On Monday, each grade came together to celebrate Tu BiShvat, the Jewish holiday observed on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat, which honors nature, roots, and renewal. Students enjoyed eating fruits traditionally grown in Israel and participated in hands-on, joyful, and thoughtful learning. They explored Tu BiShvat not just as a holiday on the calendar but by discussing how to act responsibly and build meaningful connections to tradition, to one another, and to the environment.

We are deeply grateful to our Hebrew and Judaic Studies teachers, whose creativity and dedication brought the holiday to life through teaching, decorating, planting, and celebrating together. Their work created a beautiful day of wonder, reflection, and joy on campus.

One highlight of the day was when Grade 5 students became expert food critics, sampling the Shivat HaMinim (the Seven Species). Students were challenged to move beyond simple reactions like “yum” or “yuck” and instead use rich, descriptive vocabulary to articulate each food’s taste, texture, smell, and appearance, and rated each item on a five-star scale.