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Th« Charlotte Jewl»h W«w» - January 2002 - Page 26
1 Charlotte
IJewish Day/
School
Charlotte Jewish Day School
First Graders Travel Back
in Time
The first-grade students of
Charlotte Jewish Day School have
recently returned from a trip back
in time. Throughout the month of
November, the children experi
enced life as Wampanoag Indians
living in Massachusetts in 1621.
The students created murals
depicting the environment of the
eastern woodlands. As the seasons
changed, the murals reflected the
shifting appearance in the land
scape. The students also created
Wampanoag summer villages by
constructing wetus (summer
Why Teachers Choose
Charlotte Jewish Day
School
Students in class IB work on their
Wampanoag Village.
Eastern woodlands mural and
village.
variety of games. The children had
a chance to practice archery skills
and play games such as the pin
game and tug-of-war. ^
Ben Greenberg trying archery.
homes), building fires, forming
planting mounds, and designing
three-dimensional trees. Each stu
dent had the opportunity to
become a member of a
Wampanoag family, determining
their character’s age, role in the
family, strengths, and personality
traits. When summer arrived,
Squanto visited our viiJage to gain
the leader’s permission to help the
English settlers. He returned in the
fall to invite everyone to a feast of
thanksgiving. Following a meal of
samp (seasoned grits), fruits, and
vegetables, the children enjoyed a
Henry Gorelick playing
the pin game.
New Reading
Incentive
Program
Charlotte Jewish Day School is
now participating in the Reading
Patch Club. This is an ongoing
incentive program that rewards
children for extra-curricular read
ing.
The students’ goal is to earn
patches for special bookbags that
are provided by our PTO. There
are different patches for various
genres, such as history, sports,
biology, science, and technology.
In addition, we have designed
original patches for Judaica fiction
and Judaica nonfiction.
The program encourages
parental involvement by including
“Read-To-Me” patches.
Since a large amount of reading
is required for each patch, the goal
is for a child to earn three or four
patches per school year. This
ongoing program will continue
from year to year.
This project has been imple
mented with the able guidance of
Tara Grindrod. It promises to
encourage our students to read for
enjoyment.
Recently, teachers were asked
why they chose CJDS as their
place of employment. Following
is a sampling of the various
responses:
“I chose to work at CJDS
because of the wonderful school
atmosphere I found here. I contin
ue to enjoy working at CJDS
because of the special things that
happen here daily.” (Rachel
Moore, Second Grade Assistant)
“I came to CJDS because I was
looking for a family environment.
I have truly found it here.”
(Jessica Sammis, First Grade
Teacher)
“I wanted a school with chil
dren who wanted to learn and who
came from families who valued a
good education. Prior to CJDS, I
taught for five very happy and
successful years in Florida. After
moving to Charlotte in 1993, I
spent a difficult month in the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg school
system before resigning. I missed
the children and the classroom, so
I decided to look for a job in the
private school sector. I found my
niche at CJDS and have been here
and happy since 1994.” (Debbie
Lipscomb, Fifth Grade Teacher)
“I found the small class size
very enticing.” (Ashley Holmes,
Kindergarten Teacher)
“I chose to work at Charlotte
Jewish Day School for three dif
ferent reasons: (1) the supportive
faculty and parents, (2) the Jewish
environment, and (3) the amazing
student body. CJDS is one big
family, and I love being a part of
such an incredible school.” (Jaime
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Cojac, Second Grade Teacher)
“I loved the school from the
beginning. Everyone is incredibly
nice. I love being part of a school
that continues to grow. I guess
what made the final, decision for
me was that CJDS is a place I
would send my own child-a school
that is full of kindness, and loving
people, and full of learning.”
(Christina Kelly, Third Grade
Teacher)
“I wanted to be back in a day
school environment. My interview
with Mariashi is what sold me on
CJDS. I feel truly lucky to be
working within such a caring com
munity.” (Mara Rosenberg, First
Grade Teacher) (PS. After teach
ing at CJDS for a month, Mara
transferred her own daughter to
our school.)
“Why wouldn’t anyone want to
teach here?! I came back because
of the great director and the terrif
ic families involved with our
school. The children are kind and
eager to learn. We always have a
great group of teachers, and I love
what I do! This is a caring com
munity.” (Patty Blais, Fourth
Grade Teacher, who returned after
nearly a year’s absence)
“After being retired for a year, I
really missed being with children.
Last year was a great experience
for me after so many years of
working with children. I found
Charlotte Jewish Day School to be
the environment I had wished for,
with such great children and sup
port from the school and staff.
(Kay Solomon, Kindergarten
Assistant) 0
CJDS Open House
Charlotte Jewish Day School
recently held an open house for
parents of children who will enter
kindergarten or first grade in
August 2002. Teachers of all
CJDS grades were at the program.
Gale Osborne, president of the
CJDS Board of Directors, and
Mariashi Groner, CJDS Director,
both addressed the visitors. Mrs.
Channie Weiss presented a
Hebrew immersion lesson. The
program concluded with a tour of
the school. ^
Registration Now Open to
the Community
Registration for the 2002-2003
school year is underway at
Charlotte Jewish Day School.
There are very limited spaces
available in kindergarten through
grade 5. Children who do not
have a day school background can
be considered for admission.
To request a registration packet,
call Mrs. Linda Bishop at the
day school office, at 704-366-
4558.
CJDS Families Do Their
Fair Share
The Fair Share program is one
of the driving forces behind the
school’s many successful pro
grams. Fair Share requires that
parents perform a specified num
ber of volunteer hours during each
school year. Families with one
child in school contribute twenty
hours, while families with two or
more children work a total of
twenty-five hours.
Although parents may buy
down their time for $25 per hour,
very few exercise this option.
Most parents prefer to work with
the children at holiday events and
on field trips. Credit is also earned
by serving on committees and by
working at our new thrift shop.
Chris Feldman, who chairs Fair
Share, remarks that, “...without
Fair Share volunteerism, our won
derful programs could not happen.
Fair Share helps keep tuition down
and allows parents to get involved
and see their kids in action.”
Charlotte Jewish Day School is
grateful to our parents for their
support of this very meaningful
program. O