In a hard-fought game with many fans in attendance, the men's basketball team defeated Universal High School, sweeping our series with them for this season. Michael Brunwasser and Brian Pogrund both had terrific games, as did Matthew Silverman, lending his usual steady hand guiding the team. The team is 14-6 and encourages everyone to come out and support them at their last game of the season--against Ida Crown Jewish Academy on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 at the Northbrook YMCA. Please come out and cheer us on!
Placement Exam for Incoming Freshmen
In order to guarantee that students are placed in appropriate classes, CJHS administers a math placement examination to all incoming freshmen. This year, the placement exam will be given at Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook on Tuesday, February 28. Testing will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude around 11:00 a.m. Children attending SSDS will be excused from class to take the exam. Incoming students from other day schools or public schools are welcome to take the exam at SSDS or may request to schedule testing at CJHS at a separate date.
Please register for these exams by contacting Rachel Spiro, Director of Admissions (847-324-3706 or rspiro@chicagojhs.com). Only students who have been accepted or who have applied for admission are permitted to take the exam.
Rolling Admissions Continue
If you know of families with a graduating middle school student who have yet to submit an application for the 2006-2007 school year, please let them know that there is still time. Also, CJHS continues to receive applications from current high school students who are planning to transfer into CJHS. Students interested in transferring are invited to shadow a CJHS student. Contact Ms. Spiro to schedule a visit or receive more information at 847-324-3706 or rspiro@chicagojhs.com.
Spring Sports: Men's Tennis and Coed Ultimate Frisbee
CJHS gives a warm welcome to new men's tennis coach, Chet Williams. Coach Williams, a Tampa, Florida native, now resides in Highland Park with his wife, Laurette, and daughter, Riley. He is a middle school math teacher at Martin Luther King Laboratory School in Evanston and a tennis teaching professional at Deer Creek Courts in Highland Park. Coach Williams holds a B.A. from Columbia College of Missouri and an M.A.T. from National Louis University. We look forward to an exciting tennis season and wish Coach Williams and the men's tennis team the best of luck. The team begins conditioning on Thursday, March 2 from 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. at the school.
The coed ultimate frisbee team already has 15 players in its first year! Because it is desirable to have equal numbers of men and women, we are still looking for five women to join the team. Ultimate frisbee is great exercise and a lot of fun.
Learn more about Ultimate Frisbee.
Save the Date
In celebration of our many accomplishments this year, an athletic banquet will be held on Thursday, May 11. Mark your calendar now!
IFYC Event a Model for Dialogue
Fifteen CJHS students hosted over twenty students from Loyola Academy and the Muslim Educational Center on February 21 after school. Over dinner, the students discussed issues that most concern them in the world today and shared in small interfaith groups how they are personally affected by these events as a member of their faith communities. In addition to informal socializing, the night was also full of prayer; after the Jewish students explained and did Birkat Hamazon, the Muslims did their traditional evening prayers. Yasher koach to Maya Hobscheid, Vicky Neiman, Rachel Karp, Rabbi Barkan, and Mrs. Brejcha for organizing this event.
The next IFYC event will be on March 21 at Loyola Academy in Wilmette.
Guest Speaker in Western Civilization Classes
On Wednesday, Mr. Cohen's freshman history classes had a special session on the Muslim Education's Center's effort to build a mosque in Morton Grove. The principal of the school, Habib Quadry, and Superintendent of Schools and community leader Dr. Gary Zabilka addressed the students. This was part of a unit on the Byzantine Empire and the historical development of Islam. Earlier in the year, the class also heard CJHS parent and cartographer Alan Hobscheid speak on Roman roads and Sister Mary Ellen Coomb speak on the historical development of Christianity.
Hebrew Teachers Attend Workshop
Our Hebrew teachers, Ela Moskovich, Shlomit Hoch, and Shifra Sheinfeld, attended an enriching hands-on workshop entitled, "What Does It Mean to Learn a New Word?" on Monday, February 20 at Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Rachel Moskowitz, the mentor for our Hebrew curriculum, presented the workshop.
Interdisciplinary Approach to History
Mr. Tim Cohen's history class explored how Impressionist painters of the nineteenth century were influenced by other historical movements and developments of the time. Since this study took place during the week of Tu B'Shevat, students painted trees with the help of Mrs. Marla Snyder, CJHS art teacher. An exhibit of the students' work is on display in the TRC.
Zisenwine Series Comes to a Close
Thank you to Dr. Zisenwine for teaching members of our parent community, friends of the school, teachers, and administrators over the past three Wednesdays. Yasher koach to Rabbi Fryer for organizing the lecture series.
Senior to Perform in Northlight Theater Play
Renana Fox is playing Sarah Brown in the Northlight Theater's production of Guys and Dolls. The show will be Sunday, February 26 at 8:00 p.m. and Monday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and may be purchased at the door.
Shabbaton Forms Due Next Week
Students have received invitations to the Spring Shabbaton, which will be held at Camp Henry Horner on March 24 and 25. Planning is underway, and we anticipate an exciting Shabbat experience. If you would like to assist with programming, please speak to Shayna Flink. To sign up for the Shabbaton, please complete the back of the invitation and return it to Ms. Musin by Wednesday, March 1. More forms are available at Ms. Musin's desk.
Mishloach Manot
Every year, the Va'ad and Va'ad Tikkun Olam hold a Mishloach Manot drive for the whole school community, through which students, families, faculty, and staff can buy Purim baskets for friends and colleagues. Each student, faculty member, and staff member will receive a Purim basket containing delicious treats. An individual or family can buy Mishloach Manot for individuals (at $5 per person) or for the entire school (150 people) for $120. All proceeds from this drive will be donated to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, in fulfillment of our obligation at Purim--and throughout the year--to feed those in need. Order forms have been placed in everyone's boxes and are also available by clicking on the link below. The deadline for ordering is Friday, March 3. Please submit your order form to Benji Derman or Yael Schwartz.
Download a Mishloach Manot order form.
P.O. Presents Latke-Hamentash Debate
With Purim on the way, it's time to mark your calendar for the Second Almost, But Not Quite, Annual Latke-Hamentash Debate, which will be held on Saturday night, March 18. The Parent Organization is pleased to once again offer this evening of friendship, laughter, and serious culinary debate. To RSVP or for more information, please email Sandy Levin at levusgro@aol.com.
Download the Latke-Hamentash Debate flyer.
Lunch and Learn on the Horizon
Chicagoland Jewish High School will host a special Lunch and Learn program on Monday, March 20 at the high school with Rabbi Nathan Laufer, who will be discussing his new book, Leading the Passover Journey--The Seder's Meaning Revealed. The program will begin at noon and conclude at 1:30 p.m. The cost of the program, which includes a dairy kosher box lunch, is $10.
Rabbi Nathan Laufer is a Senior Fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem and President Emeritus of the Wexner Heritage Foundation. During the lunch and learn session, Rabbi Laufer will present an intriguing and enlightening exploration of the Passover Seder. Rabbi Laufer uncovers the hidden meaning of the seder's rituals and customs. He insightfully brings an original, accessible, yet scholarly perspective to understanding the text of the Haggadah. Rabbi Laufer's book will be available for purchase at the end of the program. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to CJHS.
Please RSVP to Ms. Musin (847-423-5960 or cmusin@chicagojhs.com) by March 13 for this exciting program.
Cabaret Setup
We're looking for several parents and students to help set up for Cabaret Night, which will take place on Sunday, April 2 at Moriah Congregation in Deerfield. Setup will take place that day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Moriah. Please contact Mr. Scher if you can help.
Enhance Your Shabbat While Supporting the Va'ad
Every Friday, the halls of CJHS are treated to the aroma of freshly baked challah. You can bring this sensation to your home by purchasing challah and other treats through the Va'ad's weekly Breadsmith sale. To place an order, fill out the form below and return it along with payment to Sandy Johnston, Va'ad Treasurer, by Wednesday of each week. Breadsmith orders are available for pickup on Friday mornings at school. This fundraiser supports Va'ad programming during the year.
Download a Breadsmith order form.
Sponsor The Prints
Did you like the recent edition of The Prints? Do you want to help students express their creativity through the arts? Help sponsor the Chicagoland Jewish High School by making a donation! All checks should be made payable to CJHS. For more information, please contact Prints advisors Ms. Marcus and Mr. Blumenthal, or Prints Editor Benji Derman.
Looking for a way to honor your student or advertise your business?
The CJHS yearbook staff is looking for sponsors for the 5766 edition of Yachad. You can advertise your business or honor students and other individuals in the school community by placing an ad in our sponsorship book. The sponsorship book will be distributed throughout the community along with the CJHS yearbook, Yachad. For more information and prices, please contact Vanessa Youshaei, Yachad business manager, at yachad@chicagojhs.com.
Download a sponsorship form.
Thank you
Thank you to the Berkowicz/Frankel family for sponsoring breakfast on Wednesday, February 22, in celebration of a successful second semester.
Religious Life at CJHS
This week, David Weltman, Eli Miller, Daniel Peaceman, Sandy Johnston, Seth Berkman, Brian Pogrund, and Rabbi Fryer led tefillah. Sandy Johnston read Torah.
Yasher koach to Ms. Jacobson-Maisels for giving an introduction to this week's parashah on Thursday morning, and to Rabbi Barkan for giving a Dvar Torah on Friday morning.
Read the parashah, the haftarah, and a JTS commentary.
This week's parashah is Mishpatim.
Candlelighting is at 5:16 today. Shabbat shalom!
Read the parashah, the haftarah, and a UJ commentary.