Sixth grade’s trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center got cut short by weather, but they had a successful two days of fun and learning. So successful, in fact, in the group picture they are all pointing to a plaque that reads “Wolf Ridge Conservation Challenge Perfect Score 2024-2025.” See more photos on the Heilicher App, Facebook, and Instagram, and keep reading for summaries of sixth grade’s experiences at Wolf Ridge.

As parents and educators, we want our children to feel safe, confident, and happy. Yet, we also know that worry is a natural part of growing up. A 2023 Harris Poll found that 86% of children experience worry, with concerns about friendships, bullying, and self-image ranking high.

While we cannot shield children from stress, we can help them develop the tools to navigate their worries in healthy ways.

Aliyah Chet is Heilicher's eighth-grade trip to Israel, and the inaugural trip is happening write now! At the end of each day, a couple students will write a recap. Keep up with Aliyah Chet here!

One thing is clear: Heilicher graduates are well-prepared to advance to the high school of their choice. Our students tend to feel confident about their academic preparedness. A panel of high school-aged alumni and their parents answer questions share their experiences at Heilicher’s annual high school information night.

November 5th, 2024, marked Election Day in the United States. America’s electorate went to the polls to vote in national, state, and local races. Election Day also marked an exercise in civic education for nearly 131,000 K-12 students as they made their voices heard by participating in Students Voting, a mock election held in over 400 schools across the state of Minnesota

This week’s election has stirred a range of emotions across our country, as well as within the Heilicher community. As I shared with our team — at times like these, when feelings can be heightened, our roles as educators and leaders become even more important. Our mission reminds us to foster a nurturing environment that encourages understanding, dialogue, and resilience, and to model those values for our students and each other.

During unsettled times, Heilicher’s size and strong sense of community are true assets. We know our students. We have the time to deliver academic excellence while simultaneously balancing the needs of the whole child.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024, is election day.  For Jews, it is an opportunity to enact Jeremiah’s admonition, elevating civic responsibility to sacred ritual.

Students in the middle school journalism class wrote about the Middle School Retreat in early September. They interviewed students and a teacher.

Heilicher alum and high school senior Micah Schoenberger shared his experience and message of hope for Israel at the October 7 community commemoration. Hear him speak.

Moments at Heilicher go beyond the academic content of our dual general and Jewish studies curriculum, and they truly reflect what makes Heilicher unique — our commitment to cultivating curious minds and nurturing Jewish roots. Our refreshed mission, vision, and values reflect this commitment.

With the most significant Jewish holidays taking place in October, this month naturally lends itself to reflection, intention-setting, and renewal — perfectly aligning with the start of a new school year filled with growth and learning.

October is likely to bring a wide range of emotions for our community, and, as always, Heilicher will be here as a steady source of support and compassion, keeping our students’ and families’ well-being at the center of everything we do.

As we reflect and look inward during these days, finding ways to cope with grief and trauma is essential.

This summer, I found great insight in Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, which explores the shift from “play-based childhoods” to today’s “phone-based childhoods.” Haidt highlights how this dramatic change has affected children’s social and neurological development, leading to issues like sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social comparison, and perfectionism. His call to action resonated deeply with me, as it aligns closely with our vision at Heilicher to help our students gain the readiness they need to thrive. To achieve this, we will need your support.

Heilicher alum Eitan Weinstein (class of 2016) exemplifies Heilicher’s mission to cultivate lifelong learners and community leaders as he completes his undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania.

As we close the school year, I’m prompted to reflect on the past nine months. A highlight for me was the incredible welcome our community offered to three families who sought refuge in Minnesota after fleeing the Hamas attacks in Israel. Far from home, Heilicher was able to offer a safe and inclusive space for these children.

The start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7 hurt our community members but strengthened our community. It even grew our community, bringing families to Heilicher during the uncertainty of the first months of fighting.

The Smadja family is one such family that came to Heilicher to find safety, normalcy, and community. Dana Smadja attended Heilicher from first to fourth grade, 1987 to 1991, and brought her children to join fourth grade and kindergarten this last fall.

Just like too many sweets, too much screen time can wreak havoc with kids. How do we maintain a healthy balance when digital media is increasingly embedded in our children’s lives?

At Heilicher, we have a new offering to help prepare students to navigate the digital world: the Digital Citizenship Program.

The principle of sh’mirat haguf (safeguarding the body) underscores the importance of holistic care for both the mind and the body. The progression of the role and responsibilities of school nurses, especially here at Heilicher, exemplifies our collective commitment to promoting comprehensive well-being. It aligns with the concept of sh’mirat haguf by ensuring our educational practices encompass the nurturing of both mental and physical health.

Transitioning from the past, when a visit to the school nurse often entailed receiving minor first aid or a call home, the scope of the school nurse’s role has significantly broadened.

Families who don’t have kids enrolled at Heilicher really are missing out!

While the new year is only a few weeks old, classes for the fall of 2024 are already filling up. What is driving this demand for Heilicher?

One of our greatest strengths has been our ability to create a safe and secure space for our students and faculty as tensions rise worldwide in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

These events have sparked widespread concerns about the safety and well-being of Jewish students who may face bigotry and threats of physical harm. In response to these challenges, I want to share my perspective and our efforts here at Heilicher.

This week's parashah (Torah portion) is Vayishlach, which is about Jacob and Esav reuniting. The night before the meeting, Jacob wrestled with an angel who blessed him and changed his name from Jacob to Israel. That moment in this parashah was really the creation of Israel. Now 3,000 years later we find ourselves in a new struggle. Israel is at war, and there is a rise in antisemitism in our country and across the world. In response to this new struggle, two weeks ago I went with my mom and my brother to the rally in D.C. to support Israel and also to call for bringing home the hostages and fight against antisemitism.

As head of school, I’m committed to fostering genuine engagement with education by integrating real-world experiences. The benefits of experiential learning are numerous.

This summer, we launched our Student and Teacher Resource Team under the guidance of experienced psychotherapist Beth Shapiro. Rather than “blow up” what we had in place, we’ve opted to “glow up” as we move students out of the pandemic’s survival mode and help them thrive by offering a proactive and nurturing environment.

Buchbinder is a 19-year-old St. Louis Park native who spent his summer in Israel as a contestant on Ninja Israel — Israel’s version of the U.S. television show American Ninja Warrior. He appeared in the fifth season’s premiere episode on Jan. 8 as the only American competitor.

Eighth-grade students coded a virtual tour, celebrating their favorite parts of Heilicher before they graduated. Join Laila S. and Revaya D. as they show you around! Press your space bar to start.

Summer is the perfect time to read! Heilicher librarian Mrs. Cook shared some book recommendations, including lists curated by Heilicher students, so students can read books recommended by their peers.

Earlier this week, I participated in what turned out to be one of the best meetings of all time. I had the pleasure of meeting with Heilicher Minneapolis Day School students Caleb and Ashie Gruenberg in their capacity as Heads of School for the day. They came prepared.

Shannon and I had a truly life-changing experience in Israel with the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.

Grandparents are among our best Heilicher volunteers! We chatted with grandparents Julie and Scott London.

On Thursday, March 2, on behalf of the Minnesota Association of Independent Schools, Director of General Studies Jackie Smith testified in front of the Minnesota House of Representatives Education Finance Committee in support of a bill that would expand state funding for mental health support in independent schools like Heilicher.

From an early age, Rivka Buchbinder (Heilicher ’12) knew she wanted to be an educator. Her mom was a teacher, and Rivka fondly remembers the connections she had with her teachers at Heilicher.

“My Heilicher teachers really inspired me to want to teach,” Rivka said. “I want to be able to connect with students on a personal level like they did. They always made learning fun and exciting."

Heilicher alum Leah Shapiro (Heilicher ’08) is redefining debate — what it looks like, what it sounds like, and, most importantly, who can participate. She created My Voice Matters, a debate camp with programs for pre-K through tenth-grade students, with the concept that all children deserve to be heard and feel empowered to share their ideas.

Heilicher alum Leah Shapiro (Heilicher ’08) is redefining debate — what it looks like, what it sounds like, and, most importantly, who can participate. She created My Voice Matters, a debate camp with programs for pre-K through tenth-grade students, with the concept that all children deserve to be heard and feel empowered to share their ideas.

Heilicher's fifth grade planned a mitzvah day and brought together 170+ people, collected 180+ food items for donation, and made 200 mitzvah bags for those in need. They raised $453 to distribute to Sharsheret cancer research, Hadassah children's hospitals, and the Animal Humane Society. Fifth-grade student Mia M. shared her experience working on the event.

The Buksteins, Heilicher’s Annual Fund Grandparent Co-Chairs, have seen the school grow from the beginning. Their youngest daughter, Cari Rohe, graduated from Heilicher in 1994, 10 years after the school was founded. Now four of their Minnesota grandchildren attend Heilicher — the fifth will start kindergarten next year.

Ms. Vlodover, science teacher/makerspace educator, and Hamorah Hadassah, Hebrew and Jewish studies teacher, collaborated for a STEAM Jewish studies project with Heilicher's kindergarteners and first graders. The project combined coding and robotics with the holiday Sukkot.

Welcome to Heilicher 5, a Heilicher news show made by and for Heilicher students. The middle school crew works on screen and behind the scenes to cover a variety of topics appealing to both middle and lower school students. Keep up with news and insights from Heilicher middle schoolers here.

Gabe Segal (Heilicher ’01) graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a master’s degree in industrial engineering and has developed a career in the financial sector.

“When it came time to decide on volunteer work, I wanted to get involved in something that had personal meaning to me,” Gabe said. “Heilicher gave me a great foundational education during an important period of my life. Giving back to the school was something I wanted to do.

In May, Heilicher parent Dr. Simone Ahuja worked with our middle school students on the topic of food injustice. She led the sixth-eighth graders in an interactive session about “frugal innovation,” an approach to problem solving that isn’t dependent on resources or titles.

With Purim coming this week, now is the perfect time to make a grager! This activity is an example of the types of projects students at Heilicher do in our Makerspace. The Makerspace, which opened in 2018, is a self-directed workspace where kindergarteners can tinker, try solutions, collaborate, and problem solve with one another. The hands-on character of the Makerspace provides a “creative playground” where students can explore materials and learn by doing.

Ron Garber (Heilicher ’92) and June Cheng's first child, Yael (Yaya) was born in 2015 and was diagnosed with 4H Leukodystrophy (4HL).They created the Yaya Foundation in 2018 to pursue research and treatments for children with 4HL.

Seventh-grade students researched and wrote essays on Minnesota issues and presented their ideas to Minnesota State Representative Cheryl Youakim on Monday, February 14. She listened, asked questions, and gave advice to the presenters. Then, she had a Q&A session with the students, helping them to understand the role state representatives play in helping Minnesota be a great state to live. Student Revaya D. wrote about the experience.

Each year when we celebrate MLK Day, we focus on a new theme, and this year we studied food justice.

Welcome to Heilicher 5, a Heilicher news show made by and for Heilicher students. Amichai D., Shimshy K., Avital K., Sky L., Hannah L., and Leah S. work on screen and behind the scenes to cover a variety of topics appealing to both middle and lower school students. Keep up with news and insights from Heilicher middle schoolers here.

My name is Ilena Marron, and I have been a teacher at Heilicher for almost 20 years teaching third and fourth grade. This year, I took on the fun and new challenge of being the Makerspace Educator and the Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator for Heilicher. I am loving both roles. I am also a parent of two children at Heilicher; one child is in fifth grade, and the other is in third. It has been so special to see my children thrive at a place I love to work. Below is a STEAM activity you can do with your kids. It is fun and easy (important) and can lead to more exploration.

When one of my students asks me, “Why do we light the hanukiah this way?” or “How long should my candles burn for?” my answer is often, “It depends on who you ask.”

Getting the vaccine at Heilicher was a great experience for many reasons. For example, Farrah and I both noticed how all of the faculty there were very kind to all of the kids, especially the younger ones who were scared and nervous to get the shot. For me, Ryan, I noticed how quick and easy the whole process was.

Heilicher alumnus Adam Ward has taken his passion for art and learning to new levels with LEGO® bricks and a new book. 

Need to keep your kids busy and having fun this fall?  We have a few ideas for you to incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) to keep your kids creating and enjoying the best of fall.

Heilicher alumnus Ronen Pink is making a difference by manufacturing face shields for local health care organizations, nursing homes, and other non profits.

Heilicher alumna Julia Birnberg has found multipe ways to merge her passion for Israel activism with her interests in business and entrepreneurship. 

Zachariah and Emmanuelle Sippy are Heilicher alumni living Jewishly and making a difference in their community.

Meet Carly Joseph (Heilicher '17), who co-wrote and produced a play about a Holocaust survivor.

Heilicher alumna Lily Harris talks about her day school experience and how it positively influenced her outlook and current career in fashion design.

Read Yoni's eighth-grade graduation speech in week seven of Heilicher@Home Shared Journey. 

Read the update from Head of School Yoni Binus in week six of Heilicher@Home Shared Journey. 

Read the update from Head of School Yoni Binus in week five of Heilicher@Home Shared Journey. 

In a recent third grade assignment, students were given the task of writing a letter to an essential worker. Read their words of gratitude and encouragement. 

Read the update from Head of School Yoni Binus in week four of Heilicher@Home Shared Journey. 

Read the update from Head of School Yoni Binus in week three of Heilicher@Home Shared Journey. 

One of the hallmarks of the Heilicher experience is the eighth grade capstone project. The capstone assignment is an interdisciplinary project where students explore a social justice issue of their own choosing. Heilicher eighth grader Josh B. shares below about his experience with this milestone project.

Read the update from Head of School Yoni Binus in week two of Heilicher@Home Shared Journey. 

This spring, Heilicher teamed up with the Sabes JCC to connect community senior citizens with Heilicher students. The goal of this program is to help seniors and students feel less alone during these times of social isolation. Heilicher seventh-grader Andrew S. shares about his experience. 

Heilicher alumna and current parent Arielle Kaufman shares about reconnecting with her MJDS first-grade class during this time of distancing.

Monday, January 27 is the start of the new Jewish month of Sh’vat. Rosh Chodesh, which literally translated means “head of the month,” marks the beginning of each new Hebrew month. In honor of the moon, here are a few STEAM activities you can do with your children at home. 

Developing good study habits at home is an important part of school success. It takes some time and effort, but can help ease the stressors of the school year. Read more from Heilicher General Studies Teacher Polly Holzman. 

Many parents send their children to Heilicher so that they can learn about Judaism and develop their Jewish identities. At the same time, parents sometimes express concern about whether our children are living “in a bubble”. Are we preparing them for the diverse world they will inhabit?

One way that we bridge these differences is through our third grade exchange between Heilicher and Good Shepherd Catholic School. 

Heilicher alumna Julia Birnberg (Heilicher ‘12) is no stranger to Jewish community leadership. A rising senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has already distinguished herself as a pro-Israel student activist and campus leader. We had the opportunity to interview Julia this past summer about her activism and how Heilicher assisted in shaping her Jewish identity. 

Ms. Divine loves being a teacher at Heilicher, especially a math teacher. From designing summer camps, to building with noodles Ms. Divine knows how to make math fun. 

In honor of the High Holidays, fall and all things apples, we wanted to share some of our favorite apple STEAM activities you can easily do with your child. All you need are a few household items and a few moments of free time. 

Sixth graders had the opportunity to review the basics of the Tishrei holidays with Rabbi Max Davis and learn a few new things.

New this year, on Monday mornings, we will have an All-School T’filah (prayer) service in the Dolly and Edward Fiterman Theatre. Our students will chant Torah each week. We’ll celebrate birthdays and milestones. And we’ll have a place to pray, whether that means working on our character, connecting with God, reflecting and/or rejoicing. 

As a gift to her eighth-grade class for graduation, Ms. Weiss gathered student reflections and crafted them into a poem. These words of inspiration will stay with her students for years to come.

How is olive oil made? Do green and black olives come from different trees? What is the difference between a Menorah and a Hanukiah? These are just some of the questions that were posed this past week when the first grade class came to the Makerspace with Hamorah Nechamit to learn about making olive oil.

Cooking together can be fun and rewarding for parents and their littles. For a tasty treat check out this apple kugel recipe. 

Linda Gilfix, grandmother of three Heilicher graduates, Ethan ‘14, Ryan ‘16, and Justin Kadet ‘18, is thrilled to share her strong connection with Heilicher and her pride in her grandsons’ futures.

Heilicher alumnus Daniel Vinitsky returned to his alma mater to assist with the Grade 7/8 play.

Matan Appelbaum shares his fondest memories of Heilicher.

Every year the Heilicher eighth grade class goes on a trip to Washington, D.C. To me, this trip is a highlight of the Heilicher experience. 

Sharon and Bill Hope are remarkable, longtime Jewish community members in both Minneapolis and Boynton Beach, Florida. They are Minnesota natives who raised their three children in Minnetonka and are proud grandparents of three Heilicher alumni. Read more about their family's Heilicher experience.

We are well into our second trimester of Wellness Wednesday classes, and during this session I have had the pleasure of working with First Grade Teacher Susan Vlodaver and 15 students from grades 1-4 in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) challenges stemming from popular fairy tales. The first two, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and “Three Billy Goats’ Gruff,” yielded the two challenges below. After hearing the stories, students were asked to plan and build a solution in teams of two and three. 

This year, why not opt-out of the holiday buying game altogether? Imagine no more trying to find a parking spot at the MOA, waiting in interminable lines at the stores, and trying to make room in your house for yet another gadget or toy. How about instead, you give a few meaningful gifts that will last? 

Each year at the Heilicher Annual Benefit, one of the auction items available is “Head of School for the Day.” This year featured seventh grader Emma S. Check out her reflections on what it was like.

The Heilicher Girls on the Run (GOTR) 5K is happening this Sunday, November 12. Our Grades 3-5 GOTR team is excited for a fun morning to showcase what they’ve been doing this fall. See what the coaches have to say about their experiences this year. 

Since enrolling her three children at Heilicher in 2009, one of the things parent Ann Kaner-Roth has always been grateful for is the school's intentionality around recognizing the important day of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.