Meshugeh for Wornick

I am truly crazy for Wornick. Last night, the Board took on the question of how all of us (Trustees, Parents, Students and Teachers) can be authentic and effective ambassadors of Wornick.  The answer we were given by Dr. Bruce Powell, Head of School for New Community High School in Los Angeles, was that each of us must be genuinely crazy for Wornick. We must express our enthusiasm about the education and experience that our children and our families are sharing.

Like all passions, mine is personal. Every day my children are asking insightful questions and working with their classmates to discover solutions and answers. They are challenged in each subject by passionate teachers who expect them to strive for excellence. They do not memorize information for a test; they research, integrate and apply information across disciplines. Their pride in being Jews and their desire to know Israel and learn more about our people is awesome. And by the end of first grade, they each were speaking Hebrew better than me - after 7 years of Hebrew school.

My passion for Wornick grows beyond the personal benefits for my family into the impact we have on our community. For many non-Jews, Wornick is their experience of the Jewish community - ask the Foster City Fire Department or the Peninsula Humane Society (a recipient from last year's Tzedakah Project).  I was so impressed by our seventh graders when they presented their Tzedakah grants to over 20 agencies last May - and the recipient agencies were speechless in awe of a school that expects 12 and 13 year olds to seriously serve the community. As I listen to our alumni share their experiences on high school and college campuses conversing with non-Jewish classmates about Jewish faith and Israel with informed perspectives, I have hope that these young ambassadors will lead us to peace and eradicate anti-semitism.  

Wornick alumni are forming and leading Jewish youth and young adult organizations in the Bay Area. Wornick parents serve on the Boards of all our area synagogues as well as the PJCC and Federation.  What a community!  What an institution!  What an education!

My craziness for Wornick shows in the stretch gift my family makes to the school as well as our proud display of Wornick logo wear and buttons wherever we go. It shows in my choice to work on Wornick marketing and Board activities in lieu of relaxing in front of the TV (although I do that too!). And like many of you, I seize every opportunity to tell anyone with any interest at all about how crazy I am for Wornick. 

Why are you crazy for Wornick? How do you show it?  What could we do as a community to energize each other with craziness for Wornick?

I'd love to read your thoughts.