The month of Elul is a time of repentance, introspection and reflection, and it represents a miraculous and important place in our lives. Our day-to-day frenetic pace makes it easy to fall into the habits of working to achieve goals without enough time spent on what’s most important in life: values, honor, respect, mitzvot, and self-improvement.

Our school principals and educators have had the opportunity to explore these important aspects of our lives during a series of Tanach Standards and Benchmarks Initiative Meetings conducted this week by Dr. Alex Sinclair, renowned lecturer in Jewish Education at the Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, and an adjunct assistant professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Dr. Sinclair visited our school and provided wonderful insight about our educational programming. We are a community of learners, regardless of our grade level or professional accomplishments. We are all a work-in-progress.

Therefore, when the Shofar resonates during the mornings of Elul as we approach the high holidays, I encourage you to have a sweet New Year, and to take a moment to reflect upon and to be thankful for our blessings.

Unfortunately, many of us have experienced great sadness in our lives recently. Our hearts go out to our dear Associate Director of Development Judith Chason and her family. Judith's beloved son, Jeffrey, passed away on Wednesday. To our entire DKJA family who may have experienced the loss of a loved one, or who are coping with an unfortunate situation, our hearts go out to you. Our thoughts are never far from Kim Strobis, our Director of Development, and her courageous attitude as she copes with illness. We are more than a school, we are a family. In times like these, we must focus on our sense of community, and the things in life which are most important: family, friends, and health. I encourage you to take a moment today to pause in memory of the victims of the events September 11, 2001.

Shabbat Shalom

Karen Feller

Meet the Masters at DKJA just started its 17th year, and with a record number of new and returning docent volunteers! Our group of 35+ at Orientation were given all the details about our exciting program. The theme for this year is “DISCOVERING THE PRINCIPLES OF ART: Learning to Speak the Language." Featured artists will be:

Pierre Auguste Renoir - MOVEMENT
 
Frank Lloyd Wright - BALANCE
 
Louise Nevelson - RHYTHM
 
Roy Lichtenstein - EMPHASIS
 
Chuck Close – PATTERN
 
Our group is truly a “Family Affair." Parents and grandparents are welcome to participate in the learning, the teaching, and the appreciation of art!  Come join us! Our first training session on Renoir will be  Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. in the Levine Board Room.

For information about our program, please call Mrs. Routman at (561) 852- 5040, or e-mail her at routmanc@dkja.org

Important Update from Mrs. Friedman, Lower School Principal

Clarification for Parents of Fourth-graders Regarding Mind Lab

It has come to my attention that the message I sent to parents at our Curriculum Night was not clear and correct. Students who want to participate in the Mind Lab Tournament should have their parent fill out the registration sheet. ONLY those registrations need to be accompanied by a check for $50.00. All other students are not required to pay this fee. 

Good thinking and strategizing everyone!

A Kindergarten First!

The kindergarten classes received their first Hebrew letter book, and students are eager to start learning!

Working Together!

Fourth-grade Judaic Studies students are learning how to work in groups,  to listen to each others' opinions, and how to arrive at a unified solution/answer together. Students are understanding that our rabbis had different opinions about what lessons we can learn from the Torah. They enjoyed this approach to learning!

Sixth-grade Loves to Learn

Sixth-grade math students learned to translate verbal expressions into algebraic expressions during an exciting activity. Students used paddle-whiteboards with handles to show their work and complete most class work assignments. In Hebrew classes, students are learning to describe what they would or would not find in places such as stores, houses, schools, and Kibbutzim. They also were very excited to use use the Hebrew version of Harry Potter while demonstrating a conversation in a book store.

Walking the halls, and dropping in on classrooms, it is wonderful to see the amount of inspired learning and critical thinking that is permeating the walls of our new building. Teachers in the Judaic Studies department spent the past year learning and growing with the guidance of the Tanach Standards and Benchmarks program through the Jewish Theological Seminary and Avi Chai, thereby increasing the depth of our offerings through assessment-driven learning. During the month of Elul, when many turn introspective, looking for ways to better themselves, we are proud of the growth that has occurred in our high school.
 
Wishing you and yours a k’tivah vachatima tovah, a healthy and happy new year,
 
Miriam Engel
Director of Judaic Studies and Jewish Life
 
Stop In For A Tour! 

Come see and tour our new high school building. Tours of the High School at DKJA are available every Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m. All parents, grandparents, and friends are welcome!

Florida Atlantic University           September 14, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.                   

University of Central Florida        September 17, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.        

Tufts University                         September 17, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. 
Nova Southeastern University     September 22, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.  

Florida Gulf Coast University      September 30, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.        

University of Hartford                 October 12, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.  

University of Tampa                  October 12, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.  

Brandeis University                   October 15, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.    

Tulane University                      October 20, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.    

Elon University                        October 22, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.    

Carnegie Mellon University        October 22, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.    

Syracuse University                 October 23, 2009 at 12:15 p.m.
Boston University                     October 23, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.     

Franklin W. Olin                      October 30, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.                   

   College of Engineering