PORTLAND JEWISH ACADEMY At the Schnitzer Family Campus | Think for yourself. Work for the world. Summer 2019, 5779 | Exclusive updates for our donors and supporters.
PJA Grandparents Gather for Social and Cultural Events PJA is blessed to have many vibrant, engaged grandparents who support our school and its amazing students. With this in mind, we have organized multiple grandparent events over the past year. In 2018-19, we hosted a grandparent's night at the MJCC Israel Film Series, had a drink together and a photo at the PJA Auction, and held a Lunch & Learn with faculty where we studied Torah, toured the Learning Commons, and visited one of our inspiring art classrooms.
PJA Grandparents at the first Lunch & Learn.
In May, a few grandparents gathered to discuss planning for 2019-20. Our calendar will include roughly one event each quarter which will be varied in nature. We are grateful to Carole and Howard Ory and Terri Simon for their help in brainstorming and planning these events. In late June, we hosted a gathering at the Portland Art Museum to see the film 93Queen as part of the Portland Jewish Film Festival. In the fall, we are planning an afternoon BBQ & Swim for grandparents and grandchildren at the MJCC. We will also hold another Lunch & Learn as part of our annual Special Friends & Family Day (Friday, December 20), a toast and photo opportunity at the PJA Auction (Sunday, December 8), and a cultural event at the MJCC next spring. A Pop-Up Grandparents Giving Circle event is also in the works for spring of 2020. In Judaism, especially, we embrace Dor L' Dor, generation to generation. As grandparents, there is no greater joy than being a part of our grandchildren's lives. In this fast-paced world, a Grandparent program is another way to incorporate our lives with theirs.”— PJA Grandparent Terri Simon If you would like to receive notices about upcoming events for PJA grandparents—current and former—please contact Saul Korin at skorin@pjaproud.org or 503.452.3427.
PJA Parents Receive Song of Miriam Award Three incredibly devoted volunteers and PJA parents, Jen Zeidman, Andrea Sanchez, and Marissa Richardson, received recognition for their volunteer efforts within Portland's Jewish community, at the 27th Annual Song of Miriam Awards on June 2. Award recipient Marissa Richardson with family.
Jen, mother of recent graduate Ruthie, was honored for her longtime dedication to PJA. In various roles on campus, as a PJA Ambassador, Used Book Sale Volunteer, and now as a Board Member, Jen has spent countless hours devoting time to the school that educated her daughter from Kindergarten through 8th Award recipients, grade. In addition to her work at Andrea Sanchez (left), PJA, Jen has served on the Board and Jen Zeidman (right). of Jewish Family and Child Services, and has been an active volunteer with both Portland Homeless Family Solutions and Positive Charge. While Jen is no longer a current PJA parent, we know that she will continue to be an advocate for PJA. We are PJA Proud of Jen for receiving this well-deserved recognition for all that she has done for the school.
Andrea, who served as PJA and MJCC Board Co-President from 2016-2018, was honored for her volunteer efforts at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. As Co-President of the Board of Directors for two years, Andrea helped to oversee the development of the MJCC’s new Strategic Plan. She also led the effort to align Board governance with best practice and to improve the Board’s succession planning. Mother of Saul (a rising 7th grader), and Sadie (a 2019 PJA grad), Andrea has spent many years on the Schnitzer Family Campus. While Andrea stepped off the Board at the end of June, she will continue to serve on the Board’s Facilities Committee as it embarks on the task of developing a revised campus plan. Marissa, mother of (almost 3-year-old) Freddy, was recognized for her longstanding commitment to Congregation Neveh Shalom, where she has served as co-chair for their annual auction, been an active member on the finance committee, and recently joined the Board of Directors at the synagogue. Marissa has also been an active member of Shoreshim, Neveh Shalom's group for young families, since Freddy was born. We are delighted to have such a devoted group of volunteers among our parent community, helping to strengthen both our own and other important Jewish organizations in Portland. Kol Hakavod!
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219 | 503.244.0126 | pjaproud.org
Fifth Graders Design a Beautiful Native Plant Garden PJA’s new Native Plant Garden has been completed and is now in use. The project was funded by the PJA Family Giving Circle, and it gave 5th grade students a wonderful opportunity to design and build an aesthetically pleasing space. To celebrate the accomplishment, students had a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 22, and afterward they gave tours to individuals and classes. To design the garden, classes broke into different design groups. The groups had to research which native plants would potentially thrive in the space, and then they nominated plants for the garden. Next, they had to carefully map the site so that they could create a plan for what their garden would look like. Groups created maps and three dimensional models. Then, they created their final plan. Below are descriptions of the project by some of the students: We want it to be a place where you can relax. You can read or draw. You can walk around and look at the plants! We hope you enjoy the native plant garden for the rest of your time at PJA! — Morgan P.
Native plants take way less work to grow because they are used to the environment. To me the coolest part was the before and after looks. If you look at pictures of the muddy area, and then the garden that it became, you would not even believe that they are the same place. — Gabe H.
We hope that you will stop by and take a look at the space. We are all proud of what the 5th grade accomplished and are grateful to the PJA Family Giving Circle for providing funding to make the dream of having our very own Native Plant Garden a reality.
Tales from the Giving Circle The 2019 PJA Family Giving Circle consisted of 12 current PJA families. A Giving Circle is made up of donors who pool their philanthropic donations in order to leverage their dollars to fund needs within the school. The PJA Family Giving Circle funds experiential, unique projects within PJA, based on the middot (values), emphasizing: Limmud (Study), Kehillah (Community), and Akhrayut (Responsibility). Over three meetings, we examined and reconnected with our mission, had multiple Jewish conversations about philanthropy, and met with Merrill Hendin, PJA Principal, for a discussion regarding some of the strategic directions and challenges Portland Jewish Academy faces. Participants each made a $360 commitment to the Giving Circle. In February, the Giving Circle sponsored a comedy night at Helium Comedy Club with the Sklar Brothers, which raised another $200. To augment the funds even further, PJA’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to use auction funds to match funds raised by the Giving Circle to leverage the dollars to have more impact within the school. Individual teachers submitted proposals for consideration, and, on June 2, 2019, decisions were made by the Giving Circle members. "PJA is blessed with many creative and innovative educators, and the Giving Circle is an incredible opportunity to support their visions and provide programs that may not exist otherwise," says Nadine Gartner, a PJA Family Giving Circle member.
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Here are the projects funded: Sensory & Movement Pathways: $2,225 Redesigning Recess Phase Two - Cedar Gazebo: $1,750 Middle School Self-Defense Workshops/Enhancements to Wellness Program: $1,600 Middle School Shelter Feed Program: $1,500 Problem Solving Labyrinth: $1,000 Flat File Storage for Large Posters: $1,000 Manhigut Student Activities: $500 PJA Family Camp (partially funded request): $185 Projects considered and still seeking funding include: PJA Family Camp ($1,800), Standing Together - an LGBTQ workshop/professional development program in partnership with Keshet ($2,000), and a Maker Tool Library ($1,000). Please contact Saul Korin at 503.452.3427 with any questions about the projects for the PJA Family Giving Circle.
Class of 2019 Poised to Take on the World On June 12, 2019, PJA graduated 17 extraordinary students. The graduation ceremony itself gave us an opportunity to see our students shine and to learn more about them as they spoke deeply about their passions, their time here at PJA, and their long term commitment to doing good, living meaningful Jewish lives, and making the world a better place. Through art, poetry, narrative, humor, photography and video, they shared their beautiful souls and moved us all. Our 8th grade class of 2019 is a group of strong, smart, capable, curious, sometimes goofy and silly, ever loyal, passionate, and thoughtful young people. They are writers and scientists, mathematicians and singers, artists and cooks, actors and builders. They are creators, thinkers, and scholars of Jewish text and Hebrew language. They are also agents for change and activists who have challenged us to look at issues, large and small. They have inspired us to truly Think for Ourselves and Work for the World. As 7th graders, this group of students organized a student walkout to support the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the tragic shooting. As 8th graders, these students attended a number of rallies in support of causes they were passionate about, in addition to presenting in Salem on behalf of Oregon State Senate Bill 664. They also advocated for organizing a Climate Summit in order to learn about the science behind climate change, and how to affect positive change around this important issue. Their love for Jewish life inspired them to join our Director of Jewish Life, Amy Katz, in taking on the mitzvah of putting on tefillin. With Amy, they learned to wrap tefillin and to understand the meaning behind this important mitzvah. Their commitment to Jewish life and learning is ever evident in their quest for knowledge and their desire to take action. Among the class of 2019, we have a number of families for whom this was their youngest child and last graduate. We are grateful to these families for their commitment to PJA. We are also blessed to have a number of graduates with siblings who remain in the school and look forward to their continued participation in school life in the years to come. Thank you class of 2019 for being such a remarkable and unique kehillah. We send our students off with tools to continue to grow and learn in the coming years. As we say when we end a book of Torah—chazak, chazak v’nitchazek—"Be strong, be strong, and may we always, together, have strength.” May PJA be that foundation of strength for our newest graduates and for our entire kehillah for years to come. Mazal Tov!
Eighth Grade Families Support the Future of PJA There is a tradition at PJA that the 8th grade graduating class and their families make a gift to support the school. This year we asked families to consider making a gift to the endowment through the newly-created Atid Fund. Atid means “future” in Hebrew and a gift to the Atid Fund supports the school’s students of the future by ensuring PJA’s long-term financial strength. Because different families have different priorities, we offered options for support: Option 1, Israel Trip: Our families were grateful to receive a subsidized cost on the Israel trip thanks to the generosity of several donors. Some families paid it forward to support the long-term Israel experience for future classes. Option 2, Tuition Assistance: Tuition Assistance enables a broad group of students to benefit from a PJA education. Contributions will be used to grow the endowment where the funds will be used towards Tuition Assistance.
Option 3, Other School Needs: Support a future need for PJA. Contact Steve Albert or Merrill Hendin for information. The Atid Fund is not just limited to 8th grade families; we invite everyone to make a gift to the Atid Fund to honor the PJA Class of 2019 and to support future PJA students. Please consider making a contribution to the class gift that is equal to one month’s tuition. Options for payment are varied and may be paid at once, monthly or over several years. We already have commitments of $11,000 toward the 2019 class gift. The Atid Fund enables PJA families to invest in the future of the school and ensure that for years to come future students benefit from the innovative education and supportive kehillah (community) that our PJA graduates experience at PJA. — Jonathan Glass, PJA alumni parent of Hannah (2013), Abby (2015) and Jacob (Class of 2019) If you are interested in supporting the endowment or making a gift to the Atid Fund, please visit pjaproud.org/atid or call Saul Korin at 503.452.3427.
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Sun, Snow, Flash Floods, and One Unforgettable Eighth Grade Trip to Israel
The group enjoyed watching the sunset from the beach in Caesarea!
Floating in the Dead Sea and slathering themselves with mud was certainly one of the highlights of the trip.
This past February, PJA’s 8th grade class embarked upon an amazing adventure! Along with two of their teachers, Shahar Eden and Liz Phillips, the students spent 16 days exploring Israel. As has been the practice for the past few years, PJA teamed up and traveled to the Holy Land with students and teachers from Contra Costa Day School, an independent Jewish school in the Bay area. From the minute the plane touched down in Tel Aviv, the group was off and running. First stop, Jerusalem! While unusually rainy and windy, the wet weather did not slow down the PJA kids. From exploring the shuk (open market), to touring the Old City (above and below!), to participating in an archaeological dig, to walking to the Kotel on Shabbat, to experiencing Yad Vashem and Har Herzl, students took advantage of all that Jerusalem had to offer. From there, the group hopped on the bus and went east to Masada. After climbing to the top of Masada, the students gathered together for Shacharit. “Reading Torah on Masada was a special way for me to connect with Israel,” says 8th grader, Jacob Glass. Jonah prepares to carry the Torah during the Shacharit service on Masada.
Learning about agriculture in the Negev included picking and eating delicious carrots!
Afterwards, it was time for the Dead Sea, where students slathered on mud and bobbed in the water! Next up—southern Israel, which included a Jeep ride through the Negev, a visit to Mizpe Ramon, and a tour of the Salad Trail—an agricultural wonder in the middle of the desert! To add to all of this excitement, students experienced two unusual weather conditions in a single day while traveling through the desert—first snow and then a flash flood! “It was amazing to see snow in the desert!” says Ruthie Zeidman. “Even in Portland, we rarely see snow. To see it in Israel was a unique experience!” The tour of Israel continued with a visit to the artist communities in Tzfat, and then on to a sunset boat ride on the Kinneret. Eventually the group made their way back up north to the Golan Heights, where they visited Mount Bental and the Helicopter Memorial honoring the soldiers killed in the 1997 Israeli Helicopter Disaster. “It was really difficult to see the individual soldier’s names, because my family has a connection to three of the individuals who died,” says PJA student, Gili Heyman. “Listening to Shahar talk about his father was also especially meaningful.” Shabbat home stays, a visit to the Bahai Gardens in Haifa, learning about the Druze community in Usfiya, and a quick trip to Caesarea happened next. Eventually, the group found their way to Tel Aviv, where they got to experience the vibrancy and excitement of the city! Tess Jacobs’ favorite experience was visiting the Shuk HaCarmel. “It felt so inviting to be there. At one point, my friends and I joined a dance circle. I really enjoyed connecting with some of the Israeli citizens through this experience!” Without a doubt, this trip will leave a lasting imprint on both students and teachers alike. What a remarkable experience for our PJA students!
PJA wants to express its gratitude to The Cookie and Merritt Yoelin Fund of the OJCF/Brian and Amara Norman for their generous support of the 2019 Israel Trip. Philanthropic gifts directed to this trip help to make it affordable for our 8th grade families. For more information on supporting PJA's 8th grade Israel Trip, please contact Steve Albert at salbert@pjaproud.org or 503.535.3592.
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The PJA Capstone Experience What began 15 years ago as a traditional academic research paper (with MLA citations and all) to prepare PJA 8th graders for high school, has grown into a deep-dive into doing, learning, and teaching that prepares our graduates for life. The Capstone experience now consists of three parts: a service project; a research paper related to the project; and a presentation of a drash in which students teach others about the connections they see between the work they did for their project and paper with their understanding of Jewish texts and traditions. The drash is shared publicly with the entire Middle School community as well as family members in the days prior to graduation. Each year, the list of service projects is impressively varied, and the work of the most recent graduates was no exception. Several members of the class devoted themselves to regular volunteer opportunities such as helping clients “shop” at the Neighborhood House Food Pantry, repairing bicycles at the Community Cycling Center, or playing sports with youngsters with autism, while others chose a slightly different approach to their service work by organizing fundraisers. One hockey enthusiast sold tickets to a Portland Winterhawks game where a portion of each sale went to help purchase hockey equipment for children in need. A passionate runner hosted a fun run at a park in Hillsboro to raise money for the Children’s Cancer Association. Activism was also highlighted in projects such as a letter-writing event, where a politically minded student shared information about topics such as climate change and responsible gun legislation, and then provided the inspiration and materials for attendees to write to local and national decision makers. PJA is committed to helping students of any age “think for themselves, and work for the world.” However, nowhere is this more evident than in 8th grade, when our soon-to-be-graduates whole-heartedly embrace their Capstone experience.
Jacob Glass held a letter writing campaign on three important topics— gun violence prevention, genocide, and climate change.
Ruthie Zeidman hosted a lecture and fundraiser with cancer expert, Dr. Brian Druker, benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Sixth Graders Experience the Wonders of Nature at Outdoor School This year's PJA sixth graders attended Outdoor School at Camp Arrah Wanna, just outside of Welches, Oregon. For five nights and six days, students explored—in their natural habitat—various ecosystems related to plants, water, animals, and soil. It was a joy to meander through camp during field studies and encounter our PJA students wiggling their fingers into worm bins; building low-lying nests for birds; studying a baby salmon that did not reach maturity; and dissecting an owl pellet to discover what it had eaten for dinner. Our students joined sixth graders from three other schools in Oregon: Alice Ott Middle School, Parklane Elementary School, and Reynolds Middle School. Much of the learning and growth came from discovering new friendships and becoming part of the larger community of ODS. Each night, there were songs and cheers that continue to echo through the halls of PJA—often with wistful looks and insiders’ grins from a circle of sixth graders. We want to express our gratitude to the Gray Family Foundation for making it possible for PJA students to attend Outdoor School this year. Here are a few snippets from student reflections: As I walked with my friend to our different buses, we looked each other in the eye, telling each other silently that we would never forget this experience. When I boarded my bus, I got an overwhelming wave of emotion. As the first bus rolled out, we looked at our student leaders one last time… — Gabi
My favorite field study was water. Even though I didn’t catch any critters, still, the moment of rushing water upon silence was great. And I was very relieved when I tested the pH level of the river and found perfect numbers. I found proof that without water, life would not thrive. — Chris
I think that ODS teaches us to come out of our comfort zones and try new things. If I had the chance, I would come back and try to enjoy it ten times more, but I know that this was my one chance, and that for better or worse, it is over. Outdoor School is an amazing experience that enraptures the mind and intrigues the child. This is something I and my fellow friends and students will never forget. — Hannah M. 5
Climate Change Summit: Listening to Student Voices in the Classroom and Beyond One of the areas of study in our 7th and 8th grade science curriculum is human-caused climate change. At the end of the unit, our students were left with some very real and troubling questions and concerns. As PJA students, who think for themselves and work for the world, they are driven to action and wanted to learn more about what they can do. Ms. Morton, Middle School Science Teacher, and Mr. Hyde, Project Based Learning Coordinator, worked with the 7th and 8th grade students over several months to put together the first-ever PJA Climate Change Summit. They reached out to dozens of "types" of people with whom students identified an interest to work with. Over 20 professionals working in areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, psychology, energy, city planning & management, and more came to work side by side with our students to design solutions to the problem of human-caused climate change. Using a design thinking framework to facilitate the event, the students and “experts” were assigned to workgroups that each focused on a different area of possible climate change impact: transportation, energy use, manufacturing, agriculture/eating, and policy/laws. Each workgroup was invited to ask hard questions; pose problems they want to solve; and brainstorm solutions. In the end, each workgroup created a prototype for a solution to a problem. They shared their prototypes, received feedback from others, and then shared with the entire group with next steps for taking action. It was a remarkable day of learning!
I enjoyed talking to the experts and learning a lot from them, but also enjoyed getting to teach them things about climate change. I learned that the youth have a voice and that we can make change. Another thing I learned is that big corporations care about consumer wants and needs so corporations will pay attention to the demands of customers. I wish we had more time to talk about how to actually make a difference not only in our own lives but locally, nationally, and internationally. — Sadie
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As a result of PJA’s successful Climate Change Summit, Ms. Morton and Mr. Hyde were invited to speak at Oregon State University’s Third Annual Ambitious Math and Science Summer Institute that took place at OSU from June 18-21. The Institute is geared towards middle and high school math and science teachers, teacher leaders, and STEM education administrators. This year’s theme was building teacher and student agency and ownership for ambitious math and science teaching and learning. Ms. Morton and Mr. Hyde were among educators from across the state and nationally to present state level projects in math and science that aligned with the Institute theme. We are PJA Proud of these two stellar educators who are getting recognized across the state for their ambitious project. Todah Rabah - Thank You - to our experts: Jules Bailey, Chief Stewardship Officer, Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative Benjamin Barnett, Rabbi of Havurah Shalom Shanna Brownstein, Founder and Director of Women in Sustainability and Environment (WISE) and Senior Manager of Transportation Electrification at PGE Jennifer Dill, PSU professor of Urban Studies & Planning with focus on Transportation Research Shilpa Joshi, Renew Oregon Coalition Director Deborah Lev, Board Director of 350PDX and long-time climate change activist recently trained by Al Gore Climate Reality Project Jennifer Mayo, Oregon Department of Education: Science Education Specialist
Rachel Tarbet, City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services: Stormwater Outreach Coordinator
Commissioner Sharon Meieran, Multnomah County Commissioner District 1
Jenna Caruso, Nike Global Sustainability Team: Sustainable Product. Business Integration Manager, Sustainable Business & Innovation
Peter Mellman, CFO of VoteVets Margaret Montanez, Vestas, Director of Technical Operations
Kelley Baek, Nike Global Sustainability Team: Sustainable Product Business Integration Manager, Sustainable Business and Integration
Brett Phillips, Manager Substation Operations, PGE
Alex Millkey, Psychologist
Kenneth Pitts, School Outreach Specialist, Metro Property & Environmental Services
Harmonee Dashiell, Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability: Sustainable Communities Team, Program Coordinator of Community Outreach and Youth Engagement
Dan Rubin, PsyD., Specializing in Climate Change Psychology 6
Shelby Speck, New Seasons Sustainability and Engagement Leader
PJA Welcomes New Director of General Studies PJA is thrilled to welcome Michael Hyde as our new Director of General Studies. In his seven years serving the PJA community, Michael has contributed to the tremendous growth of our school as a collaborator and thought partner. From Technology Integration, to STEAM Curriculum Integration, Maker Education to Project Based Learning, Michael’s work is centered around connection, collaboration, and inclusion. Michael helped to initiate our Learning Commons initiative and was among a small group of educators involved in the visioning and planning for the project. As the Director of General Studies, Michael will continue to develop the work he has been doing in collaboration with his colleagues and administrative partners to ensure that our curriculum is fully aligned with our mission and instructional philosophy, and that every student, teacher and family has the support they need. Michael’s extensive knowledge and passion for Project Based Learning (PBL) has helped PJA move toward becoming a school that embraces PBL and supports students in becoming more fully developed 21st century learners.
Michael Hyde
Michael began his career in education at the San Francisco Friends School as the Systems Support Technician. While there, he implemented a 1:1 technology program, coached teachers in technology integration, and provided professional development. Michael was the professional development designer and facilitator for TinkerCamp and TinkerEdu, where he taught narrativebased STEAM curriculum for elementary and middle school summer camps and library programs. He has been involved in the overall development of curriculum and year-round professional development for the program. Michael is a person of many strengths and passions. A better read person would be hard to find. He is a tremendous source of information in the field of education, technology, innovation, and design thinking. He has been a presenter at a number of educational conferences and is a fellow of a select group of educators participating in this year’s NWAIS Collaborative Innovation cohort. Michael is a musician, a birder, a reader, a tinkerer, a cook, and the consummate host. Michael is truly an all-around renaissance man. Perhaps most importantly, Michael understands people and values relationships. He is a person who students feel comfortable with and with whom they want to learn and spend time. The Makerspace has become a place for students to hang out during lunch and recess, as it gives them not only an opportunity to be in a space they love where they can do things that are engaging, but also because Michael gives them time and space, listens to and supports them. We look forward to the coming years with Michael as our Director of General Studies. We know that he will continue to support us all in the important work we do as educators, and will always remind us that the students are our most important consideration. We are thrilled to have an educator of Michael’s caliber and professionalism as a member of our administrative team. Welcome aboard, Michael. Baruch HaBah!
July 8 - Aug. 2 Ages 4 -15 Open to everyone!
pjaproud.org/summer 7
PJA Alumni Invited to Moishe House Events Jake Sullivan, PJA alumnus from the Class of 2006, is a resident of Moishe House Portland, where he and four housemates (Marissa, Leah, Lauren, and Hanna) host seven programs monthly for the 20s and early 30s Jewish community. Upcoming events in July include an outing to pick berries on Sauvie Island, a walking tour to learn the history of Jewish Portland, a trivia night, and a reflective Angel Cards activity. Moishe House is a great way to meet people, explore Jewish identity, try new things, and have fun. Find all the events and more at facebook.com/MoisheHousePDX You can contact Moishe House on Facebook or at moishehousepdx@gmail.com.
Community members and residents, including Jake Sullivan, at Moishe House’s 2019 Passover Lunch.
Kol Hakavod to PJA's Class of 2015 We are PJA Proud of these recent high school graduates. Read about their exciting future plans:
Zevi Alter graduated a
Lily Barna graduated from
Ryan Bernstein graduated
Mitchell Bloom graduated
semester early from Grant High School and spent the last three months traveling through India on a cultural exchange. He will spend the summer on staff at Camp Miriam in British Columbia and then will start at U of O in the fall.
Lakeridge High School. Next year she will be attending Colgate University in New York State. She plans on majoring in Biology and minoring in International Relations.
from Wilson High School and will attend Stanford University this fall. He received the highest tier award from the National Merit Scholarship. In addition, Ryan was a valedictorian, a Wilson Scholar, and he received awards for Outstanding Student in Physics and Outstanding Student in Calculus.
from the School of Science & Technology, and, next year, is headed to Oregon State University to major in Political Science with the intent to go to law school and pursue a career in politics.
Lev EisenbachBudner graduated a semester early from Cleveland High School. He spent most of the school year working at a record store and assisting a local artist. Next year, he will be going to Norway to participate in a gap year at a Norwegian folk high school.
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כל הכבוד Kol Hakavod | Well Done! Sam Ellenby
graduated from Grant High School and will be studying liberal arts and Music at DePaul University in Chicago in the fall.
Abby Glass graduated from Wilson High School. Abby received the Principal’s Scholarship to attend the Honours Program - Faculty of Arts at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where she will begin in the fall.
Taliana Gordon-Knight
Roni Heyman graduated
Abby Millender graduated
Joshua Nierenberg
graduated from St. Mary’s Academy. She could not be more excited to be spending next year studying and volunteering in Israel on the Nativ College Leadership program, before matriculating to Brandeis University.
from St. Mary’s Academy, and, next year, will attend Purdue University as a Brain and Behavioral Sciences major. She will be focusing on research opportunities and maybe continuing her current job as a lifeguard and swim instructor.
from Riverdale High School where she was the valedictorian. She will be attending Emory University next year.
graduated from Camas High School.
Isaac Rosenthal graduated
Jesse Rothstein graduated from Beaverton High School, and, next year, will be studying screenwriting at Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University in Orange, CA.
William Sweek graduated
Seth Talyansky graduated
from Beaverton High School and will attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in the fall. He plans on majoring in Economics.
Isaac Vollen graduated
Joaquin Vollmayer
from Wilson High School and will be attending Pitzer College in the fall.
graduated from Cleveland High School. He has decided to defer his university studies and instead will embark on an adventure overseas. He has his sights set on Australia to work, surf, and see the Great Barrier Reef before it disappears.
from Wilson High School where he received the Outstanding Student in Social Studies Award and was named a Wilson Scholar. He will attend Grinnell College. He is currently interested in studying history and Russian.
from Catlin Gabel School and will attend Stanford University in the fall. He plans on majoring in neuroscience in college. Seth was named one of two Oregon Presidential Scholars.
Karly Weinstock graduated
Eli Winkelman graduated a
from Wilson High School and will be attending the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in the fall. She is one of 114 students from Oregon to be selected as a Ford Scholar.
year early and enrolled in OSU Honors College in September 2018 where he is a math major. On the side, he is still running his startup, Melaknow, which makes software that diagnoses melanomas.
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Student Poetry: Accepting Contradiction For many consecutive years, PJA poets have been recognized in the Oregon Poetry Association's anthology, Cascadia. This year, in addition to the seven writers in grades 5-7, whose prize-winning poems were selected and published in Cascadia (Morgan Powell, Naomi Donaldson, Saul Drucker, WeiLai Nathan, Bella Robinson, Catherine Ruzicka, and Chris Ruzicka), five other student poets were honored for a memorable line from their poem. These students were Sabrina Bendis, Noam Peleg, Nicolas Chapin, Amitai Kosak, and Ruthie Zeidman. The following is a poem by one of our new sixth-graders, Nicolas Chapin. Nico has proven to be not only a writer of beautiful poetry, but also a memorable orator of his verses—sometimes with his own percussive accompaniment! by Nico Light Bent Fast Swirling Mixing Colores Eyes, foggy with color Contrast, bent on stability Darkness, seen only in light Good, seen only in evil Hate, seen only in love The contrast seemingly accepting itself Folding over into an almost endless origami Denying physics Life denies But does death deny itself? Does the human mind bend reality to see what it wants? Does control really matter? If your grip on the lever falters, What would truly happen? No one knows No one tries Knowledge needs the price of risk Opposites, like mirrors, reflect themselves in a light never seen before Fast Color Tendrils of energy wrapped around Earth like hooks in a game of ball Faltering death Life’s contradiction Definition Of life's addition Stop Death End
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It’s Not Just Academics: Middle School Wellness Program Helps Middle Schoolers Develop Healthy Habits PJA’s Middle School Wellness program aims to provide students with skills and information to make healthy choices and develop healthy habits. At PJA, we consider wellness to include an understanding of the connection between mind and body, and we strive to help students learn about the role of nutrition, movement, sleep, mindfulness, and thoughtful communication in feeling well and learning. The Wellness program, which aims to address the unique needs of adolescence, has grown over the past several years and now includes a mix of required and elective classes in which Middle School students explore the physical and social/emotional changes related to puberty and examine a variety of ways (outside of the regular PE classes) to “be well.” During the first trimester of 6th grade, students have two periods a week of Wellness class meetings designed to support the transition to Middle School. They participate in discussions and problem-solving activities about organization, time management, and project planning; they explore growth mindset tools that give them the skills and confidence to take academic risks and expand their comfort zone as learners; and they practice responsible use of social media and effective communication with peers and adults. 7th grade students meet in Health class throughout the year and are supported in setting personal goals in areas of wellness including nutrition, sleep, exercise, and decision making. During the winter and spring trimesters, 8th grade students will begin looking ahead to high school and consider the academic, time-management, and social transition to 9th grade. In addition to these required grade level classes, we offer a variety of trimester-long, mixed 6th-8th grade Wellness electives, each of which meets for an hour each Friday afternoon. This year’s offerings included Ultimate Frisbee, Gardening, Swim, Racquetball, Stretch and Breathe, and Standing Together (in which students examine sexual and gender wellness through art and service projects). Next year will see exciting new additions to the Wellness electives.
Recent Grant News We are delighted to announce the following grants recently awarded to PJA: The Leonard & Lois Schnitzer Charitable Supporting Foundation of OJCF for the Oregon Islamic Academy collaborative art project Helen and Jerry Stern Grandchildren's Fund for Tuition Assistance Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation for B'Yachad Program We are so grateful to these donors for their support of PJA and these important programs.
TODAH RABAH!
Thank you to our Newsletter contributors: Steve Albert, Betsy Bailey, Richard Boyd, Elana Cohn-Rozansky, Shahar Eden, Becky Ewer, Sarah Glass, Merrill Hendin, Anna Hixon, Michael Hyde, Jim Juntenen, Lisa Katon, Amy Katz, Saul Korin, Adam Mishcon, Sara Morton, Liz Phillips, Maryjane Rocker, Matt Rosenberg, Erika Saiers, Kim Schneiderman, Molly Sloan, Jessica Smith, Jake Sullivan, and Harriet Wingard.
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Fifth Graders Perform Original Rock Opera for Purim Each year, the 5th grade puts on the PJA Purim Shpiel. The themes have varied, including "QUEEN" (a tribute to the band, QUEEN), "Pitch Perfect Purim," and "Purple Reign" (a tribute to the late and great artist, Prince). Each year, great anticipation builds around school leading up to the Shpiel, as the themes are kept under lock and key, only to be revealed on the morning of Purim. This year, 5th grade teacher, Rand Raynor, and Music Specialist, Kim Schneiderman, teamed up to write PJA's very first original rock opera, "The Whole Megilla!" that included a house band of some rockin' 5th graders. The Shpiel was rehearsed diligently for over a month, and it was sung from beginning to end. This epic live show was truly one for the books!
Reading is Always in Season at the PJA Library! The library was a busy place this spring. Thanks to the wonderful support of stalwart volunteers, we hosted the most successful Used Book Sale ever! With the money raised in the sale, we were able to invest in new books that support our mission of building a more diverse and inclusive library collection, as well as adding books that are in high demand by our students. In addition to collection building, this spring also brought some of our favorite celebrations, including the Lemoncello Library Lock-in for 4th graders. We also hosted the party for kids who finished the Oregon Reader’s Choice Award or Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award. This year, 43 students completed the reading challenge. Way to go readers! Now, we’re excited for summer reading. All readers at PJA, from birth to 8th grade, have been signed up for the summer reading program at Multnomah County libraries. Thanks to our partner, Dairy Hill Ice Cream, there’s a sweet reward for reading this summer! PJA readers can bring their validated game board to Dairy Hill for each checkpoint of the game and receive a free kid’s cone!
Lemoncello Lock-In escapees and helpers.
Ask the Expert: Adam Mischon PJA Parent and Start-Up Counsel Q: Can I donate shares (particularly restricted shares in a private company) to a nonprofit like PJA? Are there tax benefits? A: If you have shares of stock, you can donate your shares to charity regardless of whether there is any present market for the shares. You can get a tax deduction for the value at the time of the donation, which can be a substantive amount from shares you otherwise can’t yet trade and at the same time support the students of PJA. • Donate up to $10,000 in stock without an appraisal. • Counts against both Federal and State taxes, so you get a present return for stock you otherwise can’t trade, with a return proportional to the notional value of the company. • PJA holds the shares until a liquidation event and shares in the gains of an exit event. • You get an immediate return, and PJA gets a long-term return, which is a win-win. This favorable tax treatment for charitable contributions of corporate stock, when combined with a redemption of the donated stock, is particularly advantageous for a controlling shareholder who wishes to transfer money from their corporation into the hands of a designated tax-exempt institution. By irrevocably donating a portion of their stock to the institution, the shareholder fully enjoys the fair market value deduction incident to charitable gifts of appreciated property. A subsequent redemption of the donated stock provides both the donor and the donee with benefits which are not normally associated with an irrevocable transfer of closely held corporate stock. 12
B'Yachad Brings Students & Elders Together for Joyful Learning PJA 7th graders and their B'Yachad partners from Rose Schnitzer Manor celebrated a joyful year of learning with their family members. This intergenerational program, formerly called Better Together, but now known simply as B'Yachad (Hebrew for "together") keeps growing as more Middle Schoolers and elders participate. Each month, the students travel to the Cedar Sinai Park campus to meet with their partners. While the topic of study is the week's Torah portion (parsha), the ethical dilemmas it brings forth, and the guidance it provides, the sessions are essentially about building and strengthening relationships. Students and elders develop a comfort level with each other almost instantaneously and look forward to their time together. Some find opportunities to visit at other times during the month and have even included each other in birthday celebrations and Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremonies. PJA is grateful to the Merritt and Cookie Yoelin Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and the Norman family which have so generously provided the necessary funding for B'Yachad this year.
Service Learning: PJA Students Work for the World
PJA 4th graders and family members continued their annual tradition of collecting food for Portland Backpack and then volunteering on a Sunday afternoon to pack items for children in need. They assembled 172 bags, each containing two breakfasts and two lunches, which will be placed in the backpacks of students who are known to have limited access to nutritional food over the weekend.
PJA 3rd graders took their Portland Play on the road! They sang songs for the residents of the Harold Schnitzer Center for Living at Cedar Sinai Park. Following the show, students visited with the audience members and learned a little more about our city's history from elders who are Portland natives.
Members of the Middle School Exploratory "Help the Hungry" spent a trimester volunteering twice a week at organizations in the Portland area that address food insecurity and help low-income individuals and families. The Sunshine Division, established in 1922, happily welcomed this small but mighty crew to help sort clothing at their massive warehouse.
Each year the 4th grade class devotes an afternoon to learning about the negative impact of invasive species at Tryon Creek State Park and then removing ivy. This year's environmental stewards wholeheartedly embraced the physical challenge of the ivy pull, especially when challenged by the park's Volunteer Coordinator to find the longest vine.
Two young animal activists established Wildlife Love, a fundraising club consisting of about a dozen 2nd and 3rd graders. Capitalizing on the customers at PJA's annual Used Book Sale, club members sold bookmarks with the proceeds going to the Jane Goodall Institute and the Oregon Humane Society.
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Meet the Staff: Jessica Smith Registrar and Administrative Assistant, Early Childhood Development Program Each day, interacting with the children and families, I find myself overjoyed with my position in our organization. While I have worked in early childhood education for many years, this position has allowed me to realize a dream of supporting families as they make big decisions for the most important people in their life. With the introduction of our new online enrollment system, we have seen unique challenges and successes that have made for an adventurous start here at PJA. I am happy to say that the introduction of the new system is going very well, and I have learned some great new skills to better support our families. My daughter will join the Early Childhood Development Program as a student next school year, and I feel blessed to be able to provide her with a quality start on her educational journey. It will be fun to see her every day, and comforting to know that she is learning from our quality educators! I am thankful everyday that my path in life has led me here, and I am hopeful to be a part of PJA for a long time to come. Thank you all for such a warm welcome!
PJA Early Childhood Programs Nearly Full for 2019-20 PJA Early Childhood programs are almost at capacity with a few spots left in our 5-day, 3-year-old Preschool classroom. This year, during re-enrollment, we had our lowest attrition rate in years, and we are thrilled to welcome back so many of our families. We are delighted to open up an additional infant room for the coming year, as well. There is a tremendous need in the community for exceptional care for infants, and we are honored to offer such a reputable program for families as they start this journey.
PJA Middle School is Growing The 2019-20 school year will see the largest enrollment in the PJA Middle School in more than 10 years. Seventy-nine students will be walking the halls of the Middle School next year! The increased numbers mean we will be juggling classroom space and schedules, and we are ready and excited for the challenge. The increase is due to strong retention in our Middle School classes and the continued trend of enrolling several new students in our incoming 6th grade class. A larger Middle School population means that we will impact even more students with all of the amazing opportunities at PJA, including project based learning and integrated studies, involvement in the broader community through our service learning program, B’Yachad (Together) partnership with Cedar Sinai Park, educational partnership with Oregon Islamic Academy, and 8th grade capstone projects, not to mention opportunities to spark new interests through Exploratory and Wellness classes, Science Club and Taglit, and so much more.
2018-19 Middle School = 65 2019-20 Middle School = 79 PJA Middle School Retention Rate = 92% 14
PJA Dor L’Dor Society Anonymous (2) Steven Albert and Janie Goldenberg Bonnie Boone Altshuld and Steve Altshuld* Ron and Judy Applebaum Gloria Bacharach* Alan Bacharach* Stacy Barna Barry and Karla Benson Gregory Bishop and Sharon Klin* Donna and Dick z"l Brownstein* Stanley Davis* Marlene Davis* Julie Diamond Edith Dorsen Robert Erlich z"l Becky and Greg Ewer Eleanor Fisher z"l Robin and Eric Flamm Karen and Skip Freedman* John and Beth Germain* Jacob Gildesheim* Jonathan and Sarah Glass Edward and Florence Glick z"l* Eric Goldenberg* Erica Goldman and Jeffrey Druckman* Adam and Robin Greenman* Rick Haselton and Sura Rubenstein* Merrill and Perry Hendin*
*Denotes Founding Members
Ruth Horenstein* Lewis and Lisa Horowitz* Hilde Jacob z"l Dr. Irvin and Dr. Jacqueline Jacobs Sam Jacobson* Phil Jansen and Ariel Shattan* Garry and Judith Kahn Hank Kaplan and Marni Glick* Lisa Katon and Noah Kressel Sheldon Klapper and Sue Hickey Eric and Robin Kornblit Tony and Priscilla Kostiner* Shirlee and Reuben Lenske z"l* Jordana and Ryan Levenick Al and Rosanne Levi* Holly R. Litwin* Gail Mandel and Steven Klein Richard and Judi Matza* Zen Menasche-Slayen* Vic and Toinette Menashe* Jeffrey Menashe and Wendy Gutmann* Larry and Joyce Mendelsohn* Mark and Marcia Meyer* Joel Mullin and Sheri Katz Hillary Nasso and Ken Wittenberg* Diane Nemer z"l * Dale Oller Stacey L. and Marshal R. Oller
Ella and Herbert z"l Ostroff* Robert Leonard Parnas z"l Erik Richmond and Annette Demsey Gayle and Paul Romain Steve Rosenberg and Ellen Lippman* Stan and Madelle Rosenfeld David and Darcy Rubin* Nicole Heiman Sacks and Robert Sacks* Jerry and Bunny Sadis Stephen and Becky Saltzman Faye Gordon Samuels Andrea K. Sanchez and Benjamin Drucker Joan Schnitzer Richard and Patricia Schwartz* Ariel Shattan and Phil Jansen* Gary and Linda Singer* Anthony Slayen* Kelly and Julie Smith* Les and Martha Soltesz Marshal Spector Roslyn Srebnik Fund of the Srebnik Family Trust Carol and Noam z"l Stampfer* Sherry and Steven Stone* Howard and Vivian Wasserteil Rabbi Joey Wolf and Lisa Rackner* Carrie Wynkoop and Kari Chisholm Esther and Henry z"l Zabronsky* Ken and Jennifer Zeidman Mark and Mindy Zeitzer
Every effort has been made to ensure that this list is accurate and complete. We apologize if your name has been omitted or improperly recorded. If so, please contact us at 503.535.3532 so we can correct our records.
PJA is not just the place we send our children to school; it has truly become an extension of our community. As our children grow up, we know that they will eventually leave this community that has helped develop them into kind, curious and intellectual people with strong Jewish identities. We also know that the foundation that they have built at PJA will carry forward long into the future. By joining the Dor L'Dor Society, we help to ensure that PJA will continue to serve our community and educate young Jewish leaders for generations to come.
— Andrea Sanchez and Benjamin Drucker
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For more information about Life & Legacy, contact Steve Albert at:
salbert@pjaproud.org or call 503.535.3592. 15
Steven Klein | President
July 4: Independence Day
2019-20 Board of Directors
Calendar of Events August 11: New Family Meet & Greet (IT and Preschool) August 26-30: Educator In-Service Week – No School August 28: K-8 – First Day of School August 29: Early Childhood Open House September 2: Labor Day – No School September 3: Infant Toddler & Preschool – First Day of School September 17-18: All-School Picture Days September 19: Lower School Curriculum Night September 20: Early Childhood Kabbalat Shabbat September 20-22: K-8 Family Camp September 26: Middle School Curriculum Night September 30: Rosh Hashana – No School October 1: Rosh Hashana – No School
SAVE THE DATE: PJA ANNUAL AUCTION Sunday, December 8, 2019
Richard Barker Barry Benson Amy Blauer | Secretary Joyce Evans Marni Glick | Treasurer Larry Gloth Gail Mandel Carol Richmond Erik Richmond | Vice-President Danelle Romain | Vice-President Jonathan Singer Ahuva Zaslavsky Jennifer Zeidman Jason Zidell | President-Elect We are grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and our community for their support of PJA.
Supported by
jewishportland.org
Portland Jewish Academy Schnitzer Family Campus 6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219 P: 503.244.0126 | pjaproud.org