the importance of clean water and danced the Israeli dance mayim all in an effort to make Schechter's tzedakah drive to bring water pumps to Darfur a real and tangible project to young students.

Click here for more photos.


Torah She-b'al Peh Milestone
November 2007

Sixth grade students and their parents celebrate the students' beginning of the study of Rabbinic literature with a ceremony as each student receives copy of Pirke Avot. Families enjoyed an exercise in text study together after the ceremony.

Click here for more photos.



Reali School from Haifa Visit
November 2007

Students from the Reali School in Haifa get to know their Grade Eight counterparts at Schechter through ice breakers and classroom study and activities. Reali students also visited the Lower School to introduce themselves and participate in a Shabbat assembly.

Click here for more photos.


Fourth Grade Visit to the Blue Hills
Weather Observatory
November 2007

Grade four students visit the Blue Hills Weather Observatory as part of their unit on meteorology in science. Students were able to use meteorological equipment and make kites.

Click here for more photos.


Sofer Visits the Third Grade
October 2007

Sofer Gustavo Surazski, a native of Argentina, demonstrates for third grade students the art of writing a Torah on a real piece of parchment paper. Suazski also used graph paper to show students how to make a letter "bet" in the specialized Hebrew Torah calligraphy and he explained the process of fixing mistakes when writing a Torah.

Click here for more photos.


Sunday Soccer Trophy Ceremony
October 2007

Over 140 Kindergarten and 1st Grade students celebrate the end of the Sunday soccer season with a trophy ceremony on a gorgeous autumn morning. The eight-week soccer season scored all around with lots of progress in the students' skill, marvelous spirit and the wonderful energy of parent coaches.

Click here for more photos.




Sixth Grade Science Week
October 2007

The theme of the weeklong retreat was "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." Students focused on weighing non-compost garbage after meals to illustrate the waste of food in addition to playing a relay game about whether to reduce, reuse or recycle a particular item of trash. Students also enjoyed a night hike and the study of pond animals in their examination of the environment's health.

Click here for more photos.







Red Sox Mania hits Schechter
October 2007

Red Sox mania hits Schechter as the Red Sox win the World Series! Red Sox T-shirts are the ?uniform? of choice for students, faculty and staff as everyone celebrates.

Click here for more photos.








Dedication of the new tile installation
at the Brigham and Women's Hospital
October 2007

Gavin Steyn and his sons, Moshe and Raphael, dedicate the new tile installation at the Brigham and Women's Hospital pediatric oncology waiting room in celebration of their mother, Malka Korman z"l. The tiles were created by Moshe's third grade classmates last year with Schechter Lower School art teacher, Susan Fusco-Fazio and Gita Aghajani, art assistant.

Click here for more photos.





PALS enjoy a story in the sukkah
October 2007

Visitors to a recent PALS (Preschoolers and Little Siblings) event enjoy a story in the Schechter sukkah with librarian Lori Kahn. Participants snacked on an edible sukkah of graham crackers, pretzels and fluff.

Click here for a list of upcoming PALS events.





Upper School prepares for Sukkot
October 2007

The Upper School prepares for Sukkot as students learn about the custom of inviting honored guests to their sukkah. Students bring home their lulavim and etrogim.

Click here for more photos.







Third Grade Science
September 2007

As part of their Life Cycles unit in Science, third grade students harvest turnips that they planted last spring as second graders. The students also planted sunflowers, radishes and edible nasturtiums.

Click here for more photos.








Western Night and Silent Auction
March 2007

Giddy up! Almost two hundred parents donned cowboy boots and hats, fringe jackets and, of course, sheriffs' badges for the Parent Association's Western Night and Silent Auction on March 17, 2007. Western fare, line dancing and hundreds of auction items were corralled in a spirited evening in support of Schechter's Creative Arts Program.

Click here for more photos.








Family Skating Day
Winter 2007

Over 140 Schechter students and parents whirled, twirled -- and fell! -- at the Babson College Skating Center during the Family Ice Skating Afternoon. Beginners and seasoned skaters alike shared the ice for two fun-filled hours and relaxed afterwards with drinks and cake.


Click here for more photos.