By Shira Deener, Head of School. This week, JCDS celebrated Pride together as a community as well as in individual classrooms, learning about its history and marking Pride month in our own unique way on Rosh Chodesh. Teachers and students first laid a foundation of historical knowledge, each grade at its own level. Gan Nitzan … More School Sparks: Pride Rosh Chodesh
By Shira Deener, Head of School. This week, JCDS observed Memorial Day with activities and gatherings led by faculty members Andrea Silton and Josh Mocle. By delving deeper into the journeys of the forefathers and foremothers of America, students gained a new appreciation for the freedoms that their sacrifice has afforded us. Students learned what … More School Sparks: Memorial Day
By Michelle Janoschek, 5th Grade Humanities and Math Teacher, Tamar Co-Advisor Literacy in the 5th grade classroom has been quite an exciting place as of late! Tamarim (fifth graders) read the book, Letters From Cuba, which is the story of a young Jewish girl, Esther, who flees Poland in 1938 and settles in Cuba. Characters … More School Sparks: Letters From Cuba
By Avraham Sosa, Middle School Science Teacher. אֵלוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר. הַפֵּאָה, וְהַבִּכּוּרִים, וְהָרֵאָיוֹן, וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה These are the things that have no measure: Peah [corner of the field which, while harvesting, must be left for the poor], Bikurim [First-fruits that must be brought to the Temple], the Reiyah [brought to the … More School Sparks: The Cycle of a Year Through Plants
By Josh Mocle, Middle School Humanities & Social Studies Faculty + Middle School Advisor. Kohelet 4:9-109 Two are better than one, since they have good reward for their toil.:טטוֹבִ֥ים הַשְּׁנַ֖יִם מִן־הָֽאֶחָ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יֵֽשׁ־לָהֶ֛ם שָׂכָ֥ר ט֖וֹב בַּֽעֲמָלָֽם10 For if they fall, one will lift up his friend, but woe to the one who falls and has no second … More School Sparks: Eighth Grade Retreat
By Shira Deener, Head of School. God revealed to Adam each generation with its scholars, each generation and its wise men, each generation and its writers, each generation and its leaders. Adam was the only one who saw the lineage which descended from him, until the end of all generations. (Yalkut Shimoni) The Torah dedicates … More School Sparks: L’dor V’dor
By Shira Deener, Head of School. In the wake of the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial last week, school leaders rose to meet the challenge of how to bring the lessons and values of this difficult moment in history to students. Teachers in all grade levels approached the topic in ways that were appropriate, … More School Sparks: Action In Justice
By Avraham Sosa, Middle School Science Teacher. .אָמַר רַב זוּטְרָא: הַאי מַאן דִּמְכַסֵּי שְׁרָגָא דְּמִשְׁחָא וּמְגַלֵּי נַפְטָא קָעָבַר מִשּׁוּם ״בַּל תַּשְׁחִית״ Rav Zutra said: He who covers an oil lamp or who uncovers a kerosene lamp for no purpose violates the prohibition: Do not destroy (Bal tashchit) since by doing so the fuel burns more … More School Sparks: Bal Tashchit
By Shira Deener, Head of School. This week, we begin the Jewish month of Iyar and observe two important days on our calendar: Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut. On Yom HaZikaron we remember the fallen soldiers and the victims of terror attacks throughout Israel’s history, and on Yom Haatzmaut we celebrate Israel’s founding and continued … More School Sparks: Yom HaZikaron and Yom Haatzmaut
By Shira Deener, Head of School In our last weekly conversation, we explored the Exodus story of Pesach and the charge presented to every person to relive the Passover story with each annual retelling. We began to grapple with the idea of history becoming memory, of long ago and far away stories becoming personal experiences. … More School Sparks: Yom Hashoah
