Ma Koreh?
What’s Happening?
January Newsletter
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This month's issue features:
- D'var Kesher
- Highlights this Month
- CJDS Alumni Spotlight Featuring Ruthie Moskowitz
- Photo Highlights
- Why I Teach at CJDS Featuring Sheri Gittins
- Community Milestones
- Community Events and Calendar
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D’var Kesher from Head of School
Rachel Arcus-Goldberg
January 7, 2022 / 5 Shevat 5782
Bo: Exodus 10:1 - 13:16
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Can magnets prevent car crashes? In the 3rd Grade CJDS Science class, the students are working in the maker space designing models to explore this question.
The students are working in teams to come up with different ideas for how using magnetism could potentially make vehicular travel safer. One group designed a car with magnets on the outside to repel other cars from each other. Another, designed a whole new transportation system wherein cars (or hovercrafts in this particular creative model) are moving on magnetized tracks. In this system, the magnets would turn on and off at stop lights to prevent vehicles from moving through red lights.
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Each time I visit a CJDS classroom, I am blown away by both our teachers and our students. The teachers find challenging and innovative ways to engage the students in big problem solving initiatives. The students come up with thoughtful, actionable, and interesting solutions.
As we ring in 2022, I wonder what the world will be like in 2042 when these students are adults engaging in the workforce. Maybe we will all be driving hover cars on magnetic tracks. Maybe problems like food security, global warming, or racial equity will be solved.
What do you think the world will be like in 20 years? What problems do you want to solve? What steps can you take today, to make a difference?
No matter what the next twenty years bring, I know that graduates and alumni of the Columbus Jewish Day School will be at the forefront of efforts to change the world. We have given them the opportunity to engage with big issues, participate in efforts to solve them, and, most importantly, we have instilled in them the importance of using their voices, their passions, and their intelligence to engage in Tikkun Olam, to try and fix the world around them.
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CJDS First Graders Are Coding
As first graders returned to school this week after winter break, they began coding! Collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and problem solving are all important skills the students needed during this science class.
Using the Kodable K-5 curriculum, students learned how to think like a programmer. Our younger students begin with Sequence, Conditions, Loops, Functions, and Debugging; and through the Kodable curriculum, students could be writing real JavaScript by 5th grade! One game even teaches students how to use commands to write the correct code to move their "fuzz" through a maze.
Science doesn't just happen during the school day, CJDS offers an after school Lego Engineering Club, open to all grades!
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Tefillah with Kindergarten
Each morning, kindergarteners have Tefillah together in their classroom or outside near the butterfly garden or pond.
During Tefillah, they take time to reflect what they are thankful for, and sing together. Click here to enjoy the Kindergarteners singing "Bokor Tov" during Tefillah.
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Mixed: A Colorful Story
CJDS first graders read the book "Mixed: A Colorful Story" by Arree Chung. This book celebrates the importance of community, acceptance, and diversity while teaching about mixing primary colors.
During art class, students made a collaborative mural inspired by the style of the author/illustrator and mixed primary colors to make unique and colorful people for their bustling community. Students added expressive details and used "juicy adjectives" to name their color creations!
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Top Private School 3 Years in a Row!
We are honored to have been voted in the top 3 for Best Private School 2021.
Way to go Marburn Academy for receiving the #1 spot. We have many alumni students attend Marburn, and we couldn’t be prouder of our New Albany neighbor!
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Celebrating CJDS Alum
Featuring Ruthie Moskowitz
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This months Alumni Spotlight is Ruthie Moskowitz. Ruthie is currently an 8th grader at Gahanna Middle School East.
After graduating from CJDS, Ruthie joined the track team and choir at GMSE, and is involved in lyrical dance at Broadway Bound in New Albany.
Ruthie shares, "Middle school is different from CJDS, but it is fun and I have gotten to learn more about my favorite subjects. I love designing things on the 3D printer, I like to build puzzles, I like to walk, dance, sing, and I am a madrichah at Sunday School my temple, Beth Tikvah."
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When asked her favorite part about CJDS, Ruthie shares "the friends that I made there. I am still friends with a lot of them even though we go to different schools."
Ruthie's favorite project? Her 6th grade Jewish Heroes project on Norah Efron!
"I picked Norah Efron and it was fun to work with my friends and research about my Jewish Hero. I got to share my project after I finished and I felt so proud."
"I am proud that I was part of the first CJDS school newspaper. It was fun to act as a journalist and interview my teachers and classmates. One of the things that I loved was being a part of school tefillah and leading the prayers."
When asked how CJDS shaped her life, Ruthie shared that "CJDS helped prepare me for my Bat Mitzvah, and it taught me to speak up and ask questions. I want to thank all my teachers for making my experience there really meaningful!!"
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We want to FEATURE YOU in our next newsletter and on our social media channels.
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.
Reach out to our Alumni Coordinator here. We want to hear from you!
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CJDS graduates go on to attend a variety of public and independent schools, both Jewish and secular, such as the following:
American University
Arizona State University
Barnard College
Boston University
Bowling Green State University
Case Western Reserve
Claremont McKenna College
Columbus State Community College
Cornell University
Davidson College
DePaul University
Emory University
George Washington University
Harvard University
Hebrew Union College
Indiana University
Jewish Theological Seminary
Kent State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Miami University of Ohio
New York University
Northwestern University
Oberlin
Ohio University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Otterbein College
Smith College
The Ohio State University
Touro College
Trinity College
University of Arizona
University of California Davis
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Michigan
University of Pittsburgh
University of Texas - Austin
Washington University in St. Louis
Wellesley College
Wittenberg College
Yale University
Don't see your college? Let us know here, and we will add it to our list!
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Kindergarteners walked to the New Albany Food Pantry before break to drop off greens from the CJDS tower gardens, bagels, potatoes, and Tzedakah!
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Second graders decorated “saving containers” based on the Torah portion “Miketz” when Yosef saved food during the 7 good years to be eaten during the 7 bad years. |
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Third graders created cars that use electromagnetism to prevent crashing! Students had so many creative inventions and ideas. |
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Ms. AG and Cassidy twinning in the kindergarten classroom! |
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Fifth graders have been studying the values and characters of Jewish heroes as part of their current unit. They read about different heroes and assigned characteristics to them based on an activity from The Museum of the Jewish People in Israel. |
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Fourth Graders are studying the Law of Conservation of Energy in science class by building roller coasters that help them understand potential and kinetic energy. |
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First graders are published Authors! Kol HaKavod! |
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Third graders have been working diligently on their personalized Hebrew rule books. |
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The fifth graders have spoken over 1,000 minutes of only Hebrew this school year. To celebrate, they had a “late night party” before winter break. Mar Etgar or Mr. challenge (the monster seen in the picture) is their signal that it is time to speak only Hebrew in the classroom. |
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Sheri Gittins
Director of Teaching and Learning and 3rd Grade General Studies Teacher
"Teaching at CJDS provides continual moments of celebration accompanied by many opportunities for growth. Integrating and differentiating our Judaic and General Studies programs serves as a north star for curriculum development and classroom instruction. I am proud to be part of the nurturing and caring community that weaves our community into the unique tapestry that is, the Columbus Jewish Day School."
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Sheri has taught children ages Pre-K through 6th grade over the last three decades. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and was fortunate to be named Educator of the Year by the Columbus Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. Sheri has taught at The Columbus Academy, Wellington School, Columbus Public Schools, and served as the Director of the JCC New Albany Preschool for six years (2012-2018). She has enjoyed leading seminars and supervising student teachers for The Ohio State University.
Sheri has proudly spent the last 10 years of her journey as a teacher and leader in a Jewish setting. Committed to progressive education and Judaism, she welcomes the opportunity to apply her hands-on, project based learning and integrated curricular approach at CJDS.
In her life outside of school, Sheri’s first priority is spending time with her family. She loves cooking, gardening and volunteering at local literacy programs and women’s shelters.
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Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov to CJDS Science Specialist Dr. Gina Freeman on becoming a Grandmother. Morgan (Gina's daughter) and Kevin recently welcomed baby Kai.
Mazel Tov to Robin Judd in honor of becoming President of the Association for Jewish Studies.
Mazel Tov to Bobby Covitz for his leadership in the community, and being among the participants in the Leadership New Albany Class of 2022 through the New Albany Chamber of Commerce.
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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
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Jacob Cohen, class of 2015
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)
We extend our sympathies Susan Couden on the loss of her mother, Mary Gemma (Hatem) Couden.
We extend our prayers to any family in our community who may be impacted by coronavirus.
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January
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Friday, January 14 - 1:30-2:15pm - MLK & AJH All School Kabbalat Shabbat (Will be live streamed, no in-person guests)
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Monday, January 17 - MLK Day - NO SCHOOL
- Thursday, January 20 - 8:30-10:00am - 2nd Grade Hag HaSiddur Ceremony
- Friday, January 28 - 1:40-2:15pm - All School Kabbalat Shabbat
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Donated Blood in Honor of
Caleb Moses
Temple Israel 3100 E. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43213
01/18/2022 | 01:00 PM - 07:00 PM
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Boker Tov Shabbat
Saturday, January 8
at 11AM.
Families with children 5 & under will come together to sing, dance, and be silly on Shabbat mornings at Tifereth Israel! More info here.
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Temple Israel's
Tot Shabbat
Saturday, January 8 at 10AM. Join Cantor Moses, Shlomi the Shark and friends as we celebrate Shabbat through stories and songs! All are welcome! More info here.
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Parents of Young Kids
Study Circle
Sunday, January 9 at 11:30AM
How do we raise curious, compassionate, and Jewishly engaged kids ... while also navigating tantrums, hectic schedules, and our own exhaustion? Join in with our rabbis and other parents of young kids for discussion, study, and support. Babysitting provided. Contact Rabbi Alex. More info here.
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