The Charlotte Jewish News - October 2007 - Page 11
Say Hello to the Staff of CJP
By Kelly Reed Keeling
SPLASH! If you
look out the window at
the Charlotte Jewish
Preschool (CJP), you
may see someone
shooting down the big
slide into the pool. But
as the temperature
heats up outside, the
CJP staff is cooking up
big plans for a fantastic
new school year inside.
The CJP administra
tive staff works all year
long to create a learn
ing environment for
our children. Let’s take
a moment to get to
know them better.
Director Denise Abadi, a Texas
native and member of Temple
Israel, has worked in education
since 1978 and is starting her 6th
year with CJP. Denise also lived in
Florida and, most recently, in
Philadelphia. When asked what
she and her husband will do when
they become empty nesters next
year, Denise replies, “Pay for two
kids in college.”
Denise’s office currently is
stacked to the rafters with chil
dren’s toys and books, teaching
tools, not to mention this fall’s Oy
Vey! coffee on sale by the PTO.
She is brimming with ideas after
the recent CAJE (The Coalition
for the Advancement of Jewish
Education) conference in St.
Louis. Denise’s summer is full
with training and planning as she
coordinates with CJP’s 52 staff
members, Board Chairperson
Laura Newmark, PTO presidents,
Haley Blanchard and Ruthann
Effren, security staff, new parents,
and the list goes on. Steamy sum
mer days cover the fact that CJP
has been a hive of activity.
Tootie Broome, Assistant
Director, has commuted from
Monroe to CJP for almost 16
years. She spent 14 years teaching
two-year-olds before becoming
Assistant Director. She oversees
the full day program utilized by
working parents and maintains
health and sanitation standards.
She says she gets teased a lot
about her Southern accent, and
that the thing she loves most about
her new position is having contact
with students of all ages.
If you meet Alyson Kalik, you
would be surprised that she has
such sedentary hobbies — knit
ting, crocheting and reading.
Alyson, a Temple Beth-El mem
ber, is from Chicago, but spent 18
years in Los Angeles. At CJP, she
spent five years in the classroom
before becoming the school’s
administrative assistant five years
ago. The directory, registration,
student packets and the student
“give aways” (a CJP lunchbox!)
have kept Alyson busy this sum
mer, but meeting the new families
is her favorite thing about the job.
When you enter CJP, the first
smiling face that greets you is
likely that of Michelle Bamford,
the school’s receptionist.
Michelle, a member of Temple
Israel, is the mother of two CJP
graduates, and her third child is
currently in CJP’s T-K program.
Michelle says, “It’s so easy and so
heartfelt to say that eight years of
driving from Cabarrus County to
Denise Abadi, director, Alyson Kalik, administrative assis
tant, and Tootie Broome, assistant director of CJP
attend this school and to be part of
this community have been worth
it.” Her enthusiasm for the school
led her to serve on the board for
the past five years and share her
expertise in finance. She’s enter
ing her third year as the board’s
treasurer.
Charlotte Jewish Preschool,
founded in 1989 and locat
ed on the grounds of
Shalom Park, is a joint
venture of Temple Beth El,
Temple Israel, and the
Levine Jewish Community
Center. Under Denise’s
leadership the school’s
enrollment has grown over
60% in four years. More
than 240 children will
attend this year.
CJP offers a develop
mental approach to learn
ing, a new building (only
three years old), a 10,000
square foot playground,
state-of-the-art security,
low student-teacher ratios,
age-appropriate programs
in Judaica, music, and physical
education, plus the convenience of
transferring children to after
school activities at the LJCC. Our
administrative team brings class
room experience to every decision
- just one more reason CJP is a
great choice for the Jewish com
munity’s children.
AAG
Salon & Wellness Center
Bring this ad in for a
free gift bag and 20% off
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704-375-5545
www.mc3salon.com
515 Fenton Place, Charlotte, NC 28207
At CJDS, our kids run with the right crowd.
And later, they’re prepared to lead it.
Please join us at our Open House, Thursday, October 25, 2007
at 7 pm. This is your chance to tour the school
and learn about the opportunities that await your child.
CHARLOTTE JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
5007 Providence Road Building E Charlotte, NC 28226 www.cjdschool.org
Call 704-366-4658 to RSVP or with any questions.
iEWISH