Ma Koreh   /What’s Happening?
Weekly CJDS Newsletter
D’var Kesher from Rabbi Jay Moses,
Vice President of The Wexner Foundation, CJDS Board Member and Parent of two CJDS students
January 24, 2019/18 Shevat, 5779
Parashat Yitro, Exodus 18:1 - 20:23

D'VAR KESHER: Why Choose CJDS?
Greetings!

All of the things that make CJDS special stem from the best aspects of what it means to be Jewish. If you can answer the question “What do you love most about being Jewish?” your answer will almost certainly be on the list of things that make CJDS a great choice for any family on a Jewish journey.

First is the nurturing environment at CJDS. To be Jewish is to be loved and cared for, whether by your parents or grandparents, your synagogue or your summer camp. CJDS and its faculty and staff create that same kind of loving and nurturing environment for each child.
Intellectual rigor: we are the people of the book! CJDS students are taught to be critical and curious thinkers, and they arrive at middle school equal to or ahead of their peers from other schools. Across the rich and integrated curriculum from math, language arts, science, and social studies visual arts, music, P.E., environmental education, along with Jewish textual studies, Hebrew instruction, and Tefilah/joyful reflective prayer and reflection, our students develop not only the knowledge but the skills to use and apply knowledge to new situations. They ask big questions and think deeply to explore real world dilemmas.
Community: when we gather for Kabbalat Shabbat or holidays or other gatherings, it’s like coming together with an extended family. CJDS students, families, staff, and faculty are there to celebrate joys and comfort each other through sorrows, as all good Jewish communities do. Our community extends to the entire Jewish people, including a special connection to Israel, another thing many of us love about being Jewish.
Food! Many of us have especially fond Jewish memories of latkes, gefilte fish, brisket, and kugel. Well… maybe CJDS can’t achieve every aspect of what we love about being Jewish—but there is at least Challah and grape juice every week!!
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Spirituality: to explore the ideas and texts of Jewish tradition is to open the pathway to a relationship with God, with our ancestors, and to the values that inspire us to improve our world. CJDS is a place where children develop the tools that will support their spiritual quest for life in ways that feel authentic to who they are.
If there is something you love about being Jewish that is not covered here, share it with the CJDS staff—if my kids’ experience is any guide, CJDS will have it covered!

Shabbat shalom,
Jay
2019-2020 Update!
CURRENT STUDENTS:
Re-enrollment contracts for the 2019-20 school year will be mailed and emailed to all current families in grades K-5 on March 1.

Families who are interested in tuition assistance, please submit your SSS application no later than February 15. Don’t wait until the last minute. You can access it now and get it done early. We have aligned the schedule of deadlines so that families can see financial aid decisions reflected on their contracts.

NEW STUDENTS:
We are currently accepting applications. February 4 is our submission deadline for new students entering CJDS in the fall of 2019. Interested families can begin the application process now by visiting the "APPLY" tab on our website: www.cjds.org.
LOOKING AHEAD
JANUARY
Sunday, January 27: Tu B'Shevat PJ Library Birthday of the Trees with CJDS & CTA at the Franklin Park Conservatory 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY
Friday, February 1: Professional Development Day NO STUDENTS
Friday, February 8: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (3rd/4th Grade Leading) 1:40 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
Friday, February 15: President’s Weekend NO SCHOOL
Monday, February 18: President’s Day NO SCHOOL
Friday, February 22: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (1st Grade Leading) 1:40 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Wednesday, February 27: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 28: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

MARCH
Monday, March 11: Faculty Work Day NO STUDENTS
Thursday, March 14: 1st Grade Hagigat Hasefer 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Friday, March 15: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (2nd Grade Leading) 1:40 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Thursday, March 21: Purim Parade and Megillah Reading 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Friday, March 29: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (Music Theme) 1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
LIVING OUR MISSION
CJDS CLUBS
Lunch & Recess Clubs
  • MONDAY RECESS: Dance Club with Ms. AG & Katie Feldstein
  • TUESDAY LUNCH: Israel/Hebrew Club with Lin Raveh - Israeli Shlicha
  • WEDNESDAY LUNCH: Tzedakah Club with Susan Couden & Rabbi Sharon Barr Skolnik
  • THURSDAY RECESS: Journalism Club with Dr. Denae D'Arcy
  • FRIDAY RECESS: Choir with Angelo Dunlap
NEW TZEDAKAH CLUB PROJECT
CJDS's Tzedakah Club is excited to be starting a new project, as we will be creating "Blessing bags" to hand out to those in need throughout our Columbus community.

In an effort to create beautiful, full bags, we are looking for donations of the following items in as large quantities as we are able to collect:
  • Socks (adult)
  • Granola/protein bars
  • Hand warmers
  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • Soap
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Ziploc bags

Thank you so much for any and all donations that you are able to make - this will help our children use their hands to make change and experience the feeling of bringing light and warmth to those who are most in need in our community.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
MONDAY: Theater Club with Giselle Siegel, Artistic Director of the JCC Gallery Players
TUESDAY: Tennis for students 10 and Under (K-5th grade)

NEW DATES: January 8– February 26 (No Class 2/19)
 7 weeks of fun!
LIFECYCLES
LIFECYCLES In our community, at every point, our families are perpetually entering new stages in their lives. In keeping with the tradition of living Jewishly, CJDS acknowledges, honors, and celebrates these moments: Births, B’nei Mitzvah, graduations, marriages, and in moments of illness, healing and loss.
MAZAL TOV!
To Gavi Zelkowicz pictured here holding her new cousin Jonah Dylan Beckett Hyman - Crowell (Dec 23, 7lbs 14oz , 20.5”) in Boston!
To CJDS Speech Pathologist, Jennifer Swetnam and her husband on the birth of their new baby boy - Henry Mathew Swetnam!
HAKARAT HATOV
The Hebrew term for gratitude is הַכָּרַת הַטוֹב (Hakarat HaTov), which means "recognizing the good."

To Rabbi Sharon Barr Skolnik, Judaic Studies Teacher and Julie Ecker, General Studies Teacher for their dedication, direction and guidance. 

To Ron Alderson, Susan Couden, Angelo Dunlap, Katie Feldstein, Jenny Glick, Yehudit Kanfer, Jessi Kohl, Eran Rosenberg, Kerry Selfinger and Sandy Solove for their assistance in preparation for the second grade Siddur Ceremony.
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. 

We wish our dear CJDS friend and community volunteer, Steve Shkolnik, a speedy recovery.

We wish a speedy recovery to our colleague Carey Herzberg of the JCC New Albany Preschool.
KESHER: CJDS Parent Organization
CJDS Mom's Night Out!

Check out these beautiful keepsakes our CJDS moms made at Board and Brush for their homes and they had a great night out together.
Kesher parents are already looking forward to planning the next night out!
HOT LUNCH
As in the past, we are so grateful to all the help from the community members - grandparents, friends, parents, and others – on whom we rely to serve hot lunch to our students. Our volunteers bring such a warmth and love to our students and we love having all of you! In order to make this sign-up process even more smooth this year, we would love each family (any family member or friend) to sign up for two dates during the whole year to serve lunch. It can be a parent, a grandparent, a special friend - anyone who is interested in spending time with our wonderful students and serving them food.
KESHER
CJDS is proud to have a Parent Organization called Kesher (Hebrew for "connection"). Kesher has a team of grade representatives led by a president.

Kesher is responsible for the CJDS Hot Lunch program, social gatherings outside of school, teacher appreciation, the CJDS Chesed committee and more! To get involved, please be in touch HERE.
Hot Lunch server responsibilities include:

11:15 a.m.: Arrive at CJDS
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Set out the plates and assemble lunches
12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m.: Students arrive for lunch at 12:00 p.m. and we help serve the lunch to those who have ordered.
Help with cleaning up and conclude by 1:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
QUICK LINKS