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SCHOOL NEWS
Classes in Action
Recently in Tuesday morning’s “Prayer Laboratory,” each student was given a blessing from the Birchot HaShachar (Blessings Upon Arising) and asked to respond to it in a personal way. Tenth grade student Tara Lichtenstein’s blessing was from the version of the Birchot HaShachar found in the Orthodox Siddur: “Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, for not having made me a woman.” Tara’s response was to add one word: “…for not having made me a woman YET, for allowing me to grow into one.”
Rabbi Seltzer
The Honors Biology class is learning about how the structure of DNA relates to its function. Teams of students each built a model of a small segment of DNA. The small segments were then connected to create a larger model to further help us visualize the molecular structure of DNA. We followed the activity with a reading from a college-level text book, which described the complex chromatin/DNA packing that leads to chromosomal structure.
Mr. Meiri
AP Psychology and standard psychology students are engaged in journal writing to examine their state of consciousness, analyze common themes, and focus on issues of concern in their lives.
Mr. Cantor
 In Ms. Czopnik’s 9th grade Introduction to Netivim class, students are working on a creative arts project. Under the guidance of art instructor Ms. Wittner, students are assembling their own Chains of Tradition by utilizing art supplies such as pipe cleaners and colored paper. This project is a response to Mishna Pirke Avot 1:1. Tractate Pirke Avot records wise sayings, maxims, and teachings of the Rabbis. It opens with the following statement: “Moses received Torah from Sinai and handed it on to Joshua, and Joshua handed it on to the elders, and the elders to the prophets…”
Ms. Czopnik and Ms. Wittner
Ninth grade Western Civilization classes are working in Cooperative Learning Groups to research Jewish History topics relating to Greek and Roman times. Students will present PowerPoint presentations reflecting research on topics such as: Roman views of Jesus, Maccabean Revolt, First Jewish Revolt and the Destruction of the Temple, Bar Kokhba’s Revolt, and Hellenistic Alexandria Jewish Experiences. Students have research questions to guide them in organizing their presentations and must use MLA research documentation.
Mr. Cantor
Tenth grade Western Civilization Standard Class has been assigned a research project exploring the Jewish Diaspora in cultures found throughout the world. As inspired by Frederic Brenner’s book, Diaspora: Homeland in Exile, students will examine the history and culture of Jewish communities found in India, Cuba, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, and Yemen. Students will develop PowerPoint presentations including histories, cultural connections, lifestyle choices, connections to the majority culture, and issues relating to Jewish identity. All information will be researched utilizing MLA style.
Mr. Cantor
Beyond the Classroom
Sukkot!
While we rejoice on all festivals, the Torah prescribes an extra measure of enjoyment on Sukkot: “And you will rejoice in your festival…and you shall be altogether joyful.”
On Monday, October 1 during Sukkot, our 9th and 10th grade students traveled to the Chizuk Amuno Timeline for an ushpizin (the traditional Sukkot guests) scavenger hunt. On the same day, our 11th and 12th grade students explored the sukkah as a symbol of the fragility of life by learning, eating cereal, and building with decks of cards. Students then had the opportunity to go swimming, and play basketball and other games at the JCC. We then visited and ate lunch in several unique sukkot.
 
 When we returned to school, the entire student body and many faculty members participated in Hakkafot. The motif of encircling is a constant theme of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. We circled the synagogue carrying the lulav and etrog while reciting special prayers. We concluded the program by circling the soccer field several times and collecting funds to donate to Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity in response to a presentation made by Mike Mitchell during the previous week. We successfully raised over $300!
On Tuesday, October 2, we ate lunch together in Oheb Shalom’s sukkah along with some very special guests.
 
Our Sukkot celebrations culminated with a juggling performance by students and faculty, who learned how to juggle by participating in workshops with juggler extraordinaire Michael Rosman. After the student and faculty performance, Mr. Rosman bravely put on a spectacular show for the entire school. Our Jewish jugglers were: Brandon Cassel, Caitlin Greenberg, Sam Jessa, Alex Lichtenauer, Katie Mikhalnyuk, Nadav Klein, Daniel Eisenberg, Heidi Barboy, Sara Miller, Ben  Jacobson, Adin Reisner, Benyamin Shachar, Ze’ev Beleck, and Nathan Lachow - with special guest appearances by Mr. Dean Whitfield, Ms. Maureen Beabout, and Mr. Ian Blumenfeld. Juggling is an apt metaphor for a high school student’s busy life. High school students are constantly trying to keep many things from falling to the ground: know what you want and your abilities; establish a rhythm; try not to be anxious; calmly concentrate; know when to ask for help, add a ball or take one away; try not to drop a ball, and if you do, stop, take a deep breathe and pick it up again. Juggling is both difficult and rewarding and the Talmud tells us that one who has never witnessed the jugglers at the Beit HaShoevah celebration has not experienced true joy.
 
 
We wish to thank Rabbi Seltzer, Ms. Fink, and the entire faculty for making this Sukkot the best one ever at Cardin!
The Skin of Our Teeth rehearsals are going well and the stage crew is starting up in earnest. If you would like to volunteer to assist with any aspect of the production, please email our director, Leslie Smith Rosen, lrosen@shoshanascardin.org. Be on the lookout for the prop wish list!
Mazal tov to our own author extraordinaire, Dr. Norman Prentiss, for having two short stories listed as Honorable Mentions in The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror 2007, edited by Datlow, Link, and Grant, St. Martin’s Press.
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Did you know that kids who are from families that eat dinner together five nights a week are two or three times less likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, smoke marijuana, abuse prescription drugs, or take hard drugs? Just last month, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University released a new study that found that one factor – eating dinner together – could yield those benefits. It has also been found that kids can have a lower incidence of depression, fewer suicidal thoughts, less obesity, and far better nutrition, according to studies from the Archives of Pediatrics and Harvard University, respectively. While actually sitting down together may be challenging, or seem downright impossible given your busy schedules, it may be well worth the effort.
The L.E.A.R.N. Organization (Learn to Educate, Advocate, Resource and Negotiate for Individuals with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, ADD/ADHD) is offering a Monitored Teen Discussion on Peer Pressure on November 6 from 7:30 to 9pm at St. Pius Parish in Towson. These discussions are very enlightening for adolescents. They come to understand that they are not alone in their learning differences and that their frustration is common among other teens with similar difficulties. Attendees are open about sharing their successes and failures with respect to advocating for themselves. Students have reported a real sense of empowerment after attending similar sessions and have become more comfortable with self advocacy as a result. Please contact me at jvillet@shoshanascardin.org for more information about this organization or for a permission slip to participate in this group.
For parents of children with ADHD, The Greater Baltimore Chapter of CHADD and Norbel School have created a Howard County Parent Support Group with monthly meetings. Each meeting will feature a speaker discussing pertinent information to parents of children with ADHD, such as special education law, typical adolescent behavior, college transition, self-advocacy skills, social issues, medication, and more. All meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Norbel School in Elkridge and will begin with a presentation followed by the parent support discussion. Please contact me at jvillet@shoshanascardin.org for a complete list of meeting dates and topics for this valuable and vital group.
You are invited to hear the compelling story of the mother/daughter authors of Comeback on Sunday, November 18 from 2 to 4:30pm. Comeback is the true and heart-wrenching story of a mother and daughter’s struggles to survive the consequences of trauma, substance abuse and addiction, and difficult relationships. Jewish Addiction Services is presenting this event at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School. The cost is $5.00 per person. Please contact Susan Kurlander at 410-843-7455 or at skurlander@jbbl.org for more information or to RSVP.
Ms. Villet
COLLEGE SCENE
Students are actively working on applications while teachers are diligently writing their recommendations. Please keep in mind that November 1 is the deadline for University of Maryland College Park Part I Priority as well as several early action deadlines. If students are applying under a rolling admissions plan, aim to submit applications as soon as possible.
Thank you to parents who participated in College Night. It was a wonderfully enlightening experience for everyone. Upcoming college representative visits include: Juniata College, UMBC, Drew University, Susquehanna University, University of Baltimore, Goucher College, Tulane University, Brandeis University, Clark University, and List College.
Click here to read an interesting article concerning responsible online behavior.
Please continue to call, email, and meet me about specific college guidance needs.
Ms. Schein
ALUMNI UPDATES
Maya Diamant-Cohen '07, tells us that she is working hard in Gadna, a preparatory course for the Israeli Army, and loving it!
Arielle Miller, '07, is also in Israel on Young Judea’s Year Course and sends us long emails about her amazing experiences.
Maya Diamant-Cohen |
Arielle Miller |
We have heard good things about Max Vidaver '07, a freshman at SUNY Binghamton. View recent photos.
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