Eighth Graders Arrive in Israel!

A Message from Yerushalayim...

Hi, this is Paige Epstein and Sydney Altman in Israel. 

Today was our first day in Israel, and it was a memorable one!  We reunited with friends from our fellow Gesher schools, and we landed at six thirty in the morning.  After fulfilling the important mitzvah of planting an oak tree, we toured ancient caves, and participated in an exciting archaeological dig.  One of our classmates, Josh Trif, discovered an ancient clay pot from the time of the Macabees, along with other artifacts.  Upon arriving in Jerusalem this afternoon, we checked into the hotel, ate dinner, and discussed the trip to the Kotel, which we will be making tomorrow.  We look forward to the exciting and unforgettable experiences that we will create in the Holy Land.

Love, Paige Epstein and Sydney Altman

Seventh Grade Sets off to D.C.!

Happy Travels to the 7^th grade! This morning our 7^th graders and the 7^th grades from Hannah Senesh and Carmel Academy set off on their trip to Washington, D.C. While they were waiting to load the buses, all the students from the different schools began hanging out and bonding on the HAMC fields.

Stay tuned for pictures of this incredible trip!

Moreh Moshe's Passover Message

Enjoy this live footage from the HAMC Grandparents and Special Friends Seder!

Chag Kasher V'Sameach!

Pesach with our Rishonim

It wouldn't be a Jewish holiday without a celebration with Lior and Noga! Today, during lunch Lior and Noga made all of the students an Israeli Pesach treat of a chocolate spread and matzo sandwich...mmmmmm :)  They also poured each student a class of grape juice in honor of the Seder and everyone toasted to Israel in unison!
Chag Sameach!

Love,
Your Rishonim, Lior and Noga

ECC Learns Self Defense

This morning Lance Berstler, from the NJ Martial Arts Academy met with our ECC students to talk about self defense against strangers; a program called "Stranger Danger".  They learned the right things to say, the right ways to move and the appropriate way to behave if confronted by a threatening stranger.  Our students were extremely enthusiastic about the program and now are aware of all they need to know when it comes to the danger of talking to strangers.

Grandparents and Special Guests Passover Seder

Today and yesterday we were joined by our grandparents for a very special model seder.  The HAMC auditorium was overflowing with students, friends and family as we retold the story of Passover through blessings and song.  We recited the bracha on the yom tov candles, said kiddush on the grape juice, dipped the karpas in saltwater, broke the Matzah and ate the delicious charoset.  At the ECC Seder on Tuesday, our little ones took the stage and performed some of their favorite Passover songs, including "The Frog Song" and "Let My People Go".  At the K-8 Seder, our students sang with Moreh Moshe and stormed the entire school to locate the afikomen! In addition to grandparents and special guests, the K-8 Seder also hosted our wonderful friends from Lester Housing.

Both seders were beautiful and it got us very excited for the real thing later in the week!
Chag Kasher V'Sameach!


  

A Visit to the "Seeing Eye"

After reading the story Mom’s Best Friend, a story about a mother from Pennsylvania,   who went to the "Seeing Eye" in Morristown to train with her new guide dog, the fifth grade took a trip to see the facility. The children met several instructors and a blind woman who told them about her own training with her guide dog, Becca. The class saw a video about the history of the Seeing Eye and got a chance to see the dining room and obstacle course that are used to train the dogs with their owners.

The fifth graders happily donated their own money and bought toys and treats for the guide dogs at the Seeing Eye.