One of the evening’s highlights was the audience’s participation; everyone got involved, cheering each other on and joining in the spirit of positivity that the book embodies. It truly felt like a room full of encouragement and connection. 

 Tiny Pep Talks is a refreshing reminder to celebrate life’s small victories and find joy in the everyday. I highly recommend this book as it’s both hilarious and deeply motivating. I’m already looking forward to the next release, the Tiny Pep Talks: For Teachers, which promises even more inspiration tailored to educators.

One highlight of the afternoon was a science activity inspired by the symbolic Tashlich tradition. In this experiment, students dropped cubes of baking soda into vinegar, resulting in a fizzing chemical reaction. This visual display represented the act of letting go of the old – much like the traditional casting off sins into flowing water.

The fourth graders also explored the concept of density with a sweet twist. Using honey, oil, and water, they observed how these liquids interacted, discovering how each one layers based on its density. The experiment also linked back to the holiday symbolism of honey, representing a sweet start to the new year.

The grand finale was a structural challenge: building mini sukkot out of marshmallows and other materials. Each group designed and constructed their own sukkah, testing its strength and stability against simulated desert storms. This activity highlighted their creativity and engineering skills, as well as the PYP’s focus on fostering open-minded, reflective learners.

This afternoon of science and cultural connection allowed the students to deepen their understanding of both key scientific concepts and the rich traditions that inspire community and reflection—hallmarks of the IB approach to education.

Ally St. Pierre is admissions and marketing manager at Strelitz International Academy.

Strelitz International Academy, in partnership with the Simon Family JCC, will present Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Let Grow movement and author of Free-Range Kids, for an engaging event at the Simon Family JCC. Skenazy, who has been a leading voice in promoting independence for children, will share insights from her groundbreaking book and discuss how schools, parents, and communities can empower young learners to develop resilience, confidence, and autonomy.

 Skenazy gained notoriety after writing about her decision to let her nine-year-old son navigate New York City’s subway system alone. This bold parenting choice earned her the title of “America’s Worst Mom” from some critics, but also sparked a national conversation about how much freedom and responsibility children should be given. Out of this debate grew the Free-Range Kids movement, which advocates for giving kids more independence to explore the world at their own pace, without unnecessary restrictions or fear. 

 As the founder of Let Grow, Skenazy leads efforts to promote childhood independence, with a focus on shifting how schools and parents think about safety and growth. The Let Grow movement encourages initiatives such as ‘Let Grow Projects’ in schools, where children take on challenges independently, helping them build problem-solving skills, responsibility, and self-confidence.

 During her talk, Skenazy will delve into how these ideas can be integrated into both home and educational settings such as Strelitz International Academy. SIA is particularly excited to have her speak, as the school recently partnered with the Let Grow movement in its efforts to foster a culture of independence among the Primary Years (PY) students.

All community members, parents, and educators are invited to attend this event. It promises to be a thought-provoking discussion, filled with practical advice and a new perspective on raising confident, capable kids. 

Ally St. Pierre is the admissions and marketing manager for Strelitz International Academy.

This beach cleanup is just one of the many activities organized by the SIA Mitzvah Club. Highlights of the past year include:

• Donating 24 honey jars and heartfelt cards to homebound seniors for Rosh Hashanah, bringing sweetness and joy to those who might otherwise feel isolated during the holiday.
• Contributing approximately 500 bottles of water to the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center, helping to provide essential hydration to those in need.
• Collecting and donating 100 winter coats, ensuring that many could stay warm during the colder months.
• Gathering and distributing 300 books to REACH, promoting literacy and the love of reading among children.
• Raising and donating $268 to the Benjamin Goldberg Foundation, supporting important causes and research.
  

The SIA Mitzvah Club’s commitment to service and community reflects the core Jewish value of “Gemilut Chasadim” — acts of loving-kindness. Through their various projects, club members demonstrate that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

In addition to making the oceanfront a cleaner place, the beach cleanup reinforced the importance of community service and the power of collective action. The Mitzvah Club’s efforts remind all that when people come together with a shared purpose, the world can be made a better place for everyone.

Strelitz International Academy is Tidewater’s Community Jewish Day School serving infants through grade 5. To learn more about the school, go to https://strelitzinternationalacademy.org/. Ally St. Pierre is admissions and marketing manager for Strelitz International Academy.

To start this lesson, Ricks introduced the story to her students as well as the adapted song version sung by The Kiboomers. Since the text is predictable and the rhythm is catchy, the students developed creative-thinking skills to dramatize the story over a few days. Ricks focused on the prepositions in the story such as over, under, and through. Next, the students made a list of what they might need in each scenario, and together they analyzed the list and started preparing. Each child designed their own binoculars and a map to navigate to the cave. Maps included the elements mentioned in the story such as tall wavy grass, a big river, mud and, of course, their end location; a cave.

Outside of the classroom, Ricks set up each site. The first scene was ‘tall wavy grass,’ where students enjoyed pushing through green streamers. Next there was a ‘big river,’ and with the help of blue streamers, students had to “swim” their way through. The third obstacle was mud. To create this scene, Ricks used a sensory table and brown paper which hid colorful Baby Bear Counters. As students sorted through the ‘mud,’ they counted and collected the bears they found, which tied in their math skills. And finally, what is a bear hunt without a bear? Students made their way to a ‘dark cave’ where two stuffed bears were waiting. Just like the story, the kids spotted the bears and ran all the way back to their classroom.

Teaching students to go beyond the book is SIA’s approach. It starts in the Early Years program and follows students throughout their educational journey.

The Strelitz International Academy is the community’s Jewish Day School and International Baccalaureate® World School for infants through grade 5. For more information, contact Ally St. Pierre, admissions and marketing manager, at 757-424-4327, ext. 4188 or astpierre@strelitzacademy.org.