Curriculum News
The proper development of Kriyah skills is of major concern to Mechanchim throughout the country. Of course all educators know that children learn to read at different rates and the fact that children do assimilate all the requested reading skills at the same time. The fact is however, that too many children are struggling with Kriyah throughout elementary school and even into high school. What is new of late is that more and more schools have decided to continue Kriyah reinforcement through the third grade and even beyond. A variety of programs are being developed in schools throughout the country which provide diagnosis, spot teaching and review.
Mosdos and Mechanchim
The Hebrew Academy Ohr Menachem-Chabad of New City N.Y. has moved into its magnificent new building. For Rabbi Avrohom Kotlarsky, the Shliach in new City and dean of the school, who started the project with a dream and with the fervent determination to create an edifice befitting the Rebbe’s זי"ע name, which the school bears, it is the culmination of years of hard work. The ultra modern facility includes classrooms, laboratories, a library a gymnasium, a kitchen and dining room as well as offices and executive space in 26,000 square feet. A gala event celebrating the opening is planned for later in the year, but what event could be more impressive than the sound of children reverberating throughout.
Rabbi Hershel Fogelman was recognized recently by the Sunday Telegram and the telegram.com, an electronic newspaper in Worcester MA for his sixty years as leader of the
Jewish educational community. The article recognized “… during the ensuing years the small institution has become a shining example of Jewish day school education in Central
Massachusetts, Rabbi Fogelman’s endurance, persistence and uncompromising zeal have gained the Yeshivas a level of influence that goes beyond its actual size”.
The Hebrew Academy Community School in Margate, FL has started an advanced math program which begins in the third grade that is based on teaching the children process not just memorization. Then in the 7th grade the students start high school advanced algebra 1 and they do this over the course of 2 years. Students can join this program whenever they are ready.
Worth Knowing About
The new edition of Chabad Schools Directory for English speaking schools was published in December. The2007-08 lists data for 141 Early Childhood centers, 95 elementary schools 54 secondary schools, 13 Chabad Yeshivos Gedolos and 16 women’s teacher seminaries. The statistics provided by the schools indicate that there are well over 20,000 students in Chabad schools in the English speaking world alone. Directories are available in the Chinuch Office.
Chinuch Office News
Winter School Visitations:
Rabbi Nochem Kaplan, director of the Merkos Chinuch Office, makes informal and formal visitations to Chabad Mosdos upon request. The general objective of school visits is to help the school’s administration and faculty strengthen the quality of their educational programs. This winter he visited:
* Chabad Academy of Science and the Humanities, Port Washington, NY
* Queens Gymnasia, Elmhurst, NY,
* Chabad Hebrew Academy Community School, Margate, FL
* South Florida Jewish Academy for Special Children, Coconut Creek, FL
(This is a unique Chabad school catering to children with severe special needs. Rabbi and Mrs. Yossi Gansbourg, the local Shuchim, who run the school, deserve special recognition).
* Bais Chaya Preparatory Academy, Pompano, FL and the
* Rabbinical College of Canada, Montreal CANADA
To schedule a visit to your school call the Chinuch Office.
Kollel Chinuch Lecture Series:
Chinuch lectures to Kollel Yungeliet continue this winter. This semester’s course entitled “Classroom Management Practices”, features a survey of classroom management techniques. There are 25 participants in the weekly lecture series given by Rabbi Nochem Kaplan. During the spring semester the Yungeliet, many of whom will go into the field of Chinuch, will concentrate on lesson planning.
Accreditation News:
The Queens Gymnasia, a school for Russian immigrant children which is funded by the philanthropist, Mr. Levi Levayov, is embarking on a dual accreditation protocol. The school will work with Merkos National Accreditation Board as well as Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, Elementary School Commission. The initial accreditation visit was made jointly by Rabbi Nochem Kaplan and Dr. Steven Heft.
