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"Digging up Joy"
Dr. Gina Freeman
Director of Environmental Education and Service Learning
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D’var Kesher
September 15, 2017/ 24 Elul, 5777
Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech
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Deuteronomy 29:9 - 31:30
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Greetings!
“I am still on an emotional high from today!!! One young man from the Bhutanese- Nepali community center (BNCC), a teenager named Chris, helped me every time I turned around, he was there. He was such a mensch. And little Kim, another BNCC member, wanted to know when we would be back again. Our community made an impact and really showed that we care.”
This is an excerpt from an email I wrote to my CJDS colleagues after our amazing clean-up event this past Sunday, with the Bhutanese-Nepali community right here in Columbus. Check out how the Columbus Dispatch featured our event!
The event brought together so many different people, values, and experiences; it demonstrated so elegantly the power and rationale behind combining environmental education with service learning. People were amazed to see that all our kids know exactly what to do when simply handed pots and pots and more pots (100) of mums and a patch of dirt. They grabbed gloves and tools and got to work, side by side their Bhutanese-Nepali peers.
Many schools have one or the other, but very few are systematically combining both. It all came together for me in 2015, after a personal and professional spiritual learning workshop experience at the Pearl Stone Conference Center in Baltimore. That was when I saw clearly how CJDS’ richly integrated curriculum could be used to connect the constellation of three profound values we teach at CJDS: Shomrei Adamah (caretakers of the earth), Ma’achil Re’eivim (feeding the hungry) and Kibud Zaken (honoring elders).
So the merging of the two areas didn’t sprout overnight. It has taken over a decade of learning, experimentation, collaboration, networking, and more learning from others in the field, to eventually see how visiting with elders, planting vegetables, getting your hands dirty, interviewing Veterans, learning what a “sit-spot” is and how to use it, and watching butterflies emerge from their chrysalis, are really all very connected.
CJDS is launching a number of new initiatives right now, and Environmental Education and Service Learning is front and center. I am thrilled to share with you the story of our program below: how it started, where we are today, and the direction in which we are headed. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or if you are interested in getting in the dirt with us, I’d love to hear from you!
gfreeman@cjds.org
Shabbat shalom!
Gina
Dr. Gina Freeman
Director of Environmental Education and Service Learning
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Past Seeds Planted
- Gardening at CJDS began in 2005 as a way for me to remember my parents and then in 2009 the Wasserstrom Family created an Endowment at the Columbus Jewish Foundation to remember Cheri Beth Wasserstrom, the Butterfly Garden was created in her memory to keep her adventurous spirit among us.
- Project LINK, carefully guided encounters between CJDS students and the elderly at Wexner Heritage Village (WHV) has existed since the beginning of our school, and more recently in partnership with rabbinical leadership at WHV. Students engage in experiential simulations to learn appropriate and compassionate interaction with seniors. A carefully designed curriculum prepares children right from Kindergarten for respectful and dignified encounters with elders. For example, students are given glasses with Vaseline to simulate cataracts; they wear heavy gloves to gain understanding of arthritis.
- In 2009, we earned Ohio Department of Education’s “Wild School Site” certification which indicates that our outdoor areas are used thoughtfully and intentionally as classroom spaces.
- Just last year, we were featured in OSU’s Extension Newsletter and web site as a “best practice” program. See: https://farmtoschool.osu.edu/2017/01/30/columbus-jewish-day-school-donates-their-garden-bounty-through-delicious-soup/
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Current Harvests
- Each CJDS grade now has its own raised garden bed which allows them to have ownership of their piece of land. Presently, they are learning and gaining hands-on experience as they prepare for Fall “Cold Crop” Gardening and sustainable agriculture practices connected to Judaism.
- This year, thanks to expanded grants and programming, Yarok Together becomes Giving Gardens and Project Link (after 8 years) becomes Better Together.
- We have just completed Outdoor Tasting Classroom – “Ta’Am Tea”
- Just last week, on September 8, 2017, 15 guests from all over Central Ohio joined us as part of an OSU Extension program that selected CJDS as an environmental education best practice site to visit.
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Future Crops
- We plan to share 1000 pounds of produce during the “Giving Garden Club” Program by the end of this academic year, 2017-18.
- We have advanced to the final stage of decision for a $19,000 EPA Grant, which would enhance our pond by adding fish, surrounding vegetation, educational consulting from Wetland experts, and field trips for all grades to explore wetlands locally and at Stone Lab at Lake Erie for 5th and 6th Grades. And we are working on a supplemental grant if funded to fully fund this project, for additional $10,000 that is needed.
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Pictured Above: G
uests from all over Central Ohio joined us as part of an OSU Extension program that selected CJDS as an environmental education best practice site to visit.
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Pictured Above: We always enjoy the morning fitness smiles, exercise, and friendships.
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Pictured Above: During the month of Elul, we blow the Shofar everyday! If your child has a shofar at home, they are encouraged to bring it in on Monday for a communal Shofar experience!
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Pictured Above: The 5th & 6th graders visited the Scioto Audubon Park today. They had a blast conquering the many obstacle courses and checking out the nature center.
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During their Rosh Hashanah Unit, the CJDS Kindergarteners sorted apples, examined weight equivalency, and even took a taste test of a variety of different apples. The results of the taste test were then charted and displayed in the classroom. The most popular variety among the students was the Ginger Gold apple. Through this experience, students connected math and science to their Jewish studies.
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Coming up next week... On Monday, bring your Shofar to school!
On Monday, students will experience a communal Shofar blowing. We encourage children to bring their shofar to school to share and celebrate the upcoming new year! The celebration continues on Tuesday with an interactive shofar workshop (facilitated by Rabbi Kaltmann, from the Lori Schottenstein Chabad Center).
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOFAR WORKSHOP
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Click on the image above to see a full calendar of events.
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SEPTEMBER
Wed. 9/20: Rosh Hashanah Kabbalat Hag 2:40-3:20pm
Thur. 9/21 -Fri. 9/22: Rosh Hashanah NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
Fri. 9/29 Erev Yom Kippur EARLY DISMISSAL 12:00pm OFFICES CLOSE AT 12:30pm
Sat. 9/30: Yom Kippur
OCTOBER
Wed. 10/4: Sukkot Kabbalat Hag 2:40-3:20pm
Thur. 10/4 - Fri. 10/6: Sukkot NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
Mon. 10/9: Sukkot Celebration & Kite Flying 1:00-3:15pm (Kite Flying 2:45pm-3:15pm)
Wed. 10/11: Simchat Torah Kabbalat Hag 2:40-3:20pm
Thur. 10/12 - Fri. 10/13: Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
Wed. 10/18: PICTURE DAY: Wear CJDS Polo
Wed. 10/18: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00pm
Thur. 10/19: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00pm
Fri. 10/20: Professional Development Day for Faculty NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
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MAZAL TOV Isle and Pierce Grossman! We are so proud of you both!
These two Alumni (CJDS 2016) were featured in the Columbus Dispatch last Friday. The twins are now
eighth-graders at
Bexley Middle School. Through their "
Pay it Forward
" initiative, they raised over $14,000! Their goal is to help ensure that as many students as possible have the opportunity to receive the great Jewish education that they did. When we asked Pierce and Isle how they feel about their project being featured in the Columbus Dispatch, they replied, "We are thrilled and we just hope other kids will follow in our footsteps."
Check out the full text of their amazing article
HERE
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Mi Sh'berach
When a member of the CJDS family is ill or in need of healing, the entire community lends its support and its prayers for a full and complete recovery.
Bradley Rothbaum
(
Benyamin Eitan) CJDS Alumni Class of 2016.
Mazal Tov!
Mazal Tov to
Zachary Rodier
on becoming a Bar Mitzvah this past weekend at Agudas Achim!
CJDS Tribute Cards provide a thoughtful and caring gift for everyone. The income generated by every purchase enhances a child's educational experience at CJDS. You can get the All-Occasion pack year-round. It includes five pre-printed memorial cards and five pre-printed special event cards for only $90. You can also make an individual tribute gift and we will send a Tribute card to the recipient. Tribute cards require seven business days for delivery.
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The collection of
Personal Care and Beauty product waste
along with
Oral Hygiene product waste
continues to be an important Tzedakah Club initiative at CJDS!
We are encouraging our school community to NOT throw away any of these items! Please send them in with your student or drop them off at CJDS! These readily and often used items are collected and sent to
TerraCycle
by Tzedakah Club.
TerraCycle
reuses, recycles, or upcycles these items. Additionally,
TerraCycle
"pays" us per item and the money "earned" gives us the opportunity to make a difference in the world! The money CJDS collects is then donated by Tzedakah Club to non-profit organizations that help our planet and its people in countless ways!
We look forward to updating you in the future with news of how much we have collected and to which non-profit organizations we have made contributions!!
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They are just beginning to rebuild.
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The Houston Jewish Federation has produced some powerful 2 minute videos about the devastation in Houston. You can see them here:
www.houstonjewish.org.
How to help:
CJDS students are still collecting money for hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The community needs everyone's help. You can donate online
HERE.
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As you heard above in Gina's Dvar Kesher, friends and families from the Bhutanese-Nepali Community of Columbus (BNCC) and the Columbus Jewish Day School (CJDS) worked with local residents to clean up and beautify a large apartment complex that houses many refugees. The event, which took place last Sunday, featured icebreaker activities for children, as well as music and snacks from both the Bhutanese and Jewish communities. Dozens of volunteers of all ages showed up to clean, paint, weed & plant flowers in garden beds, and spread new mulch on a playground. The event was recently featured in the Columbus Dispatch. Read the full article
HERE.
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Pictured Above: Gina Freeman (Director of Environmental Education and Service Learning) with Nirmala (BNCC Community Member)
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Pictured Above: (L-R) Donna and Gordon Hecker (CJDS alumni parents) and Cantor Bat-Ami Moses (current CJDS parent)
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Pictured above: (L-R) Sudarshan Pyakurel, affectionaltely know as "Shud" (Director of the BNCC) and Dr. Z.
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Pictured above: CJDS Students and a new friend from the BNCC Community work together to spread new mulch on the community playground.
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Pictured Above: Over 100 people gathered together to help clean up and beautify a large apartment complex that houses many refugees.
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Pictured Above: (L-R) Grant Nguyen (CJDS 2015), Eran Rosenberg (CJDS
Judaic Studies Coordinator)
, Max Glick (CJDS 2007), Janine Dunmyre (CJDS Alumni Parent) and Annelyn Baron (CJDS Kindergarten Jewish Studies Teacher).
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Click on each of the active links below to learn more!
Click right now to help CJDS earn money while you shop:
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EVENTS IN & AROUND COLUMBUS
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Click on each of the links below to learn more!
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Many Schools Educate Children for a Changing World.
CJDS Educates Children Who Will Change the World.
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