Bringing light to the season was the goal of the Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy community this past week, as students, faculty and staff members planned and participated in many different Chanukah celebrations.
Chanukah celebrations kicked off with a party for the pre-k students and parents, where Rabbi Joshua Rosenfeld, BCHA’s director of Judaics, spoke about the meaning of the holiday, and the significance of the blessings for lighting the candles. His presentation was followed by special songs, led by BCHA’s music teacher Mr. Shmuely. Two days later the BCHA kindergartners also performed a concert for their loved ones, with a Chanukah version of “Eight Days a Week.”
First graders took a field trip to Atria Stamford to spread Chanukah cheer to the residents. The students performed songs and participated in an art project with the seniors, along with sharing Chanukah treats.
BCHA’s banot sherut, Israeli instructors who are teaching in America for their national service, prepared a special treat of Sfenj, Moroccan doughnuts, much like the tradition of eating sufganiyot at holiday time. The banot also helped to lead several classroom activities in each grade, including latke making.
BCHA’s third graders created lightbulb-shaped collages showing all the unique ways in which students brought light into the world. BCHA’s fourth graders read Chanukah stories to their kindergarten friends and constructed mathematical puzzle projects, where each puzzle revealed itself to be a multi-colored dreidel.
Middle schoolers participated in the annual Student Council food drive which was a huge success, bringing in hundreds of items to be donated to The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. The community responded so quickly and with such generosity that expectations were met and exceeded within the first few days.
Eighth graders also organized a Chanukah Toy Drive to benefit David’s Treasure Closet at Stamford Hospital. They collected new, unwrapped presents to fill the closet to bring holiday cheer to children and teens who are receiving medical treatment.
The BCHA upper school joined with all grades and many faculty members at the Annual Chanukah Hoop Shoot, in which all participants had a 60-second window to take as many foul shots as they could. They also brought home three victories at the CIJE-Tec VEX Robotics Tournament, propelling them into the semi-final round, and a Chess Team championship win at the inaugural Rookly tournament.
Happy Chanukah from everyone at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy!
