March 31, 2020 Dear Parents and Students, We Hope That You And

March 31, 2020 Dear Parents and Students, We hope that you and your families are well and staying safe during these extremely trying times. As a community of school leaders, we are writing to you with an update on our schools and a view toward the weeks after Passover. Especially at these times, we begin with a few words of hakarat hatov, expressions of thanks. • To the teachers who, through a herculean effort, transitioned in mere days from in- school to at-home education. We are thankful that, in addition to teaching our children and delivering curriculum, our teachers are offering structure and loving care in a time of change and stress. Our children are blessed to have the consistent presence of their teachers in their lives – steady and familiar hands to help guide the way through these turbulent times. • To the students who have jumped into distance learning with both feet. We know how hard it is to be isolated from friends and separated from teachers. We appreciate their outstanding engagement in classes and activities online, and hope we can all be reunited in our school hallways and classrooms in the not too distant future. • To the parents who have made this same transition. We are thankful for parents who have become second teachers, ensuring pages are printed, devices are working, and questions are answered. We are grateful to the countless parents who have written to us over the last two weeks, offering support and encouragement, thanking us and our teachers, and giving constructive guidance as we all climb the virtual learning curve together. • To our school communities who have been supportive as advisors and cheerleaders. From board members to donors to grandparents, we are overwhelmed by their support of our schools, teachers, and students as we navigate these challenging times. The last two weeks have been filled with learning – both curricular and extra- curricular. Students are learning with teachers; teachers are learning new modalities of education; and we are learning new ways to run schools. While we remain hopeful that we will be able to gather again, in person, a return to our school buildings will happen only when we are cleared to do so by the public health authorities. We will continue to be in close contact with the authorities and make decisions as conditions dictate. In the meantime, we have heard clearly from you that our schools and teachers are more essential than ever to help students and families navigate these challenging times. We remain fully committed to delivering education and fostering student wellbeing throughout the remainder of the school year, whether that be in-school or at-home. Our online learning will resume for all students on April 20 and will continue until we can return to in-class learning. We also know that these are uncertain and troubling economic times. As non-profit institutions with fixed budgets and committed to continuing our educational missions, we are working diligently to ensure our schools’ financial wellbeing. At the same time, we are fully aware that many in our school communities are facing severe financial challenges. We recognize these moments of family crisis and are committed to working together with you to overcome them. The Passover story is a story of resilience. As we pause from our regular schedule for Passover break, may we take lessons from the holiday and the Exodus story, granting us rejuvenation, healing and health to return stronger than before. Wishing you Chag Kasher V’sameach, Ora Shulman, Head of School and Elaine Osher, Board President, Associated Hebrew Schools Benjy Cohen, Head of School and Rochelle Waxman, Board President, Bialik Hebrew Day School Rabbi Dr. Seth N. Grauer, Rosh Yeshiva/ Head of School and Aaron Ames, President, Bnei Akiva Schools Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz, Head of School, and Chaim Rutman, President, Eitz Chaim Schools Rabbi Elishai Kohananoo, Menahel and Victor Arrobas, Board President, Joe Dwek Ohr Haemet Sephardic School Yaffi Scheinberg, Executive Director and Head of School, and Danny Gordon and Dassi Slater Board co-chairs, Kayla's Children Centre Eric Petersiel, Head of School and Lisa Dack, President, The Leo Baeck Day School Regina Lulka, Head of School and Jacob Jesin, President, Montessori Jewish Day School Rabbi Dr. Rafi Cashman, Head of school and Ashley Ross, President, Netivot HaTorah Day School Dr. Amy Platt, Head of School and Karen Rosen, Board President, Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School Claire Sumerlus, Head of School and Jenny Frisch, President of the Board, Robbins Hebrew Academy Dr. Jonathan Levy, Head of School and Jonathan Zepp, Board President, TanenbaumCHAT Dr. Greg Beiles, Head of School and Jasmine Eliav & Jonathan Lebi, Co-Chairs, Board of Directors, The Toronto Heschel School Rabbi Shmuel Zilber, Head of School/Menahel, and Dr. Moshe Shields, President, Tiferes Bais Yaakov Rabbi Eliezer Breitowitz, Rosh Yeshiva and Jeff Toledano, Executive Director, Yeshiva Darchei Torah .

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