Ma Koreh
/What’s Happening?
Monthly CJDS Newsletter
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Welcome to the Newsletter! Through the Ma Koreh, we will provide a brief in-depth look into CJDS. This month's issue features:
- D'var Kesher a message of connection, from our Head of School, Rachel Arcus-Goldberg
- "Involve me and I learn"- the New Science Curriculum at CJDS
- "Connecting Math to the real world" -The CJDS Faculty studies at a Eureka Math Workshop
- Photo Highlights
- What's coming up
- Community Milestones
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D’var Kesher from Head of School
Rachel Arcus-Goldberg
September 6, 2019/ 6 Elul 5779
Parashat Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
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D'Var Kesher: A Heart That Can Hear
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Greetings!
On the first day of school, all of the students, faculty and staff, gathered in the gym for our Opening Assembly. As we began, we sang
“Hineh Ma Tov Umah Nayim Shevet Achim Gam Yachad”
- How good and pleasant it is for us to sit together as family. As I stood in front of the room again, in front of all of the parents for “Back to School Night,” I was struck by the beautiful, vibrant community we have created and couldn’t help humming
“Hineh Ma Tov”
to myself. It was wonderful to be back together to celebrate the beginning of another school year.
At the beginning of the biblical book of Kings, we learn about King Solomon’s transition into leadership. He was not the oldest of David’s children, he did not have the most strength, or military prowess, and so he did not assume as he was growing up that the Kingship would be his. When he was anointed, it was important to him to demonstrate his power to the people. He killed his dissenters, he married the daughter of the Pharaoh to make an alliance, he made lots of sacrifices (the animal kind, not the giving up something meaningful to you kind…), yet none of this made him feel like the kind of king he wanted to be. One night, in a dream he was asked, “What do you want?” Solomon replied “I want a heart that can hear.”
Sitting in my Jewish day school classroom in 7th Grade, learning this story for the first time with a beloved
Tana
h
teacher, I was transported. I sat at my desk, surrounded by classmates, but I was no longer aware of their fidgeting, chewing gum, or doodling. I completely identified with King Solomon’s request. I teared up at the thought that, I too wanted a heart that could hear!
At 12, what that mainly meant to me was that I wanted to be a good friend, a good listener and a compassionate person. Now, as an adult, I want to be a wise and fair leader, to make choices that are true to the mission and vision of my school, a good advocate for the needs of the people I represent, and still to be a good friend, a good listener and compassionate person.
As we prepared for this school year, I wanted to make sure that I could meet the varying needs of lots of different people and at the same time stay true to the mission and needs of the school. After a lot of thought and discussion, I paused and remembered that I need to use my heart that can hear. I knew that I could be creative, that I had an incredible team of faculty and staff working with me, I had a supportive board of trustees, and that I had passionate parents with whom to collaborate.
I was so proud to show off the wonderful product of that thought process at Back to School Night. Parents had the opportunity to experience a taste of the incredible academic program that we offer with mini-lessons from the classroom teachers, our science specialist and our related arts faculty. Each class and advisory group sat together to participate in a model of the beautiful morning meetings that are facilitated each morning to encourage our students’ social-emotional growth.
For me, the most important part of the evening was being able to enjoy the goodness and pleasantness of being together as a unified community.
Hineh ma tov u’ma nayim, shevet achim gam yachad.
Shabbat Shalom,
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"Involve me and I Learn" - the New Science Curriculum at CJDS
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“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” -
Benjamin Franklin.
This is the quote that Dr. Gina Freeman, the CJDS full-time Science specialist, kept in mind while help redesigning the science curriculum for this school year. As Gina says, “This quote could be the motto for the Kinesthetic Learner, and that’s what we are doing in the Maker Space: hands-on learning.”
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In the summer of 2019, CJDS converted two classrooms into a Science Suite. One side is devoted entirely to a Maker Space where students are learning technology and engineering. On the other, we have our Science Lab devoted to the biological, chemical and earth science. All of this in addition to our 7 gardens, outdoor classrooms and learning labs.
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We are teaching the students to use the Geo-Inquiry Process of “Ask, Inquire, Explore, Analyze, Act” from the National Geographic Educators Certification Course, which Dr. Freeman recently completed. Our students are also investigating the birds, weeds and insects on our campus to participate in citizen science initiatives by The Ohio State University and Cornell University. We will also be initiating an “Ask a Scientist Day” where our students will get to meet with a real Scientist, ask questions, and hear about their research.
At CJDS, we are involving our students in their learning. We are encouraging more girls and boys to have hands on opportunities and develop foundational skills for creative thinking and design. We are promoting in our students the ability to be successful in any field that they choose to pursue.
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"Connecting Math to the real world" -The CJDS Faculty studies at a Eureka Math Workshop
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If you are not familiar with the new math program sweeping schools across the US, including CJDS, Eureka Math connects math to the real world; taking fear out of math, and building confidence in students. Every general studies faculty member attended a training conference on Eureka Math this summer.
In an interview with our faculty after the conference, ou
r second and third grade math teacher, Julie Ecker, immediately started using what she learned and adding new techniques into her classroom: “One new thing we learned this summer was "happy counting.” It is a fun warm-up activity that involves counting up and down by ones, twos, fives, tens, etc. The students love starting out our math classes with this activity!”
Our fifth grade math teacher, Joanna Vilensky agreed, adding that "The techniques they showed us were both thoughtful and creative. I've been using skip counting with my students and they all really enjoy it!"
Helena Richards, our Learning Specialist, and sixth grade math teacher,
added that “As a new teacher to CJDS and the Eureka Math curriculum, I enjoyed the opportunity to work one-on-one with the facilitator at the conference, learning how to effectively incorporate and immerse students with math vocabulary and hands on experiences. Since leaving the training, I have incorporated a math vocabulary component to my student's work binders in which they are learning math terminology the same way they would in a traditional language arts classroom.”
All of our teachers agreed that attending the workshop has made a difference in their instruction. Ms. Maddy, our Kindergarten teacher, has shared that “we are using the Fluency Activities throughout the day in Kindergarten. We are able to incorporate math in everything we do in the classroom.”
Eureka Math teaches students to think mathematically, not just memorize math facts.
We can’t wait to share with you all of the ways that our teachers bring math to life this year!
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Fri., 9/27 - 1:40-2:20pm - Kabbalat Hag Rosh Hashanah
Mon., 9/30 - Rosh Hashanah - NO SCHOOL
OCTOBER
Tues., 10/1 - Rosh Hashanah - NO SCHOOL
Tues., 10/8 - Erev Yom Kippur - NOON DISMISSAL
Wed., 10/9 - Yom Kippur - NO SCHOOL
Fri., 10/11 - 1:40-2:20pm - Sukkot Kabbalat Hag
Mon.-Tues., 10/14-15 - Sukkot - NO SCHOOL
Wed., 10/16 - 2:40-3:20pm - Sukkot Celebration and Kite Flying
Fri., 10/18 - 1:40-2:20pm - Kabbalat Hag Shmini Atzeret and Simhat Torah
Mon.-Tues., 10/21-22 - Shmini Atzeret, Simhat Torah - NO SCHOOL
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Mazel Tov to
Julie Ecker
,
(Second Grade Teacher) and her family on the birth of a new nephew, Emmett Joseph Ecker born on August 18, 2019.
Mazel Tov to
Farryl Briston,
(Former CJDS Kindergarten Teacher) and her family on the birth of a new baby boy,
Nathan Alexander Briston, born on August 24, 2019.
Mazel Tov to
Beth Hawks,
(Former CJDS Learning Specialist) and her family on the birth of a new baby girl, Mary Jane Hawks, born on July 23, 2019.
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Mazel Tov to Rabbis
Elka Abrahamson and Misha Zinkow
(CJDS Alum parents)
,
on the birth of a new Grandson, Aviv Meir Zinkow, born on July 11, 2019.
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Mazel Tov to
Jack Weiss
(CJDS class of 2018), on becoming a Bar Mitzvah.
Mazel Tov to
Annie Hillman
(CJDS class of 2018),
on becoming a Bat Mitzvah.
Mazel Tov to
Rylan Milenthal
(CJDS class of 2018),
on becoming a Bat Mitzvah.
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Mazel Tov to CJDS alum
Adam Berman
(CJDS class of 2004), and
Emuna Belenky
who were married this week in Israel! Adam is the son of Beth Berman and Tifereth Israel Rabbi Emeritus Harold Berman (past CJDS board member).
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Mazel Tov to
Jenna Rodier
(CJDS Alum),
on her "Career Success Story" video you can view
here
. Jenna (who started her studies at The Ohio State University at 16), is now a Senior at OSU and currently majoring in Hebrew, with a minor in Entreprenurship, and Theatre.
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We are so proud of all of the 18 Difference Makers receiving recognition in the community, and want to give a special shout out to the difference makers in our CJDS community including
Cantor Jack Chomsky
(CJDS alumna parent),
June K. Gutterman Ed.D
. (CJDS alumni parent and current board member),
Rabbi Debbie Lefton
(CJDS alumnus parent), and the Legacy Award to the late
Joyce Garver Keller
(former CJDS board member). We are honored so many of our alumni parents and board members are making a difference.
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Mi Sh'Berach
We wish our dear CJDS friend and Lunch Coordinator,
Paul Zeigler
, a speedy recovery.
We wish CJDS grandparent, and alumni parent,
David Lippy,
a speedy recovery.
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May Their Memory be a Blessing
We extend our condolences to Rabbi Misha Zinkow, and Rabbi Elka Abrahamson on the passing of Rabbi Misha Zinkow's Mother,
Marlene Zinkow
. (CJDS alumni parents, and past board Members.)
We extend our
condolences
to Herb & Dee Dee Glimcher (founding supporters) on the loss of Herb's sister-in-law
Patricia "Patty" Glimcher.
We extend our
condolences
to the Greenberg family on the passing of
Rosalie Greenberg
, Mother of Lenny Greenberg (CJDS alumni parent and founding board member.)
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Hakarat Hatov
To
Gayle Kuhr, Sharon Barr Skolnik, and Kesher
for the delicious treats around our Back-to-School Night.
To the
Faculty, Staff, and Parents
who made our Back-to-School Night so amazing!
To
Josh and Ilan Bahar
(CJDS Alumni), as well as the Otterbein students
,
and Jillian Young’s International students
on helping
weed and rid the garden of invasive plants.
To
Ayala Kremer
for helping support and serve hot lunch to our students.
To
Katie and Shaun Rotenberg
for opening your house to us for the Kindergarten Get Together.
To
Tali and Benny Zelkowicz
for opening your house to us to provide childcare for the Kindergarten Get Together.
To
Sheri Gittins
for overseeing the childcare during the Kindergarten Get Together.
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