KOL RAMBAM

Winter 2011-12 • aŠryz zay-zah-elqk

MAIMONIDES WILL BASK IN THE WARMTH OF MACCABEATS’ SOUND The Maccabeats, the singers Rhythm and Shmooze is one of several booking dates all over the country. who have brought audiences to their feet upcoming events, including several that There are 14 singers in all; Maimonides worldwide, will perform in Maimonides are new, designed to appeal to not only will host a seven-man subset that travels School’s Fox Gymnasium on Sunday current students, teachers and parents to engagements around the country. afternoon, Feb. 12, 2012 – an event enti- but also the greater school community. Also on the school calendar are tled Rhythm and Shmooze. A number of generous donors are under- Grandparents and Special Visitors Day The 2 p.m. concert, a joint effort of the writing part of the concert. Tickets, which on May 11, a special celebration for the Maimonides PTA and the Development cost $5 per student and $10 per adult, are Class of 2012, and donor recognition din- Office, will be followed by a reception in available from the school’s Development ners. The Alumni Council is discussing a Saval Auditorium, including refreshments Office ([email protected], 617-232- reunion in connection with the upcoming and the singers selling and signing com- 4452, ext. 410). The event is expected to 50th anniversary of Saval Campus. pact discs. Music by the Maimonides Jazz be sold out in advance. The annual gala will not be held, as the Band will open the show. The Maccabeats originated four years range of highlights was considered serv- ago among students. ing the school community better than a EARLY ACCEPTANCES Appearances began at university events single evening. INSPIRE CLASS OF ‘12 and activities, and soon the group was Chanukah was still several days away when sounds of rejoicing resounded through the Maimonides Upper School hallway and classrooms. The celebrating was seniors’ response to an unusual amount of mid-December early college acceptances. These included Columbia University (two), University of Hartford, IDC Hertzliya, Indiana University, The Johns Hopkins University (two), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, New York University, Northeastern University, University of Pennsylvania (two), Princeton University (two), Rutgers University, Stern College and Yeshiva University (two). “This process is all about the individual stu- dent and our goal is to help each student find a match that is right for him or her,” said Tamar Gelb, director of college coun- seling. “Sometimes the path is smooth and sometimes a bit bumpy, but there are Maria Guzman and her 11th grade Spanish class share a light moment. Ms. Guzman is the good matches for all of our students. “ Foreign Language Coordinator in the Middle and Upper School. 1 STUDENT DRAMA CLUB TURNS TO SHAKESPEARE FOR ANNUAL PLAY The Maimonides School Drama Club will present the comedy “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare on Sunday and Monday evenings, March 4 and 5, in Judge J. John Fox Athletic Center. Shakespeare hasn’t been attempted since the earliest years of the annual play. “I was really interested in doing Shakespeare,” said senior Eitan Kahn, this year’s student director. “I love the language, his wit, his humor. And com- pared to previous years, when there has been a relatively small cast, I wanted to expand. In a Shakespearean play you have major roles, but also a lot of minor characters who are crucial to the play but don’t have a lot of lines.” Eitan Kahn, second from right (standing) and the cast of Twelfth Night. So with a cast of 17 students, “a lot of excitement is spread throughout He also performed the following year undergraduate. “In ninth grade I was the school.” Rehearsals began in early in the medley of one-act plays called really sure I wanted to major in acting, December with some improvisational “Flip,” and last year in classmate Naftali maybe make a career out of it,” he said. work “to get people warmed up, a Ehrenkranz’s original “Awkward.” “But the more I thought about it, the couple of games, running through the As student director he isn’t part of the more I realized it would be extremely scenes,” he related. cast. “I wanted to take the challenge. I difficult, especially when you have to “The language is a bit tough. Words wanted to see what being the director resolve all sorts of issues that can arise. aren’t readily recognized,” Eitan was like,” he explained. So I’m trying to be more practical – but I’m still trying to figure out how to keep acknowledged. During rehearsals, “We After a year learning in Israel, Eitan is my involvement in theater.” talk about what the character is trying considering a business major as an to say, the goal for the scene. Then we get a clear picture.” GIRLS HIT HOME RUNS WITH DIVREI In “Twelfth Night” and other Shakespearean plays, he said, “a lot of Seventh graders Gabriella Jacobson yan to recruit more boys to serve in the emphasis has to be on actions and and Annika Tarlin shared insights on leadership roles during davening. At the not just words. So we emphasize facial Parashah Vayeira with the Middle and same time he collaborated with Sara expressions, movements, properties, Upper School student body one recent Herst, director of student activities, to how they talk. That way the audience morning immediately after tefillah. “We involve girls in preparing and sharing should be able to understand what’s wrote it together and we presented it divrei Torah after shacharit. going on.” together,” said Gabriella, who added The results have been gratifying; that “we were pretty nervous – and we The director lives in Portland, Maine, Shoshana Ehrenkranz, Tara Hanau and were really proud.” with his family, and boards in the Jessica Shrayber also were among those Brookline area during the school week. The Middle Schoolers are among a new to accept the challenge. “Tara spoke “My first stage experience was in a shul cohort of girls in Grades 6-12 preparing about Sara Imeinu and lessons that we play called “Back Bay Shtetl” when I was and delivering divrei Torah. can learn from her positive perspective eight. That’s when I knew acting was for “It has been pretty impressive,” said on life,” Rabbi Huff said. “It was par- me.” Eitan had the lead role as Aladdin Rabbi Dov Huff, assistant principal. ticularly fitting as we benefit from the in his Portland middle school produc- “They step up, they prepare something Torah knowledge and life perspective of tion. of substance and they deliver. It’s not our own strong Jewish women here at Maimonides.” As a Maimonides freshman he played easy to command the attention of sev- Jay in the production of “Lost in enth through twelfth graders, but they Rabbi Huff was among those impressed Yonkers.” He said it was “immedi- have been doing a great job.” by the girls’ research, thought process ately one of my favorite activities at The system began as part of an initia- and presentation. “There was some Maimonides. The camaraderie of the tive in which Rabbi Huff worked with depth to them, there was substantial cast, just to be able to act -- I loved it.” the gabbaim of the Upper School min- content,” he said. 2 INNOVATIVE THERAPIST SAYS MAIMONIDES PROVIDED FOUNDATION Dr. Dvora (Kranz) Corn ’78 and her website says the organization and its students “learned simple things about husband, Dr. Benjamin Corn, have affiliated programs have reached more finance and business management.” developed one of the world’s most than 10,000 patients, family members Dvora also emphasized the importance innovative and effective service net- and professionals. of “spirituality” in her work. “Religion works supporting individuals and fami- “The work that I do has a couple of and spirituality are not necessarily one lies facing end-of-life illnesses. dimensions,” Dvora explained -- “The and the same,” she said. “A spiritual And when she has time to think about organizational component, including life brings meaning to every person, as “why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Dvora chairing a network of 22 agencies that I learned when I began to work with says, she realizes that the foundation work in collaboration with our organiza- people who are very sick and dying.” for these skills and aspirations was tion, and the dimension of understand- The inspiration, she said, “came from nurtured and fortified during her eight ing the spiritual components of deal- Rabbi (Isaiah) Wohlgemuth’s class in years at Maimonides School. ing with chronic and life-threatening Beurei Hatefillah. That’s what any gradu- The non-profit organization is called health issues.” Life’s Door-Tishkofet (LDT), with She said her organizational skills devel- branches in Israel and the U.S. Dvora is oped within “a very ripe environment executive director; her husband is chair. at Maimonides to become active and According to its website, LDT “has been make a change.” transforming the experience of facing Dvora recalled moving to Boston at age serious illness from one of anguish, 10 from Flatbush, a very large commu- confusion or denial to one that encour- nity with many schools and subcultures. ages collaboration, growth and healing “All of a sudden I found myself in an for patients, families and professionals.” intimate, more manageable environ- The couple initiated the organization ment. Even as a kid in fifth grade I felt a with its own funds and now is sup- loss of the large community. But when ported by thousands of donors, includ- I got into seventh grade, something ing Maimonides alumni. about that intimacy enabled me to feel “Through individual consultations, very confident and see opportunities to workshops, seminars and retreats, the make a change.” organization has provided the opportu- Maimonides was a place “where you Dvora and Benjamin Corn display his 2011 nity for a sincere, dynamic and robust could connect to people very easily. A President of Israel’s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism dialogue that addresses the value of student in eighth or ninth grade could openly exploring illness and end of life connect to seniors, like a mentorship ates say when asked what happened issues,” the LDT website explains. “This built into student experience,” she said. that impacted us most as human beings approach instills purposefulness in the “You didn’t get lost. I remember just and as Jews. That was my favorite class lives of its participants.” knowing that within this environment by my favorite teacher. He had deep Dvora was better known by her English there would be the ability to pull peo- insight into the meaning of prayer.” name Phyllis when she graduated ple together and make a difference.” Over the past 30 years, first as an occu- from Maimonides in 1978. She met her There was a sense of support among pational therapist and now in her work future husband at Hillel while they were the students, she recalled, a sense of as a family therapist, Dvora said, she has undergraduates at Boston University. “we, together, can do something. We learned “how profound the need is to They lived in Boston and Cherry Hill, are the voice. And if we don’t make that know that there’s a Higher Power, and NJ until making aliyah in 1997. While voice, nobody will make that voice… to understand how prayer was created there, Dvora started a private group There was an idea that we have not so one can create one’s own prayer.” practice in occupational therapy spe- only a responsibility but we have an LDT recently held its annual Partners cializing in geriatric and long-term care. ability.” for Life Couples Retreat, attended by 30 In she served as a volunteer Her activism included arranging for couples (religious and non-religious); at Hadassah University Medical Center’s buses to rallies in support of Soviet one or both of each was suffering with hospice on the Mount Scopus campus Jews. “I remember having this passion a serious illness. “Our staff and volun- and earned a master’s degree in family about social change, the impact I could teers work with these couples for two therapy. have, and the ability to rally students days near the Dead Sea for an entire The Corns launched Life’s Door- to New York and DC,” Dvora said. process of workshops that awaken their Tishkofet (the Hebrew word for per- The opportunities also included rais- spiritual side and deepen their relation- spective) eight years ago. Dvora’s ing money for causes, through which ships.” Continued on page 5 3 HEBREW, ENGLISH IN THIS YEAR’S CURRICULUM REVIEW SPOTLIGHT Maimonides School’s ongoing teacher development, and resources to curriculum review effort is continuing both support and challenge students. this academic year, with the focus Key to the self-study are surveys sent to turning to Hebrew and English. students, parents, teachers and alumni The school’s curriculum review process to explore ways in which the discipline seeks “to ensure curricular objectives is experienced and perceived, and the that are important to and consistent overall level of satisfaction. The results with the achievement of the school’s are considered by the teachers in mission, a cohesive and coherent K- answering the departmental questions. 12 curriculum, and the alignment of Surveys for both Hebrew and English teaching practice with objectives and curricula have been given to parents resources.” and will soon be given to students, Curriculum review is an ongoing teachers and alumni, said Mr. Ehrlich. process essential to ensuring academic The self-study is then submitted to the members of the “visiting team,” a group of educators who, after reviewing these According to Mr. Ehrlich, Kindergarten students, from left, Noam Schorr, “This process enables the materials, will spend approximately Caleb Kohane, Ofir Drory and Eitan Baker team three days observing classes and inter- up to prepare challah. school to take a deep and viewing teachers, administrators, stu- visit, the team will forward a report to honest look at what we’re dents and parents. the director of curriculum and instruc- doing and how we’re doing Visiting team members additionally tion delineating its observations, com- it, and to always measure have access to a wealth of supporting mendations, concerns and recommen- materials – sample exams and report dations. The report may address issues our success on the basis of cards, college placement information, ranging from instruction and technol- increased student engagement standardized test scores, teacher sched- ogy to assessment, enrichment and and learning.” ules, textbook lists and curriculum docu- teacher morale. ments. Their focus is on both assessing The report is then reviewed by depart- the school’s current efforts and provid- ment members who, under the guid- excellence, according to Barry Ehrlich, ing input for future planning. ance of the department head, develop director of curriculum and instruction, The visiting team for the Hebrew cur- their own set of goals and recommenda- who coordinates the review process. riculum review includes Prof. Dr. Vardit tions based on the visiting team report. “It’s a multi-year process for the school Ringvald, director of Hebrew and Arabic Both the report and the departmental to complete the review requirements Languages at Brandeis University, as response are then reviewed by the All- and implement key changes,” he said. well as Esty Gross, a veteran Hebrew School Administrative Team, including Besides the current initial reviews, teacher and department chair in day the principals, to develop an action plan Tanakh and science are in their second and schools with degrees encompassing short- and long-term year and mathematics in its third. Next from Bar Ilan and Tel Aviv Universities, goals. year the focus will be on history and and Karen Nerpouni, an educational The second and third years are key Jewish history, as well as Chumash. consultant who is also a former public implementation years, after which The process begins with a departmental school foreign language teacher and ongoing evaluation takes place to deter- “self-study,” as faculty members explore curriculum coordinator. mine the effectiveness of changes as goals through a series of basic questions Assessing the English curriculum are they impact student learning. including: “What do we expect students Mary Matthews, former curriculum According to Mr. Ehrlich, “This pro- to learn? Is the program creating energy coordinator for language arts in the cess enables the school to take a and excitement for the pursuit of studies Brookline schools (K-8), along with deep and honest look at what we’re and activities among the students? Virginia Balicki, a literacy consultant and doing and how we’re doing it, and to Among the teachers? What directions coach with a public school education always measure our success on the might the department take in the next career spanning more than 40 years, basis of increased student engage- five to seven years?” and Judith Plott, a long-time suburban ment and learning. Excellent schools Department members also examine high school teacher and department like Maimonides do this on a regular, issues such as how to measure student chair who has served as a school accred- ongoing basis. It’s a very exciting and success, the ease of student transition itation evaluator. empowering process for our teaching (elementary to middle to upper school), Approximately three weeks after the community.” 4 Mazal tov to… Yaffa (Stern) ’56 and Joseph Lauer on the bar mitzvah of their grandson Chaim Lauer. Eleanore (Stern) Weiner ’58 on the bat mitzvah of her granddaughter, Atara Weiner, and the bar mitzvah of her grandson, Atir Kahn. Ethel Chaya (Leder) ’66 and Feiwel Igel on the birth of a granddaughter, Tamar Bannett. Rabbi Zvi ’73 and Tobi Friedman on the birth of a grandson, Yaakov. Debra Weiner ’74 and Jay Solomont ’74 on the marriage of their son Yaakov to Zemira Wolf. Joyce (Singer) ’75 and Michael Sydney on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Anne. Chaya (Walter) ’80 and Shalom Lampert on the marriage of their daughter, Ayelet, to Ori Volberg. Adina Levine Milgram ’92 and Jonathan Milgram on the birth of Enjoying the Connecticut woods and vistas their son, Yarden Gilad. during the fifth grade Teva Jewish environmental Emily (Gyenes) ’95 and David Kirschenbaum on the birth of their education experience Dec. 5-9 are, clockwise, from daughter, Juliet Alana. left, Ayelet Fried; (from left) Michael Schwartz, Joshua Fine, Aviva Savitz, Ayelet Fried, Aaron Sara Meirowitz ’95 on her marriage to David Finkelstein. Weinstock and Talya Saltzman; from left, Yakira Navah and David Zizmor ’99 on the birth of their daughter, Noa Tali. Solomont, Ariella Nahoumi, Eve Spear, Nick Grandparents are Maxine (Lipis) ’69 and Dr. Matthew Zizmor. Akerstein, Itamar Freiman, and Yaakov Baker. Dr. Chana Weiner ’00 on her marriage to Ira Glasser. Rachel (Miller) ‘00 and Justin Sakofs on the birth of their son, Amit Lior. Rachel Galper ’01 on her marriage to David Borden. Gabriel Mitchell ’01 on his marriage to Sarah Cytryn. Shael Sokolowski ’01 on his marriage to Sara Schweitzer. Jessica (Salzberg) ’01 and Noah Steinberg on the birth of their son. Rachel (Chiel) ’02 and David Katz on the birth of their son, Gabriel Meir. Grandparents are Judy and Jonathan Chiel ’75. Yael Kletter ‘02 on her marriage to Will Keller. Talia (Liben) ’02 and Gabi Yarmush ’02 on the birth of their son, Ezra Eliyahu. Jonathan Aghion ’03 on his marriage to Cory Supowit. Tamar and Josh Vogel ’03 on the birth of their son, Simcha Gedalya. DVORA CORN Continued from p. 3 Ellie (Dubitzky) ‘04 and Jeffrey Berlin on the birth of a daughter, “I cannot begin to tell you how much the sources of Beurei HaTefillah reso- Sura Liba. nated with me,” she declared, as participants “connected to the idea that Ellie Gerber ’05 and Shifra Baronofsky ’06 on their marriage. everyone has the merit to offer a personal prayer, that prayer is meaningful. Ben Nouriel ’05 on his engagement to Adi Zelnik. My ability to appreciate this concept is grounded in Beurei HaTefillah. My Janna Login ’06 on her marriage to Ben Feldman. sense of prayer had its roots in that kind of study.” Yaakov Salzberg ’06 on his marriage to Jennifer Robbins. Rabbi Wohlgemuth’s class, she said, taught her to “really understand that Jillian Login ’08 on her engagement to Jeremy Boxer. prayer is a door that’s open to everybody when you talk about the intent and not just the words on the page.” Condolences to… Dr. Noah Lightman ‘61 and Rachel (Lightman) Wiederkehr ‘66 The Corns, who reside in Jerusalem, have four grown daughters; their oldest on the loss of their beloved mother, Mrs. Hannah Lightman, z”l. is director of social services for Nefesh B’Nefesh. Three of the girls served in Mordechai de la Fuente ’65 on the loss of his beloved mother, Mrs. Sherut Leumi and one in the IDF. Dvora’s parents, Sandra and Sol Kranz, still Faye (Isserow) Landes ’75 on the loss of her beloved mother, Rachelle live in Newton, although the Corns continue to encourage them to join the Isserow. family in Israel. Ethan Corey ’81 on the loss of his beloved father, Benjamin Corey. “One has a sense that when confronting the end of life, that door is closing,” Rabbi Jeffrey Kuperman ’81 on the loss of his beloved father, Dvora said. “But a new perspective actually opens doors to relationships and Edward Kuperman. much more meaningful existence. What is most remarkable is that when one Dr. Ilana (Hefter) ’97 and Joseph Feuerstein ’97 on the loss of allows the dialogue around illness and end of life to open up, not only sick their beloved son, Shimon Zecharya. people get to benefit from that growth experience, but everyone around is strengthened and inspired to live life more fully.” ALUMNI 5 TEACHER CONNECTS HER ENGLISH LESSONS TO SOCIAL STUDIES If you walk into Saval Auditorium at just took me a little while to figure out Ms. Wassner said she enjoys teaching the right time in June, you will encoun- what I wanted to teach.” eighth grade because it is an educa- ter the entire Maimonides School “By the time I came to Boston,” she con- tional “transition point. Eighth graders eighth grade presenting scenes from tinued, “I knew I wanted to teach high really have to negotiate their kid side A Midsummer Night’s Dream, complete school and I decided on language arts.” and their more adult responsible side. I with costumes and scenery. “It’s a high- Ms. Wassner said she was influenced really enjoy watching them make that light of the year for me,” said Nancy by her undergraduate experience at transition.” Wassner, the English teacher who Wesleyan University’s College of Letters, “Ms. Wassner is a teacher who works directs the ambitious project. which was “essentially a big book club” tirelessly to create lessons that engage Ms. Wassner, originally from Hershey, integrating history, philosophy and lit- the minds and hearts of her students,” PA, began her Maimonides School erature. She also earned an M.Ed. in sec- commented Brian Cohen, assistant prin- ondary education at Lesley University. cipal, Middle School. “She combines “I actually view English and social stud- both rigor and support while teaching ies as very intertwined,” she explained. and in providing feedback to students “My approach has a lot to do with set- about their learning and progress.” ting books in their historical context. Maimonides, she said, “is great for me You can’t understand Shakespeare because general subjects relate to my if you don’t understand theater in Jewish life. They can’t be separated. I his time. It’s important to set To Kill a like to think about how we approach Mockingbird in the South in the 1930s.” Inherit the Wind as Jews, how we “That interdisciplinary aspect has a lot approach Fahrenheit 451 as Jews. Great to do with what I teach… I love teach- literature brings up great questions.” ing English because to me the literature Ms. Wassner said she first discussed is a vehicle for teaching really vital skills producing A Midsummer Night’s Dream -- critical thinking, critical reading and in the spring of 2010 with her colleague critical writing. Everybody needs those.” Jack Fidler and “we decided to put it on. Teacher Nancy Wassner with eighth grader Meital Galler This year she teaches one section of What I like about it is it allows students sophomore English and three sections to access Shakespeare at their own level, so they get it, and continue into career as a maternity leave substitute in of eighth grade English and spends high school feeling that Shakespeare is the spring of 2010. Much of her back- nine periods a week working with something they can do,” she said, add- ground is in what is called “informal individuals or small groups of students ing , “Also, I’m getting really good at Jewish education,” including service in the Middle School Study Zone. “I’m making costumes out of felt.” with Young Judaea as a madrichah in helpful there because of my Hebrew Israel and teaching Hebrew. “I always background. I can cover a lot of sub- intended to be a teacher,” she said. “It jects,” she noted. SCHOOL MOURNS PASSING OF AN EXEMPLARY VOLUNTEER LEADER The school community recently marked of that ancillary arm of the school for on behalf of the campaign as recently the passing of Ruth G. Einstein, z”l, who some 40 years. The Auxiliary was an as last spring. helped build and sustain Maimonides important contributor to the school’s Mrs. Einstein also served on the as a volunteer leader and worker for early revenue stream. Together Board of Directors and the Board of more than 60 years. with Mrs. Devorah Cohn, Mrs. Berta Trustees. Dr. Bernard Kosowsky, former Mrs. Einstein began her Maimonides Wohlgemuth, z”l, and other leaders, Maimonides Board chair, spoke at the career as a PTA volunteer in the late annual and life members, she crafted an funeral of Mrs. Einstein about how seri- 1940s, when her children Walter and infrastructure of support that fortified ously and actively she served on the Margie ’62 (now Margie Hurwitz) were Maimonides School’s fiscal and social board. He pointed out that she could beginning their studies at the still- foundation. see the big picture, the importance of experimental day school. Her years As a long-time solicitor for the school’s growth and innovation. of involvement literally encompassed annual campaign, Mrs. Einstein per- Mrs. Einstein’s grandchildren, Dr. every high school class (the initial grad- suaded scores of new prospects to Joshua, Paul and Michael Hurwitz, grad- uating class was in 1953). become donors and sustained relations uated from Maimonides in 1990, 1993 She soon became involved with the with hundreds of contributing families and 1996, respectively. Women’s Auxiliary, and was a pillar and businesses. She was making calls 6 WARMTH, INCLUSION DEFINE ADMISSIONS’ ROLE The Maimonides School Admissions tuition and aid administrator for the financial Department is like a smorgasbord. process. And all of these things, said Director Ariella Ms. Brunwasser noted that she works closely Brunwasser, fall are under an umbrella of with Student Support Services “to help fami- warmth and inclusion. “Every person who lies determine what kind of academic support Rabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, comes in contact with Maimonides School their children will need to be successful at lŠvf Founder should feel warmly welcomed and embraced, Maimonides. They may receive these services and treated with dignity and respect,” she through Maimonides specialists and/or through Rabbi M.J. Cohn, lŠf Principal Emeritus declared. “Anyone who walks through our door Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, which is a potential ambassador for our school. They has specialists on site. This ensures that children Jeffrey B. Swartz Chair, Board of Directors with a range of learning styles have the oppor- tunity to study at Maimonides.” Abraham Levovitz, lŠf President Emeritus “We also try to meet the needs of different seg- ments of our population,” she continued, citing Nathan Katz ’73 an annual event, launched last summer, target- Executive Director ing Israeli families “that gave them insight into life in the U.S. and at Maimonides.” Outreach Mike Rosenberg Editor to preschools and synagogue communities “deepen our relationship with them, so we can Naomi Ribner Designer partner in ensuring that families receive quality Jewish education.” Ariella Brunwasser Director of Admissions The Admissions Department’s Mini-Mensches

Program for pre-schoolers began this year MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL with a pajama Havdalah party. “There will be Rabbi Yaakov S. Jaffe Prospective families dance at an Admissions other opportunities for these incoming kin- Department event. Principal, Judaic Studies dergarteners to get to know each other and should leave feeling impressed and inspired by Judith Boroschek become familiar with the building – such as Principal, General Studies what goes on here every day.” events on Chanukah, Purim, Yom Ha’atzmaut, Rabbi Dov Huff ’00 Ms. Brunwasser, who came to Maimonides after Welcome to Kindergarten Day in May, and Assistant Principal finishing her graduate work at Harvard Divinity an ice cream social in July. By the time they Brian Cohen School in 2010, said her office is the “first point start Kindergarten, they are comfortable with Assistant Principal, Middle School of contact for every family who visits us.” That each other and with the idea of coming to means she has the responsibility “to provide a Kindergarten at Maimonides. We really help ELEMENTARY SCHOOL warm friendly face for the school.” ease their transition.” Rabbi David Saltzman She is the go-to person for prospective families, Ms. Brunwasser emphasized that student reten- Principal conducting building tours, arranging classroom tion is a central portion of her job description. Reena Slovin visits, organizing events, open houses and “The Admissions Department doesn’t just aim Associate Principal Shadow Days, and monitoring screenings and to bring people into the school. We also seek to placement assessments. ensure that they are satisfied members of the Ms. Brunwasser pointed out that studies by the community,” she said. Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education “The department manages student retention “indicate that the greatest predictor of whether and makes efforts to ensure that any students Kol Rambam is published a family enrolls in a school is that they visit when who are having difficulties are approached by a quarterly by the Maimonides classes are in session. So ‘Come Get to Know teacher, a grade dean, or an educational admin- School Office of Alumni and Maimonides’ is the tag line for all Admissions istrator. No child should fall through the cracks.” Community Relations. Department publicity.” She added that prospec- Earlier this month she put together an Upper Comments, questions, tive Kindergarten families often ask to observe School Open House, aimed not only at pros- and suggestions should higher grades as well. pects from other schools but also at the be addressed to: “Another important goal of the Admissions Maimonides eighth grade. Students and parents Maimonides School Department is to help every family with the had dinner and participated in an activities fair, 34 Philbrick Road process of determining whether Maimonides is learning about academics, religious life and aca- Brookline, MA 02445 the right fit -- academically, socially, religiously demics in Grades 9-12. (617) 232-4452 x405 [email protected] and emotionally.” She pointed out that the pro- cess is need-blind, with families referred to the 7 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage 34 Philbrick Road Paid Brookline, MA 02445 Brookline, MA Permit No. 59990 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Notes A fourth-grade class spent time & recently with residents of Hebrew s The newest Upper School student organization is a medical/science club called Mock- Senior Life in Roslindale, part of the w e Docs Medical Society. Organized by Malka Forman ’13, the group’s first meeting Elementary School chesed program’s

N attracted about a dozen students. “We have a club for every other want-to-be profes- emphasis on student interaction sional,” laughed Malka, whose father is a physician and mother is a nurse. with the elderly. Each participant was paired with a resident, and Medical students from Tufts University were guest speakers at the first meeting. The students and seniors heard a story Mock-Docs want to meet frequently, so the group is looking for other lecturers in the and discussed its significance. They medical arts, including physicians, therapists, nurses or researchers. Parents, relatives also drew pictures together focus- and alumni interested may contact Malka ([email protected]) or Ariana Turk ing on particular mitzvot. “The class ’13 ([email protected]) with details. members left with smiles on their Physicians were not “dragged” into Nazi ideology. faces from participating in this act “Physicians were leaders; they rose to power and flour- of chesed,” said Jenna Adler, chesed ished.” That was part of the core message delivered by coordinator in Grades K-5. Dr. Michael Grodin at Maimonides School’s annual public lecture in commemoration of the Kristallnacht pogrom. Dr. Grodin is director of the Project on Medicine and the Holocaust at Boston University’s Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. By the end of World War II, Dr. Grodin said, more than half of the physicians in Germany were affiliated with the Nazi Party, “intimately involved with all aspects of the Nazi ideology.”

The faculty’s first Collaborative Study Group is meeting monthly to give and receive feedback on planning, student work and classroom challenges. “The goal is to bring the power of peer reflection and collaboration to bear on specific, concrete chal- lenges of teaching chosen by the group members -- to tap into our collective experience and wisdom to help each of us better serve our students,” said Barry Ehrlich, director of curriculum and instruction, who established the group. Plans call for viewing Maimonides students, from left, Shira Milewich ‘17, Hannah Spear ‘17, video of lessons, discussing research in the field and Mia Milewich ’18 and Eve Spear ‘19, who joined other participants from the visiting classrooms. Brookline Academy of Dance junior company in entertaining walkers taking part in the recent “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” fundraiser. 8