family focus

Books from page 69

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6911 Orchard Lake Rd I On the Boardwalk
248.855.8000

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With a heavy heart,
and many emotions, I have decided
to close Peek-A-Bootique.
It's time for me and my family to
move in a new direction ... literally!
As we are moving to California,
it's time to close this chapter in my life.

After an incredible 6 years, it's hard
for me to say goodbye. I've come to
know you and your family, and have
enjoyed watching your children grow.
One of my greatest pleasures at
Peek-A-Bootique is watching the little
ones try on new clothes, look in the
mirror, and love what they see.
I'll miss that most of all.

"It is so amazing that the Akiva
teams have consistently won the top
honors among all of the schools that
have been represented:' said Sue
Barash, the school's media specialist
and an Akiva parent who managed
Page Ten, her son Yoni's Battle of the
Books team this year. All of our teams
showed a tremendous amount of dedi-
cation for this special event. Students
met after school and even during their
lunch time to practice every week:'
A reading incentive program, Battle
of the Books began as a radio show
in Chicago in the 1930s, and now
involves students throughout the
United States. Classroom teachers,
reading specialists and library media
specialists choose the books, includ-
ing classics, award-winners and new
favorites at various reading levels
within in each grade category, and
write the competition questions.
"We read for many reasons: pleasure,
information, to be entertained, to better
ourselves:' said Teri Giannetti, Akiva
K-8 principal. "Battle of the Books is
designed to promote a love of reading.
It encourages students to read a variety
of books and remember information
about the plots, characters and settings.
Our students learn to love the books

and read for details. Whether they
placed in the competition or not, they
were all winners, and we are proud of
each one of our Akiva students:'
Not a school school-sponsored
event, Battle of the Books is open to
students living in or going to school
in Southfield or Lathrup Village, or
attending a school with those cities'
residents.
Members of each team were
assigned specific books to read, to
become their books' team "expert"
and attended meetings to discuss their
books and strategies.
"The kids were very respectful of
each other's expertise said Susan
Schulman of West Bloomfield, man-
ager of Cooler Than U. "[Co-manager]
Rebecca Klausner [of Southfield]
really encouraged practicing as a
whole team. Despite the price of gas,
she made extra efforts to drive kids to
and from practice sessions between
three suburbs.
"Some kids read two to four books;
some read all seven, but they were
kind and listened to each other, shar-
ing responsibilities for reading and
answering questions, too. They are
already planning what to put on their
T-shirts for next year:' ❑

Please come iv% & i-otke

6t)(Y OFF

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First-place Middle School Challenge winners Word Girls are Akiva students
Chloe Abrams, 12, of Oak Park, Zoe Korelitz, 11, of Huntington Woods, Atara
Kresch, 11, of Oak Park, Sarah Philips, 11, of West Bloomfield and Anna
Warshay, 12, of Oak Park.

I'd like to thank you personally for

all your support and patronage at

Peek-A-Bootique over the years.

Melt‘fi ot

Cvi\ die stnees,
stity 1 56- 2. Gee

FREE!!

-Pi-s

OFF ,

1831780

70

April 25 • 2013

Second-place Middle School Challenge winners Rock 'N' Read team: Akiva
students, Elisheva Apap and Ethan Adler, both of Southfield, and Yair
Hyman of Oak Park, all 11, with Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and City
Treasurer Iry Lowenberg.