Sixth graders are wrapping up their Historical Fiction unit this week. Over the past three weeks, they have been reading, analyzing, and discussing their books with their book club members while learning how to engage in thoughtful, academic conversations. All the books feature Jewish protagonists, and through these stories, students have explored various historical conflicts and experiences that impacted Jews around the world. These include the Spanish Inquisition, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the Six-Day War, and Jewish refugee experiences during the Russian pogroms and the Holocaust, among others. The unit will conclude with panel discussion presentations by the book club groups.

The middle school PE program has been exploring new electives and class swaps! In 5th and 6th grades, students had the opportunity to switch teachers for three weeks, allowing them to experience different teaching styles and units. During this time, they explored volleyball, floor hockey, and kicking games with Ms. Johnson, Mr. Mintz, and Mr. Sheahan. Meanwhile, 7th and 8th graders were given a choice between floor hockey and table tennis, enabling them to select the activity that most interested them. This initiative has been a fantastic way for students to try new activities and discover new interests!