the 2010 Virtual Journal - Westchester Day School

ODE TO WESTCHESTER DAY SCHOOL
BY
JANE S. GRAUER A/K/A MORAH JANE
EACH MORNING EN ROUTE TO WDS, I DESCEND THE FENIMORE HILL AND BEHOLD THE
BEAUTY OF THE LONG ISLAND SOUND WHICH ASSAULTS MY SENSES WITH ITS BEAUTY
AND VARIETY. TO ME, THE MYRIAD PERMUTATIONS OF THE WATER REFLECT THE
INFINITE PERSONALITIES OF THE CHILDREN THAT I AM HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO
WORK WITH EACH DAY.
UPON ASCENDING THE STAIRS INTO WOLFSON HALL, I NEVER FAIL TO TAKE A DEEP
BREATH, ABSORB THE WONDERS OF THE VIEW THROUGH THE GLASS DOORS AND
INHALE THE CLEAN, CRISP AIR. SPIRITUALLY INVIGORATED, I ENTER THE BUILDING
AND THE REAL BEAUTY AND EXCITEMENT OF THE DAY BEGINS!
I AM TRULY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN SO PASSIONATE ABOUT
FOR THE PAST THIRTY-SIX YEARS: TO BE A JEWISH EDUCATOR INCULCATING IN EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF MY STUDENTS A LOVE OF HASHEM, YIDDISHKEIT, MENSHLICHKEIT
AND A LOVE OF LEARNING.
I AM PRIVILEGED TO WORK AT WDS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AS PASSIONATE AND
COMMITTED AS I AM TO GIVING OF THEMSELVES TO ENRICH AND ENLIGHTEN EACH OF
YOUR/OUR CHILDREN. HOWEVER, IT IS I WHO HAVE BEEN ENRICHED. MY MANTRA IS,
“ONCE YOU CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF THE DOOR TO MY CLASSROOM, YOU ENTER MY
HEART FOREVER!” CONSEQUENTLY, IF A DOCTOR EVER OPERATED HE WOULD FIND
THAT I WOULD BE ALL HEART, AS MY HEART EXPANDS EACH YEAR TO ABSORB MY NEW
STUDENTS WHO ALWAYS REMAIN “MINE.” I TAKE SUCH PERSONAL PRIDE AND JOY IN
WATCHING OUR CHILDREN GROW, DEVELOP AND MATURE INTO PRODUCTIVE AND
SUCCESSFUL ADULTS!
TO ALL OF YOU, AS WELL AS MY FELLOW HONOREES AMY & PAUL HELLER, SUSIE &
JEFF MEYERS AND TINA & JOSEPH ORLIAN- MAZAL TOV AND THANK YOU FOR
BESTOWING THIS HONOR ON ME.
TO THE DINNER AND JOURNAL COMMITTEES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN ENSURING
THIS EVENING’S SUCCESS.
TO MIRIAM DOLLMAN, MY KINDERGARTEN “SISTER”- YOU HAVE MADE OUR JOURNEY
TOGETHER FUN, JOYOUS AND HEARTFELT!
TO SUE MOSKOVICH, MY CO-TEACHER AND “OTHER SPOUSE”- WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS
MY GRATITUDE AND JOY IN SPENDING EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH YOU. TODAH RABAH
FOR EVERYTHING!
TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING SUPPORT
WESTCHESTER DAY SCHOOL AND JOINING WITH ME TO CELEBRATE THIS EVENING!