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Page 32 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN September-October 2012 By Belle Klavonsky VAULTING TO VICTORY. Epstein School 8th-grader Becky Arbiv (pictured) pole vaulted her way to compete at nationals, after she qualified by taking 1st place at the 2012 USATF Region 3 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, with a pole vault of 8’ 10”. At the 2012 USA National Track & Field Competition, Becky placed 7th in the nation, with a 9’ 2” pole vault. Near the end of last school year, Becky also competed in the 2012 Georgia State Middle School Championships, where she placed 2nd in high jump, 2nd in pole vault, and 6th in 300-meter hurdles. EPSTEIN ON FOX NEWS. While interviewing Epstein’s Head of School Stan Beiner for a feature on Internet safety, Fox News reporter Tacoma Perry became so intrigued by the school’s blended education concept that she highlighted it in her report. Internet safety is integral to Epstein’s curriculum and will become increasingly important as Epstein moves toward a blended education model. The school is redesigning its approach to education to empower students to take more ownership of their education and enable teachers to become more effective learning facilitators. In blended education, technology is a fully integrated component, rather than an enhancement. INTERNET SAFETY. As a leader in technology education, The Epstein School is committed to proactively addressing issues surrounding Internet safety with parents, students, and faculty. After Epstein educators took part in training provided by Internet safety expert Ben Halpert, Fox News Reporter Tacoma Perry interviewed Epstein Middle School literature teacher Kathyrn Godwin, to discuss the increasingly important role of technology in education. At Epstein, even the furniture is being adapted to ensure success, as the school redesigns its educational program to meet current and future needs. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. Epstein 1st-8th graders are busy back at school, getting settled in their new classes, as they see old friends and make new ones. Second-graders Mathew Lewis and Kayla Kornfeld observe the new flowers that have flourished over the summer in the school’s Educational Science and Biblical Garden. NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS. Seventhgrader Arly Yagoda enjoys working on her new laptop, part of The Epstein School’s transition to a blended education model. IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND. Greenfield Hebrew Academy is excited about its brand-new Imagination Playground. This groundbreaking playspace, a gift from the PTSA, is designed to intrigue younger students, sparking their imaginations, and encouraging them to invent their own course of play. Carts full of bright blue foam shapes, specially designed to maximize creativity, also promote cooperative play. GHA is the first private school in Atlanta to host this revolutionary new mobile play environment. Here, 2nd-grader Sam Franco gets interactive with some of the grooved pieces and creates a ball run. (All GHA photos: Devi Knapp) OPEN HOUSE. GHA Head of School Rabbi Lee Buckman welcomed back students and their parents at the school’s Open House, on August 12. Students roamed the grounds, checking out the entertainment, meeting faculty, and storing their school supplies in preparation for the first day of school. Here, members of the Steinberg family—(from left) Chanie, Isabella, Sophie (grade 5), Scott, and Jordan (grade 2)—are greeted by Rabbi Buckman. SIGN OF THE TIMES. GHA likes to welcome new students by placing special signs on their lawns. Eli Jutan, who is starting in the GHA Early Childhood Pre- Kindergarten, seems to like being a member of the GHA family. MEET AND GREET. The first day of school at GHA was an exciting one for the new 3rd-grade students. Here, at their morning meeting, Alex Schwartz (from left), Kiki Starr, Jacob Lewis, Aryeh Freitag, and Benjamin Salama play a “Getting-to-Know-You” game. LOCKER OLYMPICS. The GHA Middle School welcomed its newest incoming 5thgraders with a day designed to ease their adjustment to life on the Lower Middle School hall. The most exciting portion of
September-October 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 33 the day was the Locker Olympics, in which 5th-and 6th-graders competed for the title of GHA’s Fastest Locker Opener. Here, 6thgrade student Jacob Lieberman is ready to play his best game, while teacher Jennifer Klein looks on. THANK YOU, PARENTS. Parents are a vital part of GHA. The school would not be the same without the help of the parent body and the hardworking volunteers of the PTSA. Here, PTSA presidents Eileen Esworthy and Rebekah Feingold greet parents at the school’s Open House, on August 12. DR. SCIENCE. On the evening of June 5, Dr. Alan Feingold (pictured), known within the Torah Day School of Atlanta family as Dr. Science, hosted a once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the planet Venus crossing in front of the Sun. Students armed with X-ray film (pictured) designed to be held in front of one’s eyes, Dr. Feingold explained to his students that the teeny black dot at the one o’clock position on the Sun was Venus. While the planet was barely visible to most viewers, the excitement among the small crowd gathered at the Toco Hill Shopping Center was clearly evident. FELLOWSHIP WINNER. Yeshiva Atlanta student Gabriela Hoberman (pictured) is one of only 26 North American teenagers selected for the prestig i o u s Bronfman Y o u t h Fellowship in Israel. Gabriela is the second YA student in the past three years to be named a Bronfman Fellow. Bronfman Fellows spend the summer before their senior year participating in a 5-week program that educates and inspires exceptional young Jews to become active participants in Jewish culture throughout their lives. Fellows come from all over the United States and Canada, from the widest possible range of Jewish backgrounds, and are selected based on merit, not financial need. UNSUNG HERO. This year, YA inaugurated a “Quite Hero” Award, to honor the memory of Allen Brill, who, despite being president and CEO of Rolex Watch USA and contributing generously to the Jewish community, was a softspoken,approachable “regular guy.” The inaugural recipient is D i a n a Yashar (pictured), who provides encouragement and help to students who are struggling academically and socially. Last year, she was a valuable intern in YA’s Strategic Learning Program, where she helped students understand and even enjoy math. In addition to helping others in school and in the community, Diana has maintained a 4.0+ GPA. WELCOME BACK. Davis Academy 3rdgrader Amalia Haviv walks younger sister Kindergartner Gabriella Haviv into school on the first morning of the 2012-2013 school year. Behind the girls is seasoned 1st-grader Jordan Frank, ready to return to the Lower School for a great year. SPECIAL GUESTS. Senator Joseph Lieberman and wife Hadassah, Davis Academy grandparents, were among the special guests for the first Kabbalat Shabbat of the school year. Senator Lieberman spoke to students and families about “the wonderful gift of Shabbat” and joined in Kiddush and birthday blessings. READING REWARDS. Davis Academy Lower School students who met their summer reading requirements enjoyed an ice cream party. Here, 3rd-graders Ezra Mahle (from left), Sammy Isaacs, Alex Newberg, and Harrison Frank savor the sweet moment. FEATURED FRIENDS. Davis 7th-graders Maqueline Weiss and friends Molly Antebi, Zoe Starr, Rachel Murray, and Jenna Holland were interviewed for WSB-TV’s People 2 People program. Maqueline, a Type 1 diabetic since age 7, is a spokesper- son for diabetes research and education; she started a few years ago by informing her own friends, who were then able to stay calm and help Maqueline during a medical emergency on a school field trip last year. MACCABI WINNERS. Davis Academy 2012 graduate Meridith Galanti and current 8th-graders Jodi Gottlieb and Jamie Greenberg were on the winning Gold Medal softball team at the Maccabi Games in Memphis. Davis 8th-graders Carly Clayman and Sophie Zelony also participated in the Maccabi Games and received silver medals in tennis. A GREAT SHOFAR CORPS. In a longstanding Davis tradition, Lower School students may bring their shofars to blow during the morning announcements during the Hebrew month of Elul, preceding Rosh Hashanah. Toward the end of the month, the corps grows to nearly 50 students. Pictured: (from left) Zachary Rosing, Emma Tessler, Lily Stadler, Cooper Bernath, Emma Bernath, Zack Rubin, Harrison Frank (back), Avi Frank, Katie Janko (back), Ella Berman, Hannah Brown, and Talia Neufeld.
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