August 14, 2015                                                                                                             29 Av 5775
TEXT-PEOPLE OF THE GORDON SCHOOL
What we need more than anything else is not textbooks but text people. It is the personality of the teacher which is the text that the pupils read -- the text they will never forget.    Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
 
Here at the Gordon School, we have almost always had text people who our children have learned from, listened to and built relationships with. The text people, the teachers, have always been at the very heart of our school. The vitality of the school mirrors the joys found in life and just like life, the school is fluid and experiences transitions. The Gordon School is also growing and we have seen the addition of several new positions for this year.
 
This summer, several of our teachers have made career changes and have transitioned on to new opportunities. We are proud to say, that the Gordon School has really blossomed over the summer and some inspiring text people have either joined our staff or have found new opportunities on our staff. Overall, we have a new and exciting Gordon School faculty and we would like you to give a warm welcome to our newest faculty members:
 
Dr. Lee Binder - Learning Resource Specialist: Lee has years of experience at Jewish Day Schools, most recently the Head at the former Greenfield Day School and Director at the Ben Gamla Charter School. She will be helping us serve the diversity of learners throughout our regular program.
Rachel Baum - Hebrew/Jewish Studies (Kdg. 2nd, and 3rd) & Spanish: Rachel has taught Hebrew and Jewish Studies in the Miami area for many years and is also the mother of our former art teacher, Jacky Baum.
Laurie Davidson - Tikvah Teacher: A native of Texas, she has a background in Speech Therapy and working with Special Needs populations.
Briana Edwards - 2nd-5th grade Associate: Briana has been a swim instructor for children as well as a local child care provider.
Katherine Gonzalez - Tikvah Associate: Kat has extensive experience working with autistic children in the Greater Miami area.
Ariela Jason - T'nuah Leader: Ariela will lead a special program in Israeli movement and music which has been very popular throughout South Florida.
Rachael London - Science: Originally an elementary teacher in the U.K., Rachel and her husband recently relocated here and she is excited to expand the science curriculum for our students.
Shelley Macias - 1st grade: Shelley has taught for Broward County Public Schools in the primary grades and most recently has been a substitute teacher for us here at the Gordon School.
Jackie McCubbin - 3's Lead Teacher: Jacky has been a teacher of 3 and 4 year olds at a local preschool for the past ten years.  Her passion for Early Childhood is evident the moment you meet her. 
Jessica Pooley -- Administrative Assistant- Early Childhood Center: Jessica joins our team from a local preschool where she worked for the past 6 years.  She was a teacher for 2's and 3's as well as an associate teacher for children with special needs. Her business background and dedication to teaching make her uniquely qualified to support the growth of our Early Childhood program.
Lauren Saul:  Pre-K Co-Teacher: Lauren is returning to Miami from New York, where she obtained her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and taught preschool. 
Noah Shalit - Tikvah Associate: Noah has been a teacher at a local autism center as well as a coach at a JCC. He brings great energy to our school.
Gaby Strauss - 1st grade Associate: Gaby has worked as a speech intern, preschool assistant and university researcher. She is working toward a professional career in speech therapy.
Sarid Soto - Art Teacher: Sarid is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She taught art in the New York City schools and recently relocated to Miami with her family.
Rachel Winters - Tikvah Teacher: A native New Yorker, she is a special education teacher and recently relocated here with her husband.
 
I am pleased to share with you that several continuing staff members are excited to begin new positions here at The Gordon School. Please join me in congratulating the following:
Bridget Grant - Tikvah Director    Mari Montes - 2nd grade
Maddy Spado - 4th grade            Kim Resler - 5th grade
Luis Salas - Physical Education
 
We hope you will have the opportunity to meet the new faculty members and reacquaint yourselves with all of the returning staff at the orientation next Friday. Thank you for your continued support. Our faculty is excited and getting ready to begin the school year.
AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Don't Delay -- Signup Now!
Classes start the first day of school!
Click Here for    Day School
Click Here for  

JEWISH HERITAGE DAY

WITH THE MARLINS!

You are invited to the12th Annual Jewish Heritage Day at Marlins Park! The event will take place on Sunday, September 6th at 1:10pm as your hometown Marlins take on the New York Mets.

Jewish Heritage Day -- DETAILS

marlins.com/specialevents 
DAY SCHOOL & TIKVAH STUDENTS

NEW!
FRIDAY DISMISSAL 2:50PM  
The Friday dismissal time has been changed by 35 minutes to 2:50PM. This will allow us a full instructional block for our program and still recognizes the coming of Shabbat. Mark your Friday calendars accordingly.  (Tikvah dismissal is 3:00PM Monday through Thursday and 2:45PM on Friday.)

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTS
In case you are still working on this assignment, here are the descriptions by grade level:
           Kindergarten    First Grade    Second Grade
           Third Grade     Fourth Grade  Fifth Grade
CALENDAR
FOR 
2015-16
new revision 6.0
STUDENT
ORIENTATION
10:00 to
11:30AM
Friday, 
August 21st
We have a 
NEW WEBSITE!
It is still a work in progress, but you can visit it at
You can find all the school forms if you click on Parent Forms & Information at the top of the home page.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
Annual
Back-To-School
CARNIVAL
Open to the community!

LUNCH MENUS

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

lunch samples and the new Gordon School pizza will be available for tasting at the orientation on Friday, August 21st
KABBALAT SHABBAT
We are very excited about our Kabbalat Shabbat weekly programs this coming school year. The ECC, Day School and Tikvah Center will be JOINING TOGETHER in the sanctuary each Friday morning to celebrate the coming of Shabbat. ALL parents in the ECC and in the Day School and Tikvah are invited. It will begin at 8:45AM, which is a change in time for ECC. All students are expected to wear a WHITE school shirt on that day. (We will supply each ECC child with a school shirt since they don't normally wear a uniform.) Please try to make it a weekly habit to attend Kabbalat Shabbat each Friday morning.

HONEY 

FUNDRAISING

SALE

CONTINUES

Our annual fund raiser to sell honey which will be sent to you, your friends and families in the fall, is continuing. Click HERE to see the details and the order forms.
The Gordon School | 305 854 3282 | info@gordonschoolmiami.org | http://www.gordonschoolmiami.org
2625 SW 3rd Avenue
Miami, FL 33129