What an amazing year it has been already!  As many of you know, we broke ground on our Kindness Garden and it has truly set a positive momentum for the year.  To learn more about the Kindness Garden and more of the BUZZ around town, check out the following stories:

 

 

Our Hive is a caring community. We are interested in connecting with alumni of the school, young and old.  We would love to stay in touch, plan events for your classes, and reconnect you with your old friends and classmates.   I invite you to fill out our alumni survey so that we may begin the process. Please visit:  http://bit.ly/2snjdA9

 

Stay tuned for upcoming alumni events and news.  If you are still in touch with any other former JAO or HDS students, please also encourage them to complete the questionnaire and subscribe to The BUZZ.

 

We wish you and your family a prosperous 2019 and look forward to seeing you at our Kindness Garden dedication in the spring.  Stay tuned for the details to come.

 

L’Shalom,

 

Alan Rusonik, Head of School

On Monday, January 21st, we broke ground for our new Kindness Garden which will be a segment of the campus playground.  The project is part of a grant to incorporate fine arts in to the our Judaic Studies program.

The fifth grade class was asked to use synectics, a problem-solving technique that promotes creative thinking, to solve a school problem by utilizing the power of art.  Students chose to work on promoting a culture of kindness that ensures that all members of the JAO community act with utmost respect for their peers, teachers, and the greater community.  

The final project is a Gan Shel Chesed– a Garden of Kindness, Compassion, Respect and Understanding– and it will be both an artistic and natural garden with words and messages of Chesed. The Gan Shel Chesed will be a permanent legacy left by the fifth graders for our school.

The students planted seven trees as a part of the ceremony.  Each grade planted a tree and dedicated it to a particular value.  These values included peace, kindness, respect, education, compassion, and friendship.  The seventh tree, planted by teachers and future students, was dedicated to a future for all people.  

For our students, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has always been a day of service, kindness, and learning about the civil rights movement.  As in years past, instead of having the day off from school, our students experienced a meaningful day in the spirit of Dr. King.

Appropriately,  the groundbreaking ceremony took place on both Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish holiday celebrating trees and nature, which this year both fell on January 21. The garden will be a reminder of the ideals and values to which Dr. King dedicated his life.

Dr. King once said that, “Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education.” At Jewish Academy of Orlando, we strive to live by this goal to truly serve our students. Our goal is to inspire our students and teach them that they have the power to repair the world.

On December 9, we hosted our annual gala with much fanfare.  Attendees, dressed in 1920s attire, enjoyed the Roaring Twenties-themed event at The Ballroom at Church Street.

The event honored Nina and Dr. Ron Oppenheim with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  The Oppenheims have been pillars of the Central Florida community since 1983 and are longtime supporters of our school.  During that time, they were active participants at the JCC, Hebrew Day School (now Jewish Academy of Orlando), Hillel, Jewish National Fund, and Congregation Ohev Shalom.  Nina and Ron’s children and friends celebrated the honor and lifetime achievement award. We took pleasure in honoring Nina and Ron, who have been a constant presence, influence, and strength for the school.  Nina’s positivity and support have been integral in our school’s success.

The ballroom was set beautifully with a 1920s flare. Our guests danced, enjoyed dinner and themed drinks including the “Bees Knees” signature cocktail.  The silent auction featured the artwork of Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz whose work has been displayed throughout Israel and North America. Rabbi Matt partnered with Jewish Academy of Orlando to sell twenty-seven limited edition 11.5" X 16.5" lithographs from his lauded Passover Haggadah titled “The Lovell Haggadah.”  

The annual gala is our school’s biggest fundraiser of the year.  Proceeds fund new curricula, field trips, and new programs. This year we raised more funds than ever.  We are grateful to all of you who attended and supported the gala. Special thanks goes to the our honorees, the Oppenheims.