I guess it should come as no surprise that a summer like no other requires a higher frequency of blog posts…
Thanks to all the parents who replied, asked questions, shared concerns, etc., after last week’s first list of FAQs! Your feedback has been really helpful and clarifying. We have added some of your questions to the list of unanswered questions at the bottom of last week’s post and it is our plan to share out next week our next round of answers.
Two weeks ago, we decided to go ahead and share out our annual “Transparency Files” post announcing the “OJCS 2020-2021 Faculty” even though we knew (and stated) that it was (more than normally) subject to change. And we were right! Our plans for a safe reopening have indeed required us to be more creative and strategic in our staffing. Before proceeding directly to the list, let me update you on a few items…
…Janet Darwish – Morah Yaffa – will be taking a year away from OJCS out of caution due to COVID-19. We are pleased to share that Andréa Black will be joining our OJCS family as our Kindergarten General Studies teacher. Morah Andréa has over a decade of early years teaching experience and knows many of our families from both Ganon and Camp B’nai Brith. She is a stellar addition to our Kindergarten Team.
…we are overjoyed to welcome back Stephanie Lebhar who will be taking on the Grade One French Studies portfolio. Madame Stephanie was a wonderful addition to our team last year and looks forward to reuniting with our students in the fall.
…we are also thrilled to introduce Sophie Pellerin, who comes to us extraordinarily passionate about French language learning and ready to join our French Department. Madame Sophie will be teaching both the Kindergarten and Grade 2 portfolios.
…with all the challenges of conducting a thorough search process for a position as critical as “Head of Jewish Studies,” we have decided to delay this hire for an additional year. This position is too important to our school not to get it as right as we can. What it means for 2020-2021, is that the component pieces of this position will have to absorbed by others. I will be assuming direct responsibility for supervising and supporting the Jewish Studies Faculty. Elements of ruach will be absorbed by Deanna Bertrend, our Student Life Coordinator, supported by me. Celebration of Jewish Holidays will be a shared responsibility of the Jewish Studies Faculty. The one element that cannot be absorbed by an existing administrator, is the teaching of Jewish Studies. Here, I am pleased to share, we will be prototyping use of the Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy:
Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy is an award-winning, accredited online school for Jewish studies. We bring quality online Jewish education to Jewish students everywhere, regardless of geographic location or ideological orientation.
We have contracted through Lookstein for Grades 6-8 Jewish Studies (I will share directly the exact course descriptions and scope and sequences with those families.) These classes are three-days-a-week and will consist of two live experiences (with the teacher from remote) and one asynchronous experience (with activities prepared by the teacher). The quality and rigour of the courses is high and we will have a live, certified teacher of our own – Mr. Brian Kom – physically present to support at all times. We believe that our students’ experiences of distance learning – along with the likelihood of additional distance learning at times next year – have well prepared us for a successful experience. (Any middle school parent who has questions or concerns, should not hesitate to reach out.)
This leaves us with just one position, a second Kindergarten EA, to fill and we are nearly done with that search process.
And it is now my pleasure to (re)introduce…
The 2020-2021 OJCS Faculty & Staff (COVID Safe Reopening)
Lower School General Studies Faculty
- Kindergarten: Andréa Black, Sophie Pellerin (French), Taylor Smith (EA) & Educational Assistant [TWO Cohorts]
- Grade One: Ann-Lynn Rapoport & Stephanie Lebhar (French) [TWO Cohorts]
- Grade Two: Lianna Krantzberg & Sophie Pellerin (French) [TWO Cohorts]
- Grade Three: Julie Bennett & Aaron Polowin (French) [TWO Cohorts]
- Grade Four: Faye Mellenthin, Sylvie Raymond (Core) & Aaron Polowin (Extended) [ONE Cohort]
- Grade Five: Faye Mellenthin, Melissa Thompson, Sylvie Raymond (Core) & Aaron Polowin (Extended) [TWO Cohorts]
Lower School Jewish Studies Faculty
- Kitah Gan: Shira Waldman [TWO Cohorts]
- Kitah Alef: Ada Aizenberg [TWO Cohorts]
- Kitah Bet: Bethany Goldstein [TWO Cohorts]
- Kitah Gimmel: Sigal Baray [TWO Cohorts]
- Kitah Dalet: Yardena Kaiman [ONE Cohort]
- Kitah Hay: Yardena Kaiman & Ofra Yfrah [TWO Cohorts]
Middle School Faculty
- Science: Josh Ray
- Mathematics: Chelsea Cleveland
- Language Arts: Mike Washerstein
- Social Studies: Deanna Bertrend
- Extended French: Stéphane Cinanni
- Core French: Sylvie Raymond
- Hebrew: Ofra Yfrah (Level I) & Ruthie Lebovich (Level II)
- Jewish Studies: Mike Washerstein
- Rabbinics: Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy (supervised by Brian Kom)
Specialists
- Art: Shira Waldman
- Music: There will be no formal “Music” (COVID)
- PE: Josh Ray: [Will become “Outdoor Education” for Grades 4-8 (COVID)]
- Library: Brigitte Ruel
Department of Special Education
- Sharon Reichstein, Director of Special Education
- Linda Signer, Resource Teacher
- Brian Kom, Resource Teacher
- Chelsea Cleveland, Math Resource
Faculty Coordinators
- Melissa Thompson, Teaching & Learning Coordinator
- Deanna Bertrend, Student Life Coordinator
Administration
- Josh Max – IT & Technology Support
- Ellie Kamil – Executive Assistant to the Head of School
- Sharon Reichstein – Director of Special Needs
- Emily Jiang – Chief Accountant
- Staci Zemlak-Kenter – Director of Development
- Jennifer Greenberg – Director of Recruitment
- Keren Gordon – Vice-Principal
- Dr. Jon Mitzmacher – Head of School
Thanks to all the wonderful word of mouth that so many of you have been contributing to, I am pleased to share that the first few of our cohorts and grade levels are nearing closure with waitlisting to begin. We wish we had unlimited space and teachers to accommodate all, but we are thrilled to be welcoming so many new families to OJCS in 2020-2021!
If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling at OJCS next year, please do not wait to inquire about availability or to get the process started.
