E-News is your source for the latest information on the construction of CJHS's new campus in Deerfield. Throughout the project, stay tuned to E-News for updates and answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question about the project, feel free to email Mr. Jack Hammer.

We will kick off our Deerfield Campus Q & A with three frequently asked questions:

Dear Jack,
When will CJHS move into the building?

Jack Hammer: Occupancy in the new building is planned for mid-August. Classes are expected to begin in the new facility on August 27, 2007.

Dear Mr. Hammer,
Can you provide an overview of the project?

Jack Hammer: Phase I of the Deerfield campus, which is currently underway, is 72,000 square feet, with a capacity for 200-250 students. Additional phases will be built as the school grows, adding 56,000 square feet of educational space, including additional classrooms, science labs, administrative and teachers' offices; an expanded library; and an auditorium with a performance stage and seating for 500. Ultimately, the campus will accommodate 400 students.

Dear Jack,
What will be included in Phase I?

Jack Hammer: The first phase will have 18 learning spaces:

• 10 general purpose classrooms
• 2 science classrooms that integrate lecture spaces with labs, and a shared prep room. These science labs were designed to incorporate the latest recommendations by the National Science Teachers Association for the highest level of safety and learning.
• A library
• A computer lab
• A language/art/graphics computer lab
• 2 music rooms consisting of a choir room and a band/orchestra room with instrument storage and practice rooms. These music rooms are being designed with high ceilings to provide the greatest sound quality.
• Art room

1. Space for tutoring and small group meetings between teachers and students
2. Administrative and development offices
3. College counseling offices and resource center
4. A sanctuary located at the heart of the building
5. Cafeteria/social hall
6. High school competition-size gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, and badminton
7. Locker rooms with showers
8. Fitness room with weight equipment and a capacity of 36 people. There will be enough electricity for 8 treadmills and other cardio equipment.
9. Student lounge
10. Regulation-size soccer field
11. 6 half-court outdoor basketball courts

Applications are Pouring In
The CJHS admissions office is reporting a 60% increase in applications over this time last year. Be sure to submit your child's application by the December 15 Early Decision Deadline to save $500 on your child's first year of tuition at CJHS. Applications can be downloaded from the CJHS website or contact Rachel Spiro via email or 847-324-3706.

Ari Glasser presented a brief clip from her 45-minute documentary, "Stolen Valor," to students and faculty on November 8. Ari's film describes the experiences of Vietnam War veterans before, during, and after the war. Before showing a three-minute clip of the film, Ari gave a speech about the importance of Veterans' Day. The full documentary will be shown by the U.S. Politics Club at a later date. Along with this special presentation, two Vietnam veterans, Mr. Allen Lynch and Mr. Benito Garcia, came to CJHS to speak in Mr. Gross's and Mr. Cohen's history classes. Thank you to Rabbi Fryer and Ms. Gail Glasser for helping make this presentation possible. Kol Hakavod to Ari for her amazing work.

The CJHS community paused on November 3 to mark the eleven-year anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin z''l, former Prime Minister of Israel. Yasher koach to Rabbi Fryer, Lindsay Seidenberg, Shai Kamin, and Va'ad Israel for creating a serious tone and preparing a ceremony that included some of Rabin's speeches and the eulogies that were delivered at his funeral.

Yasher koach to the CJHS students and faculty who attended a lecture by Ruth Messinger, executive director of American Jewish World Service, at Lakeside Congregation on November 8. Messinger provided an update on Darfur and assured the audience that our actions can make a difference. Students from Elm Place School presented a paper doll drive, through which they aim to collect 400,000 dolls, symbolizing the 400,000 people who have been killed in Darfur. CJHS students were galvanized by this event. They will join the paper doll drive and resume sales of t-shirts and bracelets. For more information, speak to Nat Sufrin.

CJHS will offer the ACT on three Sundays in 2007 -- February 11, April 15, and June 10. Students who register for a non-Saturday test date must do so on paper rather than online. Along with paper registration materials, students must send a letter verifying that their religious beliefs prohibit Saturday testing. Rabbi Goldberg has prepared personalized letters for each of our juniors and seniors, which are available in the College Counseling office, along with the other paper registration materials. The regular registration deadline for the February test is January 5.

Rabbi Ruven Barkan served on a panel along with rabbis from other movements to discuss Jewish issues related to adoption at the Midwest Adoption Conference on November 5. Rabbi Barkan will also speak about issues related to teen dating at the inter-regional BBYO convention this Saturday night, November 11.

The community is invited to join Rabbi Barkan to discuss the weekly Torah portion on Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m. at Beth Hillel Congregation B'nai Emunah, 3220 Big Tree Lane, in Wilmette. The discussions explore how topics from the Torah connect to our daily lives. There is no fee. For more information, contact Rabbi Barkan via email or at 847-324-3709.

Ms. Caroline Musin attended a seminar in Baltimore for experiential educators who plan 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 program helps to subsidize the cost of Shabbatonim at CJHS and more than 20 other Jewish high schools across North America. In addition to studying experiential education, Ms. Musin had the opportunity to network and build connections with other experiential educators.

David Keren, Director of USY Programs in Israel, will visit CJHS on November 13 to make a presentation about NATIV to interested juniors and seniors. NATIV, a one-year academic program for recent high school graduates, is dedicated to creating and inspiring the Conservative Jewish leaders of tomorrow. From September to June, NATIV participants explore the land of Israel, pursue university or yeshiva studies, and engage in innovative leadership training. NATIV participants also have the opportunity to earn college credits for their studies during the year.

CJHS students: Don't miss out on the fun of a CJHS Shabbaton! This year, the All-School Shabbaton will take place in Palatine on December 8-9, 2006. Students and faculty are already working hard to ensure that this Shabbaton is a huge success. Registration forms and checks are due to Ms. Musin by November 15. Please direct Shabbaton questions to Ms. Musin.

Recently, Trumba, CJHS's online calendar, performed several upgrades. Since then, some people in the CJHS community have had difficulty accessing our calendar. Your computer must allow Trumba's "cookies," the electronic crumbs that remind computer browsers that they have been to this URL before. To fix this problem, you must set your computer to allow the Trumba site and recognize its cookies. If your computer will not accept the Trumba password, please follow these steps:

1. Click on the Tools menu.
2. Select Internet Options.
3. Click on the Privacy tab.
4. Click on Sites... and add www.trumba.com/calendars/cjhs as an ALLOWED site. (Please note that simply clicking enter after typing the URL will result in blocking the site.)
5. Click OK.

CJHS wishes a refuah shelemah, a complete and speedy recovery, to sophomore Skye Miller, who injured her foot this week. Skye is home on bed rest and hopes to return to school on Monday.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Sally Goldberg, mother of Phyllis Goldberg and grandmother of freshman Galya Cohen. The funeral and shiva took place last week in Minnesota. Contributions in honor of her memory may be made to Chicagoland Jewish High School.

Zichrona livracha. May her memory be for a blessing.

Thank you to the Rosenberg family for sponsoring breakfast on November 6 in honor of Jessica's joining the CJHS community.

If you would like to sponsor breakfast in honor of a student's birthday (or any occasion), please contact Ms. Joan Waxman via email or by phone at 847-324- 3711. The students love the recognition, and the bagels are great, too!

This week, Rena Forester, Brian Pogrund, Hannah Rosenbaum, Richard Kahn, Matthew Levin, and Elli Cohn led tefillah. Abby Landis read Torah. On Friday's Professional Day, Rabbi Fryer led tefillah and Rabbi Goldberg gave a Dvar Torah.

Mincha and Ma'ariv
During the winter months, CJHS will have a ma'ariv minyan after school rather than a mincha minyan. A mincha minyan will meet during the school day.

For the week of November 13, mincha will be held in Room 106 at the following times:

• Monday: 12:09 and 1:24, at the end of each lunch period
• Tuesday: 2:00, immediately following early dismissal
• Wednesday: 1:13, at the end of the lunch period
• Thursday: 2:45, during the advisory period

The Campership Program of Chicago, established last spring by a very generous Chicago philanthropist, is now accepting grant requests for the 2007 season. Children living in the Chicagoland area attending a Jewish overnight camp for the first or second time are eligible. Full details, guidelines and applications are available at www.campership.net. The Campership grant for a first-time camper is $1,250 and for a second-time camper is $750. Multiple campers from a family are eligible. Please note that grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

The Campership Program of Chicago is designed for our community and will include applicants from day school programs in addition to applicants from synagogue religious schools.

CJHS encourages our families to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity. To learn about Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, one of our many educational partner institutions, please go to www.ramahwisconsin.com.

This week's parashah is Vayera. Read the parashah, haftarah, and a JTS commentary online.

Candlelighting is at 4:18 p.m. this week. Shabbat Shalom!