Dedicated by Anna and Sol Zuckerman and Family
Volume 3 Issue 3 February/March 2011 Adar I/Adar II 5771 The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School The Juda and Maria Diener Elementary School
The Henrietta Scheck Middle School
Head of School Advocates Student Empowerment “By building on guidance programs As incoming Head of School, Rabbi and working closely with faculty, students Pinchos Hecht is inspired by the welcoming will blossom as they become advocates of atmosphere and mission of Hillel. their own learning in a respectful way.” “There is an excitement, joy and Student empowerment is a missionappreciation of the school by students, driven approach to move together to help parents and faculty,” Rabbi Hecht said on his students understand the skills they need to first afternoon at Hillel. develop, he explained. “I see a great deal of health and balance in The vision is also about empowering this institution,” he said. “Dr. Holden and his faculty and the school community as a team have made remarkable accomplishments whole to contribute and establish enriching at Hillel.” programs for students. “This is what great Rabbi Hecht intends to continue the course schools are doing,” he said. “We focus on established by Hillel’s current administration. Rabbi Hecht in conversation with students in Grade 1. the talents of students even as we expand “Stability is critical along with enhancing what curriculum, establish endowments and already is in place. It’s more important to do what nourish the school community. It’s part of an overall investment in you do and do it well, and build on that excellence.” Rabbi Hecht believes that students should have a balanced education the children.” Rabbi Hecht plans to set a number of markers of excellence for focused on the tools necessary to succeed in today’s world - skills that incorporate “initiative, creativity, collaboration, expression, innovation Hillel. “I want this to be a leading institution with an integration of global education, Jewish identity and Jewish learning,” he said. and self-advocacy.” “Student empowerment is very important to me. Students should “And we’re on our way.” To read more about Rabbi Hecht, visit www.hillel-nmb.org take ownership of their own learning,” he said.
Students Collaborate to Learn
In Nancy Penchev’s Grade 5 class, students discovered first-hand how to teach and inspire younger students to learn. They had nearly two months to prepare PowerPoint lesson plans on interactive whiteboards to engage Early Childhood classes. They learned that the only way to begin would be to learn what the young children love most. They wrote letters to each Early Childhood teacher describing their project, asking which topics ECE students enjoy. Once the information was researched, students studied and created interactive lessons to present to each class. Two Grade 5 students taught Kindergarten about numbers and created a lesson plan that rolled dice to add numbers.
Lessons had quite a range! All chosen by ECE classes, topics included trucks, Hebrew words, friends, candles, spelling, fairy tales, plants and recycling. “Our students loved this project,” Penchev said. “It’s teaching and making a connection to what other students are learning at different levels. Many students have siblings, cousins and family friends in Early Childhood, making this even more exciting and meaningful.” Once all was said and done, Ms. Penchev’s students spent some time reflecting on the process of collaborative work, technological literacy and lesson planning and delivery.
learning for a lifetime