1. SCHOOL SCHEDULE FOR THE HOLIDAYS:
Friday, October 7 - Erev Yom Kippur - 11:40 am dismissal
Shabbat, October 8 - YOM KIPPUR
Monday, October 10 - Columbus Day - regular school sessions - Vestal and Binghamton will provide transportation
Wednesday, October 12 - Erev Sukkot - 11:40 am dismissal
Thursday and Friday, SUKKOT - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, October 19 - Hoshanah Rabbah - 11:40 am dismissal
Thursday, October 20 - SHEMINI ATZERET - NO SCHOOL
Friday, October 21 - SIMCHAT TORAH - NO SCHOOL
2. STUDENTS RIDING VESTAL AND MAINE-ENDWELL BUSSES: These systems will be having an Emergency Evacuation Drill on Thursday, October 6 and will pick up the children 15 minutes early from school. Please make sure that someone is home because the children may be arriving home earlier than usual.
3. KAPAROT - YOM KIPPUR CHARITY: The entire school will participate in a kaparot ceremony, the giving of charity prior to Yom Kippur, led by Rabbi Adamit, in an assembly on Erev Yom Kippur, Friday, October 5. Please send some money, as little or as much as you wish, with your child on Friday. Traditionally, charity gifts have been in multiples of 18, which represents chai, life, as a prayer for a good life.
4. SCHOOL/TEMPLE ISRAEL SUKKAH CONSTRUCTION: A group from Temple Israel will be erecting the Sukkah that both us and the Temple use over Sukkot, and need your help. This construction project will take place this Sunday, October 9 at 8:30 am. Please volunteer to help, as we will be using the Sukkah on Sunday, October 16 for the next PTF picnic, and the children will be eating in the sukkah on Monday and Tuesday of the intermediate days of the holiday. They really need our help, so volunteer and be here on Sunday at 8:30 am. GIVE/GET credits can be earned by all who help, if you submit your hours to the office.
5. LUNCH IN THE SUKKAH: As mentioned above, the students will be eating lunch in the Sukkah on Monday and Tuesday, October 17-18, weather permitting. We will not go out to the Sukkah if it is raining or very cold. We will eat in the sukkah, however, even if it is chilly. Please dress you child accordingly.
6. SUKKAH HOPPING: As we do each year, we wish to take the children to visit the Sukkot of their classmates when they are erected. If you are planning on having your own Sukkah, please inform your child's Judaic Studies teacher. These visits will take place during the intermediate days of Sukkot. Also, please let them know which day you can drive and how many you can fit in your vehicle. Please inform the following of your Sukkah and your availability to drive:
Ganeinu and Kindergarten - Morah Lynne
Grades 1-3 - Mrs. Segal
Grades 4-5 - Mrs. Silber
Middle School - Rabbi Adamit
7. SCHOOL DISMISSAL INFORMATIO NEEDED - ESPECIALLY FOR DAYS OF EARLY DISMISSAL: The request following was sent about 2 weeks ago. I urge you to comply with our request, so that your child is sent home in the intended way.
The school needs to know how your child goes home. We often find that the child does not know how s/he is going home, or s/he is going somewhere else, or the child tells us what s/he is supposed to do about going home and that information is not correct.
a. Please send to Julie ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) what the usual arrangements are for each day of the week.
b. If this changes, please send Julie a note, an e-mail or call the office and tell us if this is a one time change or a permanent change. If we are not informed of any changes, the child will be sent home as indicated in #1, above.
8. INNISBROOK FUNDRAISER: New deadline is Tuesday, October 11.
9. FIRST HILLEL ACADEMY SUKKA-QUE: Join us for another Barbeque on Sunday, October 16, 1-4 pm, in the Hillel Sukkah. To volunteer (qualifies for GIVE/GET) contact Lisa Newman at 217-4503 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
10. NEXT PTF MEETING: Tuesday, October 18 at 3:30 pm in the Hillel Library.
11. IN THE COMMUNITY - FEDERATION ANNUAL MMETING AND DESSERT will be held on Tuesday, October 11 at 7:00 pm at the JCC. Pianist and composer Jimmy Roberts will perform and entertain with a mixture of comedy and song. Please plan to attend and support the Federation, which provides much needed support to the school.
I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a g'mar chatima tovah, may you be blessed with a year of life and good health, happiness and prosperity, nachas and peace.
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Zev Silber
Principal