Ma Koreh?
What’s Happening?
April Newsletter
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This month's issue features:
- D'var Kesher
- Highlights this Month
- Why I Teach at CJDS Featuring Giselle Siegel
- Photo Highlights
- Service Learning and Volunteer Options Available
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Alumni Spotlight Featuring Hila Eitam
- CJDS in the News
- Life and Legacy: The Moses Family
- Community Milestones
- Reserve Your Space for the 22-23 School Year!
- Community Events and Calendar
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D’var Kesher from Head of School
Rachel Arcus-Goldberg
April 1, 2022 / 29 Adar II 5782
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Muchanim? Kavod Notnim? V’Gam Acraim? Batov Bochrim?
Are we Ready? Are we Respectful? Are we Responsible? Are we making the Right choices?
These values, also known as the 4R’s, are the core values we work on at CJDS. We ask our students to demonstrate that they are ready to learn, that they are respectful to others, that they can be responsible for themselves, and that they can make the right choices throughout their day.
If I asked you what you were doing two years ago today at 2pm, you might not remember. But I do. At 2pm every day in the spring of 2020, I was tuned in to the daily COVID-19 update from Dr. Amy Acton.
Dr. Acton’s daily updates gave me comfort and confidence in a time that was uncertain and scary. I bragged to my colleagues in other states about Ohio’s response to the pandemic, led by Dr. Acton. To me, Dr. Acton was a superhero - teaching everyone about public health and how to understand and respond to the coronavirus - not just in Ohio, but on Sesame Street and the national news. And then I found out that my personal hero was a CJDS founding board member. <cue fan-girl scream-crying>
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This spring CJDS is holding a Founders & Friends event. It is the first public, in-person event bringing the broader CJDS community together. We are kicking off a year of celebrations marking the 25th year of CJDS. As we reflect on where we are and where we’ve been, it is a marvelous opportunity to honor Dr. Amy Acton. Dr. Acton was one of the parents who helped establish a pluralistic school in Columbus founded on the philosophies of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. Her steady guidance through the beginning of the pandemic guided CJDS as we opened in person in the fall of 2020 and have remained open and healthy in the 18 months since. Dr. Acton’s leadership, of CJDS and of the State of Ohio, is inspiring and embodies the Jewish values that we teach to our students.
Dr. Acton embodies the 4Rs. She was ready, continuously respectful and responsible, and she made difficult choices and guided others to do the same. Dr. Acton’s readiness to respond to the public health crisis of COVID-19 before it even started is the reason that CJDS was ready to begin remote learning as soon as the shutdown started. Weeks before the shut-down, the Ohio Department of Health contacted all schools to advise us to make a plan for quarantine in the event that anyone in our school got sick with COVID. Within days, we made a plan, assembled an advisory team, and had the teachers begin collecting materials.
After asking ourselves about the 4R’s, the next line in the “4R cheer” is Hineni, Hineini, Hineini. Here I am. Being ready, respectful, responsible and making the right choices means showing up. It means that we are committed to being present and bringing our best selves to the table.
As a founding board member of CJDS, as the Director of the Ohio Department of Health, and in all of the work that she has done since leaving that position - Dr. Acton has shown up. She brought her full self to the table and declared “Here I am.” And we are so glad that she did. Our community has been the beneficiaries of Dr. Acton’s dedication and hard work in many ways. We look forward to the opportunity to honor her and publicly thank her this spring.
Shabbat Shalom,
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Fifth Grade Legacy Project
Fifth grade students prepared an analysis of the carbon footprint of CJDS. Their recommendations for making CJDS more “green” ranged from small - a PSA about turning off the water in the bathrooms - to large - solar panels for the school. In the end, they have decided that the work they are doing will become their legacy project.
This month, they helped to finalize a contract with Rumpke to start a single-stream recycling program at CJDS. In fact, this will not only be for CJDS. They helped reach out to the JCC New Albany and the Methodist Church so that all three institutions can begin single-stream recycling - splitting the cost, and helping other organizations reduce their carbon footprint!
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The 5th Graders also created a video PSA that was shared with K-4 students to explain single-stream recycling. They have helped gather all of the recycling bins around campus to ensure that every room has the right kind of bin. And they will be helping to let our evening cleaners know what to do with the contents of the recycling bins. In the coming weeks, the 5th Graders will be raising money that will go specifically towards the monthly cost of this program, to ensure that the program continues after they graduate.
Last Friday, fifth graders sold greens and herbs grown in the tower gardens before our all school Kabbalat Shabbat!
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Fifth graders will be selling their fresh greens and herbs before the next Kabbalat Shabbat. General donations to the project can be made below: |
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Students celebrated Purim at CJDS by dressing up in fun costumes, enjoying a festive Purim meal, participating in a Purim Parade, an interactive Megillah Reading, and Vashti's After Party full of performances by students AND teachers, and a silly game show!
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.
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The four mitzvot connected to this holiday are: reading the Megillah, having a Seudat Purim (feast), giving Mishloah Manot (goodie bags), and giving gifts to those in need). The three customs of Purim are Tahposot (wearing costumes), using Ra’ashanim (groggers), and eating Oznei Haman (Hamantaschen).
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Prior to Purim we fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot L'Evyonim, giving gifts to the needy. Fourth grade students are led a special Tzedakah drive for New Albany Food Pantry.
CJDS students also celebrated Purim by writing cards and sending Mishloach Manot baskets to IDF soldiers that serve in the Israeli Navy. Students received pictures of soldiers holding the cards and baskets they received from CJDS students, and a few students even received letters back from the soldiers!
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Pennies for Pelotonia
As many of you know, Caleb Moses, a CJDS alum, was diagnosed with cancer in August. Our CJDS students have the opportunity to perform a mitzvah on behalf of Caleb and his family, Rabbi Jay, Cantor Bat-Ami and Zeke Moses.
This summer Rabbi Jay will be joined by friends and family as he rides in the Pelotonia race in support of Team Caleb. CJDS students can participate in this effort by collecting Pennies for Pelotonia. Beginning Monday, March 28 each class will collect money to contribute to Team Caleb. Our Pennies for Pelotonia collection will conclude on April 8.
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Thank you for helping your children earn and collect funds to donate to this special effort. The Moses' family appreciates our continued support and prayers as they navigate this journey surrounded by a loving and faithful community.
First graders have been busy learning about money in social studies and in math. This month, they used what they have learned to count the tzedakah they brought in for Pennies for Peletonia: Team Caleb!
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Giselle Siegel
Performing Arts Teacher
"CJDS is a vibrant school filled with curiosity, creativity, positivity and collaboration. Students learn how to become confident in their own unique abilities and talents while being challenged to grow into lifelong learners. I love how arts education is integrated into the curriculum and expanded upon through additional creative opportunities like after-school programs, school-wide celebrations, and community events."
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Giselle Siegel is a theater artist and educator with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The New School and a Master's in Educational Theatre from The City College of New York. She relocated to Columbus from NYC in 2017, after 15+ years working as an actress, director, choreographer, and teacher.
Giselle is fiercely passionate about arts education and brings her positivity, playful energy and vast imagination to everyone she works with. She strives to promote positive self-esteem and creative expression through empowering performing arts curriculum with a safe, inclusive classroom that inspires students to take artistic risks and engage in the world around them with curiosity and empathy.
Giselle served as a full-time theater teacher/director, arts curriculum advisor, and teacher mentor at Democracy Prep Public Schools in Manhattan, where she created a robust middle school program while assisting in developing arts curriculum for a large network of teachers across NYC. Her acting credits include national tours, children's theater, original off-Broadway runs and premieres, and regional theater. Giselle has served as a director and choreographer for a variety of productions featuring kids, teens and adults at many schools and community centers in New York City, New Jersey and Ohio.
As a proud convert to Judaism with a mixed racial background, Giselle has worked with hundreds of Jewish students of diverse identities, leading and inspiring each individual journey. When Giselle is not in a classroom or a theater, you can find her staying busy exploring the great outdoors, reading, working out, singing, drinking fancy coffee, trying a new hobby, and dancing with her two young daughters.
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While planting cold crops (radishes, carrots, & beets) in the CJDS greenhouse, first graders began singing a song they learned in Hebrew class! Once these crops germinate, students will transplant them. |
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Fifth grade started studying Ta’amey Hamikra, the Torah Tropes used to chant from the Torah Scroll. They are looking forward not only to chanting p’sukim (verses) during Humash class, but also to leading Torah reading at School Tefillah. |
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Fourth grade math practicing their equivalent fraction skills by playing Taxi Trouble. They need to use their multiplication skills to prove if a given fraction combination is equivalent or not. |
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Kindergarteners zoomed with their Kfar Saba buddies! They listened to a book about a barnyard Purim in English and in Hebrew. Video here
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After reading the book Sew What Betsy Ross, the second graders examined different American flags and learned all about proper flag care. They even learned how to properly fold the American flag!
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Annelyn, CJDS Hebrew & Jewish Studies Kindergarten Teacher shares:
“My parents ‘sit spot’ area is almost ready for my kindergartners to enjoy! Kids did a thorough job cleaning up debris, spreading bags of new pebbles, and replacing with natural materials!”
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Service Learning and Volunteer Options Available |
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Green Columbus and CJDS have teamed up for an event on April 29, 2022 for Tree Planting at Columbus Jewish Day School. Green Columbus will provide equipment, trees, and training to all of volunteers. The work is moderately physical since the trees are only 1-2 feet tall.
Volunteers will be planting 200 trees (small sapling) on the CJDS school grounds between 2:30-6pm. Alumni are welcome to attend earlier than 2:30pm, please be in touch with Gina.
Details for Tree Planting:
- Location: Columbus Jewish Day School, 150 E. Granville Rd. New Albany, OH 43054
- Date & Time: April 29, 2022 from 2:30-6:00pm
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Alumni - Reach out to Dr. Gina Freeman if you would like to arrive between 10am-2:30pm
- Work is moderately physical
- Sign up is required, please use the link below
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Rain Back-Up Date: May 6th.
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Alumni Spotlight featuring Hila Eitam |
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This month's alumni spotlight is Hila Eitam! Hila, currently a junior at Miami University, is majoring in Biology, Public Administration, and Sustainability.
Hila shares, "At Miami, I’m in the Honors College, Sustainability Scholars Program, the Global Readiness Certificate Scholars Program, and I am on the President’s List. I’m involved in EcoReps, a student organization that promotes sustainability on campus; the Honors Student Advisory Board, where I created an honors student newsletter as the Public Relations Team Lead; and Hillel, where I was an intern for the past three semesters."
"Last summer, I studied abroad in Luxembourg where I had the opportunity to travel to five countries. This spring, I am in Washington, D.C. participating in a study away program called Inside Washington. For the first part of the semester, I had the opportunity to meet and interview a diverse group of successful politicians and professionals working in D.C., and now I am doing a full-time internship at Ferox Strategies, a woman-owned government relations firm. At this internship, I am learning skills and making valuable connections that will help me in my career. Finally, this summer, I’m going on a Birthright trip to Israel!"
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When we asked Hila her favorite part about CJDS, she shared, "One of my favorite parts about CJDS is how much the curriculum and teachers encouraged me to be creative and to explore many interests. I have great memories of the various art projects I got to do with the wonderful Susan Couden as my Art Teacher. I even won the OJC art contest in 5th grade, which I could not have done without Susan’s support and guidance."
Hila also recalls another favorite memory of her time at CJDS: "Looking back I really appreciate the value of learning Hebrew and Judaic Studies while learning the typical elementary school curriculum. I started at CJDS in 2nd grade, so I was behind the other students in learning Hebrew, but I worked with a tutor at CJDS and she helped me catch up and Hebrew quickly became a subject I really enjoyed. I think being immersed in those topics when I was younger led me to continue being involved in my Jewish community through BBYO in high school and Hillel in college."
Hila's favorite Teacher? She shares that all of her teachers at CJDS were amazing, but one of her favorites was Ms. Melissa Dunagan, her 5th grade Teacher. "Ms. Dunagan's science curriculum specifically was so engaging, and she even had a bunny and a snake as classroom pets, and she is the reason I got interested in science and biology. I continued pursuing biology-related classes and activities, and now I’m earning a degree in Biology and planning to pursue a career in environmental policy/law." "Some of my other favorite memories at CJDS are all the outdoor activities I got to be involved in, like Sukkot celebrations, raising butterflies from caterpillars, sit spots in the area behind CJDS, and the annual kite flying event!"
"I would say as a young adult, attending CJDS helped me be able to stay connected to Judaism. For me, the most special part about being Jewish is the community, and in part because of the friendships I made in CJDS and all the Jewish experiences I still remember well, I have made it a priority to find a Jewish community wherever I go, be it high school, college, studying abroad, or now here in D.C."
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Are you a CJDS alum who recently graduated high school or college? We want to know your next steps! We want to hear about your professional accomplishments, and how CJDS has impacted your educational and Jewish journey. We want to FEATURE YOU in our next newsletter!
Reach out to our Alumni Coordinator here. We want to hear from you!
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Reserve Your Space at CJDS Today! |
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At CJDS, we believe in the importance of formative experiences in elementary school, learning for life and providing the best education for your child from the moment they enter Kindergarten through their graduation from 5th Grade.
Why Should You Choose CJDS for your Child?
- CJDS students engage in an integrated learning model - making connections among concepts and applying skills to real world situations
- Small class sizes - two teachers per classroom - which also supports individualized learning
- Academic excellence - CJDS students score on average 9% above national testing norms
- STEAM focused programs
- Dual Language Curriculum
- Outdoor classrooms - we use our outdoor space all the time!
- Social and emotional learning
- Strong community and Jewish values
- Community Engagement Grant available for First Year CJDS students
We would love the opportunity to meet with your family and share how the CJDS community could support your child's educational journey.
We look forward to partnering with you as you explore schools to find the best fit for your child - what an exciting milestone for your family!
Interested in applying? Here are the admission steps:
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"In a world with too much isolation and not enough kindness, Jewish tradition provides us with roots, meaning, and community. Our precious legacy is ancient, but its true brilliance lies in its ability to be reinterpreted as circumstances change. Each generation has the opportunity the responsibility to add their voice to the conversation across the ages. And the key to that magic lies in Jewish education.
At CJDS, our children become a part of that sacred conversation from their youngest days. While preparing to become responsible citizens of a broader world, they are given the strong foundation of Jewish values rooted in the Torah and conveyed with warmth, joy, and rigor. We can think of no greater cause to contribute to so that our legacy of taking responsibility to heal the world is secure with the next generation. We are honored to leave a legacy of tzedakah in our gift to CJDS."
Rabbi Jay and Cantor Bat-Ami Moses
CJDS Legacy Society Members
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The Life and Legacy program promotes after-lifetime giving in order to sustain valued organizations and vibrant Jewish communities. Assure your Jewish tomorrow TODAY.
Contact legacy@cjds.org, or click here for more information. In partnership with Jewish Columbus.
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Mazel Tov
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Mazel Tov to CJDS alum students: Edin Abenaim, Ben Bassik, Ethan Freeman Nguyen, Leah Levin, Rylan Milenthal, Gabrielle Schiff, Remy Schottenstein, Wendy Wasserstrom, Julian Weiss, Jonah Young, and Maya Zidel on their leadership as they join the JewishColumbus Youth Foundation 2022 Cohort!
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Mazel Tov to CJDS alum, Jessica Brisk and Sam Taylor on their recent wedding. Mazel tov to Marlene and Jim Brisk, the proud parents.
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Mazel Tov to Josh Feinberg, CJDS Board Member and parent of 5th Grader Ari Feinberg, on a new Haggadah recently released that Josh co-edited, called "Pictures Tell" featuring the work of photographer Zion Ozeri, who has spent decades documenting the diversity of global Jewish life. Link to order "Pictures Tell: A Passover Haggadah with photographs from around the Jewish world" here.
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Mazel Tov to Annelyn Baron, CJDS Kindergarten Hebrew & Jewish Studies Teacher, on her contribution to the Jewish Book Project, “Enduring Questions: Using Jewish Children’s Literature in Classrooms.”
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Mi Sh'Berach
We wish a full and speedy recovery to the following people:
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Caleb Moses, class of 2020
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Terry Mitzman, Grandparent of CJDS students Rayna, Yoni, and Naomi
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Naomi Kayne, longtime friend and supporter of CJDS
We extend our prayers to any family in our community who may be impacted by coronavirus.
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Zichronam Livracha (May Their Memory Be a Blessing)
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We extend our condolences to the Rubin Family on the passing of Rabbi Gloria Rubin, mother of alum parent Ken Rubin, and mother-in-law to CJDS Board President, Ruth Rubin, grandmother of alum students Bram & Cobby.
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We extend our condolences to the Sharfin Family on the passing of Alumni Grandparent, Paul I. Sharfin. Myra, daughter, Phyllis (Joel) Kingsley, son, Ira (Meghan Cook) Sharfin, 8 granddaughters and 1 great-granddaughter.
We extend our prayers to any family in our community who may be impacted by coronavirus.
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April
- Friday, April 8 - 8:30am - 2nd Grade State Fair
- Wednesday, April 13 -1:00-2:40pm - Grandparents & Special Friends Day
- Wednesday, April 13 -2:45-3:15pm - All School Kabbalat Hag Pesah
- Friday, April 29 - 8:30am - 1st Grade Market Day
May
- Sunday, May 1 - CJDS Founders and Friends
- Thursday, May 5 - 10:30am - 4th Grade Israeli Inventors Fair
- Friday May 6 - 1:30-2:30pm - All School Kabbalat Shabbat - Israel Theme
- Thursday, May 12 - 5:30 - CJDS C.A.R.E Day
- Friday, May 13 - 1:40-2:30pm - All School Kabbalat Shabbat - Kindergarten Led
- Sunday, May 15 - 101 Dalmatians Play
- Friday, May 20 - 1:30-2:20pm - Talent Show Kabbalat Shabbat
- Friday, May 27 - 1:30-2:20pm - Butterfly Release Ceremony
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