| A Journey of Learning and Discovery | Fall 2019
Magazine
Davis L.O.V.E.
» PAGE 4
Living Our Values Every Day
CONTENTS 04 #DavisLOVE 12 Visual Arts 14 Innovation & Design 16 Rhythm & Ruach 18 Learning CommUNITY
2019–2020 Board of Trustees
Dear Davis Academy Families:
IN
this edition of The Journey magazine we celebrate the special spirit that is Davis through the array of activities and programs that fill our calendars, the outstanding professionalism of our faculty, special milestone moments, and the varied accomplishments of our students. Through photos and stories, the pages allow you to peek inside The Davis Academy to see how we L.O.V.E.—Live Our Values Every Day. And while you’ll get a glimpse into some exceptional educational experiences, read about our dedicated and passionate teachers and see how students develop their creativity, their skills and their souls, each on their own individual path, there is so much more. What you can’t fully appreciate from a magazine is the depth and breadth of the Davis experience. If you were lucky enough to be enrolled, on any given day, you would be challenged by “Munchie Math” in kindergarten or asked to find the determinant of matrices in our Advanced Algebra 2 class, learn scales on keyboard or chords on electric guitar and then be immersed in multiple languages—Spanish, Hebrew and Coding—all in a typical school day. You would be developing leadership skills as a classroom greeter or line leader in the elementary grades or as a student government officer or school ambassador within our Middle School Leadership Training Institute. On any given day, you’d be putting finishing touches on your walking bot that you coded with mblock programming software because you were selected to be a student presenter at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference, and then head to the Metro Atlanta Athletic Conference finals to bring home the championship trophy after an undefeated season on our girl’s volleyball team! And while your hard work would pay off when you finally solve the challenging math problem, get a grade to be proud of on a vocabulary quiz, or even win the league championship—at Davis it’s really about how we live our values—understanding we are part of something bigger than ourselves. So as a Davis student, on a typical school day, you would also collect items for the food bank and participate in “penny wars” to raise funds for cancer research, share songs and stories with Holocaust survivors, host new friends from a local Korean Christian School in our school sukkah, or write letters to members of our military. Because at Davis we all play a role in sharing L.O.V.E, spreading ruach (spirit) and making a positive difference in the world around us.
President Evan Toporek
Vice Presidents Ann Davis Lisa Freedman Jeff Hopkins
Secretary Carol Rubin
Treasurer Mark Edelstein
Immediate Past President Jon Leven
Trustees Karl Altmann Abby Bechler-Karsch Mara Berman Dana Bernath Scott Bohrer Elizabeth A. Davis Russell Falkenstein Scott Galanti David Goldberg Ronnie Goldman Micah Goldstein Billie Greenberg Lisa Haynor Hope Kaufman Jami Kohn Mark D. Kopkin Debbie Kurzweil Kevin Levingston Brian Mand Arlene Marcus Barbara Perlstein Barbara Pollock Michelle Rosenberg Bill Rothschild Dan Russotto Linda Selig Murray Solomon Stanley Sonenshine Jason Tessler Sam Tuck
Trustees for Life William Breman z’’l Dulcy Davis Rosenberg
Amy Shafron Head of School
Evan Toporek President, Board of Trustees
Jay Davis Sid Kirschner
The Journey Magazine | Fall 2019
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Davis Living Our Values Community
A kehillah is a community of people who share similar values, hopes, and beliefs. To be part of a kehillah means being willing to put others first, celebrate our unique qualities, and always thinking about the whole kehillah.
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Respect
Judaism teaches that all of creation should be treated with respect. It also teaches that a person is deserving of kavod if they show kavod through their words and deeds.
Wisdom
Jewish tradition views chochmah as something richer than knowledge. Chochmah is the ability to apply one’s knowledge ethically and compassionately. Chochmah is about making wise choices, about seeking wise counsel, and about arriving at a place beyond knowledge—a place of true insight, appreciation, and understanding.
Every Day Righteousness
○Tzedek means “righteousness.” To be a tzadik means to be a righteous person, and to be a righteous person means to always act like a mensch. Righteousness and generosity have to do with making the world a better place.
Spirit
Ruach means “spirit” in two different ways. First, it means “spirit” in terms of energy, passion, and drive. Second, it means “spirit” in terms of the intangible part of who we are. The ruach within each of us is what drives us to do what we do and be who we are.
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Let it Go Each year, Davis Academy 4th graders visit the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to participate in the High Holy Day ritual of Tashlich. Tashlich means “to cast away” and has origins dating back to the Medieval Period. During this ritual, 4th graders explored Tashlich from multiple perspectives including creative writing, physical activities, and popular media. Most importantly, they had a beautiful opportunity to think about the things they have done wrong in the past year and “throw them away” with real intention of improvement and renewal. A
Living & Learning Tzedek At The Davis Academy, The Tzedek (righteousness) theme for the month of October was Cancer Awareness. Monthly themes allow for richer learning and a deeper connection via experiential and active engagement in the designated topics. This month’s cancer awareness plans included a presentation from Aurora Day Camp (a camp for children with cancer and their siblings), a panel of speakers who shared their stories with Cancer, education about careers in cancer research, a fun “Penny Wars” tzedakah battle that raised $455 for the organization “Stand Up to Cancer,” a “Pink-Out” day to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and “I stand for…” day in which students dressed in a color of their choice symbolic of a type of cancer to honor friends and family members affected by that specific cancer. The activities of this month and the other Tzedek themes and initiatives we partake in enable students to build upon their levels of empathy, while carrying out acts of righteousness for important causes. B
Israel in Atlanta with Shinshinim Did you know that The Davis Academy was one of the first Jewish organizations to participate in Shinshinim Atlanta during its pilot 3 years ago? An initiative of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and The Jewish Agency, Shinshinim Atlanta brings young Israelis to the region to serve as ambassadors, building relationships, and offering formal and informal educational opportunities. For the last three years, The Davis Academy has been a coveted placement for Shinshinim because of our dynamic and energetic student body, our unique and refreshing approach to Jewish practice, and our school’s deep love for Israel. This year we are blessed to have two Shinshinim, Nicole Khalifa from the northern Israeli city of Tzfat and Shaked Offenbach from Kfar Ahim, a small town near the coastal city of Ashdod. C
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Straws No More
Bringing History to Life
As a member of the EverGreen Schools Partnership, The Davis Academy is proud to implement environmentally friendly initiatives on both of our campuses and takes great pride in seeing Davis students follow suit with their own ecological projects. After Davis students Hannah Rosenberg, Jake Tessler, and Jackson Powers learned about the alarming effects plastic straws have on the oceans and marine life from the StrawNoMore project, an initiative in Australia encouraging schools globally to stop the usage of single-use plastic straws, the group took a stand. Students pitched the idea of implementing the initiative in our dining halls to the school’s Food Service Director and in their impassioned pitch, shared the harmful long-term effects of using plastic straws and the positive impact had when the use of single-use plastic straws stop. After their persuasive presentation, The Davis Academy proudly took the StrawNoMore pledge, further enhancing the school’s environmental efforts. A
The Davis Academy is proud to offer an array of student-centric educational experiences that enhance students’ leadership abilities, build skills in collaboration, and deepen students’ self confidence as they present in front of their peers. Each year, eighth grade U.S. History students participate in a special reenactment of the Second Continental Congress under the direction of George Washington (U.S. History Teacher, Matt Barry). For the event, eighth graders took on the personas of the 56 original delegates and American Revolutionists representing the thirteen original colonies, such as: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Samuel Adams. While in character, students debated the same topics our Founding Fathers discussed during the historic meeting, such as: taxation, military actions, and whether to pursue independence from Great Britain. To conclude the three-hour event, the colonies voted, decided to pursue independence from Great Britain, and signed their very own student created Declaration of Independence. C
A Better World Needs Better Leaders With an overall theme of “know your why,” eighth graders participated in an annual overnight leadership retreat at Camp Coleman in North Georgia. Throughout the retreat, students strengthened individual leadership skills and built community, while deepening their grade level connections with activities ranging from tzedek-focused tikkun olam study sessions and reflections, to culinary team building challenges and campfire ruach. As students left the retreat and kicked off the 2019-2020 school year, they felt encouraged to think about their passions, how they can fulfill them, and ultimately, how they can increase their impact of action during their final year at The Davis Academy and post eighth grade graduation. B
The Crown of a Good Name No visit to The Davis Academy Middle School is complete without visiting our Keter Shem Tov tree. Judaism teaches that there’s nothing more important than a Keter Shem Tov which means “the crown of a good name.” In anticipation of each students’ B’nai Mitzvah they research and design a beautiful leaf to add to the tree. The leaf includes a passage from the Torah or Jewish tradition that has a deep personal relevance to the student and is presented at a special school ceremony that takes place immediately before or after their B’nai Mitzvah. The Keter Shem Tov tree is a testament to the enduring relevance of Jewish wisdom as well as the profound spiritual awareness of our student body. D The Journey Magazine | Fall 2019
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Taking Sportsmanship to the Championship The Davis Academy’s Girls A Volleyball team took home the title of Division 1 MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) champions. Coached by Leanne Edison, the girls’ skills, resilience, and determination earned them the impressive record of 14-0 and a championship win against The Galloway School. While the team’s winning streak was remarkable, what is equally noteworthy is how the team exemplified sportsmanship and the school’s values (spirit, respect, community, wisdom, and righteousness) throughout their season, building a strong team community. Volleyball is one of the ten sports of The Davis Academy’s Athletic Program. Throughout the school year, more than ninety percent of Davis Middle Schoolers participate in at least one team sport, whether it be volleyball, soccer, cross country, baseball, softball, ultimate frisbee, basketball, track & field, tennis, and/or golf. A
Beyond the Classroom Offered at each grade level, Davis Academy field trips take learning to a variety of unique venues local to Atlanta, to different cities across the Southeast, to Washington DC and Israel. Promoting shared learning and growing as a community, these field trips tie into students’ curriculum and add another layer of learning exploration to each grade level’s studies. For example, each year, sixth graders take a field trip to Charleston, South Carolina to kick off their first year as middle schoolers. This field trip is an opportunity for students to explore their Jewish history, connect to the history of the South, learn about environmentalism with bodies of fresh and saltwater, and explore what it means to be a leader and to live our values no matter where we are. B
Throw Kindness Like Confetti Kicking off the 2019-2020 Lower School Guidance curriculum with extra kindness, school counselors, Jamie Rindsberg and Annie Peskin, called upon Mechina through fifth grade students to participate in the: “Throw Kindness Like Confetti” project. For this initiative, all lower school students showcased ways in which they carry out kindness and described what kindness means to them on small pieces of paper resembling confetti. With a variety of responses, including “caring for each others,” “showing respect to everyone,” “being inclusive,” and many more, the end goal of the project was to frame the school year around kindness by pointing out that anyone can be kind at anytime and at any place. As students L.O.V.E. (live our values every day), their acts of kindness are evident on our campuses and contribute toward the warm feel of our special school community. C
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Visual Arts D
See It For Yourself
By Rebecca Ganz, Lower and Middle School Visual Arts Teacher At The Davis Academy, the Visual Arts program serves as a transcendent experience for students. From the youngest Davis student to our eighth graders, artists are encouraged to explore, create and take risks without fear of making mistakes. Confidence grows before our eyes as students surpass their own expectations and exhibit an amazing balance of wonder, determination, and pride. Additionally, the children find personal meaning in their art, all while delving deeper into their Jewish identities via the many Judaic-themed projects we do. Students are exposed to a wide range of art techniques including the following: drawing with graphite, charcoal and pastels; acrylic and watercolor painting; printmaking, sculpting with clay and other materials; digital art; and photography. In addition to these creative art techniques, students learn about artists and art movements (both past and present) that have helped shape the world in which we live. Students learn how to critique and discuss art through the lenses of both the elements of art and principles of design, as well as discussing art’s role as a bigger cultural component of our society. Our Visual Arts program helps students build integral skills such as critical thinking and creative problem-solving. In art, we are not looking for one correct answer, we are looking for all of the possibilities. This ability to think along a variety of paths is used by students in every aspect of academics and life.
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L [A] 7th Grade 3D Letterforms. [B] 5th Grade Silhouette Self Portraits. [C] 6th Grade Fauvist Self Portraits. [D] 1st Grade Autumn Symmetry. [E] 2nd Grade Monet Waterlilies. [F] 3rd Grade Rosh Hashanah Pomegranates. [G] 7th Grade Embroidered Self Portraits. [H] 8th Grade Micrography Self Portraits. [I] Mechina Rosh Hashanah Apples. [ J] 4th Grade Radial Symmetry Printmaking. [K] 6th Grade Ribbon Cross-Hatching. [L] Kindergarten Thanksgiving Turkeys.
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Innovation & Design Innovation Mindset
By Stacy Brown, 21st Century Learning Coordinator
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The goal of 21st century learning at The Davis Academy is for students to be independent, resourceful, and strong global citizens who are confident in navigating their success. Students are encouraged to craft their own innovative ideas while being exposed to an array of cutting edge technologies. Starting in Mechina and kindergarten, students experience the design process beginning with an inventive idea through a final product that can be shared with others. Learners are introduced to coding as a literacy, which allows them to enter into the design process at any stage with the goal of solving problems to create a better future. Students learn to collaborate with others, develop pride over their hard work, interpret issues that require resolution, and cultivate solutions. This approach to learning ensures that all learners are well equipped to navigate the global landscape as inquisitive and empathetic citizens who are empowered to make change. Examples of learning opportunities include connecting with international pen pals via cloud-based tools, engaging in Skype visits with organizations and individuals working to positively impact the world, and leveraging robotics to create inclusive environments. At The Davis Academy, we nurture the value of lifelong learning so that upon graduation, students stay curious and are well-equipped to make a positive mark on the world.
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[A] Micah Kopelman proudly displays a mini Mac computer created with a 3D printed body and coded with Python, a programming language. [B] Students Adam Greenstein and Micah Kopelman built a SunCam, which uses solar power to take pictures on carbon paper, and used it to take a number of pictures, including birds on a power line and a series of trees. [C] Fourth grader, Jake Carlin, is building a robot, which he will then program with mBlock. [D] GaETC: Georgia Educational Technology Conference student participants (left to right): Avi Nebel, Jake Barras, Adam Ress, Micah Kopelman, Zach Rindsberg, Adam Greenstein, Drew Kaufman, and Blake Cohen. [E] Students in Maker Monday use green screen technology to learn about a variety of religions and cultures. Students made finger puppets and created short films about The Day of the Dead. Pictured: Leah Freedman. [F] Having learned the psychology behind the usability of game interfaces, 5th graders are exploring game design and creating their own video games with Bloxels. [G] Students are developing virtual reality gaming platforms with Unity. [H] Lily Greenstein is holding the LEGO Boost robot that she and her partner, Liam Dardik, built together and programmed with block coding. [I] Students work together to build their own computer. [ J] Jake Barras models Fresnel lens mask that, when worn, enlarges the head of the person wearing it.
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Rhythm & Ruach Hello, Goodbye, & Peace
The Davis Academy is delighted to announce the upcoming release of our 4th album of original Jewish music. Featuring 18 songs written by Rabbi Micah as well as performances from Davis Academy students, faculty, and alumni, the album is surely one of the most exciting collections of Jewish music to be released anywhere in the world this year. In addition to being the welcoming and friendly face that many of us associate with The Davis Academy Lower School lobby, Janice Durden is also a beloved and widely respected gospel singer. You’ve heard her sing on The Davis Academy classic, Rise Up, and now can look forward to a new song featuring Ms. Janice. Be on the lookout for your personal copy of Hello, Goodbye, & Peace and make sure to help us spread the word that The Davis Academy is in the business of bringing modern and professionally produced Jewish music to our community and the world.
Decibelles Out and About
The Davis Academy ventured to a Braves game to celebrate the new school year, to show our school spirit for Team Davis, and to support the Davis Decibelles singing the National Anthem at the game. The Davis Decibelles, our Middle School singing ensemble, perform a blend of contemporary and Jewish songs and sing at a variety of events throughout the school year, including sporting events and holiday celebrations, such as the Lighting of Avalon, and meaningful get-togethers like Café Europa, a performance for Holocaust survivors. As the Decibelles work together as a team, while they practice and perform, they enhance their skills in collaboration, leadership, and public speaking.
Keyboards & Ukulele
The Davis Academy music curriculum is designed to instill music appreciation through a dynamic program that fosters the growth of the well-rounded child. Fourth grade students learn how to play keyboard. Our music teacher Robert Michek encourages students to love keyboard by teaching them popular songs while implementing reading fundamentals, finger placing, scales, pedaling, and keen listening skills. When students reach Fifth grade, they learn to play the ukulele with music teacher Michelle Gimpelevich using a program called “Rainbow Ukulele!” Students learn how to tune their instruments, how to pluck and strum strings, how to play simple chords, and accompany themselves while singing. Students learning keyboard and ukulele have the opportunity to perform for our community throughout the year as it is fundamental to improve musical proficiency.
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Davis Fusion
Fusion Band is a Middle School year-long learning experience that provides students with expanded performance opportunities in a contemporary, ensemble environment. Students explore a wide variety of musical genres, including: Rock, Blues, Top-40, Jazz, Pop and other genres. Our curriculum is highly energetic and follows the nine national standards set by the Music Educators National Conference (MENC). Students spend the year working on their individual skills, and rehearsing their songs leading up to two “rock show” performances showcasing their talents!
SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendars for the 2020 Davis Academy musical:
Rock 101
Rock 101 is a 13-week “exploratory” musical learning experience offering 6th grade students the opportunity to learn how to play guitar, bass, piano and drums. Students learn the fundamentals of each of the instruments, then, they begin putting it all together with their bands! Students learn songs and rehearse with their band in class. In addition, they learn how to play each instrument in their group.
PERFORMANCES: Sunday, March 22 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm Monday, March 23 at 6:30 pm
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Learning CommUNITY Bringing Judaism into our Homes
Babayit: Bringing Judaism into our Homes, is the direct result of feedback from our parent body asking for additional resources to help them infuse Jewish home observances with the special ruach (spirit) of The Davis Academy. Babayit resources have been created for Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Thanksgiving and we encourage you to use them, share them, and let us know how they infuse your celebrations with even greater intentionality, meaning, and authenticity. We are excited to provide these resources in a way that reflects our Menschlichkeit values and speaks to the sensibilities of our extended Davis Academy family. A
Davis Dialogue: Parenting in the Digital Age
Hosted by Davis Parent University in both a Lower and Middle School parent session, “Davis Dialogue: Parenting in the Digital Age” gave our parents, school counselors, school administration, and 21st Century Learning Coordinator an opportunity to participate in an informal dialogue about cell phone usage, social media interactions, and how this impacts parenting strategies. Offering many unique learning opportunities, Davis Parent University serves as a resource to our school community ranging from informative sessions to activities that build community. B
Google Tour Builder Expert
Sixth Grade Language Arts Teacher, Michelle Stein was featured on Kim Mattina’s The Suite Talk podcast, where she discussed how she implements Google Tour Builder in her classroom. C
Aurora Day Camp: Bringing Joy to Children with Cancer
Aurora Day Camp, Georgia’s first day camp to be offered free of charge for children with cancer and their siblings, opened its doors on the grounds of The Davis Academy in the Summer of 2018. Following the success of the inaugural summer, we are honored and humbled that Aurora Day Camp named The Davis Academy as its first office location. D
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Cognitively-Based Compassion Training with Emory University
During the 2019-2020 academic year, The Davis Academy is partnering with faculty members from Emory University’s “Emory-Tibet Partnership” to offer CBCT compassion training for interested members of our faculty. Cognitively-based compassion training (CBCT) is a unique form of mindfulness that focuses on increasing compassion for oneself and others, all with an eye toward promoting resiliency and other healthy traits and dispositions. After conducting a thorough survey of school-based mindfulness resources, The Davis Academy selected Emory because of their extensive experience in this field as well as their proximity to Davis, which allows for greater impact and continued partnerships in the future. With the training being initially offered to faculty members, its effect will be felt in every classroom and across the school community. The Davis Academy’s core values of community, wisdom, respect, spirit, and righteousness, offer the possibility of a unique synergy between the pillars of CBCT and the timeless Jewish wisdom that animates the school’s mission. E
Georgia Library Association Honor Library and Media Assistant Lisa Pritchett received a paraprofessional grant from the Georgia Library Association which facilitated her attendance at the Georgia Libraries Conference and recognized her amazing contributions as a library professional.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
8105 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30350 770-671-0085 | davisacademy.org
PAID
Atlanta, GA Permit No. 3073
SAVE the DATE THE DAVIS ACADEMY 22ND ANNUAL
COMMUNITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Honoring Sam Tuck
Monday, May 11, 2020 | Golf Club of Georgia
SPONSORSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE: Contact Elisa Prager at 678-527-3326 or eprager@davisacademy.org