The school year is finally here — and Baltimore’s Jewish day schools have spent all summer getting ready with additional programs, campus improvements and new hires.
The Baltimore Jewish Times reached out to area day schools to learn what’s new. Here’s what some of them said.
New Programs
Reeut Singerman, Ohr Chadash Academy’s director of admissions and marketing, shared that OCA has plans to expand its JotPad program, which the school piloted during the last academic year.
The pilot introduced a device called JotPad to OCA’s class of fifth grade boys.
The boys received the tablets to replace traditional learning materials. According to OCA, the pilot study was a resounding success, and Rabbi Daniel Frank and his students found the tool helpful for ease of use and organization, according to OCA’s summer newsletter.
The new technology was introduced in partnership between OCA and Jotit Education Technology, an Israeli education technology company.
But not all technology is classroom friendly.
Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, head of school at Krieger Schechter Day School, said that KSDS is reaffirming its no-cell-phone policy for students throughout the entire school day with a parent and faculty summer read of Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation,” a book that examines rising levels of anxiety and depression in young people.
“This summer, as our faculty and parents engaged with Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation,” we have deepened our commitment to partnering as a community in making thoughtful decisions regarding children’s electronics use,” said Robyn Blum, principal at KSDS.
Blum explained that the school’s policy of prohibiting student phone use is part of KSDS’s process for nurturing students’ social, moral and intellectual development by fostering face-to-face interaction.
KSDS will also be starting a new program to highlight acts of derech eretz and helping the community. In this program, students will be able to nominate each other for recognition.
New Facilities
It’s game on for student athletes and spectators alike at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School. The Baltimore day school has a new improvement to the campus — the Jacob Benus Memorial Field.
In June, the school hosted a sneak peek and dedication for the field where tribute was paid to the Benus family for their generosity and vision for the project.
The turf field has been years in the making. Community members contributed personalized bricks to the plaza, the paved entrance leading to the new field.
School officials at BT say the field will be a “game changer” by revolutionizing playing conditions for the girls’ softball, boys’ and girls’ soccer and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams. The improvements also included an enlarged promenade, doubling the seating capacity for athletes and spectators.
Over at KSDS, current and prospective families can look forward to a fresh welcome in the renovated school lobby and main office. The renovations are expected to be completed later this month.
New Staff
Schwartz shared that KSDS is welcoming a new assistant principal, Carey Wargo, and a new director of curriculum and faculty development, Jen Schmerling.
Wargo, a Carroll County resident, has more than 20 years of education experience, having spent the last 9 years as head of middle school at Gerstell Academy in Finksburg.
Schmerling, who lives in Pikesville, is the mother to two KSDS third graders and a toddler. Before joining KSDS, she was the director of student support at Gilman’s lower school for eight years and had previously taught in Jewish day school inclusive classrooms. Schmerling also has a doctorate in education from The George Washington University.
During this coming school year, BT will continue its search for a new head of school. The current head of school, Zipora Schorr, is scheduled to end her tenure as the director of education at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, concluding 48 years with BT. The school is scheduled to announce the new head of school candidate this fall.
