Winter 2016 Voice of The Leo Baeck Day School Special Edition Humans of We see the world in your child Leo Baeck www.leobaeck.ca 1 Adult accompaniment required. TO REGISTER, contact Snack provided. Program runs through June. CAYLA SOLOMON 905.709.3636 X 247 Choose one day: $265 [email protected] • The Leo Baeck Day School Choose two days: $500 (Plus join ShabbaTOT free) North Campus, 36 Atkinson Avenue Thornhill 2 I BAECK & CALL WINTER 2016 HUMANS OF LEO BAECK www.leobaeck.ca 3 Humans of Leo Baeck I went out to dinner one night last October and for the first time in my life, the chef came out of the kitchen and headed right to my table. The special greeting meant a lot to me. It meant so much more that the chef was David Schwartz. He was among our South Campus’ first ever graduating class, which by the way celebrates 10 years as alumni this year. For me, David Schwartz and his peers are vital stories in our success. They were the oldest kids in the school as they ascended the ranks from Grades 5 to 6, 7 and 8. In that position they learned to lead, to work together, and to role model for others. In those days, classrooms were small and facilities lacking, but the relationships they forged with each other and with the adults in the school made the experience a powerful one for all involved. I look forward to the day when those first graduates have their own children and choose to share the Leo Baeck experience with them, so that it continues from generation to generation. In this issue, we highlight the Humans of Leo Baeck, some of the personalities and their endeavours that tell our story. The humans featured in these pages have their individual stories, but are also exemplars of the qualities that continue to make Leo Baeck a leading cutting edge institution, whose hallmarks are innovative educational excellence, nurturing community and lifelong Jewish commitment. Like David Schwartz and that first graduating class, they represent the many other human stories that make this place so special. By Eric Petersiel, RJE, Head of School Eric with chef (and Leo Baeck alum) David Schwartz The Leo Baeck Day School North Campus South Campus 36 Atkinson Avenue 501 Arlington Avenue Thornhill, Ontario Toronto, Ontario Editor David Bale L4J 8C9 M6C 3A4 Design/Layout Agency Nextdoor Phone: 905.709.3636 Phone: 416.787.9899 Fax: 905.709.1999 Fax: 416.787.9838 Printing Incredible Printing Photography Kevin Diamond, Rebecca Ansel, David Bale General Inquiries: [email protected] Special Thanks Linda Abramsohn, Josefa Michaelson, Follow us: Janice Prazoff, Daniel Rosenberg, Cayla Solomon Baeck & Call is published twice a year through The Leo Baeck Day School’s Communications Department and is distributed to more than four thousand Leo Baeck parents, grandparents, alumni and friends of the school. Cover: Photo by Kevin Diamond 4 I BAECK & CALL WINTER 2016 LB Light and Brief By David Bale Special Delivery From Page to Stage Before their trip home for winter break, Dan Saar and Neta Doron – Israeli ShinShinim at LB Emil Sher, playwright of the stage North – collected notes and prayers from students to personally place in the ancient walls of production of Karen Levine’s Hana’s the Kotel, the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Suitcase, gives a workshop to LB South Middle School students on how he makes words come alive on stage. Gift Bags of Hope Harmony in Uniform A Net Effect Grade 5 students at LB North put Tikkun Halleluyah – a Eurovision Song Contest Leo Baeck South has become the host Olam (repairing the world) into action by winner from Israel – was just one of many of the annual 7-team Jewish Day School packing 900 Chanukah gift bags for people favourite melodies sung by the Israel Defense Volleyball Tournament. Girls’ teams played below the poverty line, on behalf of B’nai Forces Ensemble in an exclusive performance in the fall; boys will follow this winter. Brith and Jewish Family & Child. at LB North last fall. www.leobaeck.ca 5 HUMANS OF LEO BAECK Randi Solomon Exclusive club: LB Teachers who’ve been LB Parents By Yvette Burke, Principal, North Campus “I am forever thankful that a school like Leo Baeck existed for my children who were not exactly your typical kids.” As I sat in our newly refurbished library during a recent staff meeting, our speaker was discussing how we can better inspire students to be creative thinkers. My thoughts drifted over to the person sitting beside me, Randi Solomon. Teacher, colleague, parent, and a person I admire for her quiet and humble demeanour, Randi embodies the kind of innovative education As a mother of three former LB students, Randi boasts membership in a we were assembled there to explore. unique club. “Shortly after being here,” says Randi, “I realized that this was Starting at South Campus exactly the education and environment that I wanted for my own kids.” in 2002, Randi taught all She is one of fifty Leo Baeck staff over the years that have also been Leo subjects. She transitioned to Baeck parents. North Campus as our Library Randi truly represents all fifty. Our staff, past and present, have all shown Sciences teacher, bringing in commitment to our school community, vision and mission. That such a size- visiting authors, embedding able number entrust us to do the significant job of educating our own most information literacy into our precious ones is a testament to what is so special about this school. curriculum, providing reme- “I couldn’t think of a place I’d rather have had my children educated,” dial support, and reading Randi says. “They are thriving as young men and I think it is in large part numerous stories. because of the values and care they received here in those crucial forma- Currently, she teaches tive years.” computers and has taken the lead in the North Campus campaign to With a grateful smile, she adds, “I am forever thankful that a school like become an Eco Certified School. Randi exemplifies our high standard of Leo Baeck existed for my children, who were not exactly your typical kids.”. deeply committed caring educators. She is a deeply committed parent as well. 6 I BAECK & CALL WINTER 2016 LB teachers who’ve been LB parents azer M ppel A Laila Lipetz ara evin Robyn Buchman arni L mar M M Shari Standil A absha H ingerman S elissa Yvette Burke pler igalit Judy S M Bonnie Gremont Risa Pauline Landen Susan Baskin Hinda Weksberg O David Martosh Susan Aroosi Rhona Birenbaum Robin Leszner Donna Kaplan indy Helene Rudolph Desmond Bender Randi Solomon Stacey Jacobs C Ilana Cyna Joanne Ross Freeman Janice Prazoff Ariella Damelin Rochelle Chester Ellen (Steck) Eckler ohen C Michael Levy Naomi Epstein argulies David Karen Friedman Jody Blum Irit Dor M teven Garten S Deborah Epstein-Franks apedus oses L onni Rabbi Amy Boddy Bryna Wechsler L Michael Goodman M Jan ric Petersiel Elaine Zuckerman E Shoshana Chaim Gene Teeger Doris Morris Rabbi Noam Katz edy H www.leobaeck.ca 7 HUMANS OF LEO BAECK Ian Sandler The Parent App: push a button and he’s there to help By Lauren Sigel, Principal, South Campus YOM KIPPUR 2011, JUST BEFORE BREAKING THE FAST. I WAS IN SYNAGOGUE SITTING NEAR IAN SANDLER, WHO SAID TO ME, “YOU KNOW, LEO BAECK IS LOOKING FOR A NEW PRINCIPAL AND I REALLY T H I N K YOU SHOULD APPLY.” Ian and I have known each other for a very long Ian’s wife Fern Glowinsky served with distinction “Every year we have seen small improvements time and what he didn’t realize at the time was on the Board of Directors for several years. Ian is in how the curriculum is delivered,” he says, that I was already in talks to consider a move to LB. also one of those parents who eagerly steps up to noting the school’s evolution, “and now in Middle Why did Ian want me here? His whole family volunteer at every turn. In his case, that activism School, the Middle Years Program (of the IB) has always been committed to Jewish education. has lasted throughout his boys’ LB career, from has helped the boys to learn and think in a more He himself began at a Jewish day school when SK to Middle School today. He represented the progressive way.” he moved from South Africa as a little boy and parent voice during our recent IB reauthorization Leo and Cole now play on the school hockey and he always knew his sons Leo and Cole would do process. He currently serves on the Graduation ski teams and have gotten involved in the Tikkun so as well. Committee, as well as others focused on school Olam Committee. They have made great friends communications and Middle School initiatives. and celebrated their B’nai Mitzvah together. Ian exemplifies the many parents here “Becoming involved in the school has allowed So much has evolved since our initial conversa- who really commit to the school. us to help impact some of the programming and tion about LB. Who knew at the time that this is changes the school has undertaken,” says Ian. where we would be today? . With the enrolment of the Sandler twins in SK Ian exemplifies the many parents really committed at the Holy Blossom campus, we inherited two to the school. Despite their busy lives, Ian and Fern Main Photo: Ian Sandler and Fern Glowinsky with Cole and Leo incredibly active and loyal parent ambassadors.