Our class read about Ein Ganim school, and we would like to share about our elementary schools in Oregon. In our third grade classes, we begin at 8:30 a.m. At recess, boys and girls both play sports. At recess we can do anything appropriate, or anything that is not against the rules. We have breaks from school four times a day, including for lunch. We have homework in third grade classes.

Some of our favorite subjects in third grade are Art, Reading, P.E., Geography and Science. After school we like to play chess, soccer, roller hockey, and karate. Some of us go to Boy Scout or Girl Scout meetings.

Michal wrote us a letter asking where are some places we like to go. Elana likes to go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to see historical things like the liberty bell and our Declaration of Independence, and Betsy Ross's house (she created our first American flag.) Ashlee likes to go to California to visit an amusement part called Disneyland. Sam thinks Montana is a cool place to vacation. Spencer likes St. Louis, Missouri to visit grandparents, to see a favorite hocky team (the Blues) and to do lots of fun things in the big city.

We also have some questions.

Do girls at Ein Ganim play sports, or just the boys?

What are some historical places in Israel that you like to visit?

Do you like going to school?

What are some of Israel's accomplishments in technology?

We hope you write back.
Elana, Ashlee, Sam and Spencer

Hi again,
We were wondering abou tyour class. What countries do you study in school? Do you feel safe in Israel? Have the security problems made you change your life? do you have a winter break from school? What special activities do you do this time of the year?

We'll say again, that we wish you a safe a healthy year and a happy Hanukkah. We have dreams of peace and love and wish we knew how to make it happen.
Please write when you can.
Ashley, Rachel, Spencer, Elise, and Sara

Hi from the 3rd graders at VJCCS, the Jewish community school in Corvallis, Oregon.
On Hanukkah we get presents from our family. Some People in the United States celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Christmas is the big holiday here and most people do not know very much about Hanukkah. So as Jews we have a big Hanukkah party and many of us invite friends to our house to celebrate with our families.
At each of our houses, we light candles, eat good food such as potatoe latkes, doughnuts (sufganyot), and salad. We put sour cream and applesauce on our latkes. We also sing songs and do fun dances.

This year, Hanukkah comes at the same time as winter break, There is no school for 2 weeks. Many of us will do things with our friends and family; things like making cookies, going on vacations, visiting relatives (some come to our house and sometimes we go to their houses). We wish everyone a happy Hanukkah and a safe and healthy new year. We have dreams of peace and love and wish we knew how to make that happen.

Please write us again.
Your friends
Ashley, Rachel, Spencer, Elise and Sara at VJCCS.