OPEN HOUSE
OCTOBER 2, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 1
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Jewish day schools offer mix of secular, religious learning ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN
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t Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike, a family touring the building might pass two students working on a Talmud project in a hallway. On a Monday or Thursday, they might encounter a middle school prayer service run by students. Those moments can tell parents more about Jewish life at the school than a brochure can. “You’re going to see and feel and experience how Jewish life is part of everything we do here,” Janna Dorfman, the school’s director of enrollment and marketing, said. At the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood, a tour can take families through math, language arts, Hebrew, Judaics and daily prayer. Laura Simon, its director of admission, encourages parents to visit while school is in session so they can picture their child among the students. The visits give families a chance to test what matters to them: how children learn, how teachers respond and whether a school feels like a place their child could belong. Both schools tailor visits to a child’s age and a family’s interests. Dorfman said a family considering a transfer for an older student can see the parts of Gross Schechter’s program most relevant to that child. Parents can ask to observe particular classes and learn what a typical day would look like at their child’s grade level. Dorfman encourages families to arrive with written questions, including how the school divides time between general and Jewish studies. Gross Schechter follows a 50/50 curriculum, she said. Mandel’s schedule is different. Students have dedicated Hebrew and Judaics periods each day alongside general studies and other classes, according to Simon. Lessons can connect across subjects: Students studying moon phases in science might also
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study the Jewish lunar calendar in Judaics. Simon said she wants parents to see those connections firsthand and understand how Jewish learning fits into the day. The differences make it useful to ask each school how its approach works in practice. Families should also look beyond the planned classroom stops. At Gross Schechter, Dorfman suggested watching how teachers greet visitors and interact with children in the halls. “That tells you a lot about the school community,” she said. Simon urged parents to watch classroom relationships, too. She said Mandel’s learning enhancement team helps teachers adjust instruction for individual students. Her advice is to ask how a school notices when a child is struggling socially or emotionally, how new students make friends and how staff communicate concerns to families. “A child can be academically successful and still need support navigating friendships, transitions, or other aspects of school life,” Simon said. Jewish identity is another subject worth discussing directly. Dorfman said Gross Schechter’s community includes families ranging from Modern Orthodox to secular Israeli, despite the school’s roots in the Conservative movement. Simon described Mandel as pluralistic, with families representing different levels of observance. She
encourages parents to ask how that variety shapes school life and whether their own family would feel welcome. Both admissions directors said parents should be candid about their child’s strengths and needs. That includes learning differences and social or emotional concerns, so a school can explain what support it can offer. Simon asks families to consider “at what school would I want to be a student?” A tour need not be the last step. Simon recommended talking with
current parents for their perspective. Dorfman suggested asking whether an older child can shadow students and requesting introductions to families the visitors do not already know. Those conversations may reveal details a family would never think to ask about on a tour. And when the lists of pros and cons are complete, Dorfman has one more piece of advice: “At the end of the day, you have to go with your kishkes.” Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.
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OPEN HOUSE
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Tips to help families prepare for an open house A. KEVIN CORVO
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any private schools offer open houses at points in time to provide the opportunity for parents or guardians, and their children to visit the campus and ask questions. For some, the experience might be overwhelming and a parent or child might forget to ask a question they had in mind or not think to ask it altogether. But administrators at two schools can offer suggestions on approaches to get the best results. “I think the most important thing for parents and students to remember when attending an open house, or similar admission event, is that they aren’t just there to see the school. They are there to understand it,” Elizabeth Pinkerton, director of enrollment management, at the Hathaway Brown School, an all-girls school in Shaker Heights, said. “It’s easy to focus on the campus, facilities and programs, but I encourage families to look beyond those things
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and understand the student experience. What are the relationships like? How do teachers get to know students? What is the educational philosophy? What does it actually feel like to be a student there?” Every child and family is different, so parents should ask questions that help them understand whether the school can meet their child’s individual needs, according to Pinkerton. “Pay attention to how the school makes you feel and how your child responds,” Pinkerton said. Hathaway Brown School offers smaller,
division-specific “Parent Previews” in lieu of a large traditional open house. “We believe campus visits should be personal, purposeful and relevant to the child, giving families the opportunity to experience the school, meet the people who will know their child, and ask questions that matter at their particular stage,” Pinkerton said. Abigail Steinberg, director of enrollment at the Laurel School, a private girls’ school in Shaker Heights, said a good first step when considering a new school is to identify what matters and what is most important to the student and the family. “Understanding your priorities will help you make the most of an open house,” Steinberg said. “Beyond learning about curriculum and programs, families should ask questions that reveal what the student experience is really like. How well do teachers know their students? How does the school sup-port students when they struggle and challenge them when they are ready for more? What opportunities exist for leadership, exploration and trying
something new?” Another important factor is to search for something that distinguishes a school, according to Steinberg. Laurel School’s Center for Research for Girls translates research on how girls learn and thrive into classroom practice across the K-12 experience, according to Steinberg. “Most importantly, talk with the people who know the school best,” she said. “Ask current students what they love, what has challenged them, and what surprised them. Ask teachers what they value about the community. An open house should provide more than information. It should help families begin to understand whether a school’s culture, values, and opportunities feel like the right fit for their child.” Laurel School has an open house for grades 6-12 from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Lyman Campus. A. Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.
OPEN HOUSE
OCTOBER 2, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 3
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OPEN HOUSE
4 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 2, 2026
Families can get acclimated to schools during open house A. KEVIN CORVO
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hen choosing a private school for a child, parents naturally have many questions and want to visit the school their child might attend. An open house for parents and even extended family members to attend is an effective means to provide such an opportunity for the parents and guardians of potential students. “The goal of an open house is to help families move beyond what they can learn from a website or brochure and truly experience a school firsthand,” Christina Townsend Hartz, director of Jones enrollment and financial aid, junior K-12, at the University School, said. “We recognize that choosing a school is an important decision and an open house allows parents and students to see not only what a school offers but also how it feels to be part of its community,” she said. At University School, an all-boys private day school with a JK-8 campus in Shaker Heights and a 9-12 campus Townsend Hartz in Hunting Valley, an annual all-school Sunday open house showcases both campuses.
“We recognize that choosing a school is an important decision and an open house allows parents and students to see not only what a school offers but also how it feels to be part of its community.” Christina Townsend Hartz University School “Families can meet teachers, learn more about the curriculum, hear from school leadership, speak with coaches, and explore the many opportunities available to our boys,” Townsend Hartz said. “Student-led tours allow guests to hear directly from the boys about their experiences and see the school through their eyes.” Activity fairs introduce visitors to the clubs, programs, athletics and after-school activities that help boys discover new interests, develop confidence and build lasting friendships, according to Townsend Hartz. “Families are also invited to fully explore both campuses – from the playgrounds and learning spaces at our Shaker Heights campus to the fields, lake and expansive grounds at our Hunting Valley campus,” Townsend Hartz said. Open houses are an incredibly important part of a family’s journey, according to Hartz. “Families are not simply selecting an academic program.
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They are choosing a community in which their boy will learn, grow and be known and loved,” Townsend Hartz said. “The conversations, interactions and energy of the day often help families determine whether a school feels like the right fit.” University School hosts one All-School Open House each fall. “(But) we complement that event with smaller ‘Parent Previews’, student visit days, campus tours and other admission programs throughout the year, giving families several opportunities to experience the life and culture of the school,” Townsend Hartz said. Another Northeast Ohio school also strives to make firsttime campus visits a personal experience. Laura Jones, director of institutional advancement at Lawrence School, an independent, coed day school serving K-12 students with learning differences on campuses in Broadview Heights and Sagamore Hills. “Many schools welcome prospective families through large open house events,” Jones said. “Lawrence School takes a different approach. Families that are exploring Lawrence are invited to an individual visit. Families who come to Lawrence often have very specific questions.” A child with dyslexia who has fallen behind in reading, a student with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder who struggles to stay organized, and a teen with dysgraphia whose ideas outpace their handwriting are each different, according to Jones. “Each story is different, and each deserves a real conversation,” she said. “An individual visit gives parents time to share their child’s history, from evaluations and IEPs (individualized education program) to what has and hasn’t worked in past classrooms,” Jones said. Such encounters gives Lawrence School’s admissions team the chance to listen closely, answer questions in real time, and explain how the school’s approach fits that particular learner, according to Jones. “Individual visits also let families see Lawrence as it truly operates on a typical school day. Instead of a staged event, parents observe small classes, multisensory instruction and the student-teacher relationships that define the Lawrence experience,” she said. “For many families, the search for the right school follows years of frustration and worry. A crowded event can feel overwhelming at exactly the moment that a parent needs clarity. A personal visit offers something different- undivided attention, honest answers, and space to ask the questions that matter most.” A. Kevin Corvo is a freelance journalist.
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OCTOBER 2, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 5
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Bellefaire JCB prepares for Sukkot
OPEN HOUSE
Hebrew Acadmey of Cleveland prepares for Succos
Brothers Hersh Leavitt and Joe Leavitt are gearing up for Simchat Torah at JDN Early Childhood Center at Bellefaire JCB, practicing carrying the Torah and blowing the shofar. | Submitted photos
Rochel Leah Kleinberg, Racheli Raitzik and Mordechai Schlesinger, preschoolers at Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Clevelnd Heights, celebrate succos. | Submitted photo
OPEN HOUSE
OCTOBER 2, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 7
Solon City Schools rated No. 1 for student achievement in Ohio
Orange High School seniors donate blood to save lives
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olon City Schools was ranked as the top school for student achievement on Ohio’s School Report Card, scoring the highest performance index score among traditional public schools. The report cards use student performance data from the 2025-26 academic year. The district, which scored a 112.9 in student achievement, also earned an overall five-star rating and each of the Solon schools was among the top achieving in Ohio, according to a news release. “Results like these don’t happen by accident,” Superintendent Fred Bolden said in the release. “They are cultivated through a partnership between a strong community, great families and students, and a staff fully committed to our district mission. This kind of achievement takes relentless effort and a willingness to put students’ needs first, day in and day out. I’m incredibly proud of what our students and staff have accomplished.” The Ohio School Report Card evaluates districts using a star rating system looking at five areas: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation and early literacy. It also looks at a student body’s career, workforce
and military readiness. Bolden said that the high-level performance of Solon students reflects the district’s commitment to educational excellence and continuous quality improvement. He said that the district is already reviewing the information to see where it can improve and make a bigger difference for students. “We had already been digging into our data, looking closely at where students are excelling and where we can adjust our instructional practices to help them reach their full potential,” he said. “That ongoing work is part of how we sustain these excellent results. The goals we set together with our community align with our mission - to help every student gain the knowledge and skills to thrive, and to grow into empathetic, ethical, contributing citizens - and are what drive us forward. Our families and the Solon and Glenwillow communities are partners in this work, and the meaningful collaboration is what allows us to create an environment where every student can make progress and succeed.”
Orange High School students and staff members helped to save lives by participating in an American Red Cross Blood Drive held at the high school on Sept. 9. Eighteen pints of blood was collected, with each pint able to help up to three patients if the blood is separated into its different components, so the drive could potentially impact the lives of more than 50 patients, according to a news release. The drive was held under the direction of Megan Kuhlman, school nurse and Red Cross club adviser. Another blood drive will be held on Dec. 3. The OHS American Red Cross Club has set its goal at 100 pints this school year, which would make the club eligible to receive more than $1,000 in scholarship money for graduating seniors who have donated blood or are active club members.
Visit cjn.org to view the complete list
Red Cross Club volunteers standing, senior Dylan Lenson, and juniors Sara Zack, Eloise Anderson and Isla Osterman lend a hand and support to senior Amit Toporovskiy, who donated blood as part of the annual fall OHS Blood Drive on Sept. 9. | Submitted photo
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OPEN HOUSE
8 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | OCTOBER 2, 2026
Open houses offer chance to ask college questions STEVE MARK
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herever a soon-to-be high school graduate is considering to spend college years, most all admissions departments agree that the only real way for a prospective freshman to get a feel for what a college can offer is through attending tours and open houses on campus. While an estimated 48% of high school seniors visit a campus before submitting college applications, Alia Education reported that 80% of incoming freshmen tour the campus they intend to enroll in.
Mike Andelbradt, assistant vice president for enrollment and director of admission at John Carroll University in University Heights, Rob Drapcho, vice president for enrollment management at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, and Heidi Nicholas, associate vice president for recruitment, enrollment and retention operations at Cuyahoga Community College, gauged the in-person component of the college selection process and discussed open houses. “A campus visit is where students move beyond facts and statistics and begin to imagine their future,” Drapcho said. “Visiting campus helps them determine whether they feel a
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sense of belonging and can envision themselves succeeding there. We want every visitor to leave knowing not only what we offer, but how they can thrive here.” Andelbradt said that campus visits are very important, especially as students are narrowing down their college search. “Visiting a campus offers so much more than you can find by exploring an institution’s website,” he said. “You actually get to meet the faculty and staff who will teach and support you, and you experience what it feels like to be a college student on that campus. Every college has its own unique vibe and community, and it’s difficult to know whether a place feels right until you experience it firsthand.” Nicholas said that “one of the most unique things about a Tri-C event or visit is that an interested student can have one-to-one interaction and follow up that they may not receive at a four-year university event.” She said that Tri-C offers one to two visits each week at four campuses, and has an “open house-like” event two to three times each semester. John Carroll’s Fall Open House will be on Oct. 3 and the school will hold a Spring Open House, along with “Cookouts on the Quad” during the summer, which prospective students can attend. Baldwin Wallace offers campus tours throughout the year, and hosts several open house programs each semester. The school touts its importance on personal attention. “Visitors quickly see BW is a place where faculty and staff know students by name and are deeply invested in their success,” Drapcho said. “That supportive environment makes a lasting impression.” Anbdelbradt stresses the importance of personal connection. “From the moment a student arrives on our campus and sees a designated parking space with their name on it, we want them to feel welcomed and know that we have been preparing for their visit,” Andelbradt said. “The goal is for families to leave knowing not just what the school offers, but what it would actually feel like to be a student here.” Nicholas put the in-person factor into perspective. “Studies show that campus visits are a major deciding factor for traditional-aged student populations,” Nicholas said. “We strive to have an event with purpose and a call to action.” Steve Mark is a freelance journalist.
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