2015-2016 SPHDS Annual Report

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South Peninsula Hebrew Day School

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2015 - 2016 Academic Year

Annual Report

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The mission of South Peninsula Hebrew Day School is to provide students with an excellent education in General and Judaic studies, and to instill in them Jewish values, and a love of Torah, the Jewish people and Israel.

Board Of Directors

Administrative Office

Nissa Johanix Board President

Rabbi Shaye Guttenberg Head of School

Inbal Kavaler Treasurer

Dr. Ann Goewert Principal

Ruth Burgin Secretary

Liat Salman Preschool Director

Maury Alcheck

Rabbi Dovid Lieberman Campus Rabbi & Judiac Studies Coordinator

Linor Eylon David Gee Martin Handwerker Ian Prager Esther Rosenfeld Dr. Liza Shiff Dr. Ari Tuchman Ilana Westerman

Kim Valle Student Services Director

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Rabbi Shaye Guttenberg Head of School Why should I send my child to a Jewish school?

Why should I give money to SPHDS? Why does SPHDS exist?

Why Tradition? Why Innovation?

Why? Why? Why? Why?

But why?

Why do I need to learn this?

Why is this important?

Why is math important when I have a calculator?

Why should we learn prayers, Hebrew and about Israel?

At SPHDS, the ingeminate questions of “Why” aren’t viewed as annoying questions posed by children, but rather are the driving force behind everything we do. Asking “Why” is crucial to the growth of SPHDS. Being the oldest Jewish Day School in the Bay area is an honor, but also a challenge. Older institutions often get stuck in bureaucratic routines that forestall growth. However, at SPHDS we take a reflective and forward-thinking approach and never forget to ask “Why.” This “Why” propels us to reexamine everything we do. Asking “Why” not only enables our pedagogy and curriculum to create Meaningful Deep Learning (MDL) in our school, but it also allows us to zoom out and look at the big picture.

It is my pleasure, therefore, to present you with our 2015-2016 annual report. As is evident from reading this report, SPHDS values and holds dear to our tradition while we continue to innovate. It is for this reason we coined the term “Tradition Meets Innovation.” SPHDS uniquely is able to educate the next generation of leaders, while providing our students the necessary tools to make informative decisions and opinions about the material presented. We focus on each child’s individual strengths and use them to ensure they reach their potential in mastering the material.

At SPHDS asking the right questions is an integral component of our educational system. It is for that reason that this annual report answers many “Why” questions.

Thank you for your enthusiasm, guidance and support.

Sincerely, Rabbi Shaye Guttenberg

Why

‫קהילה‬

Music

‫ישראל‬

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Family

‫מסורת‬

STEM iti

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‫ב‬ ‫רית‬

Hebrew

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Community

Innovation

SPHDS? ‫ז‬

‫הות‬

Sports

Nissa Johanix Board President Why is SPHDS so special?

Why is a Jewish Day School education important?

Why do I have to donate?

The magic of an SPHDS education is hidden beyond math lessons and Talmud classes. At SPHDS, we are providing our students much more than the academic tools they will need to be successful in school. The magic of SPHDS lies in the intangible seed that is planted in each of our students: the love of Judaism and a strong Jewish identity.

SPHDS is a place of growth and discovery where our children are constantly bestowed a sense of purpose, belonging, and community. We are helping to create Jewish leaders and thinkers who are confident and proud. In a world filled with “Why?”, we are not only offering answers, we are offering context shaped by our Jewish values.

So why is it important to donate money to SPHDS? The first answer is simple. As a Jewish school we are committed to being open to all students who want a Jewish education.

Our tuition costs are kept as low as possible, and we offer financial aid to those families in need of extra help. This creates a gap in our budget which is filled by fundraising.

The second answer is simple on the surface, but hits much deeper. It is important to donate to SPHDS because of our enduring commitment to Judaism. We are sponsoring the next generation and ensuring Jewish continuity. We believe in the values of tzedakah, education, community, working together and supporting each other. We are teaching these values to our children, and now we need to act on them. It is important to support SPHDS, because that is who we are.

Thank you for your support of our school, our mission, and our entire community.

Nissa Johanix

TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION It’s who we are

SPHDS

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The success of our annual campaign directly correlates to the success of our school, which represents 13% of our budget. This campaign allows us to provide financial assistance to families in need, bring new curricula to our students, enhance our curriculum with technology and provide outstanding professional development to our teaching staff. This list includes gifts made to our Tradition Meets Innovation event and our annual Walk-a-thon.

We are grateful to the San Francisco Jewish Federation Endowment Fund and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley for their continuous support. The participation of our annual fund was made possible by our Board of Directors, our parents and the larger Jewish community. Many thanks to our generous donors, Toda Rabah!

Pomegranates

$36,000+ ‫רימונים‬

Anonymous Jonathan and Beruria Novich Paul and Sheri Robbins

Grapes

$18,000+ ‫גפן‬

Martin and Rebecca Handwerker Tom and Nissa Johanix Ari and Alexis Kushner David and Holly Mendel Stanley and Bette Sussman

Olives

$10,000+ ‫זיתים‬

Anonymous David Barkan and Wendy Allyn Zev and Sofiya Chaban David and Michelle Gee Joseph and Ilana Robbins Kayla Robbins Dr. Ari Tuchman and Dr. Liora Schultz

Dates

$3,600+ ‫תמרים‬

Dan and Liana Askari Dr. Allan and Madeleine Bindiger Bob Sherbin and Mollie Blaum-Sherbin David and Dana Edri Eyran and Linor Eylon Eli Reinhard and Jeanette Garretty Reinhard Rabbi Shaye and Dina Guttenberg Jonathan Rosenberg and Beryl Grace

Samuel Katz Murray and Lee Kushner Stephanie Mendel Harry and Carol Saal Nathan and Julie Thomas Fred and Farah Zaghi David and Roberta Kimmel Sam and Tzipi Tramiel

Figs

$1,800+ ‫תאנים‬

Daniel Aharon and Ruth Burgin David and Yaffa Borison Edward and Daphna Davidovits Adi and Inbal Kavaler

Wheat

$180+ ‫חיטה‬

Mark and Gilah Abelson Tahg and Lital Adler Michael and Devorah Avrukin Ephraim and Hilla Behar Aron Rosenfeld and Clara Bendayan Rabbi David and Carol Booth Steven and Janet Calvo Kevin and Tamara Fagan Loni Farhi Rob Feigenbaum and Dr. Liza Shiff Efraim and Eve Feinstein Francine Gani Lee and Susan Gavens Jonathan and Adele Gershater Yuval and Roni Gerson Yasha and Nancy Gofman Barbara Goldstein Rabbi Reuven and Sorah Goldstein

Aryeh and Sandra Guttenberg Shachar Hadar and Esther Rosenfeld Dov and Madelyn Isaacs Jerry and Rita Jacobson Morris Jaeger Stephane and Patricia Kahloun Manish and Elana Katyal Doron and Tiki Keller Jacob and Alice Klein Dr. Martin and Naomi Klughaupt Edwin Knetzger III Avi and Michal Kopelman Israel and Judith Krongold Rabbi Avi and Fia Lebowitz Bobby and Fran Lent Rabbi Menachem and Rachelli Levine Rabbi Sheldon and Lorrin Lewis Dr. Samuel and Joanne Marcus Dr. Lawrence and Marlene Marton Gary and Lori Meyers Stephen Milstein Michael Nachmaan John and Esther Novat Cylus Penkar Monio and Heidi Pilpel Tom and Carol Platner Ian Prager Michael and Svetlana Ravkin James and Jimmi Roberts Joe Goldberg and Cindy Rogoway Zahava Rosenfeld David and Judy Rosner Eran and Haggit Sandhaus Gideon and Debbie Sasson Morey and Barbara Schapira Rabbi Ezzy and Nechama Schusterman Peter Schwartz and Dana Nachman Gideon and Lee Senderov Saman and Yonit Shemtob Alex and Rachel Sidorovsky Jordan and Abra Sills Steven and Erin Simon Daniel Steinberg and Sherry Solden Isaac and Devorah Soncino Martin and Goldie Sosnick William and Jean Stahl Julia Summers Yonatan and Hadas Tamler Haim and Esther Tebeka Dr. Alan Tuchman Ezra and Leila Van Gelder Drs. Daniel and Naomi Wagner Stephen and Sharon Wieder Guy and Ilanit Wilnai Daniel and Esti Wolfson Igor and Larisa Yagolnitser

Barley

up to $179 ‫שעורה‬

Jacques Adler and Betty Deneberg Adler Revital Alon Dr. Chaim and Rikki Ambinder Adam and Rachel Bar-Shir Evelyn Baum Bruce Bernstein and Laora Fanger Barbara Blake Ilan Blech Avi and Hannah Bleiweiss David and Yvonne Boxerman Nathan and Alisa Brooks Dr. Susan Burgin Shelli Carol Yelena E. Chubrikova Nina Chubrikova Sonalika Clark Bob and Lisa Cohen Tami Cohen Menachem Cunin Shalom Cunin Rick and Tina Dinitz Herbert Josef Dreifuss Arman and Beti Eghbali Maya Ekus Ofer and Maia Elder-Kadar Miriam Eylon Sigal Eylon Rebecca Fedida Matthew and Ofer Feigenbaum Jessica Feldman Dr. Shim and Vivian Felsen Elliot Fenner David and Ida Finifter Mark and Paul Finifter Marina and Alex Finkelman Marcos Frid Michael and Miriam Gartenberg Joel and Rachel Gedalius Philip Gershater Brad and Debbie Glincher Georgiy and Svetlana Goldenberg Jeremy Goldhaber-Fiebert Tovirt Granoff Patricia Gross Bergman Eduard Z Gutkin Rabbi Gary and Leba Guttenberg Hila Haim Jacques Hammel Jonathan Hammel Brad and Emeri Handler Steven Hargrove Dr. Andy and Lisa Hartman Selwyn Heller Mike and Tamar Henry Leo Hmelnitsky and Anna Levin Hmelnitsky Sharon Horovitz Naama Iram James D Joyce Philip Kaplan

Jonathan and Leah Kaye Leonid and Ilana Kazovsky Stephen and Lynne Kinsey Gidon and Nathanaelle Klein David and Esther Kletter William Kornfeld Allison Krusch John Lakier Ora Lerner David LeVine and Lisa Mark Fred and Mariene Levinson Michael Lieberman Linda Lindenbaum Gerald and MJ Lopatin

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Philip Mandel David L Marasow Dina and Eric Solberg Tamar Mazor Claude and Sharon Memmi Michael Mitgang and Barbara Gottesman Michael and Irina Mlynash Gal Moore Shaina Munitz Menahem Nassi Mark Nassi Janet R Nathanson Larry Nathanson Dina Novak Michael Novack and Dr. Ariella Morrow Nir and Orna Noygebor Yanay Ofran Carmit Oron and Dan Avraham Rachel and Fred Orosco Rachel Ostry Ari Paley Katherine Pither Joelle Pluemer Sherry Quinn Samuel and Rachel Raphaelsohn Alina Raveh Sigmund and Sheryl Reiser Malek Ariel and Hailey Remer Brenton and Carolyn Rogozen Roy Rosenfeld Ron and Sheree Roth Tina Rotstein Nanette Rowe Bob Saenz Drs. Kevin and Sharon Saitowitz

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Alex and Kim Samek S. Zachary and Elana Samuels Zemmie Schaefer Morey and Barbara Schapira Jennifer Scheck Susan Scheck Breanna Scheck-Gomez Benjamin Schultz Aylit Schultz Achiezer Schusterman Donny and Rachel Shapiro Debra Sharabi Ariel and Ruthie Shore Sandra Simon Michael Paul Smith Jacob and Helen Stalin Barry S. Susman Jacob Tal Dov Tamler and Amy Bryman Howard and Nechama Tamler Ester Tassa Eugene Travis Micole Tuchman Desmond B Tuck Michael S. Tulkoff Rabbi Mark Urkowitz Roi Uziel Kim Valle Zehava Vardy Dr. Israel B Wagner Barry Waldman JoAnn Waldman Isaac Winer and Bonnie Rosenberg Kari P. Wolff Stan Yagolnitser Tamara Yagolnitser Eylam Yalon Yaron and Maya Yaniv Reuben Yehoshua

Matching Companies

Adobe Apple Congregation Adath Israel Glitter Cinemas Inc Google Intel LinkedIn Microsoft Redhat Rouleau orthodontic Dental Practice The Urban Group

Great effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this philanthropy report.

If there is any error or omission, please accept our apologies and contact office@sphds.org

‫ּת וֹדָ ה רַ בָּה‬ THA

N K YOU

Financial Summary The Board of Directors and Administrators at SPHDS take the fiscal responsibility of the school very seriously. The budget is constantly examined and evaluated, with special consideration given to organizational and educational needs and financial constraints on families. SPHDS exceeds the national average of Jewish Day Schools in budget efficiency. While the cost of education continues to rise, SPHDS works hard to keep tuition affordable for our families. The Board of Directors aims to maintain the balance between offering the highest quality of service at the most reasonable cost. We strive to do this all while providing a warm, nurturing environment and the highest academic curriculum for our students.

2015 - 2016 Revenue and Expenses Expenses

Revenue

2015-2016 SPHDS Statistics

6:1 1972

Year that SPHDS was Founded

40+ Zipcodes Travel to SPHDS Daily

Average Learner to Educator Ratio

26,000+

235

Years of Teaching Experience at SPHDS

285

60

Students Enrolled

New Students this School Year

Lunches Served

13,000+

Total Hours of Hebrew Immersion

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Dr. Ann Goewert Principal At SPHDS, we aim to engage students in meaningful, deep learning (MDL). Our faculty fosters a learning environment in which students develop a growth mindset and are goal-oriented. SPHDS students are self-directed learners who are actively engaged in hands-on learning and are asking the challenging questions of “Why?�.

Hands-on STEM education in the classroom stimulates student creativity and innovation, thus improving critical thinking and problem-solving skills. At SPHDS, we inspire students to engage in critical thought about real-life issues and ask those challenging questions about how things work. In 3rd grade class, students completed a unit of study on the weather, atmospheric conditions, and technology used to measure variations in atmospheric conditions. The unit culminated with a visit from research scientists from the San Jose State University (SJSU) Fire Weather Research Lab and the launch of an actual weather balloon. In 4th grade class, students employed their knowledge of electricity and the principles of circuitry to design and light up a light bulb using wires, a battery, and a light bulb. By collaborating with their peers and tinkering with the materials, students completed the task of lighting up a light bulb, and more importantly, this activity sparked their curiosity and interest in science.

During the 2015-2016 academic year, SPHDS implemented a 1:1 Chromebook program and digital literacy and citizenship course for the middle school. Students employed the technology to collect, graph, and analyze data in science, to collaborate with peers on presentations, to compose papers, and visualize math. Technology was not limited to middle school; our lower school students designed and edited videos to illustrate their command of the material in their own unique way. With access to technology, many teachers implemented blended learning such as flipped classrooms as well as a rotation model of learning. Blended learning enables teachers to tailor curricular content for students of varying levels by increasing one-onone contact time between teachers and students as well as increasing active learning in the classroom.

During the 2015-2016 academic year, SPHDS partnered with Touro University California’s graduate school to sponsor and enroll faculty in the Master of Arts in Education degree. The emphasis of the program was innovative learning with a focus on integrating cutting-edge media and technology into the classroom in a meaningful way. During the summer of 2016, our Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Dina Solberg, and our 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Kim Valle, graduated with a Master of Arts in Education degree from this program.

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Rabbi Dovid Lieberman Campus Rabbi & Judiac Studies Coordinator

When we think about the enormous responsibility of giving over our tradition to the next generation, the Pesach seder often comes to mind. At the Pesach seder, generations from far and wide gather together around the table creating the quintessential model for education. Grandparents and parents transmit to their children and grandchildren their most fundamental beliefs and the core ideas of Judaism. Why is the Pesach seder so special and unique?

The structure of the entire Pesach Seder is question and answer format, specifically designed for the children to ask questions of the adults. Another theme in the format of the Pesach seder is encouraging the children’s curiosity. In fact, many of the things that we do during the Seder are done specifically for this purpose, and not necessarily to give an answer to the question. For example, during Karpas, we dip a vegetable into salt water. Why do we do that? The Talmud (Pesachim 114b) tells us the reason is so that the children will ask us why. This seems to be totally illogical. We are doing something just so that the children will ask us why we are doing it? What do we tell them when they ask us? Do we say that we are doing it so that you’ll ask us why we are doing it? What lesson would that teach them? What is the point of having the children ask a question that we don’t give them an answer to?

Tosafot seems to be bothered by this very question and says that the reason why we want the children to ask why is so that they get into the habit of asking questions. Ultimately, the goal is that one question will lead to another, and another.

The fundamental educational process from the Pesach seder is two fold. First, we see that the most effective way of teaching our children is by having them ask why we are doing this. It would be much faster for us to come into the seder with our speech and say, “OK, listen up, I’m going to tell you all about what happened in Egypt”. But it is more effective if the children are taught as a follow up to their asking “Why?” Secondly, we must foster curiosity in our children. Children need to be put in an environment where they are encouraged to ask questions.

This type of environment is most conducive to Meaningful Deep Learning (MDL).

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Liat Salman Preschool Director Ben Zoma would say: Who is wise? One who learns from everyone. (Pirkei Avot 4:1) Why is this Mishna so relevant to what we do at SPHDS? Each day, in our preschool our students go on a journey of exploration and inquiry along with their teachers. At SPHDS we put our students at the center, and focus on a play-based learning experience in an open-ended environment. This approach supports the growth and learning of everyone within the preschool community through the eyes of the children.

In an open-ended environment educators provide exploration opportunities and inspire the children to experience, play and ask why. The open-ended materials that we use materials that can be used in a variety of ways, such as blocks, fabric pieces, twigs or pinecones - empower creativity by providing children an opportunity to think, plan, and carry out their play. By observing and listening to the childrens’ thoughts, ideas and feelings while playing, our teachers enable them to lead and take ownership of their learning. Thus, our students develop their sense of wonder, strengthen their creativity and cultivate their love of learning. Furthermore, this unique environment deepens the Jewish value of respect for others and the environment.

At SPHDS, we all - children, teachers and parents - are learners and each one of us has a role in making our community stronger and wiser. As Ben Zoma said: “Who is wise? One who learns from everyone.”

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sources Possible e R s t n de u t S ke Kim Valle Student Services Director

Why Resource Department?

At SPHDS we believe that each student is a unique individual who accesses the learning in a way that suits his or her own style. Some students require sensory tools to focus while some require additional services to support their academic growth.

While working with teachers and supporting them within the classroom environment, we are able to identify a variety of strategies or tools to support our learners so that they are able to reach their full potential.

Our Resource Department is continuing to strengthen. Along with the introduction of our new Resource Specialist, Zivit Reiter, we are entering our second year with on-site Occupational Therapy Services. These services help support students who have weak fine or gross motor skills or require support in developing strategies to manage their sensory challenges. Having the Occupational Therapist on campus allows her to have direct conversations with teachers on the implementation of strategies and tools within the classroom.

We continue to have a strong partnership with Cupertino School District and we were fortunate enough to receive a grant from them for the purchasing of tools required to support our students. This purchase was able to help us place sensory seating tools within our classrooms, which has had a positive impact for a number of the younger students who find it challenging and frustrating sitting on chairs.

Why asking why is a powerful tool?

Zivit Reiter Resource Specialist

Students’ learning development starts with the question “Why?”. Growing up in today’s world, where all information can be accessed at the push of a button, the skill of asking the right question is crucial. By teaching our students the skill of asking questions we empower them to take ownership of their learning process.

In Resource at SPHDS students ask why at the beginning of every assignment and at every step along the way. They learn to select, compare, define, analyze and form an opinion in an iterative procedure. As a result, these skills become an essential part of the learning process, which stimulates students to explore new content or ideas and create spontaneous connections between one lesson and another and between one subject and another.

In my classroom I serve as a mediator and as a role model for methodical probing.

Teaching these skills will assist our students in becoming independent and successful learners and will serve our graduates in their lifelong learning path.

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Why we send our kids to SPHDS? We moved from Israel to the Bay Area two and half years ago and the most important decision we made with our move was to put our kids in Jewish Day School. We continue to keep our children (four boys: 4th grade, 2nd grade, Room 6 and Room 1) enrolled because we love SPHDS. We love SPHDS for many reasons: the warmth, the love, the attention, the values, the academic and Jewish curriculum and of course the people. The teachers, faculty and the families really make SPHDS a loving and welcoming environment that helps our children grow and prosper.

Before moving to the Bay Area, we lived in Modi’in, which had a very different school environment. When we came to SPHDS we informed the school about our unique circumstances. The school’s faculty and teachers went above and beyond to provide the best environment possible for our children. Now almost 3 years later, we are thrilled at the academic and social progress that all of our children have in great thanks to SPHDS. Moving to the Bay Area has its challenges (high cost of living, hectic lifestyle, etc.), however we can honestly say that choosing to put our kids in SPHDS was the best decision we made.

Thanks for all that you do for our family, Tahg and Lital Adler

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“Typically, as a woman at the Kotel it is a very private experience, but with SPHDS, when we said Kabalat Shabbat together, it was my first opportunity to sing and dance and experience the wild Kotel that I see on the men’s side.”

“My entire time in Israel was simply amazing.

There are no words to describe the spiritual connection I felt with God, and the bonding I experienced with my classmates.”

“This trip gave me a stronger love for Israel that I could never have obtained in America.”

“My favorite part of the Israel trip was going to Ein Gedi.

It was an incredible experience to bond with my friends as we splashed in the natural waterfalls and opened my eyes to the incredible world that God created for us.”

“My two brothers are Israeli combat soldiers, I only realized the great impact something like that has on a person after I visited Mount Herzl.”

Tel-Aviv, looking at my sur“I loved the thrill I felt, stepping off the plane in language I study and love.” roundings and seeing everything written in the

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SPHDS.org

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South Peninsula Hebrew Day School 1030 Astoria Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94087

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