A Fond Farewell to - Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

BHCDS
Day School Doings
Renaming is in the Air
Andy Wayne’s “Youth and Young Adult News” February’s column was entitled “A Rose by Any Other Name...”
What a great lead into our “Day School Doings” news this month! For that matter, “Day School Doings”—especially
its first two words—isn’t a bad lead in! For, this spring, renaming is in the air. Or, perhaps, I should say, “name
adjusting.” We are hoping, per Andy and Will (Shakespeare!), we’ll smell even sweeter!
First, the school. Tuesday evening, January 29, the BHCDS Board of Trustees voted unanimously to reorder the school’s name,
from Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Day School to The Day School at Baltimore Hebrew. Not a major change, but significant. As
Board Chair Aimée Adashek shared in a mid-January letter to Day School parents as the Board requested feedback,
“Since we opened in 1991, the name of our school has too often provided us with challenges. Repeatedly we’re
told that it is:
Confusing – Parents often think we’re BHC’s Religious School or that they have to belong to BHC to enroll.
A barrier to student recruitment – Our name is the first message potential families receive. Many unaffiliated
and interfaith families are reluctant to consider a congregational school.
Misunderstood – A consultant recently identified us publicly using ‘Congressional’ as our middle name!
An impediment to fund-raising – Members of other Reform congregations often feel disinclined to support
a school seemingly ‘owned’ by BHC.
Unwieldy – The name is lengthy and awkward, and, when abbreviated, people ask, “What on earth is
BHCDS?”
And now, the Board of Trustees and administration have realized we have the opportunity to adjust it. This winter,
our Admissions Office will launch a new marketing initiative, starting with our almost completed ‘viewbook.’
We’re becoming more professional, more mature. Our name needs to reflect that.”
Parents, with a few expressing alternative ideas, either with greater or lesser indication of the importance of our partnership
with BHC, overwhelmingly expressed support for more clarity and the identity strength of the new name.
So, while implementation will be evolutionary, not revolutionary (no new dress code shirts immediately, logo to emerge over
time, etc.), The Day School at Baltimore Hebrew is, this winter, wearing its new identity with enthusiasm.
And, as PreSchool Director Sharon Edlow writes below, our youngest division is also into name transition. Not, in their case,
“new.” Rather, excitingly “old.” And very sweet! Denny Grubbs, Head of School
The Legacy of One Great Lady
PreSchool
One new name. Why not two?! The (until-this-summer) “PreSchool”
of “Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Day School” will soon be the
“E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center” of “The Day School at Baltimore
Hebrew.” And everyone connected to our division (faculty, parents, children) are
thrilled that the conviction and perseverance of this great lady will be forever linked
to the institution she was determined to help establish.
It was E.B. Hirsh who, more than a quarter century ago, convinced the Temple of
the importance of educating young children—and then proceeded to make it happen.
Our new name seems rose-right.
Daily, within the “to-be” E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center, we strive to honor
our founder’s determined spirit and developmental values. We know that children
learn best through play, exploring and experimenting with the world around them,
employing all of their senses. We are committed to fostering a learning environment
where children always know that they are respected members of the community and
valued as individuals. We are certain that’s how children should begin their early
childhood learning. And we are unequivocally proud to be part of providing children
with the legacy of E.B. Hirsh.
Sharon Edlow, PreSchool Director
Save the Date—August 29 for the “E.B. Hirsh Early Childhood Center” Dedication!
Just Helping Out
photos submitted by Ashley Jenkins
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Bulletin • Number 7 • 24 Adar I – 24 Adar I1 5768 • March 2008
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