The Lehrman Link by Lehrman Community Day School

TheLehrmanLink A weekly publication of

lehrman community day school containing time-sensitive information for members of the school community

Vol 10 • Issue 11

Fri, November 7, 2008 • 9 H.eshvan 5769 • y"xa,

Dear LCDS Family, At the start of this week’s parsha of Lekh Lekha, God commands Abraham to “go forth . . . to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). But no Divine GPS is included: God never tells Abraham where to go. As the patriarch later recounts, “God made me wander from my father’s house” (20:13). Where was Abraham to go – and what if he chose wrong? ohbck inhx ,uct vagn (ma’aseh avot siman l’vanim), which is Rabbinic parlance that the experiences of the parents are guideposts for the children, or, as we say in Yiddish, “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.” Abraham becomes the paradigm for the role intuition plays in how we make decisions. As Rabbi Soloveitchik explains, “God willed Abraham to guess, to find out intuitively, . . . so that the heart was Abraham’s compass or lodestar. We often reach a major decision, a most critical judgment, not by thinking out logically the pros and the cons but by listening to our heart.” Abraham’s Journey at 74 (Me-Otzar HoRav 2008). Here at LCDS, we consciously develop each child’s capacity for intuitive thinking. While our curriculum guides more readily describe how we teach intellectual concepts, values and culture, we use directed tools, such as differentiated learning and informal experiences, to develop that mysterious combination of factors - inquiry, analysis, appreciating complexity, self-awareness, social intelligence, empathy – that make up intuition. Our goal is that each LCDS graduate will be a true maverick (with due apologies to the campaign just concluded), as was Abraham, with the skills and confidence to invoke his intuition in choosing among alternatives and then acting decisively to advance his destiny. Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Seth Linfield, Head of School RUN, DON’T WALK, to read “Economic Meltdown: A Challenge to Jewish Educational Leadership,” a penetrating and ultimately inspiring column by our own Dr. Chaim Y. Botwinick, President/ CEO of CAJE-Miami, that is slated to run next week in The Jewish Week (NY). Visit lehrmanschool.org/EM or come into the main office for a paper reprint.

iuaj 'y

Upcoming

OPEN HOUSE Tell a friend!

Early Childhood

Tues, Nov 18, 9:00 am

online lehrmanschool.org/admissions

Papa•razzi patrol

Images of Life@LCDS. More at lcdsphotos.org

Election ‘08

LCDS students turn out in record numbers Final count mirrors national trend

Below: ECD plays Betsy Ross.

Additonal election coverage on page 2.

Third Grade Tea Party: After completing Alice in Wonderland, Mrs. Alvarez’s students invited Mrs. Fein to talk about tea time.

Candle lighting 5:17 pm

Reach Out & Touch Someone!

Did you think of yourself as a guerilla marketer?

Admissions season has begun—and if there is anything to be learned from the presidential campaign, it is that reaching out to friends, one at a time leads to remarkable success. YOU know what a wonderful jewel our school is—and there are a myriad of ways for you to get that word out: serve on a team of Parent Ambassadors to tour prospective families when they come to visit the school; be a liaison to your synagogue for LCDS; bring guests to our Baby University sessions—great informative and entertaining classes. We also have material that can be placed in the stores, restaurants and other venues that you patronize. Lead someone to our Early Childhood Open House on Tuesday, November 18 at 9:00 am. Spread the good word, identify good prospective candidates, introduce new families to LCDS. With YOUR support, we have rededicated ourselves to reaching out families who believe in our mission, and elevated the bar on admissions prerequisites, and now, thanks to YOU, we are one of the rare day schools with waiting pools in select grades and increased enrollment in our elementary school. YOU and your children are our best ambassadors. The berit milah, covenant of circumcision, which we read about in this week’s Torah reading, is a commitment to building a continuing relationship through future generations. As we approach our fiftieth year, we need your help to continue to find and embrace your child’s future best friend (and maybe spouse!). Please call me at (305) 866-2771 x21 or e-mail me lschaffzin@lehrmanschool.org Thank YOU. Linda K. Schaffzin, Director of Admissions

HolidayBazaar! Thursday, November 13 8:00 am–4:30 pm

PA Meeting: Thu, Dec 4, 8:45 am @LCDS Can you see me now? Kindergarteners don special glasses and learn about prisms.

This edition plus The Link archives are available on the web lehrmanschool.org/LL

Election Night at Obama Headquarters

Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten

Chalav u’Dvash Words of the Week:

By Sam Kainen, Grade 5 An Obama staff person stayed at my house for almost two weeks. He invited us to his office at Obama headquarters in Miami Beach where we spent Election Night. My dad was one of the lawyers at the campaign headquarters, answering calls from people who were having trouble at the polls. My mom answered calls from people working at the polls who told her how many votes each candidate had. I took that information and delivered it to someone who was collecting the data. Another job of mine was to go on a computer and examine the results from different counties all over the United States. It fascinated me to work at the Obama headquarters.

Photo: Sam Kainen

Election night excitement.

Tzedakah in Action

This week in Nursery we learned

ouka ,ca shah-BAHT shah-LOME ,utr,vk l’HEET-rah-OTE • see you later The root of ,utr,vk is v-t-r to see. Other words that use this root are

r’EE

htr mirror • mahr-EH vtrn appearance Check out your weekly h.allah order for this week’s Hebrew mini-lesson.

Spreading Our Wings

LCDS’s annual campaign, Spreading Our Wings, is well underway. You should have received information about our campaign in the mail, which highlighted several funds to which you have the option to designate your gift this year. Within the next couple of weeks, you will receive an invitation to join in an intimate discussion with Rabbi Seth Linfield, Head of School, on the state of the school and your dreams for your children. We look forward to meeting with you. If you have any questions about our annual campaign, please contact Andrea Schleider, Director of Donor Relations 305-866-2771 x17, or via email aschleider@lehrmanschool.org

Emily and Rebecca baked cookies and cakes and raised $137 for the National Wildlife Foundation to save polar bears. Yasher Ko’ah. !

What’s for Lunch?

Flag Football Nov 3: Boys’ Varsity 6 Greenfield 20 Nov 5: Girls’ Varsity 13, Hochberg Prep 0

To download a refrigeratorready menu, visit us online… lehrmanlunchbox.org Monday, November 10

Caesar salad • Chicken shnitzel Oven-roasted potatoes • Corn Pears • Water (served Mon/Wed/Fri)

Birthdays! Students: December 16–31 Sophie Cukierkorn. . . . . . . . . . . . 12/17/2004 Eliza Greenwald. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/20/2002 Marcela Monsalve. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/20/2004 Ariel Golan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/22/1999 Natasha Weiner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/23/1997 Dana Furman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/24/2000 Ariela Zebede. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/25/1996 Taylor Strauss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/26/2006 Evan Hurwitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/27/2005 Marly Kaufman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/27/2001 Dorian Mualem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/28/2001 Ava Schoennagel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/28/2005 Ella Levy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/29/2005 Matan Zohar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/29/1995 Faculty & Staff: December 16–31 Betsy Levy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/17 Janet Rapp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/27 Did we leave you out? List your birthday, though on the wrong date? e-mail us! mybirthday@lcdswebsite.org

reminders!

Beginning Fri, Nov 7 No Friday ASP until Friday ASP returns March 20. Tuesday, November 11 is

BYFTSD

Baby University@LCDS Thu, Nov 13, 9:45 am Playful Parenting with Michelle Manlaci Catalog online lehrmanschool.org/BU

Save the Date!

Zimriyah/Songfest “The Holiday of Light” Thursday, December 18@LCDS January Toddler Class

Class begins January 5, 2009. Half day option. Enrollment is open to children 18 mos. of age and older. Enrollment is limited!! Contact Jennifer Reiz 305.866.2771 x25.

Tuesday, November 11 BYFTSD!

Cheese & broccoli soup • Greek salad Cheese quesadillas • Black beans & white rice • Honeydew & cantaloupe Milk (served Tue & Thu) + a Special Dessert!

Wednesday, November 12

Please! Do not park in front of the LCDS building. Thank you.

How do you spell…Mazal Tov!

Vegetable soup • Hamburgers Lettuce, tomatoes & pickles • French fries Corn on the cob • Watermelon

Thursday, November 13

Greek salad • Tuna fish sandwich • Bagels and cream cheese • Sun chips • Oranges

Friday, November 7 • ouka Mini egg rolls • Oriental salad Sweet & sour chicken • Fried rice Pineapple chunks

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2008-2009 LCDS Directory

lehrmanschool.org click on Parents Only

PLAYOFFS: JV heads for the Championship vs. Sinai, Wed, Nov 12 Boys’ Varsity Flag Football Playoff vs. Greenfield, Monday, November 10 Schedules online at lehrmanschool.org/sports *Exciting Sports Program@Lehrman

Congratulations to our DAANS Spelling Bee Team!