The Charlotte Jewish News - June-July 2010 - Page 11
Schools
A JPS Parent’s Bittersweet Farewell
By Amy Mullen
As new mothers, we look to our
friends and family for advice on
parenting, from the little things
like diaper brands to bigger deci
sions, such as which preschool
your child should attend.
In 2000, I was one of those
mothers. When my daughter Sarah
was 18 months, I simply chose
JPS because my nephew and some
of my friends’ kids went there. I’m
not sure I even toured the school.
With 18 months of parenting
under my belt, what did I know?
Now, ten years later and a
mother of three, I know a lot more
about parenting. My daughter
Sarah, 11, is a fifth-grader at
Charlotte Jewish Day School
(CJDS); Luke, 9, is a third grader
at The Fletcher School; and Tess,
almost 5, is anxiously awaiting her
kindergarten year at CJDS.
Thankfully, they’ve all had the
opportunity to attend the Jewish
The Mullen kids—Luke, Tess (middle),
and Sarah—can each share happy
memories of their time at JPS.
Preschool on Sardis.
JPS is an extraordinary place,
and as a community, we couldn’t
be luckier to have this school as an
option for our children. The love
and care that each child is shown
comes directly from the top. First,
it was Fern Sanderson, and now
we have Jen Lahn. While different
in many ways, parents can’t deny
that their children are loved by
these women along with the teach
ers and staff
Sarah, Luke and Tess were
loved. With their own strengths
and weaknesses, each of my chil
dren was appreciated for who they
were, not for what they should be.
They were taught the beauty of
kindness and tzedakah. They were
allowed to leam, and even to fail.
They were taught about the Torah,
and each has developed a love for
Judaism. More importantly, they
each take pride in their religion
and in themselves.
As my children grow, I look
back and know that their early
years at JPS have helped shape
who they are now. And personally,
I think they are terrific. I can
assure new mothers at JPS that
their children will be loved, and
“old” mothers, like me, can look
back and thank God JPS was
there. Thank you Jen, Fern, and all
of the teachers and staff for being
by my side and helping me teach
my children how to live beautiful
ly. ^
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A Moment of
Truth
By Nancy Zolotorofe
When my youngest of two,
Luke, was in his final year of
JPS, I often got the question,
“Are you ready to be done with
preschool?” Without flinching, I
always responded definitively,
“Yes.” I wasn’t the sentimental
mom who missed the baby
years; Luke was ready for
kindergarten and I was thrilled
about the idea of having my two
kids on the same schedule. But
as Luke was wrapping up his
JPS “career,” I suddenly wanted
time to slow down. A month
before graduation, Ms. Terri lift
ed Luke out of the car at drop
off and remarked, “Look at you
now, Luke. I remember when
you came here in the ones and
couldn’t even walk yet.” I
flashed back to Ms. Terri pulling
Luke around in a red wagon.
Then, at the Shabbaton for the
fours, Morah Jayme, gave my
daughter, Sydney, a first-grader
and former JPS student, a big
hug and encouraged her to join
in a Judaica song as if my
daughter had never left. Finally,
when I got a call from Ms. Jen
that Luke hurt his leg on the
playground, I nervously walked
into Luke’s classroom and there
was his teacher, Ms. Kate, hold
ing an icepack on Luke’s shin
with a look of concern. Luke
was totally fine, but I felt a little
choked up. I realized how diffi
cult it was going to be to leave
JPS. The staff and teachers had
watched my two children grow
right along with me. They cared
about my kids and knew them so
well. They had become a part of
our daily conversations at
home—and a part of our family.
Parenting through the preschool
years can mean blurry days, but
as those days came to a close for
me, I gained focus: JPS will
always hold a special place in
our family’s thoughts and
hearts. ^
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Talmud Torah Opens
Registration for the
2010/2011 School Year
After a successful year of
Hebrew School classes for grades
K-7, Talmud Torah is pleased to
announce that registration has
begun for the 2010/2011 school
year Talmud Torah is an interac
tive Hebrew School program for
children that meets every Sunday
and Tuesday for a range of Jewish
subjects, including Hebrew
Reading using our Aleph Champ
program. Similar to karate, every
one starts off with a white belt and
as they advance in their Hebrew
reading, so do their belt colors.
Also included in the Talmud Torah
curriculum this year was a special
“Hang with the Ten” program that
teaches the students the relevance
of the Ten Commandments to us
II 'III,III in.' TORAH
CHARLOTTE
today. Throughout the year, there
were several family programs
including a Shabbaton and
Shabbat services that were led by
the Talmud Torah students.
For more information, please
feel free to contact us at 704-
366-3984 or info@Talmud
Torah.net. ^
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Visit www.ciiariottejewislinews.org
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