**Important Lunch Reminder**
There will be no school lunches served next week of school (June 1-June 4). Please pack a lunch for your child.
- May 26-28 - K-5 Art Show Gallery – Student artwork displayed in the hallways
- May 27 – Senior Graduation, 7:00 pm, Strear Family Gymnasium
- May 28 - Kabbalat Shabbat for K-5, 2:00 pm, Strear Family Gymnasium
- May 31 – No school, Memorial Day
- June 2 – 6th Grade Siyum, 8:15 am, Judaic Library (come at 7:50 to learn about Judaic class options for 7th grade)
- June 3 – 5th Grade Continuation, 2:00 pm, Strear Family Gymnasium
- June 4 – Last Day of School
Grades K-5 – Closing Assembly at 11:00 am, Strear Family Gymnasium – family and friends are invited, 11:30 dismissal
Grades 6-12 – Day at Elitches
As the school year winds down I encourage you to review the calendar for the final days of school. Parents are invited to visit the Lower School Art Gallery, attend the final Kabbalat Shabbat, the 6th grade Siyum and the closing ceremony. I hope to see at school as the year winds down.
Senior Graduation
Senior graduation will take place tonight, May 27 at 7:00pm in the Strear Family Gymnasium. Attending a Herzl/RMHA graduation is an absolutely amazing experience. I hope you will come see just how powerful a Herzl/RMHA graduation really is. I am very proud of the accomplishments of our soon-to-be graduates and I look forward to sharing much nachas with them.
With the school year winding down it is time to make those summer plans. This summer we are going to be running an amazing camp here at school under the leadership of Josh Lake. Kids between the ages of 4 and 15 will enjoy favorites such as Science Matters, icamp™, Sports Blast, Dodgeball, Digital Photography, Art, Cooking, Knitting, Todd Schayes Basketball Camp and much more! Camp dates are June 7 through August 6, 2010; half-day and full-day programs are available. Registration for Summer Blast Camp is currently open. Click here for more details and registration information.
Shabbat Shalom,
Avi Halzel
President/CEO
Grades Kindergarten to 2 – winner is Kindergarten with 70% of the parents participating in the Annual Appeal
Grades 3 to 5 – winner is Grade 3 with 71.79% of participation.
Grades 6 – 8 – Middle School winner is Grade 8 with 58.06% participation.
Grades 9 – 12 – High School winner is Grade 10 with 61.90% participation.
It is not too late to make your donation to the Annual Appeal and make a difference in the future of our school. You have until June 30, 2010 to make your gift. Give online at www.dcje.org, or print out this form and give to the office or contact Krista Boscoe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 720-449-9552. Thank you for your support!
Rose Community Foundation's Live On program
Herzl/RMHA has been offered $7,500 from the Foundation if we can get eighteen (18) new people to join The Legacy Society and fill out the one page donor record form attached here.
Please contact Krista – 720-449-9552,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
to help make this happen.
Simchas, Smiles and Sometimes Sorrows
Life cycle events and many more occasions can be Honored and Remembered in Herzl/RMHA's new giving program, Simchas, Smiles and Sometimes Sorrows. The minimum donation (CHAI $18.00) up to your choice for a maximum donation (the stars). Please click here for more information.
Great fun was had by all during field day activities last Friday. We would like to both thank and commend the fifth grade students on their leadership role during the morning activities. Fifth graders led Lower School students in grades K-4 into choosing a team name, creating a team banner and composing a team cheer. They then assisted students through many different activities planned by PE teacher, Angel Chelik, and facilitated by classroom teachers. We would like to thank Ms. Chelik for all her efforts in making this one of the best field days ever.
Art Show
Lower School hallways have been filled with student artwork this week. Please be sure to come in and view student work in the Leftin Lobby showcase and in the K-2 and Specials hallway. Fourth grade work is exhibited upstairs outside the fourth grade classrooms. We would like to thank Ms. Sarah Jenkins, Lower School Art teacher, for her help in organizing and displaying student work in our art gallery and for inspiring our students in art class this year.
Avid4 Adventure
We would like to thank PTO for bringing this amazing outdoor adventure experience to the school this year. All students (K-5) participated in the many activities, bike riding course, kayaking, climbing wall and outdoor education sessions. Please be sure to ask your child about their experience.
Plains Conservation Center
Third grade students went to the Plains Conservation Center for an overnight experience this week. They experienced first hand how homesteaders on the prairie lived. They spent time as students in a schoolhouse, sod village, cooking and doing daily chores that were part of life on the prairie and learned about Native Americans in the Cheyenne Camp. Many thanks to the parent volunteers for driving and to the third grade teachers who spent the night with the students in a teepee.
Please remember to send lunches for your children next week. Canteen Catering will not be providing hot lunches for students next week.
Over the last three weeks the interview committee and I have interviewed a total of seven candidates for Judy Sylvan's current administrative and college counseling responsibilities. Most, but not all of the candidats are current members of the Herzl/RMHA faculty and staff. It became clear as the process unfolded that the school's interests could best be served by distributing Judy's wide range of duties in a way that utilizes the strengths of more than one of the candidates. Therefore, there will not be an Assistant Head of the Upper School Division next year.
However, I am pleased to announce that Jason Snyder will take on a number of those administrative responsibilities with the new title of Dean of Student and Faculty Affairs. Josh Lake will also take on number of administrative responsibilities with the new title of Dean of Communications and Programs. While some of their current duties will be modified, both Jason and Josh will incorporate many of their current duties with their new responsibilities. They both bring proven abilities and dedication to their new roles. I welcome Josh and Jason to their administrative positions with confidence that they will both work with me to provide the school--its teachers and staff, parents and students--with outstanding administrative leadership and support.
Sincerely,
Bryan Hay
Last day fun
Those who have signed up for Elitches should click here for important information about the day.
As we approach the last week, it is time for students to return all books and school property. Lockers need to be cleaned out.
Adventure Week is Here
We are so excited that Avid4Adventure finally made it to our campus. Check it out on the soccer field! Please remember, the school day that your child participates in the kayaking, orienteering, mountain biking, and rock climbing, they are eligible to use the equipment after-school if a parent is on-site. Your Colorado Kids will be excited to show you what they learned! PTO would love your feedback.
Do you like ice cream?? Then give high fives to our dairy divas, Ronit Williamson and Cindy Noam, for keeping "Ice Cream Fridays" flowing. It is a challenge to track down new sponsors to allow each of the classes to receive free ice cream, yet they have managed it seamlessly and with a smile. If you are interested in sponsoring next week, a week in the fall, your child's birthday week, or in honor of your favorite teacher, please reserve your Friday now! Thanks ladies!
Save the Date
PTO will host a back-to-school ice-cream social on August 23rd. We are looking for volunteers to help out that afternoon. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Sharon Kassanoff.
We want to send our sincere gratitude to the Herzl/RMHA community for your tremendous support of the National Angelman Syndrome Foundation annual walk-a-thon. The organization seeks therapies, prevention and a cure to Angelman Syndrome (AS) through education, information exchange and support for research. AS is a neuro-genetic disorder that occurs in 1 in 15,000 live births. AS is often mis-diagnosed as cerebral palsy or autism. Characteristics of AS include developmental delay, lack of speech, seizures, and walking and balance disorders. Individuals with Angelman Syndrome cannot speak and require life-long care. This year, you all helped us surpass our family fundraising goal by over 50% for a total of $3800. We are proud that over the past three years, your contributions have helped us to raise close to $10,000 for this cause. In recent years, there have been some amazing break-throughs in AS research that may positively impact not only AS, but also autism, cerebral palsy and many other neurological and genetic disorders. Your support has given hope to many.
Sincerely,
Doniel, Asher and Avi Kaye
Photo: Our 1st cousin, Jacob, age 9, crossing the finish line.
Teen Volunteers (Upper School) will "buddy" with special needs individuals for activities in the food tent for one day/time period of 2-3 hours. The exact date is not set yet, but it will take place during Aug. 1-6. If interested, please contact: Doniel and Asher Kaye at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 720-870-4525.
Refer a friend who registers for a Creative Journeys Summer Camp and get a $50 discount. Please click on this link for more information.
Community Garden Plot at Ekar
Get a Community Garden Plot at Ekar, a new urban communal Jewish farm and garden located next to Denver Academy of Torah, Glassman Education Campus. Just a few garden plots remain! The cost is $72 for the season plus a $25 deposit returned whenever you give up your plot. Registration forms and more information about Ekar can be found at www.ekarfarm.org. If you are not ready for your own plot or already have one at home, please check out the website for further information about work days and other opportunities to get involved!
The Mizel Museum is seeking community participation in collecting artwork for its new, permanent exhibition, 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks, slated for opening August 2010. Mizel Museum curator, Georgina Kolber, is searching for privately owned Jewish objects, Jewish artifacts and contemporary Jewish artwork to enhance an exciting new exhibition about Jewish life and culture that will bring cultural awareness to local citizens and visitors. The museum is particularly interested in ritual objects about Torah stories, haggadot or sidurrim of unusual derivation, contemporary Israeli art, objects from Jewish pioneer pieces and unique objects that tell the story of the Diaspora.
Limmud Colorado
Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 - 31, 2010 University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO. More details here.
The JCC Maccabi Games® are coming to Denver!
The Games are a unique Olympic style athletic competition for Jewish teens. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to get involved as an athlete, a host family, or as a volunteer August 1-6, 2010. To learn more about the 2010 Denver JCC Maccabi Games® visit http://www.jccdenvermaccabi.org/ or call 303-316-6318.
Ramah in the Rockies
Grand Opening Sunday, June 13th, 11:30 am - 3:00 pm. View more details here.
Federation's Schlep the Slopes set for Sunday, August 8
The Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado's Schlep the Slopes Bike Ride returns to the area on Sunday, August 8, 2010. Use this link to read more.
Bnei Akiva
Please click here for latest Bnei Akiva updates