The Charlotte Jewish News -June-July 2007 - Page 13
Cutting Edge Technology Training for All
CJDS Students
In January 2007, Mrs. Andrea
Gamlin joined the Charlotte
Jewish Day School staff to teach
technology to grades K-5. Mrs.
Gamlin has created a refreshing
curriculum that offers stimulating
age-appropriate computer activi
ties that correspond with the grade
level curricula.
The kindergarten students have
been introduced to KidPix soft
ware. Some of the skills they have
acquired are: typing their names,
using various font types and sizes;
identifying, drawing, and coloring
shapes; and animating their draw
ings.
First graders are utilizing the
Paint program to explore art con
cepts, such as pointillism, impres
sionism, and modem art. As they
read stories, they visualize scenes
and bring them to life on the com
puter screen.
The focus of second grade is
Publisher. The children can make
letterheads and posters and have a
command of motion clip art. They
have also learned to use Word to
write and illustrate their own edit
ed fairy tales.
Third grade students have
learned to do Internet searches
on kid-friendly www.factmon-
ster.com. They have written poet
ry with the help of the computer’s
thesaums and spell check. They
have created PowerPoint presenta
tions of their city research. They
will also use PowerPoint for the
biographies that they are studying
in language arts.
The fourth grade class is profi
cient in creating Excel spread
sheets, including sorting data in
ascending and descending order.
They also have excellent com
mand of Word, so that they can
write reports using advanced for
matting techniques, such as word
wrapping and image control.
Our fifth graders are studying
the stock market and keeping
track of their virtual investments
on Excel spreadsheets. After
reviewing mles about online safe
ty, they have researched various
topics about the environment for
Tu B’Shvat. Their science
research on mammals is being
presented in PowerPoint.
Many CJDS parents report that
their children have become their
technology tutors. We are proud to
see our students function so effi
ciently and so comfortably in the
modem world of computers.
Charlotte Jewish Day School
has openings in some grades for
the 2007-2008 school year. For
admissions information, call
Cheryl Rabinowitz at 704-366-
4558. O
Good-bye to Charlotte Jewish Preschool,
May 2007
By Staci Mond
Make yourself a nice
refreshing glass of iced tea.
Find a comfortable, quiet
spot- perhaps that over
stuffed chair in the den, or
maybe that creaky rocking
chair that has been in your
family for years. Close your
eyes. Listen closely, and
you can hear the chatter:
It’s a boy! It’s a girl!
Congratulations! Mazel
Tov! Now, fast forward (and
I do mean FAST forward) to
2007-you can hear some of the
same rhetoric -Congratulations!
Mazel Tov! Only this time, your
babies are graduating from CJP
and going to Kindergarten. Is that
possible? How have five years
gone by so quickly? “Why, it was
just yesterday that my little one
started to ”
The hoys sing Judah Maccabee.
How wonderful and exciting
this time is for your child and for
you. We know that as we send
them into the big world, we have
given them the best gift a parent
can give: A solid foundation- pro
vided by our loving care, our
parental guidance and the
Charlotte Jewish Preschool. The
partnership that we as parents and
the faculty at CJP have embraced
over the years is one that cannot
be surpassed. Collectively we
have instilled in them a sense of
pride for their Jewish heritage,
and have taught them decision
making skills that will last a life-
Purim at the Charlotte Jewish Preschool.
time. The knowledge that they
have gained in the “three Rs” will
give them a good starting point for
kindergarten. The experiences
participating in the Pre-K wed
ding, the trip to Israel, the
Hanukkah parties, the Dad’s day
with bagels and blocks, the Mock
Seder, the Pajama party and many
others throughout the year
will stay in their memo
ries forever. There wasn’t
a child that didn’t glow
each day during their time
as “Kid of the Week.”
Judaism is rich with
tradition as evidenced
every week in Judaica
class and Shabbat cele
bration. I am thrilled that
we as a family learned
from our five-year-old
about Jewish traditions
and rituals that were long
forgotten. Our children
have made fiiends; some for now,
some bonds will last forever. They
have experienced happy,
joy filled days. They
have learned how to be
humble winners and gra
cious losers. They step
lightly as only a five-
year-old can do, as they
keep the rhythm of
songs in their heart.
Kindness and accept
ance, tolerance and a
generosity of spirit can
be observed in their
everyday interactions.
that “I matter” and “I can
make a difference” illumi
nates from every child that
will be graduating. I invite
you to walk the halls one day
and listen to our future. It
sounds promising- and for
this priceless lifelong gift
that our children have
received we must thank a lot
of people: To the administra-
tion and the teachers/staff at
H CJP who give their energy
every day to our kids, to the
volunteers whose only pay is
satisfaction and fulfillment, to the
involved parents who know that
the best way to raise a child is by
example, and to our entire
Charlotte Jewish community for
supporting our children and the
Charlotte Jewish Preschool.
Every family that passes
through the doors must be
astounded at what their child has
accomplished. We thank CJP for
laying the groundwork for their
academic careers. We also thank
CJP for giving our children the
confidence to explore, the desire
to learn and the self reliance to
succeed in their next adventure.
This Simcha is without question a
huge milestone in their short five
years on earth. As we go our sepa
rate ways to our different schools,
we know as parents that our chil
dren have a special advantage
over their future classmates- The.
“CJP” advantage. Now, start sav
ing for those B’nai Mitzvah. ^
Larry Horowitz, CLU, ChFC
Financial
5950 Fairview Road. Suite 608
Charlotte, NC 28210
(704) 556-9982: Fax (704) 369-2918
Helping in the CREATION. PRESERVATION &
DISTRIBUTION of your Estate
Is Your Sister
expectations
Sounds like our type of girl!
In Charlotte alone, we have an entire
database of Jewish bachelors waiting
to find their soul mate. And
odds are, at least a handful j
will be willing to overlook
her love of polka ^ music.
Perhaps one will even find it endearing.
It’s worth a shot, right?
Personalized Introductions for Jewish Singles of All Ages
Laurie F. Berzack, MSW * www.chafexpectatlons.com
The thrill of knowing
A double “wedding" under the chupah.
Now Open in Charlotte
A Shade
^IPintiotv JaiLioni
Pick up your copy
of‘^Designing
Windows”
for creative ideas
♦ In business
since 1984
♦ Your
destination
store for
window
coverings -
shades, blinds,
shutters, & top
treatments,
♦ We offer
full-service
prices and
do-it-yourself
prices
♦ Experience
& explore
the Hunter
Douglas
Gallery
Bruce .'ihramson and Jessica Abramson second
and third generation window covering specialisLs.
Sycamore Commons
Located at Hwy. 51 & Independence Blvd., Matthews
www.AShadeAboveCharlotte.com
704-815-3355
ShowTooni Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sunday & Evenings by appointment