Ma Koreh?
What’s Happening?
March Newsletter
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This month's issue features:
- D'var Kesher
- MAP Scores
- CJDS Celebration Video
- Life and Legacy at CJDS: Annelyn Baron
- Celebrating CJDS Alumni, Featuring: Lee Hillman
- Highlights this Month
- Photo Highlights
- Community Milestones
- CJDS Calendar & Community Events
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D’var Kesher from Head of School
Rachel Arcus-Goldberg
March 5, 2021 / 21 Adar 5781
Exodus 30:11–34:35
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In December, CJDS was voted #1 Private School in the Columbus Dispatch “Best of CBUS” survey for the second consecutive year. CJDS is, and has always been, a small school. Over the 23 years that we’ve been open, we’ve educated around 530 students and engaged around 350 families. The schools who were nominated alongside us have many more students, many more families, and have been open for many more years. So, how did we win?
Well, it could be because our students benchmark testing scores are higher than the national averages for both public and private schools. It could be because we have students who serve on the national PJ Our Way committee, and on the JewishColumbus Youth Foundation, a Philanthropy granting committee. It could be because our alum get into top colleges, and are active and successful in sports, clubs, and leadership in their middle schools and high schools. It could be because we have a hard-working, creative, incredibly high caliber faculty. Or it could be that we are a school of excellence that instills intellectual sophistication, social responsibility and personal authenticity into every one of our students so that they are ready to contribute creatively and meaningfully in their communities and in the world.
Choosing CJDS for your child’s elementary school is an investment in their future. Elementary school experiences lay the groundwork for critical and creative thinking, a love of learning, and a sense of moral responsibility. CJDS holds up the value proposition in the 2017 Rosov Consulting report on Jewish day schools “The answer is rooted in their promise of deep and ongoing learning that integrates multiple dimensions of the child’s identity; their nurture of thick relationships between children, and between children and adults; and — above all — their embeddedness in the local community. Close to home, they are places where communities of adults and children find ultimate purpose. [Day Schools] ... serve as a bridgehead from which to connect to the world informed by timeless Jewish values and enriched by strong family-like relationships and sustained, personal attention.”
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CJDS is more than a school, it’s a community. Students are taught to interact inside the school building with respect, with responsibility, with readiness and with the ability to determine the right choices. And they are taught to interact with the world beyond our building in the same way. The adults around them model this as well. The faculty and staff are a tight-knit community of professionals that demonstrate the importance of working together and valuing the opinions of others. The parent and grandparent community are people who show up for their children, who help each other, and who reinforce the importance of education.
In 2021, the world we live in does not afford us the opportunity to consider our decisions or our surroundings in bifurcated or single-minded ways. We are not given the time or the space to look at a problem first through the science lens, then through a language lens, etc. And the world is not getting any simpler. The integrated, experiential, project and problem based educational methods develop in our students practices that encourage quick, integrated thinking, creative problem solving and the ability to try many solutions without giving up. We are preparing our students to be ready for a complex, changing world.
So, how did we win #1 Private School? We won because our 530 alumni are representing CJDS to their peers, their schools, their colleges, their professions and their communities - and those interactions demonstrate the incredible outcome of a CJDS education. Our students are thoughtful, they are ready, they stand up for what they believe in, they advocate for themselves and others, they make a difference. A CJDS education is an investment in the future of your child, building a foundation for the person they will become.
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- Overall, CJDS scored 9% above the National Average and 5% above the Private School Average during the 2020/2021 school year
- Kindergarten outperformed the National Average by 12% and Private Schools by 7%
- Graduating Fifth Graders outperformed the National Average by 9% and Private Schools by 7%
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Did You Catch the
CJDS Celebration Last Night?
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Watch the video below and enjoy the highlights from this school year! |
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"As a former Pre-K teacher at the LYJC and a CJDS Founding Teacher, watching hundreds of children begin their Jewish education has brought me a love and commitment to my work. Having the opportunity to create and participate in countless Jewish holiday programs has shown me the great value of a CJDS education.
I have found that the educational experiences ingrained in our students were instrumental in becoming the leaders they are today in their communities, and who they will become in the future.. For the last few years, I have been fortunate to teach a 2nd generation of CJDS students. I feel enormous pride to hear these students attribute the Jewish values learned and experienced at CJDS was shaping who they are becoming as individuals.
I was raised in a family where Jewish traditions, values, respect and caring for others, were modeled by my parents Al and Fagel Shkolnik. In that tradition, I am fortunate to have a husband and siblings, who have supported me for over four decades of teaching early childhood and kindergarten in a Jewish setting. The opportunity to participate in the Columbus Jewish Day School's Legacy Gift program is a tribute to my Parents’ and all the Jewish values taught to me. It is with great honor and pleasure that I do this!"
Annelyn Baron
CJDS Kindergarten Teacher and Legacy Society Member
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The Life and Legacy program promotes after-lifetime giving in order to sustain valued organizations and vibrant Jewish communities. Year 2 of the Life and Legacy program has begun -- assure your Jewish tomorrow TODAY.
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Celebrating CJDS Alum
Featuring Lee Hillman
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Our alum spotlight student this month is Lee Hillman.
Lee, currently a senior at Bexley High School, shares that since graduating from CJDS six years ago, he has grown as a person. Lee shares: "I’ve taken what I learned about giving back to the community from CJDS and applied it to my life."
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Recalling his favorite memory from CJDS, Lee shares it was during a special Kabbalat Shabbat where he performed “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. "I played electric guitar at the time, and decided to take my talents to the stage. Performing to my family and friends was very surreal. I was able to show off my talents in ways that are unique to me, since I’m not usually on a stage with an electric guitar playing rock music." |
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"I have a vivid memory of everyone clapping along with the music, and it is something I will never forget. I always loved Kabbalat Shabbat, as it was the perfect segue into a restful weekend with the people I love, while also combining the togetherness that I love about Shabbat. That surreal moment on the Kabbalat stage instilled me with confidence and a sense that I had the community’s support. I will take that support and confidence with me to college next year."
After graduating CJDS, Lee became a participant in The Wexner Service Corps, and currently serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Council. Lee shares, "I’ve worked as a Pro-Shop Manager at a local golf course, something that has taught me many life lessons about the real world. I’ve been a member of my high school Golf Team, serving as Co-Captain my senior year, additionally having two hole-in-ones over the four year span."
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Lee is currently preparing for his next steps, and is in the process of choosing the college that feels like a good fit. His interests include technology, game design and engineering, and credits the Lego Robotics Program and many hands-on lessons that were sparked during his time at CJDS. |
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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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Our Kindergarteners became Teachers this month, and shared everything they have been researching during the Kindergarten Animal Fair.
These young students learned how to research their animal by using books, magazines, videos and iPads. They processed their thoughts, wrote their own sentences, and illustrated the words to create an Animal Research Book.
CJDS Kindergarteners learned how to create an animal habitat, and made sure to include shelter, food, and a water source. Then in Art, they learned how to mold their animal from clay, and painted their clay animal sculpture. and they set up their animal scene.
Parents and Grandparents joined online to proudly watch as our Kindergarteners shared their animal habitat, research books, and a few fun animal facts.
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Jewish Heroes Living Museum in Fifth Grade |
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Our Jewish Heroes Museum was a little different this year with students, parents, and grandparents joining us virtually, but that didn't stop our fifth graders!
Jonah, Rony, and Zeke did a spectacular job sharing their knowledge of Jewish Heroes: Itzhak Perlman, Anne Frank, and Ben Platt.
Not only did these Fifth Grade students research their Hero and present in character to the community, they created Hebrew books about their Heroes, and worked for weeks on a portrait in Art Class of their Hero.
Click here to check out their presentations.
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Third Grade Taking Charge of Change |
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Over the last few weeks, our Third Graders have been learning how a Bill becomes a Law. Each student chose an issue of concern, and then researched that topic.
Using that information, students created their own Bills, and then presented their Bill to the Fourth Grade. These impressive Bills included changing car concepts towards improving car emissions away from fossil fuels, an "Every Child Matters" Bill promoting equal educational opportunities, Healthcare for All, Preventing Plastics in the Ocean, Masking Up to Save a Life, and a Tiny Home Village Act to reduce Homelessness.
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Fourth and Fifth Grade students testing a few of the microgreens from the Tower Gardens by making fruit and veggie smoothies. |
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Kindergarteners are learning Purim characters in Hebrew! |
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Students visiting the Ohio Mammal Museum (Science Lab) & using a Venn Diagram compared the differences & similarities among animals
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First and fourth grade buddies during a Purim activity with Megillah characters puppets. |
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Third graders started the roller unit this month. |
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Fourth Graders using the long seven tool for division during math class with Farryl. |
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First Grader Cohen celebrating Topsy-Turvy Day. |
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Teachers Ari, Katie, and Julie dressed up as Crayons for Purim. |
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Alexander Hamilton (fifth grader Zeke) taking a break from Purim for math class. |
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Mazel Tov to Rachel and Jeremy Arcus-Goldberg and family on the birth of a new niece.
Mazel Tov to Nikki and Glenn Henry, (CJDS Building Maintenance Supervisor), on the birth of their new grandchild Emerson.
Mazel Tov to newlyweds Shana Marks (CJDS class of 2005) and Rachel Demooy on their recent wedding.
Mazel Tov to JCC Front Office staff, Bonnie Finkelstein and her husband Allan, and Sophia Elias and Bryan Finkelstein on the birth of Julia Elias Finkelstein.
Mazel Tov to proud Grandparents Debbie and Barry Adelman, and parents Amy & Lior Rahav on the birth of Yarden Rahm Rahav.
Mazel Tov to CJDS Alumna, Rose Clubok, on being recognized in Columbus Jewish News for the innovative ways Religious schools are continuing to teach during this pandemic.
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Mi Sh'Berach
We wish Naomi Kayne (longtime friend and supporter of CJDS) a speedy recovery.
We wish Jacob Cohen (CJDS alum) a speedy recovery.
We wish Ellie White, friend of the school and alum family, a speedy recovery.
We extend our prayers to any family in our community who may be impacted by coronavirus.
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March
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Thursday, March 11 - 9:00-9:30am - 1st Grade Hagigat Hasefer (Virtual)
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Sunday, March 14 - 10:30am - Prospective Student Bracelet Making Get-together with Margo Lewis and CJDS Judaics Teacher Morah Ari. RSVP here.
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Friday, March 19 - 1:40-2:15pm - All School Kabbalat Shabbat - 3rd Grade Led (Virtual)
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Thursday, March 25 - 2:40-3:15pm - (Virtual) All School Kabbalat Hag Pesah
*All of these events are open to the community.
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Prospective Family Event! |
We are holding a virtual event for prospective students on Sunday, March 14th at 10:30am. Please join us to make bracelets with Margo Lewis, owner and creator of @GemsbyMKOL and read a story with CJDS 1st Grade Judaics teacher, Morah Ari Friedman! Our program will revolve all around kindness and community - which is what CJDS and Margo's bracelets exemplify! Come have fun and learn more about CJDS!
Limited availability - RSVP here.
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JewishColumbus has your Passover holiday planned! Free Gourmet Virtual Cooking Demonstration
with award-winning chef, Michael Solomonov. March 16, 8 pm EST
To register, please visit here.
For more information about the event, please contact Lisa Wein, Director of Donor Experience at 614-
559-3207.
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FIRST TIME CAMPER?
If your child is attending Jewish overnight camp for the first time, they may be eligible for a One Happy Camper grant. Your camper could receive up to $1000 in grant money for the best Jewish summer experience ever! Read more here.
For more information, please contact
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Summer is right around the corner!
Are you thinking about overnight camp for a child(ren) in your family? Join us on Wednesday, March 10th at 7pm EST from the comfort of your own home to learn all about life changing summers at Camp Livingston! We'll discuss activities, food, scholarships, COVID-19 safety, and why campers love their summers at their home away from home. We'd love to see you there!
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
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