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THIS WEEK AT TVT
SEPTEMBER 14
K-5 HAVDALLAH
GRADE 5 SHOFAR WORKSHOP
US FOOD DRIVE
SEPTEMBER 15
LS CTP-4 TESTING
US T'FILLAH
SAT PREP CLASS
SEPTEMBER 16
GRADE 1 HONEY WORKSHOP
SEPTEMBER 17
K-5 T'FILLAH
ANNUAL RESEARCH CONF.
KICK-OFF
US BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT
SEPTEMBER 18
EREV ROSH HASHANAH | |
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PARSHAT OF THE WEEK - NITZAVIM VAYELECH |
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Our lives as individuals often display two quite different features. One is dynamism, movement, progress, discovery and change. The second feature, seemingly the opposite, yet also very important, is the attempt to strengthen one's position, to consolidate, to attempt to be secure and firm, immoveable. The combination of these two contrasting qualities creates a healthy dynamic. One moves forward and grows - but not at the expense of what one has already gained. There is the thrust towards expansion and also a concern for consolidation.
These two qualities are expressed by the names of the double Torah portion which is read this Shabbat, the Shabbat before the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. The first Torah portion is called Nitzavim, which means in Hebrew "standing firm." In its opening words, Moses tells the Jewish people "you are all standing firm here today." The second Torah portion is called Vayelech, which means "he went," referring to Moses: "Moses went and said these words to the Jewish people."
While there are many fascinating ideas and teachings within these two Torah portions, something important is transmitted just by their very names: standing firm and moving forward. This provides guidance as to how we should live our lives, and has particular relevance on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.
While the double theme of consolidation and advance can be applied to the business world and many other aspects of human endeavor, it also has special relevance for the spiritual life of a Jewish man or woman. Let us consider this in terms of the three general realms of Jewish expression: Torah study, Prayer and good deeds:
Torah study combines both a fixed, firm dimension, and also an inner dynamic. There is the fixed text of the Torah Scroll and the other books of the Bible, the Written Torah. Yet this is discussed and explored by seemingly endless books of teachings and commentaries by great Sages, who in every epoch provide guidance relevant to the challenges of that particular time. So, on the one hand Torah is constant, on the other it is growing.
Prayer, too, has a "fixed" quality and also a personal dynamic. The fixed prayer is the text in the prayerbook. Many parts of it are exactly the same every day of the year, whether an ordinary weekday or Yom Kippur. Then come special prayers, unique to certain days. Even more so, there is the individual and personal way in which a man or woman may approach the printed text, with their own unique feeling.
Finally in the realm of the precepts of Judaism ( the Mitzvot), there is the fixed structure of the ideal Jewish lifestyle. And there is also the personal way in which any individual approaches this, taking certain points on board in their daily lives, emphasizing some details more than others, gradually increasing in observance and at the same time consolidating what one has already achieved.
By Tali Lowenthal. ( Dr. Tali Loewenthal is Lecturer in Jewish Spirituality at University College London) |
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KABBALAT SHABBAT - BRINGING THE TVT COMMUNITY TOGETHER |
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Bruchim Ha'Bayim - Welcome to our returning and new families!
What a great start to the new school year! This past Friday's school-wide Kabbalat Shabbat got off with a bang!
Our Senior Class of 2010, together with our Kindergarten Class of 2022 were the honorees who helped to lead the assembly.
Mr. Irving Gelman addressed the crowd of more than 800 students and families, by elaborating on "his dream."
Our parent-band was back together in full swing, conducted by Mrs. Rocky Brown (Lower School Music teacher) on piano and with thanks to Mrs. Janeane Bernstein-Korisky, (mother of Eliana, 2nd grade and Tovia 4th grade) on guitar, and Mr. Ron Bruder, (father of Taylor, 1st grade) on drums.
The assembly ended with the blowing of the Shofar by Mr. Ron Bruder, who volunteers his time to blow the Shofar at the conclusion of our Lower School announcements each morning during the month of Elul. Gideon Wolder, 11th grade student, has been the awesome Middle/Upper School's Ba'al Tekiyah, Shofar Sounder, for the month.
We look forward to having our teachers, parents and students join us in celebrating all our events throughout the coming year and encourage you to bring your friends (please let us know in advance, so Wendy Leberman, Director of Admissions, can prepare a special gift for our guests).
Shabbat Shalom!
Shana Tovah Umetukah!, A good and Sweet Year! |
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THE MITZVAH OF FEEDING THE HUNGRY
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR & THE NEW YEAR FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDY |
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TVT will be hosting the first food drive of the 2009-2010 school year, starting Monday, September 14th. All students are encouraged to bring in cans of food, rice, beans, cereals, and pasta to support the food pantry for Families Forward.
Families Forward http://www.families-forward.org is an Irvine-based charity that feeds hungry families in our local community. The number of people relying on charities, such as Families Forward, has really grown in these challenging economic times so please send in those donations!
All food can be brought to Mrs. Miller in Room 200 or to any history teacher in the Upper or Middle school. The food drive will continue for one week. Thank you for all your help. |
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RABBIS VISIT UPPER SCHOOL T'FILLAH |
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Comparing the student culture observed this year to that of years past, Rabbi Spitz of B'nai Israel remarked that he "was impressed by the students' respectful listening," which he felt has been improving over the years. Rabbi Miller, of Congregation Bat Yahm and Chapman University, spoke at the T'Fillah program last week and was similarly pleased with the improvement in the student culture over the years. Yasher koach!
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ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITY |
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This year TVTwill be hosting our 8th Annual Academic Research Conference for qualified Middle and Upper school students from across the nation. The big day is April 20, 2010, but TVT Upper School students can get a head start at a special assembly this Thursday, September 17th, during study block. (MS Students will have a similar opportunity during study block on September 24th.)
Please encourage your student to take full advantage of this unique and powerful opportunity. Contact Ms. Alla Korinevskaya, Academic Research Conference Chair, for more information: akor@tarbut.com. |
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AIPAC ADVOCACY INSTITUTE HIGH SCHOOL SUMMIT NOV. 8-10, GRAND HYATT HOTEL, WASHINGTON, DC.
OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING
FOR UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS |
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TVT will select a team of 6-10 Upper School students to participate in the AIPAC Advocacy Institute's High School Summit, an intensive three day leadership training in Washington D.C., www.aipac.org.
The Summit will bring together 350 students from selected Jewish Day Schools nationwide. Participants learn about government, advocacy, and the connection between community service and activism through a Jewish lens. This Washington, DC-based program is nationally recognized for inspiring and educating Jewish youth to a lifetime of leadership, service and advocacy for Israel.
The cost is estimated at $300-400 (airfare and transportation to hotel and airport). Other expenses, hotel accommodations, Glatt kosher meals and training will paid by AIPAC.
The PTSO has kindly volunteered to cover our chaperones' expenses. Students who are interested should apply to Dr. Hakimi-Maghen, MS/US Director of Judaic and Hebrew Studies, jhmaghen@tarbut.com, by September 18th.
Priority will be given to our Juniors and Seniors. |
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ELIMINATING STRESS IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS |
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This week TVT's Director of College counseling, Mr. Clint Davis, and College Counseling assistant, Mrs. Pam Samuels, hosted an information and stress-relieving session for parents of students in their senior year.
The two-hour workshop afforded parents a behind the scenes look at the oftentimes confusing world of college admissions and the application process. Mr. Davis debuted TVT's newest online college research and application portal, Conenctedu.net, a service that allows for clear communication between all stake-holders in the application process - students, counselors, parents and colleges.
Kol HaKavod to everyone behind this successful effort!
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THE CUBS' ROAR! |
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| The Lower School Cubs' Roar publication is now part of the TVT Shabbat Shalom e-mail from Mr. Derek Gavshon, TVT's Acting Head of School!
Please look for the CUBS' ROAR link to keep you informed of all of the exciting events happening in the Lower School. Enjoy reading it every Friday!
The CUBS ROAR document is in Adobe Acrobat file format. If your computer does not currently have Adobe Acrobat Reader capability (Adobe Reader), you can download it for free at www.adobe.com.
You can click on thisCubs' Roar Cubs' Roar link or in this email's Quick Link Section above on the left. |
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JOIN US IN WELCOMING TVT'S NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS! |
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Joy Berkowitz, M.A.
Upper School Math
Ms. Berkowitz holds a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis on mathematics from Grand Canyon University, Arizona. In addition, Ms. Berkowitz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Michigan State University, East Lansing, where she also earned her teaching certificate. She comes to TVT from the Windard School in Los Angeles, California and has also taught at Milken Community High School and Michigan State University. She is a member of the Golden Key National Honors Society and a Sallie Mae New Teacher of the Year Finalist.
Paula Deutsch, M.A.
Upper School Math
Ms. Deutsch holds an Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado, Denver, a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Certification for Secondary Math from Metro State College, Denver. Her previous experience includes chairing the Math Department at Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy (on the Denver Campus for Jewish Education) and teaching at Temple Emanuel Religious School in Denver, Colorado.
Thao Duong, M.S.
AP Statistics
Apart from teaching AP Statistics, Ms. Duong is also pursuing a doctorate in statistics at UC Irvine, where she has already earned both her B.A. and Masters Degree. Ms. Duong's prior experience includes teaching at the university level as well as working in System and Design Engineering at Boeing Corporation. Ms. Duong is a member of the National Scholars Honor Society, The National Dean's List, Phi Theta Kappa and the Golden Key International Honor Society.
Eve Fine, B.A.
Middle & Upper Judaic Studies Program Coordinator
Ms. Fine comes to TVT after 17 years at Morasha Jewish Day School, where she served as the Jewish Studies Coordinator, Principal and finally as Head of School. Prior to her tenure at Morasha, Ms. Fine worked for the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Ms. Fine has extensive experience in both formal and informal education, having been named one of Orange County's "Most Powerful Women" by Orange County Jewish Life. She also served as committee chair and member of numerous California Association of Independent Schools accreditation committees. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Jewish Studies from UC Los Angeles and is a member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.
John Fowler, M.A.
Middle School Principal
Mr. Fowler comes to TVT from Milken Community High School in Los Angeles, where he served as the Dean of the Class of 2009. Prior to Milken, Mr. Fowler worked at The Athenian School in Danville, California and the Dorris-Eaton School in Walnut Creek, California. He holds a B.S. in Biology from California State University, Hayward and a Master's in Education Administration and Private School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York. Mr. Fowler recently completed a National Independent School Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads and has been recognized by the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University for excellence in teaching. Additionally, Mr. Fowler is a published author whose articles have appeared in Independent School Magazine among others.
Shir Geshvindman, M.A.
Upper School Hebrew
Ms. Geshvindman joins TVT from the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco, California, where she served as both the Department Chair and Coordinator of their External Hebrew program. Ms. Geshvindman also has several years of experience working on the Community Action Unit of Ben-Gurion University, working in adult instruction for the Ministry of Labor, Nazrat-Ilit municipality and the Ministry of Education, as well as coordinating after school programs for at-risk youth. She holds a Master's of Art in Education from Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel, in addition to a teaching license and a B.A. in Hebrew Language and Literature which she earned from the University of Haifa, Israel. Ms. Geshvindman is proficient in Hebrew, Arabic and French and holds the rank of Air Force Corporal.
Michael Gillett
Director of Information Technology
Mr. Gillett comes to TVT from the Latin School of Chicago with over twenty years of experience in both education and technology. Mr. Gillett holds a number of professional certifications, including: Apple Certified System Administrator, Apple Certifications in both Network Account Management and Directory Services Integration and Administration and the Bakbone Certifications in Netvault (Expert).
Nancy Hetherington, B.A.
Grade 6-12 Learning Specialist
Ms. Hetherington attended graduate school at the University of the Pacific, studying Learning Disabilities and Educational Psychology. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in both Communicative Disorders and Humanities, also from the University of the Pacific. Other Certifications include the Life Standard Elementary Credential, the Life Specialist Instruction Credential in Special Education, the Clear Resource Specialist Certificate of Competence, and over thirty years in education - including Santa Barbara, California; Kenai, Alaska; and most recently at Newport Mesa Unified School District.
Michael Halpern
Independent Consultant/Director of Advancement
Mr. Halpern is the Director of Advancement for TVT. Just prior to his association here, he served as President and CEO of Heritage Pointe, the Orange County's Jewish Home for the Aging in Mission Viejo. He has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and development.
Barry Kancigor
Director of Finance
Mr. Kancigor was the CFO of a residential land development and construction company since 2002. Previously, he was the CFO of a regional restaurant chain and a corporate controller for a publicly traded company involved in agricultural chemicals and pesticides. Mr. Kancigor became a CPA while working for Ernst & Young after graduating from New York University.
Ruth Kelman, B.A.
Middle School Hebrew
Ms. Kelman will be joining TVT from Torah High Schools of San Diego, in La Jolla, California. Her prior experience has also included the "Batzav" Junior High School in Israel, Chabad Hebrew Academy, San Diego, and the High School of Jewish Studies (also in San Diego, California). Ms. Kelman served in the IDF as an Operation Officer for the Air Force Division and holds professional certification and a Bachelors of Education from Beth Berl College, Israel. Ms. Kelman has done additional studies through the University of California Extension, the Levinski State College for School Teachers, Bar Ilan University, and Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.
Annabella Kraut, M.A.
Middle School Science
Ms. Kraut's diverse teaching experience includes the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, The Center for Talent Youth, Johns Hopkins University, The Princeton Review, and the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Ms. Kraut has earned three degrees through the University of Maryland; a B.A. in Anthropology, a B.S. in Psychology, and a Master's in Life Science. She enjoys Table Tennis and Badminton.
Rabbi Leah Lewis, M.A.
Upper School Judaic Studies
In addition to serving as the Associate Rabbi and Director of Education at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles, Rabbi Lewis has worked with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, The Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and served as the Academic Dean and Social Action Director for the Academy of Living Judaism. Rabbi Lewis holds a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Hebrew Letters from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Kristen Lutzky, B.A. (TVT Class of 2003)
Lower School Assistant
Joining us from Roch Courreges Elementary School in Fountain Valley, California, Ms. Lutzky has over four years' experience in early childhood education, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from CSU Long Beach, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arizona. Originally a graduate of the TVT Class of 2003, Ms. Lutsky returned to campus last year as a popular substitute teacher. Her resume also includes work at Temple Emanu-El in Tucson, Arizona and Capistrano Unified and the Laguna Beach school districts.
Sarah Mendonca, B.A.
Lower School Assistant
Ms. Mendonca is delighted to be back at TVT, where she worked as a Kindergarten Assistant for the 2004/05 school year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from UC Santa Barbara and enjoys volunteering at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, focusing on Animal Care.
Rachel Moss, M.A.
US English Teacher
One of the original Lions (Class 2001), Ms. Moss also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education from UC Santa Cruz. She has taught at Watsonville High School, Shoreline Middle School as well as for Merit Academy (Santa Cruz, CA). She is absolutely delighted to be back home at TVT!
Elizabeth Nideffer, M.S., SLP
Speech Pathologist
Ms. Nideffer joins TVT from Oliver Wendell Homes Elementary School in Lakewood, California. With nearly 10 years of experience as a Speech Pathologist, Ms. Nideffer boasts a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from CSU Northridge and a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary Studies (Speech and Hearing Sciences, Linguistics and Psychology) from UC Santa Barbara.
Linda Oaks, M.A.
K-5 Computer Technology Specialist
Ms. Oaks has over 27 years of experience in education with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Technology from Azusa-Pacific University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development from California State University at Northridge, and a California Life Multiple Subject Credential. She has presented at numerous conferences and is a member of the Orange County Computer Using Educators, the California Computer Using Educators, the International Society for Technology in Education, and the Constructivism Consortium. She has been recognized for excellence by the United States Congress, the California State Senate and Assembly, in addition to numerous other awards. Her publications on the subject of technology in education can be found in Creative Educator Magazine, OnCUE Magazine and PC Teach It.
Michelle Smallwood, M.A.
Upper School English
Ms. Smallwood joins TVT from the Maroa-Forsyth High School, Maroa, IL. Additionally, Ms. Smallwood has experience with teaching English, Social Studies, and oversight of the Yearbook from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in Burbank, California, where she also served as the Model United Nations Advisor. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Occidental College Educational Leaders Program, as well as a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in History with a minor in English, a California Secondary Single-Subject Teaching Credential. She is the recipient of the Roy Petrie Award for Outstanding Leadership in Teaching and has been cited in Who's Who among America's Teachers for two years.
Ilya Tseglin, M.S.
MS/US Robotics
After graduating from Chernovtsy State University in Ukraine with a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree in Mathematics and Education, Ms. Tseglin worked as a business entrepreneur, taught mathematics at Telshe Yeshiva, Chicago, IL, and most recently served as an advocate for special education. He is fluent in English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Justine von Winterfeldt, B.A.
Lower School Assistant
Ms. von Winterfeldt holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from Chapman University and experience teaching French, as well working at both Sony Pictures and Volcom Records. Most recently Ms. Von Winterfeldt worked as Matthew Perry's production assistant for the television series End of Steve. | |
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