FEBRUARY 2019 VOL. 1
STUDENT ART GALLERY
Sand-sketch by a middle school student. Sand-sketching, sometimes referred to as “Table Decking,” was popular during the 17th and 18th centuries. Wealthy patrons commissioned artists to create elaborate designs in colored sand for the banquet tables, which then discarded at the end of the celebration. A Bavarian table decker named Benjamin Zorbel was distraught about losing his works of art, so he invented a way to permanently affix the sand to a board. Our students were given small tablets and a variety of colors to make these masterpieces.
Faux cubist style art created by a 9th grader in Ms. Hillary’s classroom. In this art unit, students created a contour line drawing, divided their paper into sections, and colored each space using a different color.
Hand-made mugs created by TDS students using the pottery wheel. Students had the choice of making a cup, plate, mug or a hand sculpture during the Pottery Wheel Art Unit. The mugs in this picture are just some of the pieces made by students from various classrooms. Check out the JCFS TDS Bulldog News on our website to learn more about the special order the TDS art room received.
EVENTS
JCFS.org/TDS for information related to TDS events and CAAEL activities. February 1 - end of 2nd quarter March 19 - High School & Yeshiva Pizza Lunch February 15 - No class April 5 - End of 3rd quarter February 18 - Presidents Day - No class April 10 - Conference Night February 19 - Elementary Pizza Lunch April 15-19 - Spring Break - No class March 15 - Staff In-Service - No class
OUR MISSION
We believe students can reach their full potential when given the opportunity to journey towards a path of self-discovery. Driven by nurturing relationships and strengths-based supports, the JCFS Therapeutic Day School provides a holistic educational experience to K-12+ learners with diverse social/emotional and academic needs.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Have you seen growth from your child or did you have a positive interaction with a TDS Staff member? We’d love to hear from you and welcome your feedback. Contact Rachel London, Admissions and Marketing Coordinator at RachelLondon@JCFS.org or 773.467.3711.
Jewish Child & Family Services is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community. We embrace diversity. Our commitment to inclusivity is woven throughout our services, programs and welcoming workplace.
OUR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
Grace Hollander, a middle school teacher, is conducting a history lesson using Pear Deck, an interactive tool used for learning. In 2017, JCFS Therapeutic Day School (TDS) began to shift in their approach to everyday academic instruction. Trends in education are moving towards “blended learning environments,” a style of teaching that infuses technology into the curriculum. According to Chava Saul, Technology Resource Teacher, the results have been overwhelmingly positive. She’s seen a huge shift in student learning experiences and academic growth for those classrooms that piloted the program. “Teachers found that administrative tasks became more automated and therefore, they could spend more time focused on student learning.” She added, “a blended learning environment provides personalized instruction that allows each student to work at their own pace, with consideration for learning style and skills. Currently, the TDS technology program is running in seven classrooms, with the plan to run in each classroom by the end of 2020. Another benefit of a technologically
infused curriculum is the ability to electronically administer curriculum-based assessments and measure student growth. Fast Bridge, a new testing resource for our teachers, allows them to better evaluate students current academic skill level and track student growth. The testing data shows areas for improvement and areas of competency/mastery, which helps identify the skills that still require attention. At the end of every quarter, students are tested to monitor their progress. If they fall in moderate to highrisk ranges, their teacher can provide more intensive interventions. The goals of the technology program are closely connected to the school’s mission which promotes academic and social/emotional growth with an end-goal (when appropriate) of reintegration. “We know that in today’s world, technology is at the forefront of everything. We want out students to be ready to transition into whatever may be next- their home school, a job in the workforce, or to higher education.
Technology integration, when used in the right way, can only prepare our students to be successfully contributing members of our society.” The technology program was made possible by generous donors; please reach out the school if you’re interested in learning more about how you can support the JCFS TDS Technology Program.
“This school has given my family peace of mind. From the day our daughter started at JCFS we felt she was in a safe, comfortable, encouraging, environment. Her whole person was taken into account, not just her academics.” –TDS Parent A CHAMPION FOR EVERY CHILD