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COMMUNITYHAPPENINGS
Lori Lesser cherishes the day her 14-year-old son got into the car and chatted about the wonderful day he had at school with his friends. While this may be typical everyday conversation between a mother and a son – this was a “first” for Matthew, who previously struggled to make connections. “My son has now made friends,” said Lesser. “As a parent, my first priority has always been to find a school that can embrace his differences and achieve his full potential.” Recently, Matthew had the courage to address a crowd about South Florida Jewish Academy (SFJA) – now having the ability to share his excitement with other people besides his mother. SFJA is the only Jewish day school in the tri-county area specializing in the education of children with special needs in grades kindergarten thru high school. The
Academy opened its doors four years ago to a handful of students who were on the peripheral of Jewish life. Today, SFJA serves nearly 50 children from Palm Beach, Broward and Dade County with mild to moderate learning disabilities, including ADD, ADHA, Aspergers, Autism, Auditory Processing Disorders, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other special needs. “By preserving a small student ratio, our qualified educators are able to hand-tailor an individual curriculum based on each child’s learning pace, style and ability,” said Baila Gansburg, SFJA director. “We find the key to unlock each child’s own method of learning whether they are auditory, visual or tactile learners.” In partnership with a staff of speech/language pathologists and occupational therapists, each student’s growth is measured socially in conjunction with academics. Additionally, SFJA is proud to be on the cutting edge of special needs education by installing the first Space Craft Sensory Suite in North America, designed to calm and stimulate students through the combination of sights, sounds, textures and movements. “The reality was mainstream Jewish day schools and synagogues were not equipped to accommodate students with disabilities,” Gansburg said. “This school opened its doors on the premise that all children,
regardless of their challenges, are entitled to every opportunity to learn, grow and enjoy a Jewish life blessed with our rich traditions,” In addition, SFJA is the only high school that provides a work-based learning experience and training program that is specific to each student’s assessed strengths and abilities. Emphasis is placed on vocational programs in service occupations, technology support and health careers. “This school is ‘The Big Bang’ ready to happen,” said Vicki Sied, occupational therapist. “It has all the right ingredients. The recipe is set. It can only go forward.” Nationally accredited, SFJA is open for enrollment accepting Mckay Scholarships and Florida Pride. Financial assistance is also available for qualified applicants. For more information, visit www. floridajewishacademy.org. Or, call (954) 427-7788 to schedule a school tour.
Yachad Hosts First Teen Board Meeting and Installation of Officers (Boca Raton, FL) July 13, 2011 - - - Yachad, an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of all individuals with disabilities and including them in the Jewish community and NCSY, the premier organization dedicated to connecting, inspiring and empowering Jewish teens, are both under the umbrella of the Orthodox Union. Both Yachad and NCSY have regional advisory boards. The boards are made up of teens who are dedicated to enriching their Jewish communities through various programming efforts. The Yachad inaugural meeting for the 2011-2012 Slate of Teen Officers took place on Wednesday, June 30th, 2011. Eliana Feldan, 16 of Boca Raton, FL and Gabriella Sobol, 16 of Hollywood, FL assumed the roles of Co-Presidents and Samita Barrocas, 17 of Boca Raton, FL became the NCSY Liaison. The new board discussed member responsibilities, including attendance of monthly meetings, staffing Yachad programs and serving as ambassadors to the cause in their home communities. The new board evaluated potential programs for future events, including an annual marathon, boat ride, spa event and Oscars-style party. “What’s amazing, is that I am not even in Florida right now, and this meeting was organized and executed totally on their own! It’s unbelievable how dedicated these teens are,” stated Tzippi Rosen, Yachad South Florida Coordinator. “This initial meeting truly highlights the teen’s assumption of responsibility and leadership roles in our communities.”
“We are both so excited for the upcoming school year and what it has in store for Yachad South Florida. The new high school board met earlier this week and from the get-go, we can see that the board members are not only motivated, but also thinking outside the box. Countless ideas were presented as we brainstormed, and we, along with the rest of the Yachad high school board, cannot wait to start turning those ideas into a reality! We are excited to include even more people in Yachad this upcoming year, and we cannot wait to get started!”, stated Eliana and Gabriella. The purpose of the teen board is to give them responsibility and help in the creation of programs and events. Having them involved in the process gives them the confidence to become future leaders within the Jewish Community. Yachad is dedicated to addressing the needs of all individuals with disabilities and including them in the Jewish community. Yachad members participate in several inclusive activities per month. There are Yachad Chapters located throughout the United States and Canada. Yachad activities provide our members with opportunities for personal growth and enriched lives. The ‘inclusive design’ gives our special population their rightful place within the Jewish community, while helping to educate our community about our members’ abilities and strengths. NCSY works together with Yachad to provide many activities, including Shabbatons and many NCSY members participate as the mainstream component. (Put something else about NCSY here) For more information on Yachad and NCSY, please visit http://www.ou.org
THE SOUTH FLORIDA JEWISH HOME ■ AUG. 18, 2011
JEWISH DAY SCHOOL EMBRACES STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES