The Heart to Hands/Handmade Heartfelt Project, a collaboration between the Crocheting Club and Va'ad Vogue, traveled to Children's Memorial Hospital on Friday, May 5 to deliver handmade crocheted hats and beaded bracelets. Under the leadership of Crocheting Club founder Esther Bier, and Va'ad Vogue founder Yael Derman, as well as faculty advisors Ms. Gitlin and Rabbi Fryer, the two clubs combined their handmade items -- including 132 hats and over 103 bracelets -- and designated the Children's Memorial Hospital Oncology Program as the recipient of these items.

Although HIPAA regulations prevented the students from delivering the hats and bracelets directly to the children, the CJHS students were given a tour of the fourth floor (oncology and hematology) of the hospital. Yael Derman, Esther Bier, Elli Cohn, Dafna Broekman, David Israel, Avra Shapiro, Lea Sarris, Seth Berkman, Francesca Hirschfeld, Yaakov Calamaro, and Benji Derman were warmly greeted by pediatric cancer health professionals, given a tour of the specialized areas that treat cancer patients, and given explanations regarding cancer treatment of children.

Yael, who is a Children’s Memorial Ambassador, personally introduced the hospital's health care staff to CJHS participants and gave some of her own personal perspectives. Rabbi Fryer said about the experience, "Our students reached the highest levels of tzedakah, where the giver does not know to whom she is giving and the receiver does not know from whom the gift comes. The hour spent at Children's Memorial Hospital has been my most meaningful CJHS experience to date. These students continue to amaze me."

The Heart to Hands/Handmade Heartfelt project was so well received by Children's Memorial and CJHS participants that both institutions are looking forward to making this an annual event. Thank you to Mr. Bier, Mrs. Cohn, Benji Derman, and Ms. Gitlin for providing transportation. "I look forward to crocheting more hats and taking the students to Children's again next year," said Ms. Gitlin.

The students will continue to make hats and bracelets until the end of the school year and over the summer. Donations to either club would be greatly appreciated so these projects will remain successful. Please contact Esther or Yael for more information. Thank you.

Due to Next Week’s “Building On Success” Benefit…

Next week's e-news deadline will be WEDNESDAY, May 17 at 5:00 p.m. The school building will close at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. Please plan accordingly.

Sports Banquet a Smash Hit

What a successful Sports Banquet we had! A crowd of 125 students, faculty, and family members came out on a wet and cold Thursday evening to celebrate a great year of CJHS sports. In addition to a delicious meal, attendees were treated to a video premiere by sophomore Ari Glasser, two new dances by the dance team, and the presentation of certificates by our coaches to all CJHS athletes. Special awards were presented to our graduating senior athletes, over 90% of whom have participated on a school sports team while at CJHS. Many thanks to Mr. Cohen for putting together such a sensational evening.

With the addition of fall and spring soccer, cross-country, and a junior varsity men's basketball team, CJHS students will have the opportunity to participate on ten different teams next year!

Seventh Grade Visit a Huge Success

Seventh graders were invited to visit CJHS during the morning of Thursday, May 11. Over 60 students from Solomon Schechter and from public school attended the event; this was the largest participation since CJHS began this program four years ago. Students were able to sit in on classes, including chemistry and Talmud, and tour the school. The seventh graders also participated in a social event with our freshmen and sophomores. Each student left with a CJHS t-shirt. Many thanks to Ms. Jennifer Flink, Mrs. Sara Coven, Ms. Elisa Lupovitch, and Ms. Nina Harris, representatives of the Recruitment Committee, who escorted the students through the school. Thanks are also due to Mrs. Suzy Hakimian, Mrs. Randee Romanoff, and Ms. Noreen Ohcana, who accompanied the students from Solomon Schechter Middle School.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2006-2007 academic year. Incoming freshmen and transfer students are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible to be included in next year's planning. Contact Rachel Spiro to schedule a visit or to receive an application packet.

Physics Day at Six Flags Great America

How many Gs would you experience at the peak of Raging Bull? And how would this compare to the g-force experienced as the CJHS school bus merges onto the highway? Twenty-six physics students now have the answer! Mrs. Eliaser's physics classes enjoyed thrills, chills, and occasional spills as they studied the science of amusement park rides at Great America's annual Physics Day on May 10. Three classes worth of intrepid physicists, armed with calculators, lab packets, and Vernier LabPro data collectors (mounted in cloth vests for upside-down data analysis!) set out to measure the heights, speeds, and accelerations of their favorite rides. Students report that the weather and the equipment cooperated to produce a fabulous day at the park. Thank you to Mrs. Eliaser, Ms. Keefe, Rabbi Dickman, and Mr. Aaron Nessel for chaperoning this trip.

AP Exams Come to a Close

Over the last two weeks, more than half of the junior and senior classes took Advanced Placement Exams. Thirty students took exams in ten different subjects, and in total, the Department of College Counseling administered fifty-eight separate exams. Many thanks to Ms. Marcus, Mr. Scher, Ms. Spiro, Ms. Landis, and Ms. Kahn for making sure the AP process went smoothly. Additionally, thanks are due to Ms. Bierman, Ms. Gitlin, Sra. Linda, Mrs. Goldberg, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Gross, and Mr. Taylor for teaching AP courses at CJHS this year.

Save the Date - Physics Expo 2006

Come join the CJHS physics classes as they celebrate a year's worth of content! On Wednesday May 24, at 4:45 p.m., students will conduct an afternoon of presentations, demonstrations, and homemade films showcasing the physics content of their choice. Topics include the Physics of Baseball, Rainbows Without Rain, How CDs Work, and the weird and wonderful world of Schrodinger's Cat. Be there!

Rabbi Golinkin Visits CJHS

The CJHS community was fortunate on Thursday morning to learn words of Torah delivered by Rabbi David Golinkin, who is the President and Professor of Jewish Law at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Rabbi Golinkin is also the Chair of the Va'ad Halachah (Law Committee) of the Rabbinical Assembly in Israel, which writes responsa and gives halachic guidance to the Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel. Rabbi Golinkin spoke about the Masorti Movement's Tali school system and taught us about the halachic obligation to donate organs. Many thanks to Rabbi Michael Siegel of Anshe Emet Synagogue, who sits on our Board of Directors, for enabling Rabbi Golinkin to join us for minyan.

Book Club Meets

A group of juniors convened their first "book club" with disenfranchised residents of the East Village area in Chicago on May 10. They studied the first two chapters of Exodus together, and it was a powerful human encounter through text study. For more information, contact Yoni Solomon or Ms. Jacobson-Maisels.

IFYC Program Next Week

CJHS members of IFYC will host a program next Tuesday, May 16 (4:45-6:30 p.m.) at school, with our new interfaith partner, Universal High School. Please RSVP on the Va'ad Tikkun Olam board. Dinner will be served. For more information, contact Rachel Karp, Maya Hobscheid, Vicky Neiman, or Sra. Brejcha.

Rabbi-in-Residence Teaches at JCUA

Rabbi Barkan presented about CJHS's interfaith program to the Nediv group (a group of young adults who are teaching social justice issues in Hebrew Schools throughout the Chicagoland area) at Jewish Council on Urban Affairs on May 10. He will also present at the Interfaith Youth Core's conference on Sunday, May 14.

Learn more about JCUA.

Israeli Students Visit CJHS as Part of Chicago Tour

Rabbi Barkan facilitated a dialogue about Israel-Diaspora relations between CJHS students and a group of students visiting from Israel. McHenry County Jewish Congregation is hosting these Israeli students, and the afternoon at CJHS was part of their two-week experience in Chicago. During the program at school, students reflected upon their Jewish identities in this dynamic context. It was a great opportunity for both communities to learn from each other's unique settings.

Students Exhibit Artwork at Great Frame Up

Please join us at the opening reception for the art exhibit featuring Mrs. Snyder's photography and studio arts classes at The Great Frame Up (in the old Office Max complex on the corner of Golf and Washington). The reception will be next Wednesday, May 17, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Stop in and view the artwork on display. An awards ceremony will begin at 5:45 p.m. The Great Frame Up will provide nibbles.

Bike Club Prepares for First Event

Remember the feeling of freedom you felt when you first rode around the block by yourself? Or the joy you experienced when you got the training wheels removed from your bike? Biking is a great way to improve both the environment and your health! Join the newly founded CJHS Bike Club for Bike to School Day on Friday, May 19, which is National Bike to Work Day. Each biker is looking for sponsors; all money raised will go to HAZON and the Chicago Bike Federation. Currently, seven students and four faculty members have signed up to bike to school, from starting points spanning the city and suburbs, including Northbrook, West Rogers Park, Evanston, and Lakeview. If you would like to sponsor the bikers, please email Ms. Jacobson-Maisels at djacobson@cjhs.org.

Calling All Faculty and Staff!

CJHS will host a Benefits Fair on Monday May 15, from 11:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. in Room 103. CJHS Benefit Plan information will be available for staff to learn more about their coverage and available options. Staff will be able to sign up for the FLEX plan and employee-directed 403b plan for the 2006-2007 school year. Representatives of the various benefit plans will be available to answer questions.

Spanish Students Score High

On April 5, 2006, all of the Spanish students took the National Spanish Exam offered by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. The awards have been announced for the Chicago area. Vicky Neiman received the second place award in the Level Four bilingual category, and Ron Gejman received the fourth place award in the Level Four bilingual category. They will both receive certificates and a monetary award. Please join Sra. Brejcha and Sra. Linda in congratulating Vicky and Ron on their accomplishment. Additionally, fifteen of the thirty students taking the exam placed in the 91st percentile or higher nationally.

Peer Helper Program Announced

A Peer Helper program is in formation for next year. The program will focus on providing support for incoming freshmen, transfer students and students entering from public schools. Juniors and seniors will be trained to work one-on-one with students and to assist in group meetings. Training will begin in August, just prior to the opening of school, and will continue throughout the year. Training will concentrate on developing enhanced communication skills, exploring models of helping intervention, and climate building.

Peer Helper programs are in existence all over the country and have met with significant success in providing a valuable support service. We will be working with the Peer Helper program at Deerfield High School, which has offered to help CJHS develop this new program. Dr. Penina Frankel, psychologist, and Nina Harris, clinical social worker and CJHS board member, have also volunteered their time to develop the program. Dr. Auslander will coordinate the program. Interested students will be asked to fill out a brief application and turn it in to Dr. Auslander, Rachel Karp, or Seth Berkman.

Order Your Yearbook Right Now!

The yearbook staff has spent the last six months taking pictures, collecting quotes, and building a fantastic book of memories. Now it's your turn—click on the link below for an order form, and turn it in (along with $30 before May 22, or $35 on or after May 22) to Linda Levin or Jason Wiznitzer.

Click here for a yearbook order form.

Spring Sports Update

The men's tennis team ended its successful season with a win at North Shore Country Day on May 9. The team had a respectable 3-3 record this season, and each athlete improved his games. Thanks to Coach Kam and the team members for a great season.

The Coed Ultimate Frisbee Team continues to improve its skills while getting in shape and enjoying the great outdoors. The team travels to Highland Park on Tuesday, May 16 to take on the Highland Park High School team. On Friday, May 19, the team will play the faculty after school. Finally, the team will play their parents at the Sunday, May 21 Parent Organization picnic.

We are busily preparing for the fall sports season and need students' help. If you plan to play women's tennis, coed soccer, or coed cross-country, please sign up on the athletics bulletin board at school.

AVI CHAI Renews Shabbaton Grant

This week, Ms. Musin spent three days in Boston for a seminar developed for experiential educators planning Shabbatonim in day high schools. The seminar was funded by the AVI CHAI Foundation and conducted by the Institute for Informal Jewish Education (at Brandeis University) and is part of a grant that CJHS, along with fifteen other high schools, has received for the last two years. The grant has been renewed for three additional years and covers a significant portion of Shabbaton net expenses, as well as professional development for experiential educators. This grant has been administered by the North American Association of Jewish High Schools over the last two years and will be administered by the Institute for Informal Jewish Education in the coming years.

Join us at the Annual CJHS Parent Organization Lag B’Omer Picnic

The Parent Organization cordially invites you to the Annual Lag B'Omer Picnic on Sunday, May 21, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Laramie Park in Skokie (Sherwin and Niles Center Road, behind the Holiday Inn on Touhy). The picnic will feature food, games, and a parent/child ultimate frisbee march. The cost is $20 per family, and is free for incoming and prospective families. Please RSVP by May 17 to Kim Frankel at kim.frankel@schechter.org or Sandy Levin at levusgro@aol.com.

Bowling Party to Benefit Student’s Summer Program

David Weltman is planning a bowling party for everyone at CJHS. The party will take place on Sunday, May 21, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Wilmette Bowling Center. The cost is $20, part of which will help cover David's costs this summer when he represents the school as an ambassador of the United States through the People to People program. Kindly RSVP to David by May 16.

Click here for more information about People to People.

Breakfast Sponsorships

Thank you to Ricca Slone, who sponsored breakfast on Tuesday, May 9, in honor of her son, Seth Berkman, on his sixteenth birthday.

If you would like to sponsor breakfast in honor of a student's birthday (or any occasion), please contact Joan Waxman at jwaxman@cjhs.org or Sara Coven at penguinema@napcoltd.net. The students love the recognition, and the bagels are great, too!

Religious Life at CJHS

This week, Benji Derman, Avra Shapiro, Richard Kahn, Sandy Johnston, Shai Kamin, Esther Lowe, Nat Sufrin, and Avi Coven led tefillah. Sandy Johnston, Hannah Rosenbaum, Richard Kahn, and Rabbi Fryer read Torah.

Yasher Koach to Nat Sufrin, Esther Bier, Rachel Garfinkel, Hillary Weiss and Ms. Jacobson-Maisels for speaking about last month's Rally to Stop Genocide in Darfur.

This week’s parashah is Emor. Candlelighting is at 7:42 today. Shabbat shalom!

Read the parashah, the haftarah, and a JTS commentary.