End of Year at Charlotte Jewish Day School

Charlotte Jewish News, June/July 2022

As we write this article, the 2021-2022 school year is coming to a close. We are always thankful when we reach the end of the school year because we can often reflect on the academic and emotional growth we see in all students and share in their accomplishments and mastery of many challenges. The end of this year has been different though. We’re reflecting on the challenges that our parents, students, and teachers had to face over the last two years and the fact that we have overcome, even though

there are times, we all weren’t sure we would.

We are also so excited that after a long two years we were finally able to resume our overnight field trips. The level of excitement from our students has been beyond what we have ever seen. We could see it as they drank up the travel and overnight experience and relished each moment. In fact, the kids themselves expressed how grateful they are that they are finally going on the trips they only dreamed about in the younger grades. They also

expressed sadness about the trips they missed during the past two years.

Similarly, we recently had our first school-wide family event since 2019. Our Charlotte Jewish Day School family is one which we nurture and enjoy. We partner with our parents to teach and guide the children academically, socially, and spiritually. We have missed the many celebrations and get-togethers where we are able to get to know each other. Many of our families don’t know each other at all, as our enrollment has increased by 40% since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The students who were in kindergarten for six months before

schools discontinued in-person learning are now finishing their second-grade year. Their parents may not have really been inside the school. So last week, more than 200 people came out for our first family dinner. We watched parents and children engage on the playground, in the cafeteria, and in our outside tents. There were no phones or screens, just people talking and laughing and children of all ages playing. It is our hope that we will begin our

2022-2023 school year with the same welcoming and open spirit, energized with the growth of our student body and the number of new families calling Charlotte Jewish Day School home.

Feature Photo: Rabbi Wolk and his family enjoying dinner outside in the CJDS tents during the family social