Dr. and Mrs. Howard Berman
Drs. Edward and Elizabeth Berzin
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Block
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Brams
Mr. and Mrs. Marian Braun
Dr. and Mrs. Allen Deutsch
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Elieff
Mr. and Mrs. Vipul Engineer
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Feldman
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Finkelman
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Fradkin
Mr. and Mrs. Milton Frankfort
Mr. Todd Frankfort
Mr. and Mrs. Reid Friedman
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Getz
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Gibbs
Drs. Neal and Cathie Gittleman
Dr. Joseph Goetz
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Goldberg
Ms. Elaine Gotlieb
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Greenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Israel Grinberg
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grinstein
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kapiloff
Dr. and Mrs. Michael Kaplan
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Katz
Dr. Stephen Katz and Dr. Jacquie Lappin
Dr. and Mrs. Bryan Leibman
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Levin
Mr. Michael Levy and Dr. Naomi Levy
Mr. and Mrs. David Loev
Ms. Gloria McLean
Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Meicler
Ms. Cindy Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Paine
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Saber
Dr. and Mrs. Allen Schuster
Rabbi and Mrs. Jack Segal
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Sherman
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Sorkin
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Staller
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Stern
Rabbi and Mrs. Brian Strauss
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Strug
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Swartz
Ms. Kelli Sydow
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Talisman
Mr. and Mrs. James Thomson
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Wadler
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Weinstein
Mr. Lance Wilbanks
Ms. Hedva Williams
Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Yambra
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Zivley
An exciting musical initiative is now underway at BYDS: students in Grades Three thru Five will be taking guitar classes on a weekly basis. This is part of our expanded program in music and Judaic engagement for BYDS students, intended to deepen students' understanding of music, introduce them to instrumental training, and to enliven further our Judaic service program. The acquisition last spring of 18 new guitars--all but one are mid-size acoustic guitars with nylon strings--moves our music program into an entirely new dimension, giving students exposure to real musical training to supplement the existing rich education in liturgical and traditional singing.
New Early Childhood Music Teacher and Elementary School Guitar Specialist Jonathan Swann began his thirty minute lessons with one of the Fifth Grade classes by teaching basic finger placement and ultimately getting the entire class to play a full G7 chord on the guitar. One of the students in the class already has loads of guitar practice in his background, and was handed the teacher's very own Yamaha steel string to play on while the novice students stretched their fingers into place.
The BYDS PTO sponsored its first PTO Coffee Talk of this year on Wednesday morning, and the special guest presenters facilitated a penetrating dialogue about parenting strategies for growing responsibility, cooperation, and self-confidence in our young children in today's world. On hand to lead the parent discussion were Andrew Brams (Ph. D., Licensed Psychologist, BYDS Dad) and Kelley Beecher (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). The PTO arranged for a full breakfast table, including yoghurt, granola, and fruits to welcome all attendees. 
