www.dkja.org - April 3, 2009

Feel The Excitement and Energy In The Air!

As we prepare to enjoy our Passover Break, we will depart from our daily routines with a feeling of hope and pride. We are thrilled about the news announced last week by our Board of Trustees Presidents Lesley Zafran and Michael Beckerman regarding plans for the relocation of the High School at DKJA to the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center Administration Building. We anticipate occupancy of the two-story, 13,500 square-foot building, which will undergo extensive renovation and remodeling to create the teaching and learning space that matches the needs of DKJA’s extensive academic program, during the fall of the 2009-2010 academic year. We have engaged architects and a general contractor to review the building and create plans for converting the current office space to a modern, purpose-built academic building for the high school program.

The Board and I truly anticipate a new vibrancy and synergy for the school, and a continuum of education for the outstanding K-12 program that has earned DKJA national and international renown for its Judaics and general studies curriculum. (If you would like to read the announcement in its entirety, please click on the News & Events section of our website, and then click the Press Releases button.)

On that note…I’d also like to reiterate how proud I was to be in Zinman Hall last week during the DKJA Mind Lab Tournament Finals. Each and every one of the 64 competitors exhibited sportsmanship and talent as they tested their thinking and problem solving abilities. Shown here are the four champions, Jake Dable, Pamela Wolf, Samuel Wohl, and Jordan Bernstein, proudly displaying their trophies and medals. This summer, they will compete in the Mind Lab Olympics in Venice, Italy, representing our school on an international level. (Visit the Eagles’ Net for a recap of the tournament, and more photos).
These are wonderful accomplishments and achievements and we hope for continued success. I wish you a Happy Passover, and an enjoyable Spring Break.

Shabbat Shalom,
Karen Feller
Head of School

Support the Power of Pink

We are proud to join the efforts of The Power of Pink for their upcoming breast cancer awareness luncheon, which will be held on April 29, 2009. Click here for further details.

Artwalk Set For May 3, 2009

A colorful palette of artwork will be showcased at DKJA's First Annual Student Artwalk K-12 on Sunday, May 3, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The art gallery will feature framed masterpieces on display in Zinman Hall. Parents will have the option to purchase frames to complement the beautiful creations for $29.95, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting DKJA. Refreshments, music, and entertainment will make the Artwalk a fabulous event not to be missed! Click here for details.

Students Prepare for Passover
Many educational programs, including the traditional Matzah Factory and Model Seders, were highlights of learning activities this week. High school and middle school students enjoyed a "crossover program," and Principal of Middle school Judaic Studies Rabbi Berkson ran a session on the process of leavening through experiment. Chabad of Boca Raton assisted with the matzah making process, explaining facts and words of Torah related to Pesach.

Lower School-Middle School Highlights

Congratulations, Students of the Month

Mazel Tov to the following students honored with Derech Eretz Awards: Jake Cohen and Macayla Gritz (February 2009), and Jaime Korsunsky (March 2009). These students, pictured from left to right, have demonstrated courtesy toward their fellow students, and they were recognized for going out of their way to help others. Congratulations!

Thinking Hats in the Active Classroom

The fifth-graders are very excited to share the work that they have accomplished this year learning Hebrew through the Tal Am program. The students were introduced to ideas, concepts, and ways to solve problems in the classroom with the help of the different functions of the hats. They learned there are 8 different colored hats each with their own function during a recent project. For example, the white hat represents facts, the red hat represents feelings, the blue hat represents thinking strategies, and the yellow hat represents positivity and advantages. The students then enjoyed creating their own magical hats. These projects help them to focus and understand their hopes and dreams. By doing so, they are on the path to achieving success.

Student Asher Gritz Completes 5K Race

On Sunday March 22, 2009, fifth-grader Asher Gritz participated in the Celebrity 5K race, benefiting the Community Partnership for Homeless. The 3.1 mile race took place on Miami Beach. Amidst many local celebrities, Asher ran and came in 551st overall out of several thousand people running or walking. Asher said that he had a sudden boost of energy at the end of the race as his family cheered for him! Asher was in the male age group of 12 and under runners. He came in 15th in his age group. His overall time was 29:03, and his net time was 28:28, which translates to a 9:10 mile pace. Asher was a member of the 2008 DKJA Cross Country team. Great job!

Support Project Band-Aid
If you'd like to bring smiles to children who are patients at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, there's an easy way to do so! Just bring in "fun" band-aids adorned with characters such as Scooby-Doo, Hello Kitty, or other popular children's favorites. DKJA students Alex, Marni, and Romy Wexelman have organized this drive, with the goal of collecting 500 boxes of band-aids. The colorful bandages add a bit of cheer to young patients during a stressful time. Collection boxes are in front of Mrs. Kolsky's office and in front of the main lobby staircase.

High School Highlights

These have been exciting times at the high school. Sixteen of our seniors are busy preparing for their trip to the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. They leave on April 26, 2009. The entire junior class is also preparing to embark on the March of the Living on Friday, April 17, 2009. The high school was well represented at the annual Evening of Music, and our dance team, thespian troupe, and hand-bell club all performed. Because they did such an outstanding job at the local level of competition, our Mock Trial team was invited to participate in the American Mock Trial Invitational in New Brunswick, N.J. Congratulations to Mr. Cohen and his team for this accomplishment.

Booster Club Family Fun Day a HIT!
The DKJA Booster Club's Family Fun Day was full of good times, the highlight of which was a Hit – A – Thon (baseball and softball). Winners in each category were Lower School: Ethan Kamber; Middle School Baseball: Jake Sherman; Middle School Softball: Taytum Orshan; and High School Baseball: David Rind. Congratulations!

Click here to view this week's sports update.

Make A Note...Save The Date
Participation Needed for Annual Ruth W. Shapiro March for the Hungry Food Drive Beginning April 15

Keep your eyes open for the fliers located around the school near the collection boxes. It takes Just One Can...Please place a can or other non-perishable food item in your child's backpack by April 22, 2009. Our school has three collection boxes. All students and families who donate are invited to come to our collection night on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Sawgrass Springs Middle School in Coral Springs, 12500 W. Sample Road. Please join us for food, entertainment, and fun. All food collected will be donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank, WECARE, Cooperative Feeding Program, The Pantry of Broward, and the Family Resource Center in Coral Springs. The NCJW Northwest Broward Section is sponsoring this food drive. Visit http://www.marchforthehungry-ncjw.org/ for details.

Passover Happenings & Events
Raise funds for DKJA while shopping for Passover at the Fountains Courtyard When you shop on Monday, April 6, 2009 and Sunday April 12, 2009, 10% of the sales will be donated back to DKJA. The Farmer's Market will be open during the Passover holiday (Sunday, April 5 through Tuesday, April 7 and Sunday April 12 through Tuesday, April 14) for your convenience. Click here for details.

DKJA’s The Art of Cooking Features Great Passover Recipes

The Art of Cooking. DKJA’s unique cookbook, features a wonderful variety of Passover recipes. The cookbooks are available for purchase in the PTO Shuk. Delicious recipes compiled from favorites of the parents, grandparents, and staff at our school make the cookbooks a “must have.” The front and back covers were designed by student Liana Greenberg, and the inside tabs are decorated with children's artwork. The cost is for each cookbook is $20.00.

Pesach Fundraiser for Eighth-grade Trip to Israel

The Gelato Shoppe Petrini (voted best gelato in South Florida by Boca Raton Life Magazine) is teaming up with Donna Klein Jewish Academy for a pesach fundraiser to raise money for this and future eighth-grade trips to Israel - 15% of proceeds from the sale of The Gelato Shoppe’s kosher for Passover gelato to DKJA families will go to help fund the trip.

*Special order forms must be filled out with the code DKJA.

* Orders can be picked up at The Gelato Shoppe Petrini (8177 Glades Road, located in West Boca Place near Office Depot, Party City, Field of Flowers, Bagelworks and Dominic’s Pizza) on Monday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 11 pm, Tuesday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 11 pm, and on Wednesday, April 8 from 11 am to 5.30 p.m. Please indicate pick up time and date requested.

Contact The Gelato Shoppe at (56) 488-3070 for details.

Community News
COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERIES presented by JARC Living and Learning Center
“Navigating the Disability Maze, Resources Birth through Life” will be presented on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the JARC Living and Learning Center, 21160 95th Avenue South in Boca Raton. Call (561) 558-2550. Guest speakers will provide you with information on what benefits/resources your child is entitled to, and how to navigate the system to maximize these benefits/resources. Refreshments will be provided. Supervision and activities are available for your son, daughter or family member. RSVP to Nancy Freiwald at (561) 558-2550 or nancyf@jarcfl.org

Young Athletes Special Olympics Program focusing on the physical and developmental needs of children with intellectual disabilities offers free, fun activities! Click here for more information.

B’nai Torah Congregation Presents Program Focusing on “The Entitlement Free Child.” Click the link to register http://www.bnai-torah.org/entitlementfreechild

Did You Know? DKJA Is On Twitter...

If you'd like to keep up on brief postings of "What We Are Doing" at DKJA, you now can do so on Twitter! Just go to http://search.twitter.com/ and search for DKJABocaRaton (case sensitive) to follow our school happenings.