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KOL ECHAD | Weekly Newsletter
November 14, 2024
13 Cheshvan 5785
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Making an Impact
By Alvira Chernichovski, Director of Admissions & Marketing
Back in January 2022, when I first joined the Kadima team, I reflected in my first Kol Echad article on my first impressions and observations of Kadima. Almost three years later, I return to those impressions to see if they still hold true. Although we, the collective community, have vastly changed, to my pleasant surprise, I found that Kadima has not only positively progressed since then but remained true to itself. Now that we are nearing the start of our annual campaign, let’s review what makes Kadima a "home away from home" and why it’s more important than ever to support Kadima in every way possible and help propel it to meet the challenges and demands of tomorrow.
A. Kadima really is everything it says it is!
When I first got to know Kadima, I found it to be a warm, loving, and caring school, both inside and outside its hallways. There is a lot of love and support at Kadima that remains the essence of what makes Kadima a beacon of our community. The unique Kadima experience is truly a mishpachah (family). Not only has this fact remained very much a part of Kadima, it intensifies year by year, creating a sense of belonging in a place that feels safe and warm. This is why each of you is so important and so valued. We are more than just a school, we are a community!
B. The academics are top notch!
Our commitment to ensuring that academic standards are met at Kadima was and remains a top priority. We regularly monitor students' progress to make sure all of our students are not only meeting state standards but exceeding expectations. Our goal has always been to prepare our students for high school, college, and beyond, but we go above and beyond academics. We promote the 21st-century skills our students will need to meet the demands of the future. This includes critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and creativity. Kadima consistently reviews and re-evaluates its methodology to ensure that our students are well prepared for their futures. The beauty of it all is that our students love to learn in our classrooms because they are provided with opportunities to inquire into the world around them and explore it in a meaningful way.
C. Did I mention the staff?
As it was three years ago, our team is truly all in, maybe even more so today. Kadima’s culture of “family” remains the essence of what makes Kadima such a special and meaningful place for everyone, not just to send your children to school, not just for your children to attend, but for teachers and other staff to work. We continue to provide frequent, high-quality professional development opportunities for our teachers so they can be the very best educators in the classrooms.
D. Israeli life and culture
Kadima today is truly a niche school, unlike any other Jewish day school in America. As we embrace our Jewish identity and focus on Judaism, we also provide a special experience not found in other schools, namely our Israeli culture. Three years ago, when I first visited Kadima, I felt transported back in time to my own school experience in Israel. The best parts of an Israeli childhood are recreated right here at Kadima. The dedication and commitment to the development of the child as a whole is clearly evident. The style and methodology, allowing the child to explore and gain independence and confidence, is similar to the Israeli approach. Every child at Kadima is embraced by the entire community, like a tribe! Friendships are valued, connections are made, and Israeli culture is everywhere! It’s what makes Kadima so unique and such a special place.
It's not inexpensive to continue to build a school with these special qualities. It costs more - substantially more - than your tuition dollars cover. Your donations to the annual campaign ensure that we have the resources necessary to continue to be a warm community with strong academics and a talented staff, all with a special Israeli spirit - in other words, the best place for our children to thrive in.
I hope all of you will join me next week, during our annual campaign, in sustaining our wonderful community. In past years, I have donated $1 for each new Kadima child enrolled at Kadima. This year, due to inflation 😜, I will be donating $2 per student.
Please join me in increasing your commitment, and do your part to ensure that Kadima continues on for future generations.
Shabbat shalom,
Alvira Chernichovski,
Director of Admissions & Marketing
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Gesher Celebrates the 50th day of school | |
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Together For Them (Wounded IDF Soldiers)
Middle School Assembly
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Important Dates
Sunday, November 17 - Friday, November 22
Thursday, November 21
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Elementary and middle school parent-teacher conferences - minimum day, 12:00 pm dismissal
Friday, November 22
- Parent-teacher conferences (all divisions) - no school
Monday, November 25
- Coffee with Coen - 5th grade parents meeting - 8:30 am, in the library
Monday, November 25 - Tuesday, November 26
Tuesday, November 26
- Middle school friendsgiving luncheon - 11:30 am
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29
- Thanksgiving break - no school
*For the complete 2024-25 school calendar, please click HERE.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22
Fall parent-teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, November 21, and Friday, November 22.
- Elementary and Middle School: Thursday, November 21, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm and Friday, November 22, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Early Childhood Education Center: Friday, November 22, 8:40 am - 2:40 pm, 8:40 am - 3:20 pm (Rooms 1 & 6 ONLY).
Thursday, November 21, is a minimum day for elementary and middle school only. School will conclude at 12:00 pm.
On Friday, November 22, there will be no classes for all divisions.
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ECEC and Elementary School, Kadima uses an online conference scheduling system. Click here to begin scheduling your conferences. You will need to set up a new login and password (even if you have previously set-up an account).
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Middle school parents only: click here to begin scheduling your conferences.
Kadima will provide childcare in the library (for elementary school students) and on the ECEC yard (for ECEC children) for parents while they attend conferences.
For assistance with signing up for parent-teacher conferences, please contact Matthew Fitzmorris at mfitzmorris@kadima.co or call (818) 346-0849.
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Coffee with Coen - 5th Grade Parent Meeting
Monday, November 25, 8:30 - 9:30 am
5th grade parents are invited to join our principal, Rebecca Coen, for an important meeting about our 5th graders' progress and gear up for moving up to middle school next year. The meeting will be held at 8:30 am on Monday, November 25, in the Kadima library.
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Thanksgiving Turkey and Food Drive
Monday-Tuesday, November 25-26
SOVA food pantry, a program of the Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, 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.
Brown bags will be distributed during pick-up on Thursday, November 21 to fill with items for our Thanksgiving turkey and food drive. Please return bags filled with frozen turkey and/or canned or dry goods at drop off the following week on Monday and/or Tuesday, November 25-26.
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This week our co-ed 1st/2nd grade soccer team played against parents. Kids won 10-8 with goals scored by Lavi, Noah N., Noah S., Ari, and Leo. Congratulations Kodiaks!
Our 5th/6th grade flag football team played against VBS this week. Romi had a first down catch on the sideline and Neev made a spectacular catch. We lost to VBS 20-0 but played a great game.
Our first playoff game is today at Laurence School at 3:15 pm. If we win, we will play for the Championship on Monday.
Winter sports start the week of December 2. To register, please complete the Athletics Application. Please return all paperwork and fees to the main office no later than Monday, December 2.
Winter Sports:
- Boys’ 3rd-5th grade basketball
- Boys’ middle school basketball
- Boys’ middle school soccer
- Girls’ middle school soccer
- Girls’ 3rd-4th grade soccer
- Girls’ 5th-6th grade soccer
- 1st-5th grade cheer/dance
For questions, please contact Dallas Perez at dperez@kadima.co .
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ECEC Gesher Parents: Tour Kindergarten
You may have already started thinking about your child's elementary school enrollment for next year. Now is a great time to get to know Kadima's kindergarten program and explore your most obvious option. You are therefore invited to schedule a tour so you can learn all about our elementary school and have an opportunity to ask all those important questions about this exciting transition.
To schedule your tour, please contact Alvira Chernichovski, Director of Admissions, at (818) 346-0849 or write to achernichovski@kadimadayschool.org. You can also schedule a tour online by visiting: https://www.kadimadayschool.org/schedule-a-tour.
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2025-26 Admission Applications Now Open
Admission applications are now being accepted for the 2025-26 school year.
Remember, you do not need to reapply annually for admission. Returning students will be receiving their re-enrollment contracts in February.
For priority consideration, please submit admission applications for new Kadima siblings by January 31, 2025. Please visit your FACTS portal to apply, or click here.
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Rosh Chodesh Lunch Sponsorship
Celebrating a milestone or a simcha?
Want to treat your faculty and staff to lunch?
Here’s your chance!
Rosh Chodesh lunch is a service of the PTO to provide a beautiful lunch to the faculty and staff at the beginning of each Jewish month. You can participate by sponsoring part or all of this meal, and we will recognize your milestone or simcha with a poster of all the sponsors at that lunch. It is a highlight of the month for the teachers and a great way to support the Kadima community. We need a combined $500 each month to provide a beautiful meal. If you would like to participate, please contact: Shani Gabay Sror: (818) 961-4861 gabayshani@hotmail.com or Adva Tzvi: (310) 717-1109 advatsvi@hotmail.com
Please email or text or WhatsApp
- The month you would like to sponsor (October-May)
- The dollar amount you would like to donate
- Family name as it should be listed
- In Honor of/Celebration of/ Memory of
- Your contact info
The Finance Office will reach out for payment.
Thank you for your participation,
Shani and Adva
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Kadima Banner Campaign
Kadima invites local businesses to advertise their goods and services to the community, and also support Kadima, with a promotional banner displayed near the carpool drop-off/pick-up zones. This is a great opportunity to promote your business to our community. Click here to learn more.
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Ramah Day Camp LA is ready or YOU! Join us for another summer of fun, friends, and joyful Judaism. Enrollment is OPEN to rising K - 5th grade with early enrollment discounts available through January 3rd. Questions? Contact daycamp@ramah.org or check out our website www.ramahdaycampla.org.
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Top 10 Conversation Starters: Parashat Vayera
By Dr. Steven Lorch, Head of School
#10 - In the first pasuk of the parashah (B'reshit 18, 1), God appears to Avraham. In the second pasuk, Avraham sees three men walking toward him, and from then on, there's no mention of God. Is God still there? If so, why isn't God mentioned any more? If not, where did God go?
#9 - Avraham offers his visitors water to wash their feet (18, 4). If you were Avraham and you had water to offer your visitors, what would you have offered for them to do with the water?
#8 - Avraham invites them to rest under a tree (18, 4). If you were Avraham, where would you have offered for them to rest? Is Avraham a good host?
#7 - When Sarah hears that she will have a baby, she laughs, and God is angry with her (18, 12-14). In last week's parashah, when Avraham heard God promise that Sarah would have a son, he laughed, and God wasn't angry with him (17, 17). What's the difference between the two cases?
#6 - God wants to destroy the people of Sodom because of their bad behavior. Avraham asks God to save Sodom if there are 50 righteous people there, and God agrees. He keeps negotiating - 45, 40, all the way down to 10 people, and God still agrees (18, 24-32). Why does Avraham stop at 10?
#5 - Avraham and Sarah make a big party to celebrate Yitzchak on the day he stops breastfeeding (21, 8). How old do you think Yitzchak is then? Why do they wait till then to make a big party?
#4 - When God tells Avraham to kill Yitzchak as a sacrifice to God, the Torah calls it a test (22, 1). Why does God need to test Avraham? Doesn't God know the future? Doesn't God already know what Avraham will do?
#3 - When Avraham reaches the mountain where he will sacrifice Yitzchak, he tells his servants not to join him on the mountain (22, 5). Why doesn't he want the servants to come with him?
#2 - The command to sacrifice Yitzchak comes from God (22, 1-2). The command not to sacrifice Yitzchak comes from an angel, and Avraham obeys the angel (22, 11-13). Is this okay, or is it a problem? Explain.
#1 - At the end of the story about Avraham almost sacrificing Yitzchak, it says that Avraham returned to the servants and they went back home. There's no mention of Yitzchak (22, 19). Why not? Where is he?
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