KOL ECHAD | Weekly Newsletter 

September 7, 2023

Kadima's Strategic Plan 2023-27: The Way Forward

By Margaret Sinai and Dr. Steven Lorch

Dear Kadima Families,

Kadima’s Board of Trustees recently completed a strategic plan to guide its work and the work of the school’s leadership team over the coming four years. We are excited to share the plan and its key initiatives with you.

Why a Strategic Plan?

The three key purposes of a strategic plan are -

1. To systematically advance the school toward viability and sustainability, not only for current students, but for the children of current students (in other words, envisioning 25 years into the future).
2. To focus the work of the Board on making progress toward strategic goals.
3. To sharpen the focus of the school’s leadership team on initiatives and tasks that will have the greatest long-term impact.

Taking the long view and measuring progress in four-year increments complements all of the more frequent (daily, monthly, yearly) ways in which teachers, the leadership team, and the Board use data to gauge progress.

The Board identified six key priorities for the strategic plan and developed strategies to advance and achieve each of them.

Key Priority #1: Educational Excellence

Initiative: To build and enhance programs that will strengthen students’ 21st-century skills

• Strengthen the technology program and its reputation
• Promote excellence in math and language arts
• Develop signature programs in Jewish/Zionist education and in community building that reinforce Kadima’s current market advantage

Key Priority #2: Parent Relations

Initiative: To enhance the parent experience

• Ensure that parent education programs and all internal communications align with the needs of our varied demographics
• Strengthen the PTO in its own right and as a pipeline toward Board membership

Key Priority #3: Facilities

Initiative: To upgrade facilities to support educational enhancements

• Strengthen technology facilities and tools
• Align facilities with the needs of our varied demographics

Key Priority #4: Marketing and Admissions

Initiative: To strengthen Kadima’s reputation and reach

• Implement strategies to build positive word of mouth
• Align marketing strategies with the demographics of the school community and the wider community
• Position Kadima as a community resource

Key Priority #5: Fund Development

Initiative: To build a strong foundation for financial sustainability

• Educate parents about the role of philanthropy in independent schools
• Professionalize the development program
• Systematize and expand the major gifts program

Key Priority #6: Board Development

Initiative: To increase the Board’s capacity to achieve strategic plan initiatives

• Strengthen the pipeline toward Board membership and leadership
• Educate Board members to increase their effectiveness

You are our partners in strengthening the school to better serve your children, as well as the children of future generations of Kadima families. We look forward to involving you in supporting our strategic planning initiatives and to updating you periodically on our progress toward achieving them.

Shabbat shalom and shanah tovah,

Margaret Sinai Dr. Steven Lorch

President, Board of Trustees Head of School

Important Dates

Tuesday, September 12

• Elementary School Back-to-School Night, 6:00 pm

Tuesday, September 12 - Thursday, September 14

• High Holidays food drive

Friday, September 15

• Erev Rosh Hashanah - school closed

Saturday, September 16 - Sunday, September 17

• Rosh Hashanah

Thursday, September 21

• Picture day

Monday, September 25

• Yom Kippur - school closed

Friday, September 29

• Erev Sukkot - school closed

Saturday, September 30 - Sunday, October 1

• Sukkot

Thursday, October 5

• Sukkot B'Yachad - 5:30 pm
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Friday, October 6

• Hoshana Rabbah - school closed

Saturday, October 7

• Sh'mini Atzeret

Sunday, October 8

• Simchat Torah

Wednesday, October 23

• Picture make-up day

*For the full school year calendar, please click HERE.

Sukkot B'Yachad

Thursday, October 5, 5:30 pm, Kadima Yard

Sukkot B'Yachad is a cherished Kadima tradition, and this year it will take place on the evening of Thursday, October 5, at 5:30 pm. The evening will include student performances, fun holiday activities for the entire family, arts & crafts, and a festive kosher catered dinner. Advance ticket reservation is required. Tickets are $35 per adult and $25 per child. Click here or on the flyer below to purchase tickets. Deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, September 27, 5:00 pm, no exceptions!

We can't wait to connect and celebrate Sukkot together (b'yachad)!

High Holidays Food Drive

September 12-14

Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, SOVA pantry, depends on our generous donations to meet the ongoing hunger crisis in our community. Donations directly benefit the thousands of people who visit the pantries - people of all backgrounds and identities. Please be as generous as you can; the need is great. 

Food items most needed:

• peanut butter
• rice
• canned tuna/fish
• canned meats
• canned or dry soup
• whole grain cereal

All other non-perishable foods and personal hygiene items are also welcome!

Each student will be sent home with a bag on Monday, September 11, to be filled with donation items. Donation bins will be available in the main office for you or your child to place your donated items in starting Tuesday, September 12 through Wednesday, September 14. Your food donations are very much appreciated.

Picture Day

Thursday, September 21

Picture day will be on Thursday, September 21. Every student will have his or her picture taken by Cornerstone Photography. Shortly after, you will receive a link to order your pictures online. 

Lulav and Etrog Sets

We are now accepting orders for lulav and etrog sets. If you would like to purchase a set, please click here or on the flyer.

The deadline to order is Wednesday, September 13. Late orders will not be accepted. Order pick up will be at the main office starting on Tuesday, September 26.

Top 10 Conversation Starters: Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech

By Dr. Steven Lorch

#10 - Before Moshe dies, he announces a new covenant with God (D'varim 29, 11). Wait - wasn't the covenant at Mount Sinai supposed to be eternal? Why is another one needed?

#9 - This covenant, or contract, is binding to all present and future generations (29, 13-14). How did those who weren't present (namely, us!) become obligated to a contract we didn't "sign"?

#8 - Moshe goes on to imply that it is inevitable that we will sin and be punished by going into exile, and also inevitable that we will do teshuvah and be forgiven by God (30, 1-2). Aren't people supposed to have free choice?

#7 - In describing teshuvah, the Torah uses two different prepositions: you will return עד (up to? near to?) God (30, 2), and you will return אל (to) God (30, 10). What's the difference between them? Why are both needed?

#6 - Moshe uses two metaphors to describe how easy the Torah is to understand and to observe: it is not in heaven, and it is not across the sea (30, 12-13). What's the difference between the metaphors? Why are both used?

#5 - The rabbis use the phrase "it is not in heaven" (30, 12) to make a different point: it's up to us humans to interpret the Torah, and even God couldn't settle a dispute between us about certain meanings. How is this possible, if God is all-powerful?

#4 - At the beginning of Parashat Vayelech (31, 1), Moshe begins the last part of his farewell address. The first two words are וילך משה, which could mean "Moshe went," or "Moshe continued." If the last two letters of the first word are reversed (ויכל), it would mean "Moshe finished." Which meaning makes the most sense in context?

#3 - The mitzvah of הקהל ("assembling") requires a public reading of sections of the Torah once every seven years, on Sukkot (31, 10-11). Why once every seven years and not, say, every year? Why on Sukkot and not, say, on Pesach?

#2 - The people are told to write את השירה הזאת, which the rabbis say is a mitzvah for each person to write his or her own personal sefer Torah (31, 19). What are some things we can do to keep this mitzvah?

#1 -  The Torah is called שירה, "a poem" (31, 19). But nearly all of the Torah is written in prose. In what ways is the Torah similar to poetry?