Sponsored by the Benjamin and Anna E. Wiesman Family Endowment Fund AN AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF OMAHA
All about the Friedel PTO
May 1, 2015 12 Iyar 5775 Vol. 95 | No. 33
This Week
by CLAUDIA SHERMAN Friedel Jewish Academy This spring’s Plant and Flower Sale, sponsored by Friedel Jewish Academy’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), is scheduled for Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the main entrance of the Jewish Community Center. The plant sale, along with the Hanukkah Latke Lunch, are among the largest fundraisers for the school. They’re “also our most labor intensive and high profile events,” explained Gabby Blair, who co-chairs the PTO with Danni Christensen. PTO “fulfills a variety of roles at the school,” Gabby pointed out. “We coordinate the sales of school spirit wear which, just this year, went to an online ordering system by a local vendor who is also part of the Jewish community.” (The selection can be viewed at http://www.omahashirts.com, click on “stores” and select “Friedel.”) “PTO is also responsible for supporting school-wide holiday celebrations by providing funds or securing donors for food and other supplies the teachers request, within reason,” she added. “Thanks to the generosity of donors, like Jack and Helene, and Michael and Melissa Shrago, who have been among the most ardent supporters of PTO events over the years, we are able
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Gabby Blair with son Ezra, and Danni Christensen with son Micah to continue to provide this service to the school. PTO also provides yearly teacher grants to help offset a portion of out-of-pocket expenses related to classroom materials that our wonderful and dedicated educators may incur over the course of the school year in addition to quarterly staff appreciation gifts. “We also do the majority of shopping, setup, cleanup, and volunteer coordination for school events, in ad-
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by OZZIE NOGG The flowers that bloom in the spring (tra la) will once again be center stage at the annual LOVE Remember Her with Flowers on Mother’s Day Celebration scheduled for Sunday, May 10. “This event is a fundraiser for LOVE,” explained Linda Cogen, Volunteer Coordinator. “We emailed a promotional flyer, showing the plants available for purchase, to all the contacts of Rose Blumkin Jewish Home residents. This makes it easy, especially for outof-town family who may not know a local florist to call. Our sale gives everyone an opportunity to send a beautiful flowering plant to their loved one and also feel good knowing that the money benefits the Home. Our prices are very reasonable, too.” Cogen sent Flower Sale flyers to every agency on the Federation Campus, Mainstreeters, and local congregations, and posted the event on Facebook. “We want as many people as possible to know about this project and support it.” Floral options include African violet and other blooming plants, a Balloon Bouquet and a European Garden arrangement. Floral orders are due by Monday, May 4, for pickup in the Blumkin Home Gift Shop on Friday, May 8, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Continued on page 2
dition to planning and orchestrating occasional book fairs and fundraisers,” said Gabby. “PTO plays such an important role at Friedel in helping to provide a great environment for our students to thrive in and in creating opportunities to our parents to be involved,” said Beth Cohen, Friedel’s new head of school. “The extra support they provide to our teachers is very much appreciated.” PTO wants to make sure all of the
fun events and celebrations are available to the kids. “The teachers also benefit from an extra set of hands here and there,” Danni said. Both Danni and Gabby have been PTO co-chairs for the past two school years. So far this year, “The events have all gone off without a hitch, so I would say that is a good indicator of success,” said Gabby. “I think this year has also been successful, Continued on page 2
Sokolof Teacher of the Year by SUZANNE SINGER garden at 25th and Hamilton. Nancy Rampey-Biniamow has For these gardens, Nancy and her been named the Phil and Ruth students built 4’ by 8’ raised cedar Sokolof Outbeds, spread the standing Jewish compost, got on Teacher for 2015. their knees and She has been a planted the herbs science teacher and vegetables. for 13 years at Her students Omaha Public learned how to School’s Blackgrow food for burn Alternative their families and School, which is developed an unfor students who derstanding of have been unable the origins of to succeed in their food. Her OPS’s traditional horticulture proclassrooms. gram is tied into According to the culinary arts Nancy Rampey-Biniamow her nominations, department so Rampey’s students are generally that the students not only learn troubled teenagers who often are about growing plants from seeds, members of gangs. They need but also how to harvest the produce someone to believe in them, and and then to prepare it in a nutriNancy shows them she cares. She tional manner. gives them direction that many Nancy had been troubled for have found lacking in their lives. years by her concern for students She believes these students need who do not want to be in school or an education integrated with mar- work on their class lessons. Hortiketable skills for the workforce. culture has been a part of her anWorking with OPS’s Vocational Ed- swer. She and her students have ucation Department, the Sherwood developed a hydroponic system Foundation and Blackburn, a grant that is fertilized by goldfish. The was obtained to build and develop a students are also taught how to horticulture program at the school. build their own hydroponic system The program has developed four using pop bottles so that they and campus gardens plus a community Continued on page 2