www.dkja.org - April 24, 2009

Although technically we enjoyed Spring “Break” before our return to school on Monday, our hiatus and observance of Passover was quite eventful, in true DKJA style.

The excitement in the air continues to invigorate us as we plan for the relocation of our high sc

hool to the main campus in the fall of 2009. Words can’t express our true gratitude to Ms. Linda R. Kaminow (shown at left), a dear friend to our school, and known throughout our DKJA family as the biggest heart in the world and godmother to our students. Her support for our school has made our “next step” for our high school possible. We can’t say “thank you” enough! Words also can't express how very positive we are about our expansion as we enter a new phase of growth for DKJA. Our school's long-term strategic plan for a new K-12 campus is moving forward. Yesterday, we were thrilled to learn that the Palm Beach County Commission approved, for civic use, land for a new campus in the Delray area. Our future looks brighter and brighter.

On that note...I'd like to update you about a few additional highlights. Two of our middle school students, Danny Beckerman and Caleb Rader, spent part of their break participating in the Florida House of Representatives Page Program in Tallahassee. The students were sponsored by DKJA parent and Florida State Representative Kevin Rader. They served as “employees” of the Florida House of Representatives, reporting daily to their “jobs” and wearing blue sport coats adorne

d with the official Florida Seal. They toured of the old Capitol building, the Governor’s Mansion, and the Florida Supreme Court and attended Mock Committee Meetings. They also had the opportunity to work on the floor of the House and to witness, live, bills being debated and the actual voting process. DKJA's middle school also was well-represented in Jacksonville at the State Geographic Bee, where our very own Alan Koolik (right) placed placed third! How proud we are! Alan, a sixth-grader, received a certificate, a check in the amount of $50, as well as many other items pertaining to geography.

Our high school's future leaders never cease to amaze me. Freshman Daniel Katz (left) recently participated in a student ambassador leadership program in Washington, D.C. Daniel toured the Capitol building, Senate, and House of Representatives, and he witnessed a special exhibition titled “The Power of Nazi Propaganda” as a participant on the Shorashim (Roots) Program. Through the program, he also had the opportunity to visit the Israeli Embassy, learn about an initiative called The Israel Project, and meet with journalists, ambassadors, and professionals from organizations such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Most importantly, Daniel learned about the importance of taking a leadership role through Shorashim, which aims to educate high school students about politics in Israel. Shorashim realizes that many students who care about Israel are not necessarily equipped to speak or write about the subject, so it therefore offers a variety of ways for students to become better ambassadors for Israel on campus and in high schools across the country. It offers materials, conferences, speakers, peer contacts, trips to Washington, D.C, and information to help students stand up against anti-Israel messages.

Our accomplishments are plentiful. It’s hard to believe we are heading into the last quarter of the academic year, but as you can see, we are not winding down. The eighth-grade Israel trip is currently offering life-changing experiences to our students. Our high school juniors will experience the March of the Living in Poland and Israel. Our high school seniors will attend the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. This past week, we observed Yom Hashoah, which you will read about in this newsletter. We have many exciting programs on the horizon, and we hope to see you participating. Mark your calendars!

Shabbat Shalom,