4/30/2021 Head of School Message

Dear DKJA Community, 

It was another eventful week at DKJA as we held two exciting virtual programs for the Claire & Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School - the  National Honors Society Induction Ceremony and Coffee House, where our RHS students were able to showcase their many talents. Thank you to Anita Schwartz and advisors Nick Belotto, Illana Joseph, Eilat Asseo, Zoraida Adams, Jonathan Miniello, Michael Garreaud, and Christy Schuler for making our National Honor Society Induction Ceremony a success. Thank you to Nick Belotto, Silvana Delbo, and RHS Senior Ariel Magin for your efforts in putting together our annual Coffee House. There was also tremendous enthusiasm across all divisions today as we celebrated Lag Ba’omer, a festive holiday that falls between the end of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot, celebrating a break in a plague that is said to have occurred during the days of Rabbi Akiva. Our students participated in a variety of fun and engaging learning activities to celebrate this joyous occasion including virtual assemblies, class discussions, and group activities. 

It is hard to believe that the school year will be coming to a close in just a few weeks. I am incredibly proud of how our entire community worked together over the past year to adapt to the necessary changes in the learning environment and continue to be impressed by our success in mitigating the transmission of the virus on campus. Looking ahead to the 2021-2022 school year, we plan to open the campus for all students as we resume in-person learning. As always, the safety of our entire community remains of the utmost importance and is at the forefront of all conversations between our COVID-19 Task Force, our administration, and the Medical Advisory Committee. We are confident that a return to in-person learning will provide our students, faculty, staff, and administrators with the opportunity to reach their full potential in a safe and nurturing learning environment. 

In addition to a full return to in-person learning, we are planning to once again offer extracurricular activities including student clubs, aftercare, and our competitive athletics program in grades 5-12. I am confident that bringing these programs back will provide our students with the opportunity to explore their individual passions and participate in activities that inspire them. We will also be transitioning back to a regular school schedule. In addition, our administration remains hopeful that we will be able to return to our highly anticipated field trips next school year including the Eighth-grade Israel trip, the March of the Living, and Washington DC. 

Please know that it will always be a top priority for DKJA to follow all CDC COVID-19 health and safety recommendations including mask-wearing and maintaining social distancing in classrooms and in shared spaces. During the summer months, please be sure to check your email for further information and updates to our plans for the school year. Please reach out to our school nurse, Anna Sall, or any member of our administration if there are specific concerns you would like to discuss.  

I am looking forward to a strong finish to our school year and to an exciting school year ahead. Please click here for the most current 2021-2022 school calendar. 

Our hearts are with the families who lost their loved ones at the terrible tragedy at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron in Israel this week. We send prayers for a full recovery to all of those who are injured.