There is no greater joy than hearing a student say, “I can’t wait to hug and hold my very own Torah!” This was the feeling for the kindergarten students at Westchester Day School as they anticipated this week’s siyum Sefer Breishiet.

Ever since Simchat Torah, WDS kindergarten students have studied parshat hashavua in developmentally appropriate, creative and engaging ways. From watching “Parsha Peeps” to dressing up and acting out, books, songs and watching videos, the students have developed a true love for the stories in Bereishit.

It is through the lens of “these stories are our stories” that WDS kindergarten teachers approach their weekly parsha lessons. Each Monday students drew a picture of the parsha from the week before using an array of art materials. Then they dictated their words which were recorded on the picture. The pictures were then taped into one scroll. This past week the children worked on making their Torahs a beautiful mantle, a yad and a belt to tie the Torah up. On Monday, they participated in a special tefillah and when the Torah was taken out of the Aron, the children were handed their completed Torah to hold and hug for the very first time.

Chazak chazak v’nitchazek! Of course, cupcakes and Torah shaped cookies followed.