Parashat Yitro

Today was just another amazing day in the Lower School.  As I was writing on the white board and noted the ending of January, two 1st grades were so excited about ..."12 more days!!!"  I asked if it were their birthdays and they said "no; it's the Siddur Party!"  Then I walked into a kindergarten class and 2 boys were in their shul (which they've just started to build) acting - very seriously - as the chazzan with siddur and Tallit and a fellow davener.  Further down the hall, one class of third graders was excitedly dressing themselves in garb reminiscent of Rashi's time in eager preparation for today's outstanding Rashi Party.  And this was all before 8:15!

As we close the month of January and look forward to February and all it brings - the aforementioned first grade Siddur party, Spirit Week, Purim, and the Betzalel Art Day,  I anticipate more happy and meaningful celebrations.  As you attend parent-teacher conferences next week, please take the time to look at our bulletin boards and some of the work displayed.  It is a tribute to the diverse and enriched curriculum your children receive, while also being a credit to them and their teachers.

We appreciate the vast array of opportunities  available to us in this area.  In the month of February, there will be a 3rd grade trip to the Phillip Ratner Museum, a "Poetry Alive" program for K-5, an interactive program teaching communication, analysis and performance through poetry, as well as a continuation of our poet in residence for grade 5, and a kindergarten trip to Magen David (in addition to the other in-school programming).  We also have two parent-directed programs, your PTO Lower school Advisory on February 12 and our PEP (Parent education) on February 7, and of course our parent-teacher conferences on February 6 (preceded by a 12:30 dismissal - with lunch being served in school).

Switching gears: Don't you just love it when your children get compliments?  As a principal, it makes my week when students are praised, especially  by people who have no vested interest in them.  On Tuesday, our 2nd graders went to the National Gallery of Art (thank you parent and Manager of School Tours and Docent Programs  at NGA, Liz Diament and Deborah Lerner Gross Jewish Cultural Arts Center director Rena Fruchter for making the arrangements).  One of the docents, a professor emeritus at UMD in Education, wrote: 

..."  Wonderful children, wonderful Interactions (seemed to me),  wonderful questions, wonderful learnings. And they so delightfully represent a saved future."  (We would like to think that the children's previous experiences in observation and analysis  play a significant role in their interest and skills.)

Yesterday, our Second and Third Grade staff had a Singapore Math workshop, part of which were "model" lessons in two classes.  The presenter, an experienced educator himself, marveled at our children's respectful behavior and their attention in class.  Music to my ears!

This comes on the heels of a week in which our fifth graders have been extolled by our Poet In Residence, parent and poet Sarah Antine, who is working with them in both Judaic and General Studies to write poetry.  It's not only their behavior, but also their creativity and writing abilities which facilitate success.  She says that "It is a great gift to teach the 5th graders poetry."  5th Grade also had their annual Shabbaton this past Shabbat, Tu B'Shvat, held in our building.  Their behavior, davening, ruach, and achdut were outstanding! Thank you Michael Becker, Rachel Handloff, Rabbi Moses, and Tammie Rapps for giving up Shabbat at home with your families to spend time with our students.

FYI: Next week, on Monday and Tuesday, Mrs. Israel, Mrs. Rapps and I will be attending the National Jewish Day School Conference. Mrs. Handloff and Mr. Quartey will be in charge of the Lower School.  Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Bo

A peek in through my window:

One of the features that I enjoy talking about with prospective parents is the community feel of the Lower School. I absolutely love watching siblings taking care of each other.  Numerous families have children in the various divisions and it is not unusual to see the older ones bring their younger siblings to class or to their lockers in the mornings.  What is so beautiful is the visible attitude, or really, the lack of it.  These are happy children, smiling, taking the extra minute to be kind to the younger ones.  At dismissal, we frequently watch as the older siblings, even those in the Lower School, are protective of the younger ones, making sure they have their belongings and head in the right direction when their names are called.   I don’t take this for granted as it is not the norm in other schools.

Capitalizing on this trait and to increase the amount of responsibility expected of our 5th graders, we have started a new Lower School program.  Our 5th graders have been “buddied” up with 1st graders to help them out at various times.  One such occasion is our weekly Oneg.  We are thrilled (we kvell, for sure!!) as we watch this pairing.  Students are taking this very seriously.  5th grades are enjoying the new responsibility and 1st graders appreciate the special attention.  Watching both groups of students walking into the auditorium together, many of  them holding hands, seeing the 1st graders look at their “older” buddies with such admiring eyes, observing the 5th graders very seriously following through on helping their charges truly is a sight to behold!!!  It’s all part of the process of helping our students learn how to be leaders as well as how to interact appropriately with others.

We regularly see other “community” activities. This week, 5th grades will work with 2nd graders on writing Shape Poems for Tu B’Shvat.  On Wednesday, one 4th grade class recited a poem to a kindergarten group and another to a 1^st grade.  We can pride ourselves on fostering an environment in which it is “cool” to be helpful and kind!

Another newly-introduced program is our recess time clubs.  They started this week for grades 2 through 5.  Students may continue to participate in unstructured recess or they may sign up for one of the clubs being taught by our teachers.  Choices range from chess club, to origami, to Italian, to newspaper.  We believe that this ability to attempt something new and different aids children’s development and enhances their ability to make informed choices.  It is also a great way for children to broaden their horizons and dabble in new pursuits.  One never knows what will be of interest – or not!!!

Education is multifaceted.  We continuously strive to enrich and enhance each child’s experience so that s/he will be challenged, encouraged, and motivated. Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Shemot

Since the summer, I have been watching the construction of the new firehouse on Arcola and Georgia Avenues.  For quite a while, it was just a big trench but one day, massive vertical beams appeared.  A few days later, construction workers were walking on horizontal beams.  Several months later now, we can see what the building will look like when it’s finished. 

My initial reactions were those of an educator, how this building parallels teaching and child development.  We spend an enormous amount of time laying the groundwork, building the deep foundation for the future.  Not much is visible nor tangible to the uninitiated as our kindergarten students learn to be students and those all-so-important basics: how to be part of a group, how to listen and share, to ask questions, and to think.  And then – one day, there it is: the child is reading, or recognizing letters, or bursting out in verses of a song, or explaining the difference between various coins, or opening a siddur and davening.  Taking this analogy to a higher level, we experience the struggles of children, sounding out the words, putting the letters together, wrestling with the meaning of the words of the sentence or the pasuk.  All of a sudden, as the light bulb turns on, as the foundation becomes even more fortified, there is clarity and the “aha” moment appears!  Wow.  All that study, all that preparation, all that hard work has come to fruition.

Today, that foundation takes on a different meaning for me.  As part of an “institution”, the larger MJBHA, there are many behind-the-scenes people who keep the building and its operations stable and sturdy, who are essentially an integral part of the foundation.  Over Winter Break, we suffered the death of Jeff Binder, our “Operations Manager.”  Jeff had been part of the MJBHA for 27 years.  As we look to see how we will fill the void, it is more than just who will fulfill his various roles.  We take the time to recognize his important contributions to the school as a valued and vital employee, as well as to recognize his role as a human.  One of Jeff’s traits was his energetic, cheerful personality and the caring way in which he greeted everyone.  We cannot bring him back, painful as that is to recognize.  But we can strive to emulate his goodwill and his pleasant ways; we can smile at others and greet everyone. He was the perfect example of Avot 1:15:

שמאי אומר,………….והוי מקביל את כל האדם, בסבר פנים יפות

“Shammai would say: …….. And receive every man with a pleasant countenance.”

We can memorialize Jeff by emulating him, by continuing his pleasant demeanor and making everyone feel welcome.  We can contribute to the very framework of our organization, to the foundations of our lives, by following in the footsteps of this individual who affected so many people personally.  Y’hee zichro baruch…may his memory be for a blessing.

At this week’s Oneg, we will be remembering Mr. Binder by referring to this beautiful trait of his, of his pleasant ways.  Shabbat Shalom