Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Hiatus.

I don't know if anyone is still checking this, but I've been on a bit of a hiatus as we enter summer. We're still working at Kadima, but things are bit slower now.

So be patient. Regular entries will resume soon.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A Couple of Great Days.

Last Sunday, we celebrated my son's Bar Mitzvah, and it was a wonderful day for our family. My son led the entire service, read all of the Torah portions, and led the entire community in the Hallel. It was a great advertisement for Kadima, and how a Jewish private school education--along with participation in synagogue and Camp Ramah--can help create a Jewish neshama. We were all extremely proud of Avi.

Yesterday, I started the morning by attending a celebration at Kadima wherein we dedicated the school's Torah in memory of Annalee Kaplan. The Kaplan family was there, and they saw our elementary school doven their morning prayers and sing with gusto; more importantly, they saw how their gift to the school will help our students continue their love of Torah and Jewish life. Perhaps even more importantly, the kids saw the importance of tzedakah, and how by giving charity and performing acts of kindness we can honor those whom we love.

Last evening, I attend Kadima's graduation of our eighth graders. Some of these students have been with us for a decade, and one family has put four kids in the school, and for the first time in 17 years will not be a Kadima family. The graduates were terrific; they clearly are close with each other and understand the importance of community.

And of course, on Monday, we had an Executive Committee meeting, followed by a four hour Board meeting.

It's been an exhausting, but uplifting, few days.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Proposed Board Slate.

Under the school's Bylaws, the Board elects the Board based upon a slate prepared by the Nominating Committee. Pam Teitelbaum chaired the Nominating Committee this year, her Committee has proposed the following slate, to be voted upon by the Board at its meeting on June 14.

The Officers of the School (most are serving the second year of a two year term)
Jack Sholkoff, President
Mark
Teitelbaum, Executive Vice President
Brett Grauman, Vice-President, Finance
Rabbi Jay Strear, Vice President
Richard Spencer, Vice President of Trustees (to stand for election on June 14)
Pam Teitelbaum, Vice-President
Richard Abronson, Secretary
Shawn Evenhaim, Immediate Past President

The following are proposed to serve two year terms on the Board.

Suzy Bookbinder, Raz Bronstein, Eli Shetrit, Ester Vered, Katie Krause, Mike Resnick, Bronwyn Spencer, Natalie Spiewak

The following are proposed to serve a one year term on the Board.

Jackie Feldman, Rich Ross, Lina Soifer, Rabbi Richard Camras, Dave Leon, Gary Raikin.

This is a great group of people to lead Kadima into the future.











































































































































Hiatus.

I simply have not had time to sit down and blog. My son's Bar Mitzvah is this weekend and that is the focus of everything right now.

There is much to write about, though. Both of our new principals start soon, and have already made rounds meeting families. We're also preparing for culmination, a new "rising up" ceremony that each elementary school child will experience at the end of the year, as well as graduation. And we're working on the budget, we have to elect next year's board, begin strategic thinking for next year, and work, as always, on fundraising issues. So there's a lot going on.

But until this Sunday, my focus is on my son and his big day.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Blog Comes Back.

I think that this was longest silence between posts. I've been busy practicing law and focusing upon my son's upcoming Bar Mitzvah, which leaves little time for blogging.

But we've been having lots of interesting discussions at Kadima, and are moving forward toward next year.

On Friday, June 4, Kristi Combs, are new General Studies principal, will meet our parents. Tonight, both Kristi and Michal, our new Judaic Studies principal, met many elementary school families at our open house.

There is lots of energy, lots of vision, and lots of action at Kadima.

I'll try to write more substantively, soon.