CJHS welcomes new students at Orientation

It's about getting a locker, finding out which room the chemistry lab is in, and registering for the hot lunch program. It's about getting new gym clothes with the new school mascot and logo. It's about finding out how to try out for the basketball team. It's about meeting new friends and saying hello to new faculty. Eighty-three students filled the halls on Sept. 1 trying to locate their new locker after receiving their books for class.

The energy was exciting and contagious as the students returned from their summer vacations. Special thank you to the Va'ad Hatalmidim (Student Government) and Student Ambassadors for organizing much of the day's events: Lanie Abisdris, Leore Avidar, Aaron Gore, Ari Gore, Deanna Levin, Geoff Levin, Sofi Petchersky and Jason Wiznitzer.

Following Student Orientation, students went to a barbecue hosted by the Wiznitzer family. Students played volleyball, basketball and swam in the pool. It was the perfect end to the day. Thank you to Leo, Lynn, Jason, Nicole and Lisa Wiznitzer!

New 11th grader Madeline Miller sits next to returning junior Lanie Abisdris. Next to her is freshmen Lilli Flink and Vanessa Youshaei.

Seniors Ari Gore and Phil Kostov welcome new students with a thumbs up.

Growing school adds new faculty, staff, courses and classrooms

CJHS has changed dramatically since last year. The building has been remodeled to include two additional classrooms and conference areas, and additional faculty office space and a college guidance center. The curriculum has also expanded to meet the needs of a more diverse student population. CJHS is offering 88 courses this year at various levels in secular and Judaic studies. The new courses include a Chamber Music Ensemble. To accommodate all of the new students and new courses, CJHS has added to its already stellar faculty.

Deborah Brejcha Spanish	Jordan Blumenthal English	Timothy Cohen History	Erin Dreese Dance
Caren Friedman Development	Harvey Gross History/Student Activities	Martha Keefe Support Staff	Debbie Jacobson-Maisels Jewish Studies
Leslie Redman Biology	Bruce Scher Dean of Students/Director of College Counseling	Shifra Sheinfeld Hebrew	Arnold Sklar Chamber Music
			Ron Ben Joseph Drama
Robert Taylor Biology	Ron Urick Chemistry	For more information about the new faculty and credentials of all the faculty and staff members visit http://www.chicagojhs.com/faculty.htm

Students participate in leadership workshop

Seniors Ari Gore, Garrett Jacobs, Deanna Levin, junior Jason Wiznitzer, sophomore Abby Landis, Geoff Levin, Lindsey Seidenberg, and Nat Sufrin met on Sept. 7 to participate in a workshop for CJHS student leaders.
The workshop, which was led by Harvey Gross, CJHS Student Activities Coordinator, focused on three topics: 1) Group Goal Setting 2) Communication 3) Working Together Within a Group.

Among the specific skills taught were: a) defining goals b) setting goals in groups c) developing an action plan d) nonverbal communication e) constructive criticism f) written communication g) functioning as an individual within a group h) maintaining group cooperation i) supporting the team j) decision making

Among the activities which the group performed to reinforce the concepts taught in the workshop, each student wrote a letter to himself/herself describing a few personal goals and a few group goals they have for the new school year. The letters will be mailed to each student in six months (early March) so that they can see how much progress they've made toward achieving their goals.

Buy your lulav and etrog from CJHS

CJHS will be ordering lulavim and etrogim for students and faculty. Each set includes: a beautiful etrog, a lulav with two rings, and complete sets of aravot and hadasim. The cost is $40. Orders are due by Sept. 20 and will be available for pickup in the afternoon on Sept. 27. If you have any questions, call Ms. Joan Waxman in the school office.

Auditions for Fall Drama Performance

Calling all thespians - sign up for auditions for the CJHS fall drama performance. Auditions will take place on Sept. 27 after school. See Student Activities Coordinator Mr. Gross or Drama teacher Mr. Ben Joseph for more details.

Thank you

The CJHS faculty and staff extend their gratitude to the Parent Organization for the beautiful Rosh Hashanah baskets. With the challah, honey cake, grape juice, apple and honey, the CJHS teachers and staff will begin the year sweetly.

Director of Religious Life and English teacher publish work

Rabbi Elliot Goldberg's review of Textual Knowledge: Teaching Bible in Theory and in Practice, the first volume of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s newly established Jewish Education Series, by Dr. Barry Holtz appears in the Summer volume of Conservative Judaism.

English teacher Ms. Susan Dickman's commentary on the poem, "Inside the Apple" by Yehuda Amichai, appears in An Invitation to Poetry (ed. Robert Pinsky, which came out in August, 2004.

Faculty members spend summer attending, teaching professional development seminars

Rabbi in Residence Ruven Barkan and Rabbi Reni Dickman attended the CAJE Day school conference at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, during the last week of June. The Rabbis used the conference to focus on sessions related to Tefillah. This year CJHS will expand its Multiple Minyan Program, giving students the opportunity to explore different modes of expression in Tefillot. CJHS will also pilot a new program for seniors, Netivot Shalom: students will be matched with a Moreh Derech, a spiritual guide, among our staff to explore issues related to Tefillah at CJHS.

Science Department Chair Mrs. Ann Levinson Ann Levinson taught two, one-week workshops for the training of AP Chemistry teachers this summer -one at Ferris State University in Michigan and one at Loyola University in Chicago. She also attended the US Chemistry Olympiad Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. earlier in the month.

Rabbi Elliot Goldberg facilitated a Rabbinical Assembly professional development seminar entitled "The Role of the Mara D'atra in the Jewish Day School on June 22 at JTS.

Hebrew teachers Mrs. Shifra Sheinfeld, Mrs. Ela Moskovich and Mrs. Shlomit Nehorai attended Hebrew College in Boston during the month of August. They participated in an extensive, rigorous and richly satisfying learning experience. The course emphasized two main subjects - Hebrew linguistics and grammar, and state of the art methods of teaching Hebrew as a second language to high school students. The professors are from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and internationally renowned in their fields.

On Tuesday, September 7, Assistant Director of Development Caren Friedman participated in a professional development workshop on Advancing Philanthropy. The all-day program was part of the Annual Midwest Conference on Philanthropy hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago chapter. As CJHS embarks on its fourth year and plans to build a new, permanent building, Ms. Friedman is excited to implement her knowledge and skills gained into the campaign.

History teacher/College Counseling Associate Ms. Sharna Marcus attended a week-long Middle Eastern History seminar through the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University in July. Later in the month, Ms. Marcus also attended The Academy for College Counseling at Elmhurst College.

Learn the secrets to the Admissions Process

Seniors and their parents are invited to "Inside the Admissions Office: A look at the College Application Process" at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 at CJHS. Understand the college application process at CJHS. Review College Admission Trends. Discuss the college essay. Find out how and who to ask for a recommendation. Learn the process for obtaining transcripts. Featured speakers are Director of College Counseling/Academic Dean Mr. Bruce Scher and Independent College Counselor Mrs. Marybeth Kravets.

RSVP by Sept. 20 to College Counseling Associate Ms. Sharna Marcus.

SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 31 CJHS OPEN HOUSE

Do you know someone interested in attending CJHS? Bring them to the CJHS Open House from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 31. Email or call Director of Admissions Mrs. Rachel Spiro for more information.

CJHS pilots Bible program

CJHS was invited to be a pilot school for the "Standards and Benchmarks for the Teaching of TaNaKH in Jewish Day Schools" Project. The project is funded by the Avi Chai foundation and is centered at the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education at JTS. This national initiative has created standards and benchmarks for the teaching of Bible in Day Schools in an effort to improve the quality of Bible instruction. Rabbis Goldberg, Barkan and Dickman attended a seminar in New York and have developed an action plan for utilizing the standards and benchmarks document to enhance the Bible program at CJHS.

CJHS receives grant

CJHS has been awarded a grant to participate in the NAAJHS Experiential Educator Program, funded by the Avi Chai foundation. The grant provides support for our Shabbaton program and training for our Student Activities Coordinator.

Mazel Tov

Rabbi Elliot Goldberg has been awarded the 2004 Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. The award is given by JESNA (Jewish Education Service of North America) in partnership with the Community Foundation for Jewish Education of Metropolitan Chicago.

Other community Mazel Tovs include ... Dr. and Mrs. Gary Auslander on the engagement of their daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Tim Cohen on the birth of their daughter ...Ms. Marina Gitlin on her engagement ... Ms. Sharna Marcus, Rabbi Ruven Barkan and Ms. Adina Weber, Rabbi Israel and Ms. Roslyn Stein on their new homes; Mrs. Betty and Mr. Richard Sobelman on the birth of their grandson; and Larry Adler on his new office.

CJHS students receive volunteer training

Tracey Lipzig, the Coordinator of the Jewish Healing Network of Chicago will be conducting throughout the year training sessions for CJHS students who volunteer at the Friend Center, a residential home for clients with early stages of Alzheimer's. The first session was held on Sept. 10 during Hachanah L'Shabbat (1:30-2:15). For more information about this program please see Ruthie Eisenberg or Rabbi Reni Dickman.

Yasher Koach

Yasher Koach to sophomore Sandy Johnston and freshman Daniel Kanter for reading Torah. Yasher Koach to seniors Lisa Banoff, Charley Gandelman, junior Benji Derman, and sophomores Aaron Magid and Matthew Silverman and Lisa Banoff for leading services. A special Yasher Koach to Rabbi Aaron Melman who spoke at tefillah to CJHS on September 10 about his experiences as a chaplain in the New York Fire Department on 9-11 and the weeks following.

Chag Sameach! Has your email changed or will it be changing? If so, email smarcus@chicagojhs.com with your new address.

Sharna Marcus
E-News Editor
History Teacher
College Counseling Associate
Prints and U.S. Politics Club Adviser
Student Technology Services Coordinator
Chicagoland Jewish High School
7800 W. Lyons Street
Morton Grove, IL 60053
Phone: 847-324-3733
Fax: 847-324-3701
Email: smarcus@chicagojhs.com
Web: http://www.chicagojhs.com