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of the Pupils' Express
Dear Parent, I attended a meeting this week at the San Francisco Federation for the heads of all Bay Area Jewish agencies. It was quite a gathering of the leaders of agencies that provide superb resources available to us on the Peninsula. Rabbi Marv Goodman delivered a D’var Torah which included a wonderful Chassidic story about the Rebbe of Zans. He is said to have told others, “In my youth, when I was on fire with the love of God, I thought I would save the whole world, and so I tried but did not succeed. “When I grew older, I discovered that it would be wiser to begin with my own town and I tried that for along time too, but did not succeed. “Older yet, I thought to begin to repair the world with my own family and myself. I regret nothing of these decisions; I only wish I had begun with myself.” Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are gifts in time and space that we are given. They are opportunities, as shown in the story of the Rabbi of Zans, to reflect on where we are and where we wish to be by Rosh Hashanah of the following year. Beginning with ourselves and our school is a goal of our 7th graders as this week, they begin their Tzedakah project. Working as individuals and as a class, these students learn what it means to be philanthropists, to research worthy causes, to find out the needs that exist in the world. They are then empowered to begin change, to begin the repair of the world, always growing in the process. This Tzedakah project is just one of the many exciting projects and activities that your children have begun this year. I was in Ms. Vici Blackman’s third grade class this week (Ms. Diana Kennedy’s class is also doing this same project) and saw their projects illustrating the many landforms that exist in our area—from peninsulas, to bays to mountains. They were so visually attractive I asked if I could have one to frame for my office! The creativity in combining geography with an understanding of our own physical area and an artistic display shows the best that exists in our school. Later in the year, the 4th graders will research similar geographic landforms in Israel. Morah Kaylee’s fourth graders visited the PJCC’s Early Childhood Program to read storiesand played games with the 3 and 4 year old children. Our partnership with all campus programs is strengthening, adding to our resources. Our 4th graders learned wonderful skills themselves by reading to these pre-schoolers and gave so much to these young children who share our campus. We will be doing many more programs which bring our two schools together. During the month of Elul, we blow the shofar at every morning service during the week. We are blessed to have so many young shofar blowers who contribute to our holiday spirit. Kol ha-kavod especially to Emily Izenson, who can do the tekiya gedolah with the best of adult shofar blowers! On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our staff, I want to wish all of you a L’Shana Tova Umetuka, a good and sweet year. To add to your sweetness, the school is most happy to present to each family a jar of honey, with its own honey dipper and decorative apple. Thank you, Dana Spanger, for organizing our Rosh Hashanah/New Year greeting to each family. From my family to yours, the happiest, healthiest and most fulfilling New Year. Shabbat Shalom,
Head of School | 
