Weekly Newsletter – January 29, 2016

January 29, 2016 / 19 Shevat 5776

Shabbat Begins: 4:45 p.m. Parsha: Yitro

Shabbat Ends: 5:56 p.m. Exodus 18:1 – 20:23

Tu B’Shevat Celebration

What can we learn from trees?

Rachel, Grade 10, refers to a map on her
phone as she sketches the map of Israel.

Jayson and Sagiv, Grade 8, take a ‘selfie’ at
a plant in our Biblical Garden.

This year’s Tu B’Shevat program developed the theme "Man is Like a Tree in the Field" (IBID 20:19). Students were asked to focus on what we as people learn about ourselves from trees, nature, and our environment. Like trees, we too have roots: our faith which is handed to us from our ancestors. We have a trunk, a self that is made up of our knowledge and especially Torah wisdom that we learn throughout our lives. Our fruits are the services and help that we give to others, and our mitzvot that we hand down to our children.

On Monday, students selected an activity from three centres; the Poetry Centre, the Art Centre, and the Touring Centre. While touring, students walked through the King David Biblical Garden to locate plants and trees that grow in Israel. They were tasked with taking pictures of themselves with their "camel," travelling through the natural surroundings of Israel. They then drew a map of Israel on which they placed their photos, locating where each plant would typically grow in Israel.

De-stressing through Dance

This week in the midst of the busy Mid-Year Exam schedule, the Grade 9 Girls and Boys PE classes combined to have some fun and let off some steam in a creative ‘Make Up Your Own Dance’ class. The students combined leadership, collaboration, and imagination by working together in teams of eight to choroegraph 30-second dances. Each group performed their dance for the class to loud cheers and applause. It was lots of fun and a great way to work together and to forget about Mid-Year Exams for a while!

International Human Rights Symposium

On Thursday, fourteen students from History 12 and Social Justice 12 attended a full day symposium at Windermere Secondary School. The annual event, known as the International Human Rights Day Student Symposium, focuses on the atrocities committed between 1931-1945 in the Asia-Pacific War. It explores many topics, including the so-called "Comfort Women" that were abused by Japanese Imperial Soldiers, the biological and chemical weapons developed by the Japanese army, the Hong Kong Veterans as Prisoners of War, and the Rescuers and Global Citizenship in the Rape of Nanking. Students attended a variety of workshops that culminated in a Peace Bell Tolling Ceremony, in which Oren B. represented King David and shared a reflection about the importance of learning about the Asia-Pacific War along with the European Holocaust. Students found the workshops and ceremonies illuminating.

"The session about the massacres at Nanking was very moving. We heard from someone who had visited Nanking and felt affected by the massacres; her lecture made the issue more personal. I realized that it could have happened to any of us; we are very lucky to be living where we are."

~ Aria, Grade 12

"The ‘Comfort Women’ in particular were really astonishing to hear about. The whole situation is not something that we often focus on or learn about, so I think the only way to properly describe today’s symposium is ‘eye-opening’."

~ Maya, Grade 12

Lion’s Tent – One Night Only!

The King David Middle-Eastern Restaurant

Purchase tickets online here, or click here for a printable form.

Adult: $36 Child (under 10 years): $18

Book Club Students Initiate A Book Drive!

"Our Book Club began when a group of students found their common passion of books back in 2012. We meet weekly to discuss different aspects of literature. We are very privileged to have our wonderful library with a diverse collection of books, and we wanted more children in Vancouver to be as lucky as we are. We are hosting a book drive from February 1 – 12, collecting any good condition books for ages 6-16. All books will go to the Boys and Girls Club of South BC."

~ Adi, Grade 12

Join the King David Sun Run Team!

Calling all King David Runners! Students, siblings, friends and parents are all welcome to join our Sun Run Team.

When: The Sun Run is Sunday, April 17th, 2016 (the first Sunday of our Spring Break!)

What: 10km fun run/jog/walk/stroll through the city with a whole lot of people

How much: $22 for Youth and $35 for adults before February 10th.

Commitment: As much or as little as you want. We will start a running afternoon

and you can join if you want, train on your own, or just show up for the run!

To Register:

Go to the Sun Run webpage
Register to join an existing team. Our team is ‘KD Runners’ and our password is ‘lions’.
Sign up with your information and pay.
Receive your Technical T-shirt, race bib, and timing chip… and RUN!