Welcome to issue #4 of SDJA's
Happenings
! This is a weekly roundup of feel-good stories and visuals about our families, students, academics and community.
We also want to hear from you! If you would like to contribute a story, picture or other media to a future issue of
Happenings
, please reach out to our marketing team at
[email protected]
.
In this issue:
- This Week In Remote Learning
- Class of 2020 Senior Spotlight
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To culminate their poetry unit, the 5th
graders held a Zoom Poetry Reading event. Throughout the year, the 5th grade has studied the various types of poetry, and the art of expressing your thoughts and feelings through written word. Each student shared what they had created. You can check out some of their work below.
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Sara Hansen, English Department chair, held the first High School virtual book club this afternoon! Students discussed All The Light We Cannot See and had a fantastic discussion about the themes and messages, as well as how it relates to their lives.
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During the school year, our MUS high school
artistic
minyan students were busy studying Jewish texts, then creating artistic representations of how they interpreted those texts. This presentation showcases the many projects the students completed this year in
artistic
minyan, under the guidance of Yvonne Webber and Liz Nebo.
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Each week during MUS Kabbalat Shabbat, Rabbi Frank asks a question for participants (faculty, staff, students, parents of students) to answer in the chat. These comments are turned into wordart as a visual expression of our community's thoughts and feelings.
This week's question was,
"What are you doing to stay fit, alert, and ready to learn during this time of limited mobility?"
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Welcome to our new podcast called SDJA HomeTalks. Every week we will bring you segments created and performed by SDJA students. We will share music, opinions, news and more for your listening pleasure.
The podcast is a brainchild of the theatre classes, Stages and The Coffeehouse Project, as well as all of Mr. Tommy Collins music classes. Each week the classes work separately to produce the project together, each having separate elements that are responsible for in every episode. They research the process, produce the music, edit the segments, recruit submissions from staff, teachers, and the student body from K-12 for contributions, write copy, and record. The result is the work of about 20 students with the help of all of SDJA's talented community. This proud group of students hopes this project will keep evolving, even as we return to campus.
Check out all 5 episodes
here!
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Remote Learning With Our Littlest Lions
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This week in our Early Childhood Center, our students explored science by performing experiments with the materials they could find in their own homes.
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This week, our Littlest Lions worked on their counting skills. Our amazing ECC teachers provided instruction remotely through videos. Check them out below!
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Pizza Party With Chef Giselle Wellman
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If you're missing SDJA during this remote learning time. There are a few ways you can connect with us from the comfort (and safety) of your home!
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SDJA On Social Media
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Our amazing students are not deterred by these challenging times. They are living the SDJA values of
tikkun olam and
chesed by finding ways to help their community.
This just shows that community extends far beyond the boundaries of our campus. These students are a great example of that! If your student is doing something great, let us know about it at [email protected].
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The Zimerman family collected 200 lbs of food and $269, equal to 1,345 meals for hungry San Diegans.
If anyone still wants to donate, the virtual Food bank is still open. You can check it out here.
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The Secret to Success? READING!
Research shows that the amount of daily reading a child does is linked to the attainment of higher-order literacy skills and long-term academic success. In fact, the amount of independent reading time is the single best predictor of reading achievement from second to fifth grade! Think about that - the single best predictor is not aptitude and it's not the school's reading program. It is the amount of time your child spends reading at home.
Check out this compelling chart to see what 20 minutes of reading per night translates to by the time your child reaches 6th grade.
Read to your child, listen to your child read, take turns reading, or curl up next to your child and read your own book. However you read is fine - just read!
And why not make it more fun by joining a Summer Reading Challenge? Here are a few that may interest your child:
This is the perfect summer to commit to reading every day and, in the process, to boosting your child's academic success for the coming year and many years ahead.
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Summer Academic Camp Update
The response to our proposal for a virtual academic "Kickstart" program was overwhelmingly positive! We are now working hard to plan the virtual camps. Here is what we can share with you so far:
- Four one-week camps will be offered during the weeks of July 6, July 13, July 20 and July 27.
- Parents will be able to sign up their child(ren) for one, two, three or four weeks.
- The camp will run from 9:00am-11:30am daily.
- The camp is for students who are rising P4/PK through fifth grade (rising 6th grade has been requested but we cannot yet confirm).
- The camp will be free of charge for students who are enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Registration for each week of camp will be first come-first served.
- If there are spots available, we will open Kickstart up to non-SDJA students for a fee.
- More information and a registration link is coming soon!
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Each week we will feature a few of our amazing seniors from the Class of 2020! Mazel Tov to them and their accomplishments. We are so proud of you and can't wait to see all the wonderful things your next journey brings!
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Maya Baltinester
Favorite SDJA memory:
My favorite memory from high school was our last day on campus. Even though it was a sad day to many, it brought my grade together, all of us sitting around the lunch tables crying, laughing. It's what I believe the closest my grade has ever been and I'll never forget it.
Teacher Shoutout:
Mr. Sered
What I will miss most about school:
Seeing my friends everyday
Favorite Covid-19 activity:
Painting
Plans for next year:
San Francisco State University
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Eitan Breziner
Favorite SDJA memory:
Playing school sports
Teacher Shoutout:
Dr. Cunningham
What I will miss most about school:
Everything
Favorite Covid-19 activity:
Making music
Plans for next year:
IDF
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Isabelle Flores
Favorite SDJA memory:
Prom
Teacher Shoutout:
Ms. Nebo
What I will miss most about school:
My friends
Favorite Covid-19 activity:
Sleeping and FaceTiming Benny
Plans for next year:
FIDM
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Moises Kanarek
Favorite SDJA memory:
Football playoff game
Teacher Shoutout:
All of them
What I will miss most about school:
Homework
Favorite Covid-19 activity:
sleep
Plans for next year:
FIDM
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Mia Hansen
Favorite SDJA memory:
Winning junior year powder puff and every classmate rushing into each other in a group jumping around in a circle in the pouring rain.
Teacher Shoutout:
Dr. Strahl
What I will miss most about school:
The amazing sense of community
Favorite Covid-19 activity:
Working out with my family, variations of different activities: runs, bike rides, etc.
Plans for next year:
Attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall
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Evan Kohn
Favorite SDJA memory:
Beating the #2 team in soccer playoffs last year
Teacher Shoutout:
Mrs. Hansen
What I will miss most about school:
The feeling of community
Favorite Covid-19 activity:
Making music
Plans for next year:
College- Undecided
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Mazel tov to SDJA alumna Anna Lepkowski '08 on her recent graduation from Louisiana State University School of Medicine Shreveport. Anna will be going into pediatrics residency at UC Davis.
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Mazel tov
to SDJA alumnus and Alumni Board member Jonny Simkin '06 and his wife Jodie on the recent birth of their son, Max Ryan Simkin.
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Mazel tov
to SDJA alumnus Julien Bortz '07 and his wife Chaya on the birth of their son Jacob Michoel this past February.
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Mazel tov
to SDJA alumna Yael Breziner '14 on her marriage to Isaac Miselewicz this past February.
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Pandemic Parenting is a 60-minute live, virtual workshop for parents held via Zoom.
Join WeCare San Diego and Good Morning America parenting expert/bestselling author Rachel Simmons for Pandemic Parenting, a community experience designed to help your family feel more confident, empowered and hopeful as you navigate life during social distancing.
More Info About Pandemic Parenting Workshop:
When the pandemic is over, children will most remember how they felt. In this interactive workshop, learn practical tools to respond to stress-theirs and yours-with emotional intelligence, composure and compassion
.
Topics include:
- What has changed and what remains the same with parenting under COVID-19
- Self-regulation strategies (acute and preventative) for parents
- Support in managing the grief and anxiety of children and teens
- How to practice self-compassion during this challenging time
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Parents of middle and high school students are invited to attend an important Math Town Hall meeting. Join Mr. Quigley and Mrs. King to learn about exciting new plans for mathematics education in grades 6-12, and meet the new math leadership team. There will be a 20-minute presentation followed by a Q&A. Login information provided closer to the event. Date and times below.
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| 5/25 |
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No School- Memorial Day |
| 5/26 |
7:00-7:30pm
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Middle School Math Town Hall
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| 5/26 |
7:45-8:15pm
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High School Math Town Hall |
| 5/27 |
7:30pm |
SDJA Annual General Meeting- Invite and additional details, including login information sent via email. |
| 5/29 |
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No School- Shavuot |
| 5/30 |
8:35pm |
SDJA Community Virtual Havdallah Ceremony- Invite and additional details, including login information sent via email. |
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Support San Diego Jewish Academy while you shop!
Simply click the links to several retailers below and SDJA will earn up to 5% of your purchase as a charitable donation. If you do not see your favorite stores, please let us know and we will be sure to add them for you!
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