Buckhead - The Jewish Georgian

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Page 30 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN September-October 2007 By Belle Klavonsky OFF TO A GREAT START. Greenfield Hebrew Academy’s new principal of general studies hit the ground running with the start of the new school year. Leah Summers (pictured) started in August and was a hit with both students and parents. Summers was at the Cohen Hillel Academy in Massachusetts for 27 years, where she held numerous positions, including lower school principal, assistant principal, director of student services, Jewish studies teacher, and general studies teacher. She was the interim co-head of school for the past year. TOP POEM. A poem about Darfur written by GHA graduate Erica Halpern was named a Top Ten poem by Creative Communication. Erica wrote the poem in 8th grade, during a lesson on the challenges facing the people of Darfur. Her poem, which will be featured in the anthology A Celebration of Young Poets, was selected from thousands of entries from across the country. A NEW SEASON. The GHA girls’ volleyball teams (pictured) kicked off their seasons after successful campaigns last year. The girls’ A team finished second in the conference, and the B team finished in first place. Over the last five years, the teams have a combined record of 110-10. Pictured: (l-r) 8th-grader Leah Topper (A team) and 6th-grader Carly Berlin (B team) HONORING DEDICATED VOLUN- TEERS. At the 30th annual Dinner of Honor, GHA will pay tribute to parents Sheli Feldman and David Frankel for their volunteer work in the GHA community and in the Jewish community. The Dinner of Honor will be held at the Crowne Plaza at Ravinia in Dunwoody on January 13 2008. For more information, contact Gail Medwed, director of development, at medwedg@ghacademy.org. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. This year, the Epstein School will celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday in grand style with Shiriyah, a Hebrew song-and-dance extravaganza. Middle schoolers bring down the house every year with this fun-filled, “Epstein-style” family event. In honor of Israel’s 60th birthday, this year’s presentation, which takes place November 15, 7:00 p.m., will be very special. Coming the day before VIP Day, it is a wonderful event for grandparents. For more information, visit www.epsteinatlanta.org. Pictured: Shiriyah 2006 MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE “NET GENERATION.” Under the leadership of Principal of Media and Technology Patty Nathan, the Epstein School is constantly moving forward in the development of its technology programs, so that Epstein students can assume leadership positions in the global community. The school recently added a MAC book mini-lab, consisting of ten state-of-the-art laptops; these allow students to create movies, work collaboratively, and integrate information from all subject areas. Epstein also purchased three more Activboards, an integrated whiteboard system, for a total of seven. Pictured: Sidnie Gothard works on an Activboard HEBREW OF THE HEART. Epstein Middle School teachers have been engaged in long-term professional development for the last three years with Dr. Vardit Ringwald, director of the Hebrew and Arabic Languages Program at Brandeis University. This process has led the Middle School Hebrew teaching team to develop a program called Ivrit Mehalev (“Hebrew of the Heart”). This program matches students’ interests and skill level to their Hebrew education, resulting in a personalized program of study. Pictured: Teacher Liat Kadosh speaks with Ali Marbach and Sloane Arogeti during Hebrew class EPSTEIN WELCOMES NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT. The Epstein School began the school year with a new president of the Board of Trustees, Robert Franco (pictured). The parent of two alumni, he assumes leadership as the school begins exploring options for expansion and renovations of the Colewood Way facilities. AHEAD OF THE CURVE. This summer, Alfred and Adele Davis Academy faculty and staff underwent an intensive 5-day accredited technology training course to help them better plan and implement technology-integrated instruction in the classroom. As part of the school’s increased commitment to technology education, SmartBoards have been installed in classrooms throughout both Davis facilities. SmartBoard interactive whiteboards have been found to positively impact student engagement, learner motivation, and knowledge retention in pupils with a variety of learning styles, including those with special needs. Pictured: Instructional Technologist Carole Kamerman trains teachers on the use of SmartBoard technology. SOUNDING THE SHOFAR. Davis Academy 2nd-grader Micah Cohn (pictured) is sounding the Shofar every morning throughout the Hebrew month of Elul— the month preceding the High Holidays. This daily ritual serves as a reminder of the upcoming High Holidays and helps the Davis community mentally prepare for this important time. NEW POSITION. Jamie Kudlats is the Davis Academy’s first Middle School assistant principal. Kudlats first came to Davis in 2000 to work as a teaching assistant. In the Middle School, he has worked as a math teacher and middle school cluster leader, and he was named dean of students in 2004. His expanded responsibilities include teaching, scheduling, grade monitoring and reporting, discipline, technology, and coordinating alumni affairs and additional student life events. Kudlats supervises the school’s yearbook and broadcasting staffs and recently coordinated the rollout of the
September-October 2007 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 31 new SmartBoard technology. Pictured: 8thgraders Sam Lack and Lauren Siegel with Jamie Kudlats. FIFTEEN YEARS AND COUNTING. The Davis Academy began its 15th school year on August 14, with a record 700 students. The school, which opened in 1992 with 20 students in grades K and 1, has progressed from a rented space on Abernathy Road to two state-of-the-art campuses on Roberts Drive in Sandy Springs. Davis, the fastest growing Reform Jewish Day School in North America, is one of only five private schools in the Southeast with triple accreditation from SACS, SAIS, and GAC. Pictured: Lower School Principal Becky Hunt escorts Ayden Grey into school for her first day of Kindergarten. BUSINESS BITS By Marsha Leibowitz ATTRACTING ISRAELI INVESTORS. The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Region (AICC), and the Renaissance Communications Group are launching Atlanta ROI*—Real Estate Opportunities and Investments, a publication and website (www.atlantaroi.com) introducing Israeli institutional and entrepreneurial investors to the commercial real estate market in Atlanta and the Southeast. The magazine will be delivered directly to more than 250 Israeli investors. The first issue of Atlanta ROI* will be distributed in October, at a special event during the AICC’s October 27-November 1 mission to Israel. TOPS IN FUNDRAISING. Steven Green, campaign executive of the Jewish National F u n d ’ s Southeast region, was n a m e d Campaign Executive of the Year at JNF’s annual professionalconference. In his nearly two years on the job, Steven Green Green has cultivated a strong JNF presence in the region, which includes North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Before joining JNF, Green served as director of media and public affairs for the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States. He has also held positions at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Anti- Defamation League, and the Washington, D.C., office of Congresswoman Denise Majette. PARADIES WINS DIVERSITY AWARD. The Paradies Shops received the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Corporate Partner Award at the Annual AMAC/FAA Airport Business Diversity Conference in Las Vegas. Paradies was recognized for its significant commitment to the development of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, as well as having a workforce that reflects a sound dedication to diversity. In addition, Paradies’ internship program for college students and recent graduates was praised as the standard by which other programs are measured. LIEBERMAN AT PRUDENTIAL. Real estate professional Sunny Lieberman has joined the Prudential Georgia Realty sales team. She is based out of the company’s new Johns Creek location, 11035 Bell Road, Johns Creek Walk. Formerly with ERA Buckhead R e a l t y , Sunny Lieberman Lieberman has three years real estate experi- ence. Originally from Connecticut, she moved to Atlanta seven years ago and resides in Forsyth County. Lieberman, who specializes in residential real estate and investment properties in northern metro INSPIRING TEACHERS. Dr. Betty Siegel recently spoke to Davis Academy faculty members about how teachers can change students’ perceptions of themselves and, therefore, their lives. Siegel, the first woman to head an institution in the University System of Georgia and the longest-serving woman president of a public university in the nation, served as president of Kennesaw State from 1981 to 2006. Siegel inspired the teachers to develop social consciousness and responsibility in Atlanta, is a member of the Atlanta Board of Realtors, the Georgia Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. HAPPY CUSTOMERS. Microtel Inns & Suites has been ranked highest in guest satisfaction among economy/budget hotel chains in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 North America Hotel Guest their students and stressed the four principles of trust, respect, optimism, and intentionality. Pictured: Betty Siegel (left) and Middle School language arts teacher Susan Fields. ACTING UP. As an extension of the Davis Academy’s emphasis on the fine arts, Applause for Kids, a local drama troupe, is now teaching drama in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Each grade will receive weekly drama lessons as part of the curriculum. This opportunity for younger students to express themselves through the dramatic arts is one more way in which the Davis Academy is continuing to expand students’ exposure to the fine arts. With the adoption of the school’s Board of Trustee’s Fine Arts Initiative several years ago, the Davis Academy has added arts programming and/or expanded arts facilities each year. Satisfaction Index Study. Microtel is the only economy/budget brand in the hotel industry to have received this recognition six successive times. Microtel Inns & Suites scored highest of 11 national hotel brands in its segment, outperforming competitors in six out of seven key guest satisfaction measures, including reservation, checkin/check-out, guestroom, hotel services, hotel facilities, and costs and fees.
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