What's Going on at Wornick

August 2023

Wornick professionals look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time on campus and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every issue we share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

HAPPENINGS AT WORNICK

First Day of School

Last week we welcomed students back to campus for the new school year! They were excited to be together with their friends and settle into their new classrooms. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, building community, and growing together. Thank you to our PTO for the coffee cart and all the decorations! Click here to see some photos from our first day of school.

Wagshul Wonders

This annual publication honors 1st Grade Teacher Karen Wagshul's years of service at Wornick, and features student's art and writing pieces centered around a common theme. This past year's theme was "Partnership" and students from different grades submitted many creative entries. Congratulations to all the students' whose work was selected and thank

you to Mrs. Wagshul, Ginger, and Dana for their help in creating the publication! See the current and past issues here.

Wornick Teachers in Micronesia

Wornick's Music Teacher Andrea Duran and Art Teacher Ginger Slonaker had an amazing opportunity to teach at the Akoyikoyi School on the island of Chuuk this summer. They spent a month living and working on the island with students aged 6-15. Click here to learn more about their unique summer experience.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Max Lieberman graduated from Wornick in 2012, and attended Carlmont High School. After high school Max went to the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in business, focusing on marketing and information analytics. This past June, Max completed his masters degree at University of Washington in information management with a focus on user experience, and then went on a study abroad trip to Amsterdam to learn about libraries, museums, and archives and how they relate to innovation in the public sector.

This trip reminded Max of the library at Wornick and about when his grandfather came to speak to middle schoolers at Wornick about the Holocaust, and then visited Max's first grade classroom to read from a book that he wrote. One of the stories was about getting a library card, and that day after school Max remembers going to the Foster City library to get his first library card. Max's grandfather continues to be an important role model in his life.

After graduating from college in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, Max moved back home and freelanced as a website designer as well as doing some pro bono work for startups. He began learning about the field of user experience, which for him, is the perfect blend of technical knowledge and business acumen. Max also created a podcast during this time focusing on mental health issues, inspired by some of the challenges he faced while considering his own personal journey. Max reflected back on the values of tikkun olam and tzedakah that he learned at Wornick. He thought that the podcast was a way that he could help others by interviewing other successful people about their journeys of beginning and overcoming challenges.

Max recently started a job as a project associate in app design at Jetson, a Seattle-based startup, which developed an interactive app to help teens learn about entrepreneurship and how to start a business. Max says that this feels like a "full circle moment" for him because he remembers a classmate in high school who was developing a search engine and how Max got involved to help promote the end product. What stands out the most for him at Wornick was also the experiential projects such as the bridge project in middle school. Now he now enjoys helping teens explore ways to develop their own creative ideas.

In his free time, Max enjoys pickleball, yoga, basketball, and hiking. He also still keeps in touch with many of his Wornick classmates.

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Community Babysitting Resources

We have created a list of available babysitters for the Wornick community which lives in the FACTS family portal under Resource Documents. If you or your teen is interested in making themselves available to Wornick families as a babysitting resource, please have them complete this form that will be updated regularly and maintained on our secure portal for enrolled families. Please note that this is a community resource only, and families should do their due diligence when hiring any babysitters. This list is not owned by Wornick and Wornick is not endorsing any individual on the list.

Calling All Alumni!

If you (or your child) are a Wornick graduate, we would love your updated contact information so we can stay in touch and invite you to upcoming Wornick events. Please email alumni@wornickjds.org and let us know how and what you are doing here. We would love to hear from you! And if you (or your child) are currently a student in college, please send their email and mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org so we can stay connected.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network

"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey

We are beginning our admissions season for the 2024-25 year! If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please share our Begin Your Wornick Journey page to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

July 2023

Wornick professionals look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time on campus and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every issue we share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

HAPPENINGS AT WORNICK

Congratulations to the Wornick class of 2023!

We wish our newest alumni well as they move on to attend high school at Aragon, Carlmont, Castilleja, Hillsdale, Kehillah, Lake Tahoe Prep, San Mateo, Serra, Summit, and Woodside. We are so proud of you and can't wait to see what you do next!

Congratulations to the Wornick Class of 2019 who graduated from high school this year!

We wish them all the best on the next steps of their journey. In addition to some alumni opting for gap year experiences and alternative educational routes, some of the colleges they will be attending include: College of San Mateo, Elon, Northeastern, Northwestern, NYU, Stanford, Syracuse, Tulane,

UCLA, UC Davis, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, University of Nevada Reno, University of Oregon, University of Rhode Island, USC, and University of Washington!

Wornick wins Best of the Best awards!

Bay Area Parent magazine just published the Best of the Best awards for 2023. And we are very excited to announce that for the second year in a row Wornick won gold medals as both the best private elementary and best private middle school on the peninsula! Thanks to all of our dedicated teachers and staff, our supportive families, and everyone who voted!

Drum Circle with Music by Heart

and Concert with Lior Ben-Hur & Sol Tevél
Thursday, August 17 • 5:00 - 7:00 pm

We invite you attend this special event designed to bring together all the families and professional community members of the North Peninsula Jewish Campus youth programs. Complimentary admission for Wornick families with advanced registration.

All members of the wider community are welcome to purchase tickets on a sliding scale of contribution. For more information and to RSVP, please visit the event page on our website.

Krembo Challah

This coming school year, we are excited to announce that we will be selling challah from Krembo, a Kosher bakery created and opened by Fran Lent, a dedicated Wornick community member. Located in the Lent Chabad Center in San Mateo, Krembo bakes both regular and gluten-free challah. Enrolled Wornick families will be able to order online via the Hot Lunch portal.

Two new Shinshinim are coming to Wornick!

Lia and Naor are two young adults from Israel who are volunteering to teach in our community for a year before they join the IDF. An important part of their experience is the relationship with host families. If you are interested in hosting for part of the school year (up to 3-4 months) or if you want to speak to previous hosts about their experience, please contact

Morah Rani at rsolomon@wornickjds.org.

Save the Date! We invite you to join us for coffee on Wednesday, September 13 at 8:30 am to meet Lia and Naor, and hear about experiences from previous host families.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Cody Kletter graduated from Wornick in 2021 and is going into his junior year at Menlo School, a college preparatory school in Atherton. Cody felt very well prepared both academically and socially during the transition to high school. For example, as part of differentiated learning at Wornick he completed Geometry in 8th grade and was one of only two students in his freshman class who was placed into Algebra 2 Honors. Cody also developed strong leadership skills at Wornick serving as Student Council co-president in 8th grade. This carried over into high school where he was elected sophomore class president, and a class senator for this coming year.

In his role as class president, Cody gained valuable life experience by trying to fulfill his campaign promise of having vending machines installed at school. He met with the CEO of a vending machine company and presented his proposal to senior school administrators. Even though the administration eventually decided against the idea, Cody was successful in adjusting his plan and working out a compromise which involved reopening the school snack bar.

One of Cody's favorite hobbies is chess and he has been leading Menlo's chess club, which has been growing in size and popularity. To accommodate players who were more serious about the game, he created a chess team. Cody reached out to other high school chess clubs and personally organized a competition with 55 players from over 10 different schools, and he hopes that this could help lead to the establishment of a high school chess league.

Cody participates in several other extra-curricular activities including Mock Trial where he had the role of a witness and an attorney on the junior varsity team. He also worked with the varsity team which won first place in California. Cody grew up playing soccer, and was promoted to the varsity team in his sophomore year. He is also a member of Menlo's TEDx club, working to bring speakers to campus.

This summer, Cody is taking a business course for high school students at Columbia University in New York. He decided to participate in this program to learn more about business and finance, as well as meet new people and spend time exploring New York City. And, although Cody's 8th grade Israel trip at Wornick was canceled because of Covid, he's looking forward to practicing his Hebrew skills on a BBYO trip to Israel this summer.

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Community Babysitting Resources
If you or your teen is interested in making themselves available to Wornick families as a babysitting resource, please have them complete this form that will be updated regularly and maintained on our secure portal for enrolled families. Please note that this a community resource only, and families should do their due diligence when hiring any babysitters. This list is not owned by Wornick and Wornick is not endorsing any individual on the list.

Alumni! Come Have Fun and Get Paid to Work in Gesher!
Gesher is looking for a couple of people who would love to join Ms. Wagshul in Gesher (our aftercare program) next year. Gesher runs from 3:30-6 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 3-6 pm. If you would be interested in volunteering or working 1-3 afternoons per week please let us know with an email to gesher@wornickjds.org.

Calling All Alumni!
If you (or your child) are a Wornick graduate, we would love your updated contact information so we can stay in touch and invite you to upcoming Wornick events. Please email alumni@wornickjds.org and let us know how and what you are doing here. We would love to hear from you! And if you (or your child) are currently a student in college, please send their email and mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org so we can stay connected.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network
"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

May 2023

Wornick professionals look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time on campus and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every issue we share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Kindergarten - Community Helpers

Kindergarteners learned about what makes a community. They each chose a community helper to study about what they do and where they work. Then they used recycled materials to construct buildings and create a city, and invited parents and community members to a ribbon cutting ceremony.

2nd Grade Heroes

Second graders learned about heroes and how they make a difference in the world. Each student chose a hero to research, and learned facts about their life including their greatest accomplishments and challenges they faced. They dressed up and presented information to the school community at the Heroes Fair.

Overnight Study Trips

Fifth and sixth graders enjoyed overnight trips to the California coast, seventh graders learned about Civil Rights during their trip to the American South, and eighth graders experienced an incredible trip to Israel, culminating their education in Hebrew, Jewish Studies, and History.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Jessica Bodin graduated from Wornick in 2014, then went to Hillsdale High School and later continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In college, she studied Journalism with a focus in strategic communication, as well as Criminal Justice on the pre-Law track.

During Jessica’s time in Madison, she was on the campus’ Chabad leadership board helping to plan events and work on outreach for the school’s Jewish community. Moreover, she worked for the University for almost three years, starting out as a Tour/Information Guide and later being promoted to be the program’s Marketing intern where she ran the visitor websites, social media, and email accounts. During her college years, she also interned at Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and UW-Madison’s Family Law clinic, serving the underprivileged local community in need of legal services.

After her graduation in May 2022, Jessica moved to Madrid, Spain to teach English. She currently works at a public school with children from ages 3-5 teaching them the basic English vocabulary they will need as they continue their bilingual education in Spain. Although working with young children (especially in a foreign country) can be a challenge, Jessica says being a teacher has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life, and it has been extremely rewarding to be a part of early childhood education. Plus, living in Spain has given her the opportunity to travel the world, which has always been a passion of hers. After leaving Spain, Jessica plans to work in the legal field before deciding whether she would like to pursue a career in Family Law, or get a Masters in Early Childhood Education to continue working as a preschool teacher.

Jessica believes one of the most important things she learned from her years at Wornick is the importance of a Jewish community. After graduating from Wornick, it became almost second-nature for her to seek out ways to stay involved in a Jewish community, especially after moving alone to the Midwest for college. She feels that her Jewish identity would not be as strong or as important to her without those nine formative years at Wornick.

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Community Babysitting Resources
If you or your teen is interested in making themselves available to Wornick families as a babysitting resource, please have them complete this form that will be updated regularly and maintained in our family portal.

Calling All Alumni!
If you (or your child) are a Wornick graduate, we would love your updated contact information so we can stay in touch and invite you to upcoming Wornick events. Please email alumni@wornickjds.org and let us know how and what you are doing here. We would love to hear from you!

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network
"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

April 2023

Friday, April 28, 2023

7 Iyyar 5783

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

In addition to our joyful celebration of Israel's 75th birthday during Yom Ha'Atzmaut, we also took time to reflect and observe the holidays of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaShoah.

Yom HaZikaron

Our Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day) ceremony was very moving. We shared memories of fallen soldiers, heard the first-hand experience of an Israeli veteran, and our Shinshinim talked what the holiday means to them as Israelis. Then we held a MemoRun where students and staff honored a fallen soldier by wearing their name.

Yom HaShoah

During our commemoration students in 5th-8th grades, parents, teachers, and staff met to recite prayers, listen to the sound of the siren, hear stories, and discuss the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. We lit memorial candles to remember those who were lost, and to remind us to never forget.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Elisha Gillette graduated from Wornick in 2013, went to Hillsdale High School and then studied at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), graduating in 2021. Their major was Film, Animation, and Video (FAV) because they knew that they loved to draw and paint, but adding those extra skills would enhance their career outside of only illustration.

Elisha decided to stay in Providence and has been working for a publisher designing book covers. This has been a new venture in the last year and they love it. Elisha says "I get to combine visual and critical skills in a fulfilling environment, and seeing my work in print is very cool." Elisha has also been doing freelance work illustrating books and animation projects which allows them to interact with many different types of people.

Elisha feels that "Growth Mindset" was the most important thing that they learned at Wornick and it stuck with them the most. It changed how they worked and led them down a path where they are comfortable (and even enthusiastic!) about critique and acknowledging their misgivings. They know they can always look forward to who they will become after they learn.

As for the future, Elisha says, stability for artists right now is particularly not in great supply, however they always look forward to the next project, client, and adventure and adds "I'm always looking to be the best me."

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Calling All College Students!
If you or your child is currently a student in college, we would love to get their contact information so we can stay in touch and invite them to upcoming Wornick events. Please send their email and mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org and we'll be sure to include them.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network
"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

March 2023

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

6 Nisan 5783

Wow! What a magical night!

We would like to thank our exceptional community

who together made this night a huge success:

the remarkable speakers,

our extraordinary alumni,

the outstanding grandparents,

the committed parents, alumni parents,

and our dedicated donors.

More than 200 guests filled the room with support, love, and commitment for Wornick Jewish Day School's Acharai - Choosing Leadership Gala. We raised over $200,000 that will directly support our students in their educational and leadership journeys.

We were excited to introduce our first Community Trivia Hunt! How well do you know Wornick? The correct answers are at the end of this email:

1. Where was our Head of School Mr. Eilath born?

2. Which Wornick sports team just won a championship?

3. What food does Rachel serve on Thursdays?

4. What is the Wornick mascot?

5. What sport did Mrs. Haire play in college?

6. How many Challot do our students eat at Kabbalat Shabbat in a year? 73, 89, 102, 127, or 141?

With great appreciation and gratitude,

Haggit Sandhaus

Haven't contributed yet?

Had so much fun and forgot?

NOW is the time!

Make a donation

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Wornick Gala Video

We invite you to join us for a virtual tour of leadership at of Wornick C. Jewish Day School. Get inspired by our students demonstrations of leadership across grade levels and subjects.

5th Grade PBL

After learning that Foster City had two of the most polluted beaches in California and making observations at the lagoon, 5th grade students investigated to see if this could be caused by the increase in the Canadian Geese population, and researched ways that they could help solve the problem.

Happy Passover!

We wish our Wornick community a very joyous Passover with their friends and family. And hope that our students enjoy a restful school break. Chag Pesach Sameach!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Lila Abrams graduated from Wornick in 2020 and is currently a junior at Hillsdale High School. When she started high school during the Covid pandemic, her classes were all online for most of her freshman year. But Lila's volleyball experience at Wornick and on a club team enabled her to join the JV volleyball team which practiced outdoors so she was able to start meeting other students in person.

Academically, Lila says that she felt very well prepared for high school and had an easy transition to classes such as Biology in freshman year which covered much of the same material that she learned at Wornick. Since then, Lila has continued with Chemistry and AP Biology in her sophomore year, AP Physics this year, and she is planning to take AP Environmental Science next year, along with several other rigorous and AP classes.

Lila also participates in Mock Trial at Hillsdale and her JV team just won first place in San Mateo County. She says it's been a great way to make friends and practice her public speaking skills, and she enjoyed the experience of taking on the role of an expert witness. Additionally, Lila is also involved in the "Bring Change to Mind" club which helps bring awareness to mental health issues.

To stay connected to her Jewish identity, Lila is active in USY, which she joined in 8th grade. She serves as Vice President of her chapter board, a member of the Regional General Board, and Tefillah chair, as well as helping to plan a recent regional convention. Lila is excited about going on a 6-week trip to Israel this summer with Ramah, which includes a powerful opportunity to see historical sites in Poland, such as Auschwitz before arriving in Israel, which Lila expects will be a very emotional experience for her.

Lila has recently come back to Wornick to help teach an afterschool volleyball clinic, and she is looking forward to returning next year to help coach the school volleyball team. Lila says that playing volleyball at Wornick was super fun for her, and she wants to give current students the same opportunity that she had to improve their skills and succeed as a team.

SPREAD THE WORD

Calling All College Students!
If you or your child is currently a student in college, we would love to get their contact information so we can stay in touch and invite them to upcoming Wornick events. Please send their email and mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org and we'll be sure to include them.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network
"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

1. Where was Mr. Eilath born? Toronto, Canada

2. Which Wornick sports team just won a championship? Girls Basketball

3. What food does Rachel serve on Thursdays? Pizza

4. What is the Wornick mascot? Ram

5. What sport did Mrs. Haire play in college? Volleyball and Softball

6. How many Challahs do our students eat at Kabbalat Shabbat in a year? 102

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

February 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

7 Adar 5783

Wornick professionals look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time on campus and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every issue we share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

2nd Grade PBL

As part of Project Based Learning (PBL), second graders were asked the question "How can we learn about the past, to imagine and predict the future?" Students used primary and secondary sources, created personal timelines, interviewed relatives, researched their family heritage, and created artifacts and inventions related to a specific topic area.

7th Grade Cell Project

In Science class, students were challenged to make a comparison between a cell and another familiar object such as a computer, car engine, castle, and the human body. This project included a drawing, description about how the organelles in the cell compare to the parts of the other object, and an explanation about why this comparison is useful.

Science Fair Winners

Congratulations to all of the 6th and 8th graders who researched, performed experiments, and presented their final projects at our annual Science Fair, and good luck to the winners who will participate in the upcoming San Mateo County STEM Fair!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Josh Lipson ('13) has a memory from 2011 of his tent walls caving in due to an unexpected snow storm while camping in Yosemite Valley on an outdoor education program with Wornick. At the time he remembers being frightened - and then amused - and he certainly wouldn’t have guessed during his Wornick graduation that it was an event such as this that would shape his life going forward. In high school, Josh fell in love with outdoor recreation and time spent in the natural world. He began taking longer and longer hikes, choosing to spend his summers in Yosemite, and eventually planning and going on his own backpacking trips. Through each of these events, Josh’s passion for time spent outside continued to grow.

Josh graduated from Sequoia High School in 2017 and chose to attend the University of Colorado Boulder for college, in large part due to the proximity to the Rocky Mountains. In the summers between school, Josh returned to his old stomping grounds in Yosemite to work at Camp Tawonga for two summers as a Counselor and one summer as a Wilderness Leader. Josh spent these years summiting mountains, snowboarding and skiing, learning to rock climb, and backpacking. At the same time, he also found a passion for teaching youth and inspiring the next generation in the same way that he was inspired as a boy. In school, Josh majored in Environmental Studies and became keenly aware of the vulnerability of the natural places he loved to threats such as climate change. This only made Josh more motivated to teach younger generations and help to make them stewards of the environment.

In the fall of 2019, Josh took a semester off from college to travel to Patagonia, Chile and enrolled in a 3 month course with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He spent this time sea-kayaking, mountaineering, and backpacking in the remote Patagonian wilderness. There, Josh gained outdoor leadership skills and realized that pursuing a career path similar to his instructors was viable for him. Following the summer of 2021 - which he spent leading backpacking trips for kids in Yosemite - Josh was sure this was what he wanted to pursue after college graduation. In the summer of 2022, Josh was hired as an Outward Bound California instructor in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He spent the summer leading trips lasting 8 to 14 days all throughout remote parts of the Sierras, gaining tons of valuable experiences and making lifetime memories.

Since the fall, Josh has been working as a naturalist and outdoor educator at an outdoor education school called "Exploring New Horizons" based out of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Coincidently, he now runs similar programs to the one he recalls as a Wornick student back in 2011. While Josh doesn’t know exactly where life will take him next, he knows that he hopes to continue to pursue his own love for the outdoors while also inspiring others.

You are cordially invited to

Wornick's Acharai אחרי - Choosing Leadership Gala

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Early bird registration ends March 10

Wornick's annual gala is a community fundraiser that directly supports the school's ability to adapt and innovate in an ever-changing education landscape. We invite you to enjoy a contemporary Israeli dinner buffet by chef Aliza Grayevsky Somekh, listen to a live music by Noa Levy and Noam Eisen, and laughs with an American-Israeli comedian Joel Chasnoff.

GET YOUR TICKET TODAY!

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Calling All College Students!
If you or your child is currently a student in college, we would love to get their contact information so we can stay in touch and invite them to upcoming Wornick events. Please send their email and mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org and we'll be sure to include them.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network
"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

December 2022

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

4 Tevet 5783

Wornick professionals look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time on campus and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every issue we share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

8th Grade Antisemitism Event

8th graders have been studying the history and evolution of antisemitism, from ancient to modern times. They recently organized and led an interactive roundtable event with parents and community members to discuss ways that we can address antisemitism. This workshop was led by Jewish Studies teacher and Shlichim (emissary), Roy Meron.

First Grade PBL

As part of Project Based Learning (PBL), first graders considered the question "How can we help new friends and visitors get to know our class and school community?" The students discussed various solutions, and expressed their thoughts creatively through drawings and video statements.

Generations Celebration

We were excited to host our annual Generations Celebration in person this year! In November, we welcomed grandparents, family members, and guests to campus for special presentations and classroom visits. We are so grateful for our amazing Wornick community!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

After graduating Wornick in 2018, Yossi attended Aragon High School. Looking back, he is very glad that he made the choice to go to a public high school, and thinks that the transition from a small class to a much larger grade was made so much easier by Wornick’s curriculum and emphasis on community and peer/teacher relationships. In high school, Yossi was involved with the Current Events club and a freshman curriculum called Building Bridges focused on developing empathy and active listening.

In the summer between junior and senior year, Yossi was selected to participate in a pluralistic Jewish program called The Bronfman Fellowship. He was exposed to many different ways of practicing Judaism and forming Jewish community, and this is one of the main reasons he ended up deciding to take a gap year in Israel before going to college at Yale, where he plans to major in Biology (Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental).

Yossi is currently on Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute’s gap year program. The program is half Americans (pre-college) and half Israelis (pre-army) who are living together in an apartment building in Jerusalem for the year. During the day, they take an incredible variety of classes ranging from Talmud to Sefardic Piyutim and from early Zionist thinkers to Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, learning from Hartman’s amazing scholars. In the evenings, they have the chance to explore the culture, food, and incredible Judaism in Israel! Yossi loves getting to explore so many different Jerusalem synagogues, or spending Shabbat at the house of one of his Israeli friends on Hevruta. Once every month or two, they also have a trip where they hike in the nature of Israel and learn more in depth about places outside of Jerusalem. Yossi has also been able to vastly improve his Hebrew, and couldn’t have done any of it without the great Hebrew foundation he received from Wornick!

SPREAD THE WORD

Calling All College Students!
If you or your child is currently a student in college, we would love to get their contact information so we can stay in touch and invite them to upcoming Wornick events. Please send their email and mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org and we'll be sure to include them.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network
"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

October 2022

Thursday, October 27, 2022

2 Cheshvan 5783

Wornick professionals look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time on campus and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every issue we share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPLORE WORNICK'S 2021-22 ANNUAL REPORT!

It is with great pride that we share our

2021-22 Annual Report, which showcases our programs and accomplishments during the past year. Throughout the report, you will see the ways in which we are living out our Guiding Principles.

We invite you to learn about our successes, highlights of our curriculum, and the impact that your gifts are making.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Chugim Program

Wornick offers a variety of Chugim, or after school enrichment classes for students in all grades. These are in addition to our regular Gesher, after care program. Classes vary each term and year, and usually include classes in the arts and games. Watch the video to see highlights from our current offerings!

Entrepreneurship Program

Eighth graders have been engaged in a course on Entrepreneurship and Social Impact. We are excited to partner with Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, the Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Impact, Startup Experience, Jewish Community Federation, and private donors who funded this program.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Emily Izenson ('11) attended Wornick from K-8 and then went on to Hillsdale High School. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a major in Landscape Architecture. Emily enjoyed this major because it combined technical knowledge of environmental factors with artistic design and creativity skills.

The landscape architecture program at Cal Poly was very hands-on with most projects located on campus and in the nearby community. One project that stood out was designing a park for children with special needs using equestrian therapy and creative outdoor spaces in the county of San Luis Obispo. Emily also had the opportunity to study abroad in the Tuscany region of Italy for three months and was able to experience landscape architecture through a European lens. Locally, Emily helped manage the Hillsborough Harvest Garden, organizing high school interns and other youth volunteers, and providing weekly donations of fresh produce to local shelters. Since graduating college, Emily has worked on local projects in the Bay Area including city parks, school campuses, as well as residential and commercial properties.

Last year Emily collaborated with Hillsdale High School to design a community garden. During the Covid pandemic, many high school families at Hillsdale faced financial hardship which made it difficult to purchase weekly groceries. As a result, Hillsdale created a program to support these 150+ families every week by donating pantry items. They also wanted to provide fresh produce as well and developed the idea to build a garden. With the help of Emily's landscape architecture background, she created a garden design for the school including 18 planter beds, a citrus grove, pollinator gardens, a shed and storage space, and harvesting station that the school staff, parents, students, and community volunteers came together to build this past summer and fall. She helped facilitate construction, planting, harvesting, and maintenance of the garden. In the last three months, over 1200 pounds of produce have been distributed directly to families. This project has been particularly meaningful to Emily because, using values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), she is able to share her landscape architecture skills in a way that gives back to her local community.

SPREAD THE WORD

Calling All College Students!

If you or your child is currently a student in college, we would love to get their contact information so we can stay in touch and invite them to upcoming Wornick events. We will also be sending college packs for some of the holidays. If you would to include your college student, just send their mailing address to alumni@wornickjds.org and we'll be sure to include them.

Growing Wornick's Alumni Network

"What you know" is very important but "who you know" doesn't hurt! Please be sure to connect with fellow alumni on LinkedIn. Log in and find us at Wornick/North Peninsula Jewish Day School.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey

If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

We are proud to have been awarded

Bay Area Parent's

Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School on the Peninsula!

May/June 2022

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

9 Sivan 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Kindergarten's Garden

Throughout the school year, Kindergarteners use their outdoor garden to learn about the lifecycle of plants, observe the plants as they grow using math and science skills, and work together to maintain the garden. They also enjoy harvesting the plants to create salads and share with our school community.

Art/Math Mural Project

7th grade students in Ms. Newman's math class learned about muralists and the process of enlarging artwork to create murals, with help from Art Teacher Ginger. Then they combined math and art skills to design and create their own Wornick inspired murals to decorate the PE sheds.

8th Grade Israel Trip

8th grade students recently returned from an incredible 2-week trip to Israel! They visited many important sites, learned about customs and cultures of the Israeli people, tried some new foods, and celebrated national holidays. Along the way, they shared photos and thoughts about their experiences.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Alyssa Feigelson graduated from Wornick in 2013 and Carlmont High School in 2017. At Carlmont, she discovered a love for leadership, becoming president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club and vice president of the Jewish Club. After graduation, she went to Reed College in Oregon to major in history. She became president of the Jewish Student Union, liaison to the Chabad on campus, an RA, and led several harm-reduction campaigns on campus. During Yom Kippur services freshman year of college, she realized she could combine her love of history and teaching with her innate love of Judaism and become a rabbi.

Over the past year, she’s been living in Jerusalem as a part of her studies with Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform seminary. While in Jerusalem, she studied Jewish rituals and history, Torah, Mishna, and Hebrew (she tested into the highest level despite not having studied the language since the 8th grade—and attributes that entirely to Wornick!). In Jerusalem, she became an intern with Women of the Wall, a group that has been attempting to make a more egalitarian Kotel experience since the 1990s. She was delighted to speak with the Wornick 8th graders about her time with Women of the Wall and discuss how her time in Israel would impact her rabbinate. Read more about the personal experiences that Alyssa shared with the 8th graders here.

This summer, Alyssa is working at Peninsula Temple Beth El in the office, and will be helping lead a few services in preparation for her next year in rabbinical school. Come by and say hi before she moves down to the LA campus this fall!

SPREAD THE WORD

Alumni! Come Have Fun and Get Paid to Work in Gesher!
Gesher is looking for a couple of people who would love to join Ms. Wagshul in Gesher (our aftercare program) next year. Gesher runs from 3:30-6 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 3-6 pm. If your alumni would be interested in volunteering or working 1-3 afternoons per week please let us know with an email to gesher@wornickjds.org.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

April 2022

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

26 Nisan 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

7th Grade Tzedakah Project
The Tzedakah Project is a challenging year-long course facilitated by the team of English, Social Studies, and Judaic Studies teachers. Last month, 7th grade students gave persuasive presentations about the organizations they researched and chose to support, and how they connect to Jewish values and principles.

Science Fair
Congratulations to the Wornick middle school students who were winners at this year's San Mateo County STEM Fair! We look forward to following their progress for those who have been selected to move on to state and national competitions. For a full list of results, see https://www.stemfair.net/results/

Project Based Learning
Wornick’s guiding principle on Educational Philosophy focuses on sparking excitement and teaching students to be lifelong learners. A key strategy to reach all of these goals is Project Based Learning (PBL). Many of these projects were on display at our annual Gala. Our exhibit guide provides some highlights.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

At our Annual Gala, Sophie Oestreich '17 was invited to present the Bina (Wisdom) Award to Middle School Math teacher Cynthia Pellegrini. After graduating from Wornick, Sophie attended Carlmont High School and is now a freshman at UC Davis majoring in Environmental Science.

Sophie is grateful for the amazing community at Wornick, and all of the teachers who supported and encouraged her both academically and personally. She recalls how teachers were always excited to teach, and by being excited to teach, made students excited to learn. Now Sophie is applying some of these same skills as a Religious School teacher at a local synagogue, working with 7th graders on a project similar to the Tzedakah project at Wornick.

Sophie was so inspired by her education and experiences at Wornick that she wrote thank you notes to several teachers, including Ms. Pellegrini, as she headed off to college last year. In her speech introducing Ms. Pellegrini at the Gala, Sophie shared "you have shown your students the magic and power of learning, questioning, collaboration, and discovery – in the classroom and out in the world. You create a comfortable space for your students to be themselves while setting the foundation for success. It is wildly easy to see that you truly love what you do, you work hard, and you push us all to work towards and become the best learners and people we can be. I am forever grateful that you showed me the power of embracing your nerdy self as well as simply how to be a kind, considerate, caring, and committed human being in this world."

SPREAD THE WORD

Vote Wornick for Best of the Best!
Wornick has been nominated for "Best of the Best" awards by Bay Area Parent magazine. Please vote for Wornick as Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School at https://www.bayareaparent.com/vote-for-your-san-mateo-county-favorites/html_6e41d55e-a124-11eb-a75a-bf95e4364f9c.html#/gallery?group=411134.
You can vote once per week, until voting closes at midnight on May 1.

Come Have Fun and Get Paid to Work in Gesher!
Gesher is looking for a couple of people who would love to join Ms. Wagshul in Gesher (our aftercare program). Gesher runs from 3:30-6 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 3-6 pm. If you or your alumni would be interested in volunteering or working please let us know with an email to gesher@wornickjds.org.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

March 2022

Wednesday, March 31, 2022

28 Adar II 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Fourth Grade City of Ember Project

The fourth grade class recently completed reading The City of Ember and brought the story to life using details from the book and skills they learned in science to recreate the buildings and wire them with lights. This provided the students new and unique ways to experience the book.

Eighth Grade Public Speaking

Public speaking is an integral part of Wornick’s TK-8 curriculum. Recently, our 8th graders had the unique opportunity to practice and deepen these skills with parent Tarra Bantwal. Tarra is the founder of the company, Tell Your Story, and she worked with each of our 8th grade students to sharpen their interview skills and raise their confidence. Thank you Tarra four your hours of commitment and helpful insights!

Noa and Nir Featured in the J. Weekly!

Recently, reporter Dan Pine interviewed Noa and Nir about their Shinshinim experience working in the U.S. during their gap year before their military service. To read more about what they shared, check out the

J. Weekly article. To sign up to host them for dinner, brunch, or something else, please contact the office or use the link in the Wornick Weekly.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Asher Thomas '19 attended the PJCC preschool and then Wornick from Kindergarten through Middle School. He is currently a junior at Design Tech High School in Redwood Shores. Asher has been involved in Scouting since 2nd grade. During his grade school years, he enjoyed regular camping trips, building pinewood derby cars (a multiyear regional finalist), participated in rain gutter regatta, trips to the snow, and service projects that helped the local community. During this time, Asher completed the Jewish religious emblem, and received the badge during a meaningful ceremony with the entire 4th grade class at Wornick.

Asher has continued scouting throughout middle school and high school. He has had various leadership roles in his troop and Order of the Arrow - the Scouting Honorary Society. Last summer, and again this summer, he will be on staff at the scouting leadership training camp and will be teaching sailing at Camp Oljato in the Sierras.

When Asher completed the rank of Life Scout, he focused on his Eagle Scout project. He chose Wornick Jewish Day School as his beneficiary. He feels a real attachment to the school and its campus, having spent 11 years there. Due to Covid-19, he realized that many of Wornick’s classes were being held outside. He and Mrs. Haire decided together that Asher would build three redwood benches, six feet long, that would provide seating for students during outdoor learning. They are not placed permanently so that they can be moved around as needed. They can be used inside or out. As you can see from the picture, the benches are built to last. Thank you, Asher!

SUPPORTING WORNICK

Thank you to everyone who RSVP'd and donated

to our sold out B'yachad Together Gala!

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, April 3!

RECOGNIZING 36 INDIVIDUALS

WHO TOGETHER ביחד ...

Ela Alexander, Hebrew Teacher

Rachel Perelman, School's Chef, Parent of Barak Perelman '05 and Shiri Perelman '10

Ela Alexander has dedicated her career to teaching young students about Hebrew and Jewish tradition. After 20 years of passionate lessons and engaging activities, students young and old remember the songs, dances, and prayers taught by Moreh Ela. Her commitment to excellence extends from early morning to late in the evening and countless weekends to ensure that her students not only learn the content she teaches, but love learning!

Rachel Perelman exudes the care and concern a mother hen has for her chicks. During her 15+ years at Wornick, she has cooked thousands of meals to warm the minds and souls of our community. As she greets students each day with a “How are you?” or “I missed you!” a smile lights up on the face of her chicks and they feel the powerful love she feels for each of them. There is no student or teacher that does not receive her heartfelt care or thoughtful attention. As anyone who has eaten one of her delicious meals knows, Rachel cooks with love for the Wornick community.

DONATE

Built a Legacy

Gilah & Mark Abelson

Margie & Rabbi Irvin Ungar

Take Responsibility

Tamar Miller

Larry Pascal

Sherry Lipson

Dudu Habib

Model Commitment

Pam Bodin

Esther Gillette

Ela Alexander

Rachel Perelman

Envision the Future

Fran & Bobby Lent

Anita & Ronald z"l Wornick

Create Connections

Michelle Goldstein

Benna Posehn

Rebecca Rodnitzky

Danielle Shub

Protect Our Community

Dr. Rachel Canning

Dr. Irene Moff

Officer Nick

Sandra Ramirez

Strengthen Our Community

Marcia Barkoff

Karen Lloyd Wolff

Janet & Rennie Karr

Explore and Innovate

Abbe Braitman

Corine Brouwer

David Lipman '14

Emily Steirman '14

Model Leadership

Daphne Kaufer

Katie Wolff

Adam Bartov '22

Lila Abrams '20

SPREAD THE WORD

Vote Wornick for Best of the Best!
Wornick has been nominated for "Best of the Best" awards by Bay Area Parent magazine. Please vote for Wornick as Best Private Elementary School and Best Private Middle School at https://www.bayareaparent.com/vote-for-your-san-mateo-county-favorites/html_6e41d55e-a124-11eb-a75a-bf95e4364f9c.html#/gallery?group=411134.
You can vote once per week, until voting closes at midnight on May 1.

Come Have Fun and Get Paid to Work in Gesher!
Gesher is looking for a couple of people who would love to join Ms. Wagshul in Gesher (our aftercare program). Gesher runs from 3:30-6 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 3-6 pm. If you or your alumni would be interested in volunteering or working please let us know with an email to gesher@wornickjds.org.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

February 2022

Thursday, February 24, 2022

23 Adar I 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Fifth Grade Aliyah L'Torah

Our fifth grade students led T'filah and read from the Torah as part of their Aliyah L'Torah ceremony in January. They worked with Cantor Doron and their Wornick teachers for several months to prepare for the service, which they led with confidence and then celebrated with singing Oseh Shalom!

Second Grade Social Justice Project

After reading and discussing the story of Joseph with Morah Ela, the second grade students were inspired to create change by performing acts of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. They organized a food drive and collected games and puzzles for Jewish Family and Children's Services.

First Grade Musical Instrument Project

In first grade, students used the words from the Torah "All the people saw the sounds" as a prompt to learn about how we see and hear sounds. Then they worked with recycled materials in the Peleh Lab to design and build their own instruments, for a project combining Jewish Studies and Science principles.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Erica Spievack '12 attended Wornick from Kindergarten through Middle School. After graduating from Hillsdale High School, Erica attended the University of North Carolina School of the Performing Arts for dance. She realized after attending for a year that she wanted to do more than dance. So, Erica moved to New York and lived there for three years, enrolling at CUNY Hunter, where she is currently a senior taking classes remotely, majoring in Psychology.

About a year ago, she started to express some of her thoughts and feelings in the form of songs. Erica really enjoys the writing part of the process, and also the production aspect which is very collaborative. This past December, she released her first song on Spotify and other streaming platforms, followed by a second release in January (link to Erica's Spotify profile). One of Erica's main music collaborators is someone that her good friend from Wornick, Max Lieberman '12, introduced her to about a year ago. Max also designed the graphics for Erica's first song cover.

This past October, Erica moved from New York to LA where she is taking a full load of classes remotely so she can graduate as planned. "It’s been great to meet new people to collaborate with and be back in California."

SUPPORTING WORNICK

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School Gala
UNDER FESTIVE TENT LIGHTS
Sunday, April 3, 2022

RECOGNIZING 36 INDIVIDUALS

WHO TOGETHER ביחד ...

David Lipman, Alumnus '14

Emily Steirman, Alumna '14

In the graduating class of 2014, two inquisitive students stood out among their peers, asking a barrage of questions, seeking knowledge beyond the class content, and not settling for the simple answer or solution. David Lipman and Emily Steirman were sponges. They asked the hard question, “Why?” and when the answer was not forthcoming, they sought the knowledge independently. These characteristics did not end with their time at Wornick. David moved on to Kehillah Jewish High School where he continued to pursue his passion of science and discovery. Emily attended Nueva Upper School using her curiosity to debate in Model UN. Now, as adults, they continue to push themselves to explore their passions and the knowledge that fuels them while attending Princeton and Harvard respectively. David and Emily represent the best of human curiosity and how it propels knowledge and action.

SPONSORSHIPS / TICKETS / TRIBUTES

Built a Legacy

Gilah & Mark Abelson

Margie & Rabbi Irvin Ungar

Take Responsibility

Tamar Miller

Larry Pascal

Sherry Lipson

Dudu Habib

Model Commitment

Pam Bodin

Esther Gillette

Ela Alexander

Rachel Perelman

Envision the Future

Fran & Bobby Lent

Anita & Ronald z"l Wornick

Create Connections

Michelle Goldstein

Benna Posehn

Rebecca Rodnitzky

Danielle Shub

Protect Our Community

Dr. Rachel Canning

Dr. Irene Moff

Officer Nick

Sandra Ramirez

Strengthen Our Community

Marcia Barkoff

Karen Lloyd Wolff

Janet & Rennie Karr

Explore and Innovate

Abbe Braitman

Corine Brouwer

David Lipman '14

Emily Steirman '14

Model Leadership

Daphne Kaufer

Katie Wolff

Adam Bartov '22

Lila Abrams '20

SPREAD THE WORD

Come Have Fun and Get Paid to Work in Gesher!
Gesher is looking for a couple of people who would love to join Ms. Wagshul in Gesher (our aftercare program). Gesher runs from 3:30-6 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 3-6 pm. If you or your alumni would be interested in volunteering or working please let us know with an email to gesher@wornickjds.org.

Help Someone Begin Their Wornick Journey
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org.

January 2022

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

23 Sh'vat 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

First Grade's Favorite Places

First graders answered the question "How can we help friends and visitors get to know our classroom and school community?" by working together to create short videos describing their favorite places around the school.

Sixth Grade Fast Fashion Project

Sixth graders investigated the phenomenon of Fast Fashion in Ms. Pellegrini's Math class. They first collected data on where Wornick middle schoolers' clothes were made, while learning ratio and percent skills. The next step was to research the environmental and social impacts of Fast Fashion, and to share these findings in a public display in the middle school hallway.

Eighth Grade Community Service

The eighth grade class participated in a beach clean-up along the Shoreline Trail at Coyote Point. They picked up trash that had washed up along the trail from all different parts of the bay. In total, they collected 47 pounds of trash and over 2 dozen recyclable bottles and cans!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

From a young age, Maddie Steckley '10 always knew that she wanted to be a teacher. With encouraging and strong educators in her life, she set off on the path to teach. After graduating from Wornick and attending high school in the Bay Area, Maddie went to San Diego for college. During her time away from home, she found Congregation Dor Hadash, a Reconstructionist Synagogue in Carmel Valley. Maddie was able to reconnect with her Jewish roots and began teaching Jewish and Hebrew studies on the weekends. Soon after, she volunteered at a local elementary school in a 2nd/3rd split class to gain more experience in classroom teaching and management. After graduating, she went on to become the Director of Youth Engagement at her local synagogue, Peninsula Temple Sholom. Maddie enjoyed planning fun, educational experiences for kids to find their own love for Judaism and create their own community. She slowly began to realize that she wanted to teach in a classroom more than anything, but also didn’t want to give up her Jewish identity in the process. "Working in Hebrew Union College’s DeLeT program allowed me to learn and grow as an educator with a Jewish lens", she says. Through this program, she had the opportunity to teach in a Jewish Day School, and she knew exactly where to go, Wornick. As an alumni, returning to Wornick was like going home. Maddie was transported back to her elementary and middle school days walking through the playground, smelling Rachel’s delicious cooking, and seeing familiar faces. Being back at Wornick last year and this year has given her a deep and new appreciation for her time at Wornick as a student. Maddie wants to give her students the same love, attention, and ideas that her educators provided to her. "Wornick students are curious, kind and driven, and I feel lucky everyday that I get to be a part of their journeys."

SUPPORTING WORNICK

Announcing our IN-PERSON Wornick Spring Fundraising Gala

After two years of not being able to gather, we are looking forward to celebrating Wornick's 36th anniversary TOGETHER ביחד ( B'Yachad ) on Sunday, April 3, 2022. We are excited to open our doors, welcome you inside* to enjoy students' work exhibit and celebrate outdoor under festive lighted tent!

* Closer to the event date, we will communicate the health and safety guidelines to address current conditions.

SPREAD THE WORD

Come Have Fun and Get Paid to Work in Gesher!
Gesher is looking for a couple of people who would love to join Ms. Wagshul in Gesher (our aftercare program). Gesher runs from 3:30-6 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and on Fridays from 3-6 pm. If your or your alumni would be interested in volunteering or working please let us know with an email to gesher@wornickjds.org.

If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit https://www.wornickjds.org/admissions/begin-your-wornick-journey to learn more or email admissions@wornickjds.org .

November 2021

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

26 Kislev 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

The Yellow Tulip Project

The Yellow Tulip Project is a national campaign that works to take the stigma away from mental health discussions. Lead by Abbe Braitman and Sara Colonico at our school, students had the opportunity to plant more than 300 yellow tulips across campus. Once they bloom in spring, these plants will be a reminder to students that they can share their feelings in a safe environment and they have a community that is here to support them.

Eighth Graders Learned about the Abraham Accords from the Sharaka Delegation

As part of our eighth grade Jewish Studies class, we were joined by Contra Costa Jewish Day School students, a representative from the Israeli Consulate and members of the Sharaka delegation. The delegation spoke about the work they do as leading voices for peace in the Middle East and answered questions about the Abraham Accords and the positive impact on their countries.

Eighth Grade Science

As part of their ongoing lessons about the central nervous system, our eighth graders recently had the opportunity to examine a human brain and spinal cord. Students engaged with Daniela Kaufer, Associate Dean of the Integrative Biology Department at UC Berkeley, who shared about her research and answered students' questions about the central nervous system. In addition, they were also some of the lucky few to see slices of Albert Einstein's brain that are archived at the University.

Generations Celebration

Last week more than 500 grandparents, family members, and special friends joined us for our Generations Celebration. We welcomed guests from around the world, and enjoyed performances by Elana Jagoda and Saul Kaye and many Wornick students. We learned about exciting activities taking place at school and heard about what students are grateful for this year.

We also announced that we are starting a Generations Circle as an opportunity for our students and their loved ones to connect more often, attend events (online and in person), make new friends and deepen the bonds of our community. If you would like to join, please let us know here .

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Meet Vanessa Lieberman, Wornick Class of 2010

After graduating from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor of Arts in Communicating Japanese Culture and Language through Film, Vanessa found herself in Tokyo at Waseda University in 2019 studying for a master's in Japanese Musicians' Do-It-Yourself Music Culture. After moving to Tokyo, she learned about the opportunity to work at the Olympics and found herself working in production for indoor volleyball when the games resumed this past summer (you can see her holding a boom mic on tv in the photo above). Soon after, she graduated with her masters degree and moved back to the US to study Sound Design at Dodge College.

Vanessa fondly remembers the first time she visited Japan in 2018. She instantly fell in love with the food, music and culture. Japan felt like a safe place where she can be her true self, and no matter where her career takes her, she knows creating a life in Japan is her destiny.

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We ❤️ our Wornick alumni! We would love to hear what you're up to and feature you in a future newsletter.

Wornick Alumni Event

The Alumni committee is working on an event for early evening on February 6, 2022. This social and networking event will be for alumni 21+. If you or your alum is interested in attending or getting involved, please email info@wornickjds.org for more information.

SUPPORTING WORNICK

Our children, Avigail (5th), Arielle (3rd), and David (K), are thriving at Wornick. We love the small class sizes, excellent teachers and staff who provide a personal experience, the dedicated families, and the warmth and feeling of a small village community. We give to Wornick because it is more than just a great school that provides an excellent academic education. It is a community that imbues morality, Jewish heritage, and kindness through and through. With our annual giving, we want to help secure the future of this wonderful community. We encourage you to join us in this important endeavor.

Give Online Today

Thanks to an anonymous donor, up to $200,000 will be matched with the following:

All new gifts will be matched 1:1

Donations at or above $3,600 will be matched 1:1

Any new gift from a grandparent (current or alumni) will be matched 2:1

Any gift from an alumni student will be matched 3:1

All gifts/pledges must be secured by December 31, 2021 to be eligible. Pledges must be paid in full by May 31, 2022.

Our school thrives when committed families like yours participate in supporting our school!

SPREAD THE WORD

If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit wornickjds.org/visit for upcoming events including our Chanukkah Concert for 3-5 year olds, Open House, and more!

October 2021

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

20 Cheshvan 5782

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Project Based Learning: Exploring Ways to Maximize the Classroom Space

Fifth graders wanted to make their classroom fit the needs of each individual student and their teachers, Ms. Seligman and Ms. Dittemer, for the 2021-22 school year. Since the beginning of September, they have been working on envisioning what it could look like, the constraints of the space, and what is possible to implement. Students presented their suggestions to their parents, colleagues, and teachers this October!

Kindergarteners Make Observations in the Garden and Grow Lettuce for our School Community

Kindergarten opens the world to new possibilities, new observations, and new ways to experience our environments! This year kindergarten is growing their own produce and flowers. They made observations on how seeds transform from small to large, recorded measurements of stems (and teachers's feet), and recently harvested lettuce for Rachel's hot lunch service.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Meet Joey Fradkin, Wornick Class of 2013

Wornick is proud to share that our very own Joey Fradkin, a 2013 Alumnae, and recent Elon University graduate, is now a fellow in the TALMA program in Israel. With excellent Hebrew, she recently explained the TALMA program on the 12 Channel national TV morning show in Israel. TALMA is the Israel Program for Excellence in English and enables their fellows to teach English in low income schools alongside an Israeli teacher.

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All former Wornick students are welcome to attend future alumni events! We look forward to being together again soon and our Alumni Committee is starting to plan a winter event. Our next planning meeting is this Wednesday, October 27 at 8:30pm via Zoom. If you would like additional information, please email Esther at egillette@wornickjds.org.

We ❤️ our Wornick alumni! We would love to hear what you're up to and feature you in a future newsletter. Keep in touch here .

SUPPORTING WORNICK

We invite you to show your leadership and commitment to Wornick by contributing to Wornick's Chai Excellence Fund. The Chai Excellence Fund is Wornick's annual campaign to support the difference between tuition and operating costs, enabling us to provide our students with innovative and engaging learning experiences. 100% of our board of directors and the professional community have already donated to Wornick's Chai Excellence Fund. Please consider making a gift that is personally meaningful to your family. Much of Wornick's success in reaching its goals relies on a robust development program.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, up to $200,000 will be matched with the following:

All new gifts will be matched 1:1

Donations at or above $3,600 will be matched 1:1

Any gift from a grandparent (current or alumni) will be matched 2:1

Any gift from an alumni student will be matched 3:1

All gifts/pledges must be secured by December 31, 2021 to be eligible. Pledges must be paid in full by May 31, 2022.

Our school thrives when committed families like yours participate in supporting our school!

Give Online Today

SPREAD THE WORD

If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please visit wornickjds.org/visit for upcoming events including information sessions, a Chanukkah Concert for 3-5 year olds, Open Houses, and more!

July 2021

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

26 Tammuz 5781

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Public Speaking through All Disciplines and Grade Levels

Wornick students are given opportunities to practice public speaking with confidence from the moment they join our community. Public speaking opportunities strengthen our academic program and encourage students to discover new passions.

Wornick's Honoring Their Lives Project

Every year, our community marks Yom HaShoah, Israel's official Holocaust Memorial Day, through a solemn day of collective mourning. At Wornick, our students from 4th grade and above reflect on this devastating time and its impact on Jewish life and peoplehood. In 8th grade, all of our students study a unit on the Shoah, adding more context to why observing this day is important.

Last year, more than 30 families and Head of School Adam Eilath came together on an evening ahead of Yom HaShoah to share testimonials about family members who were affected by the Holocaust. We know that there are many more stories being carried by members of our community, and we would like to provide an opportunity for those stories to be shared for our students, parents, and community to live into perpetuity for future generations.

If you would like to share your family's story from the Holocaust in a platform that may be incorporated into our Yom HaShoah program, public website, and 8th grade curriculum, please fill out the following form. We will follow up with all interested participants with more information.

Thank you for helping us to honor their lives so that future generations will always know what happened and what we might be able to learn from this catastrophe. Please complete the form in the link here to let us know if you are interested.

Wagshul Wonders

As a way to honor first grade teacher Karen Wagshul's years of service at Wornick, Head of School Adam Eilath announced an annual publication featuring student's art and writing. The publication features 12 works from Wornick students pieces with the theme perseverance. See the publication here .

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Meet Erin DeNola

Class of 2007

Upon graduating Wornick, Erin attended Carlmont High and Sonoma State, later pursuing her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Dominican University. Erin worked as a local OT in a private office and recently opened her own practice, Skilled Therapy and Play Services in San Carlos. Taking a holistic approach to working with children in the clinic, school and home settings, Erin progresses clients in sensory processing, fine motor skills, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and more.

Erin fondly remembers her time at Wornick and recently started coordinating alumni events with some of her fellow classmates. The first event aimed at alumni 21+ took place at Fieldworks in San Mateo last month, and they plan to meet this fall and for a Friendsgiving in November. Erin sees it as an opportunity for the young Jewish community of past graduates to network, reconnect and mentor one another. The group also plans to start a teenage alumni group to help future Wornick graduates transition into high school.

All former Wornick students are welcome to attend future events! If you would like additional information, please email Esther at egillette@wornickjds.org

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We ❤️ our Wornick alumni! We would love to hear what you're up to and feature you in a future newsletter. Keep in touch here .

Other News

See how our Wornick community is thriving by viewing our year end video here and stay in touch with us on Facebook and Instagram .

SPREAD THE WORD

Wornick is annually recognized by Bay Area Parent as a "Best of the Best" independent elementary and middle school. If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please share this link or connect them with admissions@wornickjds.org. See a sneak peek at what students are doing this year here.

June 2021

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

28 Sivan 5781

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

Seventh Grade Tzedakah Projects

In conjunction with the traditional time when many students become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the Tzedakah Project is a challenging year-long course facilitated by the team of English, Social Studies, and Judaic Studies teachers.

Each student identifies a specific world problem through the lens of their own Jewish values.

Students become engaged advocates for their chosen cause. After months of methodical preparation, the students are cloistered together to make the case to their peers about why their project should receive funding. With difficult choices in front of them, the class works together to find consensus about how their funds should be allocated. Our students raised over $18,000 this year for their nonprofits! Kol Hakavod!

Fifth Grade Artist Project

Every year, fifth graders personify their favorite artist and present the artists' works to their peers and parents. This lesson combines art, writing skills, public speaking, and creativity. This year, Frida Kahlo, Walt Disney, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Édouard Manet all made appearances!

STAY CONNECTED TO WORNICK

We invite all alumni (21+) to join us at Fieldworks for an alumni reunion on Sunday, June 13 at 2:00pm. We can't wait to see you!

Though you can't be on campus, you can still see what's happening at Wornick this year! See how our Wornick community is thriving by viewing our our video here and stay in touch with us on Facebook and Instagram.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Meet Joel Abelson

Class of 1994

From an early age, alumni Joel Abelson knew that he wanted a career in sports. He attended Michigan with the intention of becoming a sports broadcaster, and during his senior year he volunteered to coach basketball. He found his true passion in coaching and interned with the Charlotte Bobcats, a team that would later become the Charlotte Hornets.

Joel knew an acquaintance who was an investor in a minor league basketball team and he was able to get a meeting with David Kahn, former GM of the Minnesota Timberwolves. From this connection, he was able to secure a position with the Tulsa 66ers as an assistant coach. His time in the NBA D-League took him to the Idaho Stampede, Sioux Falls Skyforce and later to the Reno Bighorns as the head coach. Later, Joel would move to New York to become the Director of Basketball Operations for the Westchester Knicks, a feeder team to the New York Knicks. During his time in the NBA, he even helped facilitate the purchase of the Sioux Falls Skyforce by the Miami Heat.

Joel credits his Jewish education for helping him make connections throughout his career. The Jewish community provided encouragement, support and instilled Jewish values within him. Today, Joel lives in Miami with his college sweetheart and three young children.

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We ❤️ our Wornick alumni! We would love to hear what you're up to and feature you in a future newsletter. Keep in touch here.

SPREAD THE WORD

Wornick is annually recognized by Bay Area Parent as a "Best of the Best" independent elementary and middle school. If you know someone who is interested in learning more about how our challenging academics and timeless Jewish values set Wornick Jewish Day School apart, please share this link or connect them with admissions@wornickjds.org. See a sneak peek at what students are doing this year here.

May 2021

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

22 Iyar 5781

Wornick teachers and staff look for ways that students can connect and engage with things happening in our community and world. Curiosity is encouraged and students are introduced to unique experiences throughout their time at Wornick. Our goal is for curiosity to flourish after their time at Wornick and lead to limitless opportunities for our alumni. Every month we will share unique student experiences on-campus, as well as spotlight an alumni who exemplifies Wornick's values.

EXPERIENCES AT WORNICK

This month we reflect on our professional community's educational focus groups. Part of a new initiative this year, the groups are organized around the following topics: Diversity, Project-Based Learning, Outdoor Learning, Choices, and Community. The videos below highlight the work within our Diversity group as well as projects that came to fruition within the classroom.

Professional Learning Communities

As well-rounded educators, our teachers strive to be lifelong learners. This year, our leadership team implemented PLCs, or Professional Learning Communities. Each PLC meets several times per month to brainstorm, discuss new initiatives, and collaborate on ideas teachers can implement in their classrooms. Our goal in implementing these PLCs is to provide a framework for teacher collaboration and curricular innovation, recognizing that how and what we teach should continually evolve and those efforts are strengthened by the unique talents of our professional community.

Third Grade Identity Project

Inspired by her work in the Diversity Professional Learning Committee made up of eight Wornick professional community members, Suzy Kosh's class has focused on identity and diversity this year. Following a suggestion from fellow committee member Erica Lance, Suzy introduced the identity project to her class. Students created their own identity boxes featuring the complexities of their external and inner identity. They're learning that people are more than their appearance, how we can move beyond making assumptions about people's identity based on what they look like, and the power of vulnerability.

Exploring Identity and Current Event Connections in Middle School Language Arts

Middle School Language Arts teacher Nika Bogoslovsky introduced several new books to her students this year, including Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. Literature provides an opportunity to explore a variety of experiences and author perspectives. These books also provided our middle schoolers an opportunity to engage in discussions around identity and current events.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Meet Ian Ullmann

Class of 2011

It was during the Tzedakah project at Wornick that Ian experienced his sink or swim moment. He pushed himself to persevere through the uncomfortable moments such as asking for donations and presenting to an audience. At Wornick, he learned to find the confidence to come out of his shell and speak in public, a skill that would continue to be refined through his college years.

Following high school at JCHS, Ian felt that he went through the motions as he prepared his college applications. He came to the realization that he was not quite ready to go off to school. Instead, he joined the military Air Force reserve. "It was like a gap year," he says. Ian matured even further and learned the importance of being selfless. The following year, Ian began his undergrad at Bard College. He recently graduated with a degree in history and political science.

Today, Ian still serves our country as a reservist while also working a full time job at College Possible, a unit of AmeriCorps. He is an advocate for education and he is fulfilling his mission by helping students in primarily low-income communities apply for college and sees them through to graduation. Ian is passionate about educational and equity work and sees empowering others as essential to his career journey.

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We ❤️ our Wornick alumni! We would love to hear what you're up to and feature you in a future newsletter. Keep in touch here .

STAY CONNECTED TO WORNICK

We are excited to welcome Raz Serero '07 and Max Kaplan '07 to our newly formed Alumni Committee! The committee is planning an event for alumni ages 21+ on June 13 from 2-4pm in San Mateo. Please save the date and email alumni@wornickjds.org for more information, or to get involved.

Though you can't be on campus, you can still see what's happening at Wornick this year! See how our Wornick community is thriving by viewing our our video here and stay in touch with us on Facebook and

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