Jewish Living, Learning, and Academic Achievement.

This triad, by which we, the Donna Klein Jewish Academy family, lead our daily lives is one that we should all take a moment to reflect upon during Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is a solemn time, and one of reflection. It is an opportunity for us to ponder our lives, what we’d like to change or improve upon, and how we can live as good people. It is a time to be there for one another.

By Shelley Katz, Third-grade Judaic Studies Teacher and Miriam Engel, High School Director of Judaic Studies and Jewish Life
On Rosh Hashanah afternoon, many people observe a custom called Tashlich, which means "send" or "throw."  They walk to a nearby body of water and empty their pockets, or throw breadcrumbs into the water. This reminds us that on Rosh Hashanah, we can empty ourselves of our wrongdoings and make ourselves clean and pure for the start of the new year.

The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as Aseret Yimei Teshuva (10 days of repentance), are days when we discuss the power behind our words and actions. We emphasize the need to work on our relationships with our family and friends. Many Lower School students participated in Tashlich, and in a Middle School-High School special program this week, each Tefillah group gathered separately to recite prayers, learn the meaning and try to relate to the concept of new beginnings in a meaningful way.

"I threw my sins away and it felt so meaningful," said ninth-grader Illysa Tuttleman.

Put on your Poker Face and join the DKJA Booster Club and PTO for the First Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament & Casino Night on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 8 p.m. at the South County Civic Center.  Not a card player? Come as a spectator or play Roulette, Craps, and the Wheel of Fortune.  

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Call Janet Epstein at (561) 852-5007.

Invitations have been mailed. Return your RSVP card or sign up at www.dkjastore.com for tickets and registration.

The Drama Department is in need of a  “Wizard of Oz” logo to promote DKJA's annual play. The  guidelines are as follows: 

• Use bold strokes (avoid light sketching) 
• Size should be 8.5 x 11
• The deadline is Friday, October 2, 2009
• The winning logo will appear on promotional posters and the program

Submit entries to Mrs. Zoraida Adams. Good luck!

Middle School students recently gathered in Zinman Hall for the annual assembly dedicated to Community Service. Dr. Yoram Dahav, Community Service Coordinator, arranged an array of speakers, both students and guests. Ms. Sandra Seiden, State Director of  Personal Ponies, shared the mission and accomplishments of this wonderful organization. Ms. Lisa Marcus, who works with Give A Girl A Chance, informed students about how the organization provides girls in Africa the opportunity for education and group living. She became connected with DKJA through seventh-graders Leah and Rebecca Wiser. Leah's  Bat Mizvah project focused on this group. The sisters spoke to our students about their interest and involvement in this organization. Sixth-grader Asher Gritz held the audience spellbound describing his personal experiences and his incredible service to many community organizations.

Everyone left eager to find their niche and a meaningful place for themselves in the world of community service.

Pictured: Asher Gritz, Dr. Dahav, Leah Wiser, and Rebecca Wiser.

A Message from the Principal

Although it’s early in the school year, many of our students are focused on their futures after high school. Even before school began, many of our seniors came in for “college application boot camp” conducted by our new college guidance team, Mandee Heller Adler and Barry Liebowitz.  Students spent several hours at school completing online applications for college.  On Monday, Sept. 14, 2009,  a college orientation meeting was conducted by Ms. Adler and Mr. Leibowitz.  At this meeting, juniors and their parents learned what they could be doing over the course of this year to begin creating the lists of colleges they are interested in, how to begin preparing for the SAT and ACT, and what to do on a college visit. 

On Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the high school, we have a college orientation meeting for freshmen, sophomores, and their parents. We encourage both students and parents to attend. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009, we will be administering the PSAT exam in the high school to sophomores and juniors (for more information on this exam please see http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html). Teachers are already preparing students for this exam.

As noted in the last Shabbat newsletter and below, we continue to host visits from college admissions counselors from several universities during our lunch hour. These visits allow admissions officers from various colleges and universities to get to know our school and our students, and allow them the opportunity to ask questions related to the college application process.  We understand that the process of choosing a college can be a daunting task, and we do everything we can to assist our students (and their parents) with this endeavor.  

Stephen E. Thompson, Ph.D.
Principal of the High School

Guest Speaker Captivates Students

The students at the High School at DKJA recently were captivated by our guest speaker, Johanna Kandel. Johanna addressed issues with eating disorders, positive body image, and the dangers of dieting. After a 10-year battle with various eating disorders, Johanna now is able to give back by using her voice to help make a difference in the fight against eating disorders.  She is the founder of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to outreach, education and prevention. 

Upcoming College Visits

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