The Agnon Agenda June 2010
Issue #5
WELCOME TO SUMMER VACATION

Welcome to the last Agnon Agenda newsletter of the school year. We invite you to forward it to grandparents, other family members and friends. 

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IN THIS ISSUE
classof2010A STRONG START TO A GREAT FINISH
 
Class of 2010

Congratulations to our 33 eighth grade graduates who will attend:
 
          Beachwood High School                                  Orange High School
              Cleveland Heights High School                         Shaker Heights High School
              Hawken School                                                Solon High School
              Laurel School                                                   University School 
              Mayfield High School                                        Montessori High School
              Nicolet High School (Milwaukee, WI)
 
Mazel tov to our Class of 2006, now graduating high school and accepted at:

           Allegheny College                                             Towson University
               American University                                         University of Arizona 
               Arizona State University                                  University of  Cincinnati
               Indiana University                                             University of  Cincinnati - Honors  
               Hampshire College                                            University of Colorado - Boulder
               Jacksonville University                                     University of Jacksonville
               Kent State University                                        University of Maryland                                     
               Miami University                                                University of Michigan
               Muhlenberg College                                          University of Pennsylvania
               Ohio State University                                        University of Pittsburgh
               Ohio State University - Honors College            University of  Rochester
               Ohio University                                                 University of Wisconsin 
               Point Park University
               Purdue University
               Syracuse University


powerpenAGNON STUDENTS HAVE POWERFUL PENS

Eliana Dobres & Tracy LavineEleven Agnon middle school students participated in this year's "Power of the Pen" competition - a leading Ohio interscholastic program in written expression that challenges 7th and 8th grade students to write creatively. 

Coached by middle school Language Arts teacher Tracey Lavine, they wrote items in three types of genres, in three 40-minute sessions, on topics not known in advance.  Four Agnon students continued on to the Regional Tournament, competing against 182 students from 33 schools. 
 
Congratulations to everyone from Agnon who participated, and mazel tov to 8th graders Nathaniel Starkman, Sara Shore, Eliana Dobres and 7th grader Sergy Prokvolit, who moved on the "Power of the Pen" Regional Tournament. 

rachelAGNON STAFF MEMBER WRITES BOOK ON SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

Rachel Eisenbach
Mazel tov to Agnon's Intervention Specialist, Rachel Eisenbach, on her new book, Hidden Gems:  Our Special Children.  The book is a collection of stories about the challenges and blessings of special needs children and those with whom they interact.  Mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, special education professionals and special-needs individuals themselves, all share their stories.  Learn more.
spellingAGNON STUDENT PLACES FIFTH IN REGIONAL SPELLING BEE

Spelling BeeCongratulations to Agnon 7th grader Sergy Prokvolit who placed 5th at the Regional Cuyahoga County Spelling Bee recently held at Tri-C.  Sergy successfully competed in three rounds of Agnon's "English Spelling Bee" for middle school students, before heading to this regional spelling competition.  
alumAGNON ALUMNI ACCOLADES
 
Michelle Scharfstein (Agnon Class of 2007) received Shaker Heights High School's Bausch and Lomb Award, honoring one junior who excels in the field of science.  Michelle is also the school's editor-in-chief of Semanteme 2010 - a literature and art journal.
 
Ilana Polster (Agnon Class of 2007) received Shaker Heights High School's Colgate University Book Award honoring high school juniors for outstanding academic accomplishments, exceptional leadership and awareness of global and social justice issues.
 
Shoshi Bieler (Agnon Class of 2008) was named as one of two Art Editors of Shaker Heights High School's Semanteme 2010 - a literature and art journal.
 
Benji Oif (Class of 2009) received University School's Malcolm Scovil award - the only award given to a freshman who best embodies the school's motto of responsibility, loyalty, consideration.
 
COMING SOON - A special Agnon alumni newsletter written by Allison Scharfstein (Class of 2004) and an August Bagel Brunch for Agnon alumni, college age and up.
 
annual ANNUAL MEETING: NEW BOARD MEMBERS, TRIBUTES AND AWARDS
 
At the school's May 26th Annual Meeting, Agnon celebrated 40 years of generating confident, critical thinkers.  Orry Jacobs was elected as the new Board President, and outgoing Board President John Marcus was honored.  In addition, the meeting included trustee elections, tributes and awards.  

NEW BOARD MEMBERS
John Marcus presents the Board President's Award to Idelle Wolf.
Presidents Award: Idelle Wolf


Elected New Board Members:
  • Barry Epstein
  • Deb Hurwitz
  • Eliana LeVine
  • Lisa Linden 
  • Stephanie Miller
  • Ryan Rivchun
Presidential Appointee New Board Members:
  • Rabbi Sruly Koval
  • Meg Ratner
MAZEL TOV TO AWARD WINNERS

The Gloria Abrams Parent Volunteers of the Year Award:
Parent Volunteers of the Year Eliana Levine and Erin Inwood.
Parent Volunteer Award: Eliana Levine & Erin Inwood
  • Erin Inwood
  • Eliana Levine 
The Grandparent Volunteer of the Year Award:
  • Sandy Berkowitz 
The Board President's Award (inaugurated this year):
  • Idelle Wolf 

orry NEW BOARD PRESIDENT ORRY JACOBS WEARS MANY HATS

Orry Jacobs
New Board President Orry Jacobs
The Agnon School Board of Trustees announced the election of Orry Jacobs as Board President at the May 26th Annual Meeting.  Many thanks to John Marcus, who served as Board President for the past three years. 
 
Jacobs' vision for the school is clear.  "I look forward to helping Agnon continue its strong tradition of providing a superb Jewish and secular education, and transmitting Jewish values to the next generation."
 
Active in community affairs, Jacobs served a two-year term as President of the Hillel School, a community Jewish day school in Rochester, New York.  In Cleveland, he is a past Director and officer with the Jewish Community Federation, where he   
chaired the Allocations Committee and Retirement Fund Committee.  He currently serves on the Federation's Strategic Planning Committee, Human Resources Committee and Retirement Fund Committee. 
 
In addition, Jacobs is a Past President and a current Director of Beachwood Kehilla, a Director of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, a Director of the Cleveland Jewish News and Chair of the City Club Forum Foundation Board.  Jacobs also holds committee appointments with United Way and Fairhill Center. 
 
Jacobs received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor of Engineering Science from John Hopkins University. 
 
With more than 40 years of healthcare management experience, Jacobs is a Senior Advisor at BDC Advisors, LLC, where he provides consulting services to academic medical centers, health systems and physician groups.  These services include strategic planning, clinical services planning, hospital-physician relationship management and organization as well as regional health system development.
 
Jacobs is also Vice President of Accretive Health, working with hospitals and health systems to improve their revenue cycle performance.
 
Prior to these positions, Jacobs served on the senior management team of University Hospitals Health System (UHHS) in Cleveland for 16 years, where he helped to grow the organization from a single academic hospital to an integrated delivery system with more than $1.7 billion in annual revenue.  As Senior Vice President at University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC), he was initially responsible for strategic planning, marketing, public relations and fundraising. Promoted to Executive Vice President / COO of UHC, Jacobs became responsible for day-to-day operations.  He also acted as Senior Vice President of UHHS and Executive Director of University Hospitals Regional Network, an organization serving multiple hospital systems in northeast Ohio.
 
Before joining UHHS, Jacobs was Director of Strategic Planning and Marketing at the University of Rochester Medical Center.  He also served as Vice President for Corporate Planning and Services at Upstate Health System, a three-hospital organization in Rochester, New York.  In addition, he was a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, advising hospitals and other organizations in more than 20 states.
 
Originally from Baltimore, Jacobs resides in Beachwood with his wife, Sheila, who taught at Agnon for 11 years in the Early Childhood program.  They have three married sons and five grandchildren. 
 
moreclassesNEXT YEAR, AGNON ADDS A THIRD SECTION TO 1ST AND 2ND GRADES

Three 1st & 2nd grade classes next yearThe Agnon School announced it is adding a third section to both its first and second grades next year in order to create smaller classes and allow for enhanced learning.   This decision was made after receiving a generous one-time grant from an anonymous donor that allowed for additional hiring. 
 
"Our retention and recruitment efforts have been very successful.  As of now, Agnon will have at least forty students in both the first and second grades, with the possibility of additional children enrolling before the 2010 - 2011 school year begins," said Director of Admissions Laura Simon.  "The educational benefits derived from classes of 13 or 14 students in these grades, instead of 20 to 21 or more is tremendous, and we are delighted to announce this news to the community."
 
Agnon has a strong commitment to smaller class sizes and smaller teacher to student ratios.  Though the school's Board-approved by-laws allow for up to 21 students per class, no Agnon class has more than 15 students per teacher.
 
"An independent school provides a special educational environment, and smaller classes are a sign of quality learning," said Head of School Jerry Isaak-Shapiro.  "I also want to assure our parents and supporters that we are implementing this program while continuing to maintain a balanced budget.  The move to three classes will not change that commitment."
carCAR FOR SALE TO BENEFIT AGNON

Thanks to a generous donor, Agnon is selling a 1995 Honda Accord LX 4D Sedan with power steering, power windows and locks, cruise control, AM/FM stereo cassette and dual air bags (note:  service indicator light on).  This car is in good condition with 111,000 miles.  For details, contact Laura Leventhal, Director of Development, at (216) 464-4055, ext. 124.
contributionsAGNON FUND CONTRIBUTIONS 

 

We offer thanks to everyone who has made a donation to The Agnon School.  Please click here for a list of recent Agnon Fund Contributions. 

COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS OR FEEDBACK?

Please e-mail Kathy Peskin, Director of Marketing, at The Agnon School.