I signed up for a faculty group this year called "Character Counts." We met monthly

to discuss how to enable the positive character development of the students. Throughout the meetings, we talked about living by example. Over the last few weeks, I experienced first-hand, the amazing character of the people at SAR. My mother fell two Shabbats ago and broke her hip. She required surgery and thank G-d, is healing, doing well and is back at home. 

 

The outpouring of support I received from SAR was amazing. Some wonderful examples: a principal, who is a former student of my mother's, said he would keep her in his mind in his prayers on his recent trip to Israel; my Director who talked me through the ordeal emotionally, checked in on me, and even tried to hold up traffic so I could return to the hospital after picking up my own children from school; the first grade team who sent countless emails and text messages inquiring about my mother and offering their love and support; my former assistant who showed up at my doorstep with a baked ziti and a plate of cookies for my children; an assistant who took over the class in my absence with only love in her heart and had the class make lovely get well cards; a friend/colleague who made a special chocolate cake to celebrate my mother's return from rehab; class parents who offered prayers, best wishes, and even meals for my family; my daughter's nursery teacher who gave me a hug just when I needed it the most; my son's daycare teacher who offered to take both kids home after school; a school nurse who emails me to inquire how she is doing (my mother teaches her son); and to so many people who asked about my mother and offered well wishes when I returned to school after being absent for a week--those are the acts of kindness we want to instill in our children. 

 

We can live by example and show our children how to visit the sick, give tzedakah, offer to help those in need, make a meal for a friend, etc.  They see us do these acts of chesed, which can really have an effect on their character development. They see a faculty, a parent body and an administration who support each other through good times and bad. That is why we send our children to SAR. It's a family. I am lucky to be a part of it and wanted to say thank you.