DKJA Weekly Message
2020
News List
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November
11/20/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,This past week we ushered in the month of Kislev. Interestingly enough, Kislev is a month filled with opposite events: we welcome the lighted candles of the Hanukkah menorah while at the same time we experience extended days of darkness before the winter solstice. I thought about this paradox as I walked through classrooms and peered in on Zoom classes this week. I realized that each and every DKJA student represents a bright light in what could otherwise be a dark time. -
11/13/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,This week, our school joined the global Jewish community in mourning the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l. In addition to being a renowned scholar and inspirational leader, Rabbi Sacks was a tremendous advocate and supporter of Jewish day schools and often spoke about the impact these schools have on the future of Judaism. His passion for Jewish education is part of the legacy he leaves behind for future generations. Baruch dayan emet. May his memory be a blessing. -
11/06/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,One of the core values of DKJA is to instill in our children a lifelong appreciation of Judaism and a commitment to Israel. This month, our focus is on celebrating the history of Israel through a variety of activities at all grade levels. While there are no Jewish holidays during this month, our Hebrew and Judaic Studies teachers are busy sharing with our students the many consequential events that helped to shape the State of Israel and its people during this month in history. Our Middle and High School students are learning about the importance of the Balfour Declaration, the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, a United Nations resolution speaking out about Zionism, Operation Moses, and the Partition Plan. Lower School students are using songs and stories to explore the meaning of symbols, such as the dove and the Magen David, that express our connection to the land of Israel and its culture. I am proud of how beautifully our teachers are incorporating these lessons into their daily schedules as we continue to provide a cross-curricular and mission-driven education to our students. -
October
10/30/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,
This week, we welcomed more students in all grade levels back to campus to resume in-person learning. The transition from remote learning is an important part of our COVID-19 re-entry plan, and I am grateful to everyone for continuing to follow the established protocols for returning to campus. Looking through my office window earlier in the week, I was overjoyed to see students walking together while still maintaining social distancing and to hear the sound of laughter coming from the playground and lunch areas. The return to school this year has been different in ways we could never have previously imagined, yet our DKJA community has handled this challenge with a strong commitment toward ensuring that the education and health of our students remain top priorities. Thank you to everyone who helped make this week’s transition seamless. We will be offering our remote students another opportunity to resume in-person learning when we return from winter break on January 4, 2021. Please be on the lookout after Thanksgiving for a survey where you can indicate the learning choice for your child(ren) for the third quarter of the school year. -
10/23/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,I would like to personally thank you for your commitment and generosity on Tzedakah Tuesday; we not only met but surpassed our goal. My gratitude to all of our donors and volunteers is endless, and I am so thankful to the families, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members who reached deep into their hearts and pockets to help us reach our goal in record time. This year, by enlisting volunteers to text members of our community, our outreach was even greater than in years past. Tuesday's donations and pledges exceeded the prior year's by 80% and donations averaged close to $1,000 per donor. A very special thank you as well goes to the dedicated members of our Board of Trustees with a participation rate of 100% to our Tzedakah Tuesday efforts. -
10/02/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Families,Tonight, as we begin the celebration of Sukkot, we commemorate our ancestors’ 40-year sojourn through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. We build a sukkah to remind us of the covered huts in which our ancestors took shelter to shield them from the desert heat. Our students on campus will enjoy lunch and Sukkot activities in our school’s sukkahs while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. We urge all of our families to do the same as they celebrate the holiday in a safe and healthy way. On behalf of all the faculty, staff, and DKJA administration, I wish you and your family Chag Sameach! -
10/09/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,DKJA teachers are out of this world! This past Monday, in observation of World Teachers’ Day, students recognized our outstanding faculty by writing cards and poems to their teachers letting them know how amazing they are. World Teachers’ Day commemorates the 1966 passage of a statement by Unesco recognizing the rights, responsibilities, and standards for teachers around the world. This year’s theme was “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future,” and I can’t think of a better way to describe our DKJA teachers. The dedication and commitment of our teachers to all students—those learning remotely as well as those attending school on campus—continues to embody all that DKJA has to offer. Thank you for joining me in saying Kol Hakavod to our amazing faculty. -
10/16/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,Growing up, one of my favorite books was the classic The Little Prince. The words flowed beautifully and the pictures were simply magical. The prince himself seemed to know more about the meaning of life than did the grownup narrator of the story, and as a child, I often wondered how this could be possible. As I reread this story over the years, I came to realize that the prince’s knowledge was not derived from the kind of information learned through schooling and books, but instead came from within himself as he struggled to find meaning and reason from the planets he visited. -
9/04/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,AMAZING is the word that comes to mind as the second week of online learning comes to an end! Please make sure to read the wonderful highlights our principals are sharing with you by email and on Eagles Net during the week. We are also excited to welcome back many of our families to in-person learning beginning next week. Our faculty, staff, and administration have been hard at work to ensure that new protocols and procedures are in place to provide a healthy and safe learning environment for everyone. Please click here for a video tour showcasing what DKJA will look like this school year. -
9/25/2020 Head of School Message
Read MoreDear DKJA Community,This past week, our Jewish communitymourned the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Z”L. Justice Ginsburg leaves behind a legacy of fighting for the constitutional rights of all people, and she did so with unparalleled wit, wisdom, and a tenacious belief in equality for all. She was extremely proud of her heritage and was guided by the Jewish principle of Tikkun Olam, or “healing the world.” Today, as we are faced with continued uncertainty and daily stress intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, I encourage our community to find a way of incorporating Tikkun Olam into their daily lives. Whether it be through an increased awareness of social distancing, reaching out to a neighbor in need of emotional support, or simply passing along a kind word to a family member or friend, we can all take a moment to do our part in healing our world. -
9/11/2020 Head of School Message
Dear DKJA Community,Read More
Just three days ago, we welcomed back our first students to the DKJA campus since closing our doors in
March for in-person learning. I watched as third-grade students proudly walked through the doors and
Kindergarten students began their educational journey. -
9/18/2020 Head of School Message
Dear DKJA Community,Read More
This week was wonderful as we welcomed the Middle and High School students to the second week of our
phased-in return to campus. I am extremely grateful to our tremendous faculty, staff, parents, and students for their commitment and adherence to the new policies and procedures for carpool, mask wearing, and social distancing. Please enjoy the above video showcasing our students over the past two weeks learning at home and in school. DKJA spirit is EVERYWHERE, regardless of where our students are learning. As the video’s song states, “We’re All in This Together!”
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