Gan Prachim is in full Pesach prep mode. The children are learning all about what goes into getting a house (or classroom) Pesach ready. They used wipes and water to clean everything from their toys to the kitchen and even the walls and the chairs. Once it was all clean they got to practice doing bedikat chametz with pieces of paper hidden all around the room.

This past week, the seventh graders embarked on their overnight trip to Philadelphia. This trip was designed to complement the sevenh grade social studies curriculum, which focuses on early American exploration and history through the Civil War. While in Philly, students stood in the same rooms where history was made and gained additional insight regarding the content they have been learning in the classroom. Navigating Independence Hall (where the Constitution was signed), viewing the Liberty Bell and experiencing the multimedia show “Freedom Rising in the Constitution Center” were educational and fascinating. They were even able to sneak in an unplanned …

Joey Ben Naim participated in the CKids Shabbaton Convention this past weekend. The Ckids Convention is the advanced academic conference and award ceremony organized by the Chabad. Joey received the silver medal and one a raffle with over 1000 tickets and won a scholarship to use for Ckids summer camp. Mazal tov to Joey!

Last week, the BPY fourth grade students celebrated their advanced understanding of their history, culture and identity at their annual Heritage Fair. The unit of heritage was launched with an exploration of Native American culture and traditions revealed through realistic fiction books, nonfiction literature, videos and the students’ own research. This topic of study segued into the students delving deeply into their own heritage through the exploration of an heirloom of importance to their family, an investigation into the roots of their names, and an interview of a member of their family to find out what life was like in …

The seventh grade science class completed their studies of environmental science by becoming “experts” in the Earth’s different biomes. Each group brought to life one of the following biomes, the desert, rainforest, taiga, grassland, marine, tundra, taiga, deciduous forest or boreal forest. The students created slide shows, posters, dioramas and an all time favorite of testing their classmates knowledge with Kahoots after their presentation.

This past week, the BPY students learned about the levonah (frankensance) which is in this week’s parsha, and how it comes from the resin of trees. Students learned that parsley, which is growing in their garden, also has resin. This resin helps the plants heal themselves, like its own medicine! They then tasted some chives and planted radishes. They love learning about all the amazing wonders of Hashem’s world, sometimes in the tiniest forms, from their GrowTorah garden.

The BPY second graders took a trip to Englewood’s BergenPAC theater for a performance of “Dot Dot Dot.” The show was based on three of author Peter Reynolds’ books—”The Dot,” “Ish,” and “Sky Color.” Each book encourages us to explore our creativity, think outside the box, and have a growth mindset. The books and the play emphasize the value of being okay with being ish, and that effort—not perfection—is the goal. It was awesome to see the pages of these classroom favorites come to life. Everyone loved Peter Reynolds and the important lifelong messages he shared.

BPY’s annual all school Purim Carnival culminated the spectacular weeks of celebrating the month of Adar! The children came dressed to impress and had a great day at the carnival which was run by the middle school students. They concluded the day with Kabbalat Shabbat and a costume contest. Everyone was excited for the raffle drawing on Shushan Purim!