Chag Shavuot sameach! Throughout the week, in preparation for Shavuot, our b'not sherut met with each class to highlight and harvest the Torah that our students have learned throughout the year. They then brought all of those pieces together to create a beautiful, collaborative display on our central staircase (look through to the final photo!).
Rabbi Justin shared: "There is something profound about placing our students' Torah on the steps. Shavuot commemorates our collective ascent to Mount Sinai, reminding us that Torah is not a stagnant text, but a continuous climb — one we can only make together. By weaving every single classroom's learning into a single staircase, Klil-Or and Oriya showed us exactly what Rashi and the Book of Ruth teach: Our community is only complete when every voice is lifted up and brought inside."
At Smith Jewish Academy, learning comes to life through experiences that encourage students to think deeply, engage creatively, and connect classroom learning to the wider world around them.
Some students said that being a part of helping these families facing hardship find joy was even more magical than Epcot. Mia M. shared a reflection on the experience of building loving-kindness and community:
"[We volunteered] at Give Kids the World where each eighth grader experienced something truly eye-opening. It was an incredible, meaningful opportunity and I am very glad that I was able to participate in it. It really gave me a new perspective on how much people’s lives differ, and how different our lives are from theirs. It was amazing to be able to help so many people, even in the smallest ways. I loved making people smile and laugh, and seeing their joy despite their situations. It was so inspiring and empowering to see people connecting in this way and how everyone continues to give their children the best time possible. Volunteering can sometimes not be the most fun but I was honestly able to have a great time by interacting and joking with not only my friends, but the children and family members at Give Children The World. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Once again, I am extremely grateful for the experience and know I am going to remember it forever."
Students encouraged one another and confidently stepped out of their comfort zones on the ropes course and explored resilience, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving with the hands-on learning of survival class, all while learning about sustainability, ecosystems, and the world around them.
Through exploration, observation, and scientific inquiry and discovery, students are deepening their understanding of environmental stewardship while experiencing the outdoors firsthand in this annual environmental learning center trip.
Our first graders combined science with love and turned healing ointment into homemade hand cream as a special gift to celebrate the people who care for and support them every day. Happy Mother's Day!
As we close out Teacher Appreciation Week, thank you to the PTO for treating our teachers this week with decorations, baked goods, beverages, Shabbat supplies, and even spending time in the classrooms to give our teachers a break to enjoy a breakfast together!
And, of course, thank you to the teachers, staff, and administrators for everything they do to make Smith Jewish Academy the Twin Cities' school of choice for academic excellence in a nurturing Jewish environment.
Sarah G.'s book report brings the lessons of the Whole Brain-Child to life, highlighting the "upstairs brain" and the "downstairs brain" in a creative diorama that showcases how teachers can understand and support children as their brains develop.
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Learning at Smith extends beyond our students! Throughout the year teachers engage in ongoing professional development, and to cap off a text study of The Whole-Brain Child, each teacher chose a creative way to represent an area of learning from the book. Ms. Glassman’s project highlights how in high-stress moments, children operate from their “downstairs brain” (driven by emotion and reactivity). The role of the teacher is to guide the student back to the “upstairs brain” (where logic, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making can happen). This is just one way Smith nurtures students to have strong minds and become resilient, self-aware, and compassionate individuals.
This Teacher Appreciation Week, join us in thanking our teachers for their compassion, expertise, and ongoing commitment to being their best selves for Smith students. Thank you, SJA teachers!
The ultimate season is underway, and our SJA Lions are ready to roar!
We're excited to watch our student-athletes grow and build discipline, teamwork, confidence, and skill throughout the spring season. Go Lions! 🦁🥏
In fourth grade, students didn't just learn about sound, they designed, built, and coded their very own electronic instruments. Through the exploration of sound waves, vibrations, and how pitch and volume are produced, they moved beyond theory to create their own sound based in science, engineering, and technology. Here they are proudly demonstrating their instruments to third grade, inspiring curiosity and creativity in next year's fourth grade class!
#smithja
“Shanghai had saved our lives.”
Life was hard — full of poverty, starvation, disease, and, for a time, bombing — but Shanghai, China, is where Manny Gabler survived the Shoah after his parents fled Germany and then Italy, where Manny was born.
Manny told his family’s story to our middle school students yesterday to ensure we can say that we have met a survivor and that we will never forget. He left us with this takeaway:
“This is the second time in my life that I’ve lived under an occupation. The Japanese was one of them, and ICE was the second one. And I want everyone to remember that … what people’s skin color, religion [is], it doesn’t matter: We’re all human beings, and I hope you take that away from this.”
Thank you to all who came out to the Smith Annual Benefit last weekend and supported our mission of making rigorous, joyful, Jewish education accessible for all.
What a delight to go back to school and enjoy mixology, games, live music, delicious food and drink, and more together as a community with a shared vision for a strong Jewish day school that brings academic excellence and Jewish learning to families across the Twin Cities.
If you want to be a part of that impact, you can still give! Join over 260 community members in supporting your community Jewish day school by going to smithja.org/page/annual-benefit.
.Today was filled with joy as HaMorah Wendy and our eighth graders led the school in spirited song, bringing voices together in celebration of Yom Ha-Atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Our full school community then gathered for a picnic and lively dancing, sharing food, laughter, and joyous pride and love — ahavat Yisrael. ✡️ Am Yisrael chai 🇮🇱
