Ma Koreh   /What’s Happening?
Weekly CJDS Newsletter
D’var Kesher from the Head of School
Dr. Tali Zelkowicz
March 14, 2019 / 7 Adar II, 5779
Parashat Vayikra, Leviticus/Vayikra, 1:1-5:26
D'VAR KESHER:
Peering through a “Prizmah”
Greetings!

What do you get when you put 1,100 Jewish Day School professionals in a hotel together for 3 days in Atlanta?

Challenged assumptions, exponential networking and sharing of resources, and a reminder that none of us is doing this work alone or in a vacuum, just for starters.

From March 10-12, Rachel Arcus-Goldberg, Jenny Glick, Eran Rosenberg, and me were four of those 1100 teachers, administrators, admission, marketing, development professionals, and countless community leaders from around North America who support and champion Jewish day schooling. This is only the second time in Jewish history that members of all five founding Jewish day school organizations (what were Pardes, PEJE, RAVSAK, Schechter, and YUSP) came together to study, learn, and grow. Since the summer of 2016, the five organizations spanning Community, Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform day schools became part of the rich prism, or in Hebrew, “Prizmah: The Center for Jewish Day Schools.” https://prizmah.org The idea is that together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. 

Indeed, the leaders of Prizmah now consult to and support Jewish day schools in every area of functioning including fundraising and governance, professional leadership, recruitment and retention, teaching and learning, school assessment, leadership search and placement, professional development for teachers and administrators, and programs for students. And this mega-conference we just attended which takes place every two years offers myriad opportunities to learn and share across all of these areas. Team CJDS was invited to present two such sessions at the conference!
Integration and Inspiration: Models of Innovative Curriculum Design for All Learners

Presented with Mandel Jewish Day School of Cleveland.

At this session, Prizmah organizers coincidentally matched us up with another Ohio day school, and now have a wonderful new colleague in Gussie Singer at Mandel Jewish Day School, just a few hours away. The focus of our joint session was the power and educational importance of the bottom version of these two images:
We began by asking the over 30 participants in the room, “Which picture - top or bottom - best reflects the reality outside of schools?”

And then we asked, “Which picture most closely reflects teaching and learning inside your school?”

Not surprisingly, for everyone, the bottom half reflected their experience of daily life. But for many, the top half reflected what teaching and learning actually look like at their schools. Ironically, it becomes innovative, or even counter-cultural to bring real life into school. However, as we argued in our session, that “messiness” does not have to be scary. On the contrary, it is interesting, fosters intellectual depth and engages both learners and teachers in essential questions of life and the human condition. Both Mandel and CJDS shared their models of curriculum integration and offered specific case studies to illustrate concrete examples of integrated learning at each school.
Words Matter: Clarifying Your School’s Brand

Presented with Epstein School of Atlanta

In this session, Epstein School of Atlanta teamed up with us to tell the story about our Storytelling. Although our schools are different in many ways, we discovered that each of us had engaged in a remarkably similar months-long systematic self-examination to be able to name boldly our core purposes and promises. And through that process, we each found the words to convey our respective authentic stories that explain not only the what and the how of what we do, but on the deepest level, the why.

And those sessions were just three hours of the three days. Thanks to the many other sessions that the four of us each chose to attend, not to mention the countless hallway and meal connections with new and old colleagues, all four of us flew back to Columbus filled with intriguing ideas, a sense of possibility, and daring to dream.

Shabbat Shalom,
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LOOKING AHEAD
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE
Pre Passover
F A M I L Y
C A R B - C A R N I V A L
Presented by IAC and CJDS
A COMMUNITY EVENT
HAPPENING AT CJDS

Sunday, April 14
4:00pm - 5:30pm
$20.00/FAMILY (DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE)
BOUNCE HOUSE - FACE PAINTING - CRAFTS - DRESS UP PHOTO BOOTH - FIND THE AFIKOMEN SCAVENGER HUNT - PRIZES - FOOD - PASTA - MAKE YOUR OWN PITA -
AND MORE!
MARCH
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.
Sunday, March 24: "Oseh Feleh: The Wonders of Science!” at CJDS, 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Friday, March 29: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (Music Theme) 1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m.

APRIL
Friday, April 5: All School Kabbalat Shabbat (Kindergarten Leading) 1:40 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Sunday, April 14: IAC CJDS "Pre Passover Family Carb Carnival" at CJDS, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17 All School Pesa h Hag 2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Thursday, April 18-Friday, April 26 Pesa h (Passover) NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, April 30 - Friday, May 3, 6th Grade Graduation Trip
Purim 2019 – פורים תשע"ט
NEXT Thursday Activities
Next week on Thursday, March 21 we will be celebrating Purim. One of the traditions of Purim at CJDS is that during our school day we practice and fulfill all the mitzvot and minhagim (customs) of Purim. The four mitzvot connected to this holiday are: reading the Megillah, having a Seudat Purim (feast), giving Mishloa h Manot (goodie bags), and giving gifts to those in need. The three customs of Purim are Ta hposot (wearing costumes), using Ra’ashanim (groggers), and eating Oznei Haman (Hamantaschen).  

Prior to Purim we fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot LaEvyanim, giving gifts to the needy. 
Our Students will collect items as part of Jewish Columbus and P2G drive. A bin is located in the foyer/lobby, Items will be donated to needy families and holocaust survivors on Purim day. Look for a flyer about this in your child’s Friday folder. 

On Purim day we will …
  • Dress in costumes. Feel free to send a change of clothes in case your child does not want to stay in costume all day. We have reminded the students that any pretend weapons that are costume related need to be left at home.
  • 11:00 - 11:15 Costume Parade to the gym
  • 11:15 - 11:55 Interactive Megillah reading
  • 12:00 - 12:30 Purim festive meal - Hamantaschen (Ozney Haman) will be given as dessert at the end of lunch
  • 2:30 - 3:15 “Shushan’s Got Talent” … a fun way for the teachers to end the day with our students. 

Before dismissal, students will receive Mishloah Manot from their friends in Kfar Saba.
We hope you can join us for the Costume Parade and the Megillah reading!
Calling all current CJDS Families...
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP!
mark your calendars on MARCH 24th at 2:30pm
for this CJDS sponsored event
COSI is coming to CJDS!
"Oseh Feleh: The Wonders of Science!”
Join COSI educators at CJDS for Family Education and Fun
On Sunday March 24, 2:30-4pm

  • K-2 students and their parents: Animal Tales! Habitats and Adaptation Workshop (with live animals!)
  • 3-6 graders and their parents: Gross Science: Microorganisms and the Human Body Workshop (use microscopes and learn about the biological importance of snot!
(The workshops target ages 5-12, but siblings are welcome!)

Space is limited - RSVP is required by March 15th
ALL CJDS ALUMNI:
ANNOUNCING the first ever CJDS Alumni Award Recognizing Dr. Gina Freeman’s Legacy at CJDS:   



The Gina Freeman
Shomrei HaAdam V’Ha’Adamah Award
Honoring CJDS Alumni, Guardians of Humanity and the Earth.
“My heart is full knowing that this great honor will recognize the deep values of CJDS in our wonderful graduates. The true honor will be reading about the many stories from you, our Alumni, about your important work in your communities and the world. Please take a few moments to share your story and fill our hearts with pride.”
-Dr. Gina Freeman, Founding Director of Environmental Education and Service Learning, and teacher leader for 19 years at Columbus Jewish Day School

Award Presentation will take place: Thursday May 23, 2019, at CJDS Arts Night, 6:30-8pm
Purpose:
This award was created to honor the legacy of Gina Freeman Ph.D., founding educator at Columbus Jewish Day School, who taught at the school from 1998-2018, and helped to build CJDS’s unique program that combines Environmental Education and Service Learning. This $500 award recognizes a CJDS alumna or alumnus each year who is engaged social action work that embodies the values and contributions that Gina embedded in the school’s culture and curriculum over many years, and that we wish to continue to bequeath to future generations. The recipient may use the award towards a middle or high school, or post-graduate education or program.

Any student who attended CJDS is eligible to apply for the Shomrei HaAdam v’Ha’Adamah award. The recipient will be a student in middle school, high school, or college, who demonstrates significant passion for serving humanity/Adam and/or contributions to protecting HaAdamah/the earth:

this individual will be someone who initiates important interventions to help make the world a better place through love for the environment and caring for other people.
the recipient must demonstrate significant excellence, passion, and leadership by taking on some responsibility for guarding humanity and the earth through volunteering, making monetary or non-monetary donations, utilizing their talents in any ways that help repair different corners of the world, locally or globally, and/or by
demonstrating strong social-emotional caring of people of all ages that helps bring wholeness and dignity to others.
Deadline for application: Monday April 15, 2019.
A printable application may be found HERE.
LIVING OUR MISSION
Be sure to check out the most recent edition of the CJDS Chronicles HERE
6th Grade Hamentaschen Baking!
Sunday, March 17th
2:00pm-4:00pm

6th Grade Hamentaschen Bake Sale 
Monday, March 18th: 2 / $1
Last Friday, Ms. A.G. and Dr. Z. had the joy of visiting the sixth grade Kabbalat Shabbat to share with them the announcement that the sixth grade graduation trip is to Pittsburgh, with Eran and Mr. Moc!

The students were very excited and had lots of questions. When we asked the students why they thought we might be going to Pittsburgh this year, they very thoughtfully and compassionately shared, “to show support to the families and community in Squirrel Hill.” In addition to touring Pittsburgh, the students will get to meet their peers at Community Day School in Pittsburgh, which is in Squirrel Hill. CJDS and CDS leadership share a close collaborative and collegial relationship with their Head of School, Ms. Avi Munro, and their leadership team, and we have toured each other’s schools. As well, we donated a tapestry to them (the twin of which hangs in the halls of CJDS), in support and care after the tragic violence at Tree of Life this past fall.
On Sunday, March 17th from 2-4pm, the sixth grade class and their families are invited to CJDS for a special  Hamentaschen Bake-Off with Dr. Z.! 

Dr. Z. will share her special “secret”  hamenstaschen recipe!  Siblings and parents are welcome!  

This is both a fun-raiser and a fundraiser, all of the baked goods will be sold the next day at CJDS!

ONLY $1.00 for two hamentaschen !
ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT THE 6th GRADE TRIP TO PITTSBURGH
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, collecting Pennies for Patients!

We are raising funds to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fund life-saving research. You can help our efforts by donating today. Send your change to school, and change someones life.

The Pennies for Patients program is a service learning, character education and philanthropy program where students gain the unique experience of helping thousands of children and adults in their fight against blood cancers like leukemia. Pennies for Patients helps students see firsthand how their involvement can make a difference!
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: SPRING DATES
March 5– May 14 (No Class 3/26 and 4/23) 
9 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.
HAKARAT HATOV
The Hebrew term for gratitude is הַכָּרַת הַטוֹב (Hakarat HaTov), which means "recognizing the good."

To Kerry Selfinger for her constant administrative support and joyful leadership.
To Katie Feldstein for helping to organize faculty coverage for morning fitness this week.
To Paul and Polly Zeigler for their delicious homemade Hamentaschen.
To Ali Greenland for her energy and excitement inside (and outside) of the CJDS classrooms.
To Julie Ecker, Katie Feldstein, Ari Scheier and Joanna Vilensky for helping to fill in with morning fitness duties this week.
To Angelo Dunlap for his enthusiastic performance at Wexner Heritage Village today.
To Eran Rosenberg for helping students prepare joyful Purim costumes for their visit to Wexner Heritage Village.

CORRECTION: To Kristina Palma and Annelyn Baron for organizing such a fun CJDS Student vs. Faculty soccer game (it was a great game, the students won 6-2)
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 first grader Victoria Koch's mom, Sharyn Koch a speedy recovery after her recent surgery.

We are so happy that the surgery of Yaacov Ramon, grandfather of Noah (2020) and Leo (2024) Bitton, went smoothly, and we continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery.

We wish Lin Raveh a warm farewell and speedy recovery: As you may have heard, our JewishColumbus young shlicha needs to go back to Israel to get some important medical attention. Lin has been visiting us weekly and teaching our students about Israel for the past year and a half. She has built warm and meaningful relationships with all the CJDS students and we will miss her very much. Due to health reasons, Lin is returning to Israel sooner than she had thought, and this past Tuesday was her last day at CJDS. Our students said goodbye to her today, with hugs and cards and mementos. We encouraged the students to focus on all the great and fun times they had with Lin. We are very sad that she is leaving but relieved that Lin is able to go home, be with her family and friends, and get the medical attention that she needs to get well quickly. We wish Lin much health and send her our love.

We wish our dear CJDS friend and community volunteer, Steve Shkolnik, a speedy recovery.
MAZAL TOV
Mazal tov to the following CJDS 2014 and 2015 Alumni for being selected as members of The Wexner Service Corps! This year the Wexner Service Corps will visit Detroit from June 2-7, 2019, followed by year-round service in Columbus. Read more about the Wexner Service Corps experience HERE.

Gadi Bandler (Bexley High School)
Maia Ben-David (Bexley High School)
Noga Eitam (Gahanna Lincoln High School)
Lee Hillman (Bexley High School)
Grant Kaufman (Bexley High School)
Adam Lippy (New Albany High School)
Grant Nguyen (Bexley High School)
Libby Schottenstein (Bexley High School)
Gavriel Steinman (Bexley High School)
Phoebe Wasserstrom (Bexley High School)
Nolan Winston (Bexley High School)
Madeline Young (Bexley High School)
MAY THEIR MEMORY BE A BLESSING

We extend our condolences to CJDS art teacher Susan Couden and the Derrow family on the loss of her Father-in-law, David Derrow. David is the father of Philip (Barbara) Derrow, Dr. Martin (Wendy) Derrow, Sandra (Keith) Perry and Andrew (Janis) Derrow, brother of Dr. Alfred (Joyce) Derrow, grandfather of Solomon (Catherine) Derrow. The funeral will take place on Friday, March 15, 2019, at 11:00 am at Epstein Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at New Tifereth Israel Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the home of Barbara & Philip Derrow (7 Hawksmoor Dr., New Albany) immediately following interment on Friday.

We extend our condolences to CJDS alumni parents Aliza & Jeff Levy and family on the loss of Aliza's father, Henry Kinast. He is also survived by his wife, Gisela; brother, Morris Kinast (Marcie); son Jerry (Laureen Kinast), daughters Paula Malkoff, Terri (Steve Anderson) and Aliza (Jeffrey Levy); grandchildren Heather Malkoff (Justin Weisser), Arica Sandler (Todd), Lindsey Shapiro (Craig), Katie Hoff, Brooke Hoff (Kyle), Morgan, Ian (Hannah), Rachel Kay (Jeffrey), Rex (Gabby), and Zachary, Carly, Samantha, Ellie & Lily Levy; and great-grandchildren, Miles & Emi Sandler, Isla & Beckett Shapiro, Ethan & Molly Kay, Varuka Weisser and Jack Anderson. The funeral was held on Monday, March 11 at Temple El Emeth in Youngstown.
KESHER: CJDS Parent Organization
Dear Parents,

We are excited to offer you the opportunity to purchase special keepsakes made from your own child's artwork through Art to Remember. Not only will you able to cherish these unique art pieces, you will be raising funds for the school.

You should have received an order form with a sample of your child's art.  

You have two options to submit your order:
  1. Return the completed order form/envelope with a check made payable to "CJDS" or
  2. Order online at: Order.ArtToRemember.com

You will need the online order code which is located in a blue box on the front and back page of the order form when ordering on-line.  

Orders are due TOMORROW, March 15, 2019!

Please contact  Gayle Kuhr at or Sara Zeigler at if you have any questions. Thank you for your purchase and continued support of CJDS!
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
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