Remarks by Shira Deener, Head of School Erev Tov, JCDS! Did you know that we have a tradition of saying goodbye to a section of Torah when we finish learning it? This prayer, Hadran Alach, actually reminds us that we never really say goodbye. Rather, we will return to it, again and again. Like we say, “L’hitraot” – “I will … More School Sparks: End-of-Year Celebration 5782
By Naomi Greenfield, 2nd Grade General Studies Team Teacher and Social Justice Cohort Member This year at JCDS, the Social Justice Cohort and the Vaad chose a social justice theme that was integrated into programming and learning throughout the year. The theme this year was around Refugee Support and Education, and we highlighted learning opportunities … More School Sparks: Refugee Support and Education
By Avraham Sosa, Middle School Science Teacher וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־כׇּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כׇל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ פְרִי־עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאׇכְלָֽה׃ וּֽלְכׇל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָ֠רֶץ וּלְכׇל־ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ רוֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת־כׇּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאׇכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃ God said, “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, … More School Sparks: JCDS STEM and the Environment
By Shira Deener, Head of School. In her book, The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, Annie Murphy Paul makes a strong case that learning is a “deeply social act.” She explains how schools for centuries have viewed socializing as something relegated to recess and over lunch in the cafeteria. Real academics … More School Sparks: Harnessing the Social Brain at JCDS’ Middle School
By Shira Deener, Head of School. Matters of Taste: What Really Matters on Friday, May 6th was an unprecedented celebration, as never before have we had our entire student body join our supporters and extended JCDS community of friends and family for our signature fundraising event. The Book of Proverbs, also known as Mishlei, in … More School Sparks: JCDS’ Secret Ingredient
By Shira Deener, Head of School. Zionism. It is a concept rich in history, perspective, hope, and dreams. It is also a concept steeped in complexity, weight, challenge, and debate. Zionism means a great deal to many, both within the Jewish community and beyond. And despite its collective significance, it remains a concept that is … More School Sparks: Teaching the History of Israel Through JCDS’ Habits of Mind and Heart
By Shira Deener, Head of School Yom Hashoah V’Hagvura, The Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism, which falls annually on the 27th Day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, marks the beginning of many Yoms (days) on the Jewish calendar. Next week, Yom HaZikaron (National Remembrance Day) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) … More School Sparks: JCDS Personalizes the Month of “Yoms”
You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your G-d: I am G-d. (Leviticus 19:32) Our tradition teaches us that an essential part of קדושים תהיו (You shall be holy) is the imperative of honoring the elderly. JCDS’ fifth grade students are learning … More School Sparks: Learning from the Elderly
By Shira Deener, Head of School. This week JCDS Middle School students cut the ribbon and inaugurated the long-awaited, newly-constructed single-stall gender neutral bathroom. Our 5-8th grade students gathered in the Chadar Ochel to do something familiar to all: learn, reflect, and bless. In this case, we reviewed the words that Rav Abaye, the 4th … More School Sparks: Asher Yatzar (Who Formed)
By Sarah Langer, 6th-8th Grade Math Teacher; Social Justice Coordinator. One of the 7th grade math units addresses percent change. In the unit, we learn how to calculate how much a value has changed over time. This topic easily lends itself to real world contexts such as tax, tip, sales, and commission, but the 7th … More School Sparks: Using Math to Make Sense of the World
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