Newspapers / The Charlotte Jewish News … / April 1, 2009, edition 1 / Page 19
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The Charlotte Jewish News - April 2009- Page 21 New Faces Keep Getting Brighter at CJDS Stephen Debresen Just when you think you’ve wrapped your brain around all the new faces at Charlotte Jewish Day School (CJDS), another emerges. We’re happy to introduce you to middle school teacher, Stephen Debresen. Stephen joined CJDS in August and brings to us a wealth of expe rience teaching both lower and middle school; gifted and academ ically challenged students. Debresen, a graduate of UNC - Wilmington, double majored in Geography and Elementary Education. After a stint doing sur veying and map-making, it became apparent that life behind a computer was not for him. Happily for CJDS, he turned to teaching. Mr. Debresen was a child of a military family and was bom in Germany. His earliest childhood memories include Sesame Street in German. He returned to the US as a young boy and finally settled in Fort Bragg. US History (along with his beloved geography) and Mathematics are the subjects Stephen teaches in the middle school. He really brought life to history and current events in the fall, as he organized CJDS student elections and debates, not to mention intense class Charlotte Jewish Dtyj School room discussions regarding our country’s election. When he is not teaching, you can find Stephen working in his fruit and vegetable garden or fish ing on the coast. Stephen and his wife reside in Charlotte with Lab-mix Lucy and kitties Pumpkin Puss and Baby Floyd (res cued during Hurricane Floyd). ^ Worth the Wait: Finding Love, a New Home, and a Great Jewish Preschool It was “perfect timing,” says Annie Lord, about the call she received just before the start of school last fall. The family “had waited very impatiently all summer” on the Charlotte Jewish Preschool (CJP) waiting list, she explains, and was thrilled to leam their son Andrew had a spot in the Two’s Program. The Lord family was living in Raleigh, NC when they first heard about CJP. The friend of a friend and a former CJP parent “just raved about the preschool and beautiful Shalom Park,” explains Annie. Annie and Harrison Lord knew that CJP was the place for their children, and their experience this year has confirmed this belief “I love it...It’s amazing,” says Annie, as she describes her son’s famil iarity with Jewish prayers and customs and her awe the first time she watched him kiss the mezuzah. “He came home from school knowing this,” she adds. Like 39 other new families this year, the Lords have found a sec ond home at CJP, where the learning is developmentally appropriate and play-based offer ing perfect timing for each child to grow and integrate concepts at The Lord family. their own pace. It also seemed to be perfect tim ing when Annie and Harrison Lord met ten summers ago. They were both recent high school grad uates serving as camp counselors at a Jewish camp in Georgia. She was raised in Miami and he grew up in a small town outside of Raleigh. At that time, they never guessed they would eventually move their young family to Charlotte. The Lords have spent a good deal of time waiting for more than just a preschool spot as they both drove many miles long dis tance to visit each other through out their college years and finally married in 2004. It was perfect timing again when Harrison finished his clerkship with the Court of Appeals in Raleigh and found that James, McEkoy and Diehl, P.A., a Charlotte based law firm was looking to hire. And so, last June with an infant and a tod dler in tow, another Jewish family relocated to Charlotte. Annie sees no reason to wait regarding her involve ment at the Charlotte Jewish Preschool. She is an active PTO member who recently volunteered to help with the silent auction and the year book committee. She has also served as an alternate room parent. “With a baby and a three year old. I’ll be around CJP for a while, so I might as well jump in and get active now,” Annie remarks. At the CJP Silent Auction held in February, the Lords bid on and won the first spot in the carpool lane. Annie says it was money well-spent. From now until the end of the year, it’s perfect timing every day, as the family avoids waiting and heads to the front of the line. CJP is a warm environment where children and their parents can find lasting friendships and connect with the Charlotte Jewish Lively Afterschool Scene at JPS By Nancy Zolotorofe These days, JPS isn’t quiet once afternoon carpool is over With the new enrichment classes director Jen Lahn added to the school’s offerings this year, JPS is jam- packed with activity at 1:15 PM. some key skills, such as gross motor in Sports Class and fine motor in a great class taught by Pathways for Learning that will help prepare kids for kinder garten.” The roster of activities include: Art, Yoga, Cooking, Fine Motor Fun, and Sports Classes with Coach Dan and Ms. Patti. Students are so excited about attending their special programs. Threes student Nathan Rimler says, “I love art class because you get to paint,” and when asked what he loves about sports class, fours student Cole Schanzlin says, “I Samantha Abrams practices a yoga pose. liked riding on scooters on our bellies.” And in the words of one JPS parent...”I love the after- school programs. The school just keeps getting better” ^ Ty Fischel enjoys Fine Motor Fun. “We offered a couple afterschool classes at the end of last year to test the waters, and the response from parents and students was overwhelming,” says Lahn. “Besides being fun, these enrich ment classes are helping develop Thanks, JPS Silent Auction Sponsors Annual Auction Sponsors: Laxer, Long & Savage Pediatric Dentistry; Ditesheim Cosmetic Surgery; Charlotte Pediatric Clinic; Diamonds Direct Southpark; Mecklenburg Foot & Ankle Associates; Family Dollar; OrthoCarolina; Web Full Circle, Inc.; Diefendorf Capital Planning; Bernard Investigations; Pathways for Learning; Southside Construction; Irv Schwebel, Prudential Carolinas Realty; Your Event Source. Table Sponsors : Steve Lepow RE/MAX Executive Realty; Donald S. Homer, M.D.; Charlotte Jewish Day School; and Greenspon & Associates community. Families interested in learning more about CJP may call the school at 704-944-6776 to request a tour and a visit with the director, Denise Abadi. Depending on individual needs and availabil ity, there may still be a spot. However, even if the family is placed on the waiting list, it will be worth the wait. ^ One For All, All For One, Under One Roof! EastCoast Entertainment is excited to announce our merger with Daniel Entertainment Group. t Together we are proud to offer you ^ the most experienced agents and ail ^ the best entertainment choices to ^ make your next event truly unforgettable! 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The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 1, 2009, edition 1
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