What's Going on at Wornick?
Voice of the Ram
- August 2023
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- May/June 2022
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- November 2021
- October 2021
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- June 2021
- May 2021
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August 2023
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July 2023
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May 2023
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April 2023
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March 2023
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February 2023
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December 2022
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October 2022
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May/June 2022
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April 2022
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March 2022
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February 2022
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January 2022
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November 2021
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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. __________________________________________ 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! 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! ![]() ![]() ![]() ©2021 Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
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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
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 __________________________________________
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
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. ![]() ![]() ![]() ©2021 Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School |
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
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. __________________________________________
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. ![]() ![]() ![]() ©2021 Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School |
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
Third Grade Identity Project
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. __________________________________________
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 |