This year's Early Decision Deadline was Dec. 15. Families who submitted an application by this date were awarded a $500 credit off their child's first year's tuition at CJHS. Applications grew by 25% over last year's numbers. Rachel Spiro, Director of Admissions, attributes this success thanks in part to the skills of her recruitment committee led by Jennifer Flink and to the talents of Marketing Chair Tami Warshawsky.

Rolling Admissions is still occurring. Families can continue to visit the school and have students shadow. Applications can be submitted for students entering freshman year and for transfer students. Contact Rachel Spiro at 847-324-3706 or rspiro@chicagojhs.com for more information.

Curriculum Night is right around the corner. On Thursday, January 19, 2006, department chairs will explain CJHS's academic philosophy and curriculum. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. at CJHS.

It's Not Too Late!

It is not too late to make your end of year gift to CJHS. Gifts received by December 30 are tax deductible for 2005. The development office will remain open throughout the winter break and can be reached by calling 847-324-3723.

To our friends who have already made their gifts, our heartfelt thanks for your generosity.

Junior Study Homelessness at Panim El Panim

Nineteen CJHS juniors spent Dec. 11-14 in Washington, D.C. learning about homelessness, lobbying, politics, and Israel at Panim El Panim, the Institute for Politics and Jewish values. CJHS was paired with 20 students from the Herzl Ramah Academy in Denver. This was CJHS's third Panim trip but its first with another day school.

The trip culminated with 10 CJHS students visiting Senator Durbin's office and 9 visiting Senator Obama's office, where the students lobbied on issues about which they felt passionate. The students talked to the senators about the war in Iraq, U.S. policy toward Israel, Iran's nuclear ambitions, free trade, gay marriage and civil unions, childhood obesity, and other current topics. The staff at Panim and the senators' offices were impressed with the 11th graders' knowledge base and their articulately expressed views.

CJHS offers a special thanks to trip coordinators Ms. Sharna Marcus and Mrs. Claudia Linda; the school also wishes to express its gratitude to the Community Foundation for Jewish Education, which granted a $250 subsidy to each of our students.

Visit Panim El Panim online.

L'Dor V'Dor

On December 9 and 10, Matthew Silverman, Michael Brunwasser, Ruthie Eisenberg, Aliza Stein, Sofi Petchersky, Eli Miller and Rabbi Robyn Fryer spent Shabbat at Solomon Schechter Middle School's Eighth Grade Shabbaton. Our CJHS students, along with members of the CHUSY regional board, developed and ran most of the programming, including study sessions, icebreakers and trust games. Yasher koach to our students for their leadership, creativity, and compassion. Thank you to Rabbi Sheryl Katzman, Ms. Musin, Ms. Spiro, and Rabbi Fryer for strengthening the partnership between CJHS and SSMS with this Shabbaton.

Students Perform Before Entire School on Fall Fine Arts Day

For about an hour on Thursday, Dec. 15, time stood still at CJHS. Students, faculty, staff, and even some parents gathered in the social hall to watch the performances for Fall Fine Arts Day. The school's chamber ensemble, jazz band, choir, drama group, and dance class all performed, and information about the photography class's upcoming exhibition was announced. Many thanks to Mrs. Gail Gottlieb for putting together all of the day's details, and to all of the fine arts instructors.

Dr. Ted Schaffner, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, said of the event, "Fine arts need to be studied, but they also need to be performed. Artists need to show their work. Musicians need to play their instruments. We've arranged opportunities to showcase our talents to the greater community, but it's also important for our students to perform for each other. I was impressed by the attention of the whole school on the event. Our kids were really attentive and supportive of their peers."

CJHS Community Leaders attend USCJ/SSDSA Biennial Convention

Several members of the CJHS community attended the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/Solomon Schechter Day School Association Biennial Convention in Boston last week, including board member Rhoda Pomerantz, parent Sandy Starkman, and Head of School Roslyn Stein. The convention was a four-day event, which attracted about 700 rabbis, day school educators, congregational professionals and lay leaders. Keynote speakers Rabbi Harold Kushner, Rabbi Neil Gillman, and Rabbi Jerome Epstein addressed the issue of what it means to be a Conservative Jew in the 21st century. Of special interest was the Board of Delegates meeting for Schechter heads of school and board chairpersons from all SSDSA affiliated schools. Sacha Litman of Measuring Success conducted a workshop on "Making the Results of the PEJE Peer Yardstick Survey Work for Your School." Mrs. Stein noted, "The information from this survey can be used for data-driven decision-making in the areas of recruitment and financial management."


Another highlight of the conference was a daylong mini-conference hosted by the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University. Prof. Sharon Feiman-Nemser, Susan Kardos, Vivian Troen and Dr. Jane West Walsh worked with heads of school on strategies for developing and sustaining a Jewish-values-based professional culture.

Sandy Starkman, a CJHS parent, enjoyed the opportunity to connect with others. "It was wonderful to be there with other Conservative Jews, many of whom send or have sent their kids to Schechter, Ramah, etc. I felt energized by my conversations, my learning with top scholars in the movement, and my tefillah among a group of knowledgeable and spirited attendees. Many with whom I spoke were very excited to hear about our 'new' Schechter high school and were very intrigued by the Senior Israel experience. Anyone who had heard of CJHS had heard only great things about it!! …I was also pleased that staff from the Schechter lower, middle and high schools in Chicago were present in Boston as well."

CJHS Awarded AVI CHAI Bookshelf Grant

Chicagoland Jewish High School is pleased to announce that it is entering its third year as a recipient of an AVI CHAI Bookshelf Grant. The AVI CHAI Foundation, a New York-based private foundation dedicated to supporting and encouraging the growing Jewish day school movement, developed AVI CHAI Bookshelf—a three-year, $1.9 million program—in an effort to enhance libraries at Jewish high schools in the United States and Canada. The program, now in its seventh year, provides participating schools with the opportunity to purchase print and non-print materials for their library collections.

"We are delighted to have been selected for the AVI CHAI Bookshelf grant. Through this grant, our library will be better equipped to effectively serve both our teachers and students, helping to enrich the classroom curriculum and develop the research skills our students will need for college," said Mrs. Roslyn Stein, CJHS Head of School.

CJHS will receive up to $15,000 over three years toward the purchase of materials (books, audiovisual items, computer hardware and software) for its media center. According to the guidelines of the grant, at least half of the money must be used toward Judaic materials. The school put together a committee of teachers from different disciplines to make the purchases. CJHS is one of 110 high schools participating in the 2005-2006 program.

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.

Register to Vote in the WZO Election

Support Masorti (Conservative) organizations, groups, synagogues, Ramah, USY, etc. in Israel by voting MERCAZ USA in this election. Please go to www.mercazusa.org and click the link to register to vote in the election; voting is only possible with advance registration. Even if you are a MERCAZ USA member and/or voted in the last WZO election, you still need to register. You can also learn about Mercaz USA, the Conservative Movement's Zionist organization.

Visit the MERCAZ website, www.mercazusa.org, and sign up via the secure website, or download a membership form and mail it in. Either way, join MERCAZ today! Please contact the MERCAZ USA office at 1-888-99 MERCAZ to register over the phone (or info@mercazusa.org) or if you have questions. Vote the Mercaz-USA Slate.

Thanks for your help in making this election the success we need for Israel, the Conservative Movement, and the future of the Jewish people and Modern Zionism. If you have any further questions, contact Rabbi Robyn Fryer (847) 423-5962 or RabbiFryer@chicagojhs.com.

Refuah Shlemah

The Board of Directors, faculty, and staff wish a refuah shlemah, a complete recovery, to Michele Plotnik, our administrative assistant.

CJHS extends its best wishes and prayers for a refuah shlemah to Dr. Gary Peckler, our Physical Education Teacher and former Athletic Director.

Siman Tov U'Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Dr. Gary Auslander, School Social Worker, and his wife, Shelley, on the marriage of their daughter Michele this coming Sunday.

Religious Life at CJHS

This week, Richard Kahn, David Weltman, Yael Derman, Hannah Rosenbaum, Avi Coven, Sandy Johnson, Seth Berkman, Vanessa Youshaei, and Eli Miller led tefillah. Avra Shapiro, Josh Warshawsky, and Yaakov Calamaro read Torah.

Candlelighting is at 4:03 on Dec. 16, 4:06 on Dec. 23, and 4:11 on Dec. 30.

Classes will resume on January 3, and E-News will resume on January 6.

As our students head off to winter break, CJHS would like to wish you Shabbat Shalom and an early Chag Urim Sameach, a joyous Chanukah to you and your family!

This week's parsha is Vayishlach. Read the parsha, the haftarah, and two commentaries online.