Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti as they cope with unspeakable loss and devastation and attend to rebuilding their lives:
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who helps us in times of trouble.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who guides us through times of darkness.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who rescues those who are trapped.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who provides new beginnings.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who brings us to dry ground.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe who provides us with food and shelter.
Praised are You, Lord our God, who shows us the way out.
Praised are You, Lord our God, who gives courage to the victims and to the rescuers.
Praised are You, Lord our God, who gives people the privilege of helping other people.
Rabbi Stuart Seltzer
Dean of Judaic Studies
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Cardin Community Networking for Student Raising
As a founding board member of Camp Attaway, a summer day camp for emotionally disturbed children, we are actively involved in fund raising for the camp. One of the best strategies to enhance this process is incorporating the personal human element in fund raising efforts with my network of family and friends. Board members always send a personal note and a copy of our newsletter to our network list reminding them of our purpose and how they can help financially. It is an effective means of raising dollars for our camp. This blog is not about fund raising, but applying this simple technique to student raising. Our community, including parents, faculty, students, and administration, can assist our school in this goal by implementing the following strategy:
1.Brainstorm and record the names of all Jewish families that have children in 6th-8th grades at this time. Public or private school families should be on this list.
2.Peruse the power point and fact sheet links as to how to promote positive communication that is supportive of Cardin.
3.Call any members on your list and inquire about Jewish Day School possibilities for their children. Your role is to provide information and express why Cardin was the right choice for your family.
4.Please submit your list, including any communication dates and notes, to Anne Greenspoon, Director of Admissions. She will follow up with communication efforts to members on your list and attempt to generate applicants for our school.
5.Please remind perspective applicants to include your name as a referral on the application. Our school is offering $500. Tuition credit for every new student that enrolls in our school to the referring family listed on the application.
The personal touch has been an effective means to fund raise for Camp Attaway. We can apply the same strategy in the Cardin community to student raise. Why not create and submit your list today!
Bob Cantor
Social Studies Chair
Psychology and History Instructor
1.Brainstorm and record the names of all Jewish families that have children in 6th-8th grades at this time. Public or private school families should be on this list.
2.Peruse the power point and fact sheet links as to how to promote positive communication that is supportive of Cardin.
3.Call any members on your list and inquire about Jewish Day School possibilities for their children. Your role is to provide information and express why Cardin was the right choice for your family.
4.Please submit your list, including any communication dates and notes, to Anne Greenspoon, Director of Admissions. She will follow up with communication efforts to members on your list and attempt to generate applicants for our school.
5.Please remind perspective applicants to include your name as a referral on the application. Our school is offering $500. Tuition credit for every new student that enrolls in our school to the referring family listed on the application.
The personal touch has been an effective means to fund raise for Camp Attaway. We can apply the same strategy in the Cardin community to student raise. Why not create and submit your list today!
Bob Cantor
Social Studies Chair
Psychology and History Instructor
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Cans for Cans
This past Friday, the NHS and JUST Cardin organizations partnered together to introduce a new program in our school. For the first time in Cardin school history, a recycling program has been started that includes the recycling of bottles and cans. Before this latest “green” installment in our school, we could only recycle paper. But now, everybody has the chance to save the Earth just a little more by recycling any cans and bottles that they have. As I mentioned above, JUST Cardin made the introduction of this program just a little bit better. On Friday, when the recycling bins were first introduced and put out for use, JUST and NHS ran the ‘Can for a Can’ program, in which students who brought in a can of food to donate to our food drive also received a can of soda in return. We hope that this new recycling program is the first of many steps we plan on taking to make our planet and community just that much better!
Avi Miller
Class of 2010
Avi Miller
Class of 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Cardin Development projects
I have been an educator for forty years, holding positions that range from classroom teacher to Head of School. I have never considered my various assignments to be anything but challenging, significant, pleasurable and truly rewarding. Recently, in my role as Director of Development and Marketing, I am beginning to sense some other adjectives that describe the work that I do. Salesperson, diplomat, manager, fundraiser, organizer, event planner, strategist... Somehow these do not have the same nurturing ring as “teacher”. Nonetheless, the goal in this work is enriching the educational possibilities for our students. Different labels, different goals, different pressures, but still enjoyable and even fun! Interaction with the community and all of our constituent groups is inspiring and the shared commitment to Cardin’s future is inspiring. Thanks to you all for that encouragement. Now I am off to sell fruit, raffles, and tickets to My Fair Lady and the Elvis is Everywhere event in February. Oh… Don’t forget to Dine Out for Cardin at Accents or Cocoaccinos on February 2.
Marjorie R. Hoffman
Director of Development and Marketing
Marjorie R. Hoffman
Director of Development and Marketing
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Atticus Finch and Heroes
Atticus Finch: My childhood hero, my literary icon. Finch occupied a role for me that few other characters could; he was a pioneer of social justice, while remaining loyal to his family (an accomplishment few others achieved).
In To Kill a Mockingbird,Atticus, a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama, defends Tom Robinson, an African-American man falsely accused of raping a woman. Adding to the moral significance of his actions, Atticus must defend Tom to an all white jury.
Harper Lee gives us a fictional—though undeniably realistic—account of morality. Lee creates a moral archetype in Atticus, a man committed to universal ethics and principals, willing to defend a just cause. And yet Lee’s true brilliance as an author is the ability to create a timeless hero in Atticus—he speaks to young attorneys and social activists, to people young and old. Barry Schwartz, speaking on the topic of practical wisdom, brings in Finch to highlight the loss of ethics in modern day business practices. He states, “no ten year old goes to law school to do mergers and acquisitions”, they want to be Atticus Finch.”
And for years my hero has remain impenetrable, untouched by my changing perspectives on ethics and norms. Recently, though, I came across an article by Malcolm Gladwell, famed author of pop sociology (psychology?) books including, The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Gladwell dedicates his work to challenging accepted notions, to connecting social phenomena, and drawing unnoticed conclusions based on various studies.
In August, Gladwell entered into the literary arena, taking a sociohistorical approach to examining Atticus Finch. Finch, he argues, does not challenge social norms, instead doing his job as the expectations of the position require.
Gladwell, examining Finch’s passivity at the guilty verdict—Robinson’s verdict at the end of the trial—writes: “If Finch were a civil-rights hero, he would be brimming with rage at the unjust verdict. But he isn’t. He’s not Thurgood Marshall looking for racial salvation through the law.”
Gladwell’s essay begs two important questions: Should we reevaluate our heroes? Understand the context that made them great?
I encourage you to read Gladwell’s essay (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/08/10/090810fa_fact_gladwell) on Atticus Finch and to share your reactions.
Joel Neft
English Department
In To Kill a Mockingbird,Atticus, a lawyer in Maycomb, Alabama, defends Tom Robinson, an African-American man falsely accused of raping a woman. Adding to the moral significance of his actions, Atticus must defend Tom to an all white jury.
Harper Lee gives us a fictional—though undeniably realistic—account of morality. Lee creates a moral archetype in Atticus, a man committed to universal ethics and principals, willing to defend a just cause. And yet Lee’s true brilliance as an author is the ability to create a timeless hero in Atticus—he speaks to young attorneys and social activists, to people young and old. Barry Schwartz, speaking on the topic of practical wisdom, brings in Finch to highlight the loss of ethics in modern day business practices. He states, “no ten year old goes to law school to do mergers and acquisitions”, they want to be Atticus Finch.”
And for years my hero has remain impenetrable, untouched by my changing perspectives on ethics and norms. Recently, though, I came across an article by Malcolm Gladwell, famed author of pop sociology (psychology?) books including, The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Gladwell dedicates his work to challenging accepted notions, to connecting social phenomena, and drawing unnoticed conclusions based on various studies.
In August, Gladwell entered into the literary arena, taking a sociohistorical approach to examining Atticus Finch. Finch, he argues, does not challenge social norms, instead doing his job as the expectations of the position require.
Gladwell, examining Finch’s passivity at the guilty verdict—Robinson’s verdict at the end of the trial—writes: “If Finch were a civil-rights hero, he would be brimming with rage at the unjust verdict. But he isn’t. He’s not Thurgood Marshall looking for racial salvation through the law.”
Gladwell’s essay begs two important questions: Should we reevaluate our heroes? Understand the context that made them great?
I encourage you to read Gladwell’s essay (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/08/10/090810fa_fact_gladwell) on Atticus Finch and to share your reactions.
Joel Neft
English Department
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Continued Jewish Learning
My husband and I spent New Year's Eve with a number of friends-the same couples with whom we have welcomed 20 or more years. The conversation naturally drifted to grandchildren. One woman mentioned that the family had just celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of their oldest granddaughter and that they would have the joy of another in August. She then began to "kvell" about the many merits of the day school education that her 7th grade granddaughter was receiving. Naturally, I was delighted to hear her praise, BUT then came the caveat. "They are finished with Jewish education and she will pursue an independent or magnet school when she graduates 2011."
In the next breath, she lamented the family member whose children had intermarried and moved away from Jewish practice. She was displeased about the college age relatives who are a bit adrift. So, I wondered why one should ever be finished with Jewish education? "Oh, you know", she said. I do not know!
A Jewish day school such as Cardin allows youngsters to think, question, grow, and learn. A successful 8th grade day school graduate belongs here!
As we move into this new decade, let's make that message clear to all. Cardin offers a wonderful opportunity for a diverse population of intelligent, creative Jewish children to become the thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. Spread the word!
Have a happy, peaceful, healthy year, filled with continued Jewish learning.
Marjorie Hoffman
Director of Development and Marketing
In the next breath, she lamented the family member whose children had intermarried and moved away from Jewish practice. She was displeased about the college age relatives who are a bit adrift. So, I wondered why one should ever be finished with Jewish education? "Oh, you know", she said. I do not know!
A Jewish day school such as Cardin allows youngsters to think, question, grow, and learn. A successful 8th grade day school graduate belongs here!
As we move into this new decade, let's make that message clear to all. Cardin offers a wonderful opportunity for a diverse population of intelligent, creative Jewish children to become the thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. Spread the word!
Have a happy, peaceful, healthy year, filled with continued Jewish learning.
Marjorie Hoffman
Director of Development and Marketing
Monday, January 4, 2010
Athletics Update
This week is full of exciting athletic events. Tuesday both basketball teams will face off against the Baltimore Lab school at the Park Heights JCC and then on Thursday both teams will play Sojourner in our first ever Homecoming event.
At Homecoming there will be raffles and a pizza party after for all current students and alumni.
Foye C. Minton, Jr.
Dean of Students & Director of Athletics
At Homecoming there will be raffles and a pizza party after for all current students and alumni.
Foye C. Minton, Jr.
Dean of Students & Director of Athletics
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