Movies, Mini Mall and Must-Read Books: A Busy Week with SAR’s Parent Association

From a night at the movies to Chanukah shopping and shelves full of books, SAR Academy’s Parent Association brought the community together for a busy stretch of learning and fun.

The festivities kicked off with Kids Night Out, bringing first through fifth grade students together for a movie night in the SAR High School auditorium last Motzaei Shabbat. A big thank you to committee members Amanda Benishai, Edith Englard, Emily Zanger and Erica Zuckerman, along with PA co-chairs Jessica Jesselson and Dayna Fleisch (AC ’01), for organizing a fun evening with friends.

On Sunday, November 8, shopping bags were at the ready as the SAR Mini Mall returned to SAR High School. Presented in partnership with the SAR High School Parent Association, the annual pre-Chanukah boutique offered an afternoon of shopping, food and catching up with friends. Vendors featured everything from jewelry, Judaica and clothing to housewares, baby gifts and toys, giving shoppers plenty of options for the people on their gift lists. Cafe Demi and Izzy’s BBQ served up lunch, and a raffle added to the excitement.

At the 5th Grade Mezuzah Project booth, shopping also supported a meaningful cause. Families explored mezuzah cases designed by SAR’s STEM students for IDF bases in Israel, supported the project and had the opportunity to bring a case home for their own doorpost.

The afternoon included a chance to try something new at “A Word to Live By,” a family safrut workshop with Rabbi Barry Dov Katz. Thank you to Sharon Black for organizing this opportunity to explore the art of Jewish scribal writing together.

The fun continued at the Parent Association Book Fair, held November 9–13. Students visited with their classes throughout the week, except on Veterans Day, browsing the shelves and discovering new books. Families were invited to join in by volunteering, donating used books, supporting classroom libraries and nominating children for the Super Reader Spotlight. A special thank you to the Book Fair Team, Marisa Mahler, Jenna Statfeld Harris and Tanya Gershon, for organizing a week of book discoveries and reading fun.

Thank you to everyone who joined, shopped, volunteered and supported the PA. Your participation helped make these events possible and brought so much warmth, energy and fun to the SAR community.