REFLECTIONS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

“Kids! I don’t know what’s wrong with kids today!” So begins one of my favorite songs from BYE BYE BIRDIE, a musical that I loved as a child.  I was privileged to be in the audience last Thursday with my daughter Leah as the Krieger Schechter Day School’s eighth grade performed BYE BYE BIRDIE rak b’ivrit (in Hebrew only). When Leah didn’t understand the lyrics, I sang the songs in her ear!  We were both so impressed with the poise and maturity of the actors, stage crew and musicians. Kids are also mentioned in the opening section of this week’s parsha, Tazria, although at a much younger age. Parashat Tazria explains G-d’slaws about purification after giving birth. Finally, Pesach, my favorite holiday, also focuses on children and how to answer their questions in the most effective way possible.

We are privileged to be parents. I don’t agree with the song from BYE BYE BIRDIE, there isn’t anything wrong with our kids today. If I did, I wouldn’t have four children of my own and choose to work on a daily basis with our Cardin students!  I do, however, think that the world changes for each generation and the pathways we help our children navigate are filled with deeper and wider potholes than the ones we faced.  We create human life, in partnership with Hashem, and are given the burden of steering this precious neshama, soul, through the world. I believe that is why the laws of tumah, spiritual impurity, immediately following the birth of a child are explained in Tazria. This period of time allows the parents to focus on the new baby, and reflect on how G-d plays a part in our lives.

Pesach, which begins two weeks from tomorrow, is a child centered chag. The youngest child present at the seder asks the four questions. We are obligated to then tell the story and explain the exodus from Egypt to our children. We read about four children, four very different children, who in the haggadah ask very different questions and need to be the taught in very different ways. We know these children; they come to Cardin every day. They are individuals and each has a unique way of asking questions and we quickly learn the correct way to answer those questions for each individual student. Our obligation, as a faculty, is to hear those questions, discern their meaning and respond in a way that is heard and understood by the questioner. We have been entrusted with a precious gift, the high school-aged children of the Cardin community, and just as at the seder, we treat each student as a unique individual, striving to assist each student in reaching his/her goals.

As we reflect on BYE BYE BIRDIE, this week’s parasha, and Pesach, may we each look at our children, grandchildren and students and realize how precious they are and the obligation we have to guide them through life.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Kasher v’sameach!
Barbie Prince

GOOD & WELFARE
Cardin Shabbat
Shabbat, March 29 at Chizuk Amuno was a huge success. Our students who read Torah were superb, as were those Cardin members who received various Aliyot. Rabbi Deborah Wechsler spoke beautifully about our school and the congregation was privileged to hear storyteller Joel Ben Izzy weave a tale. Many faculty, administrators, students, parents, and grandparents joined in the festivities making it a morning in Cardin history to remember. Hopefully, we will be able to repeat this event at other area synagogues. As always, your support and enthusiasm are most appreciated.

Cardin Baseball Topples Arlington Baptist
The Cardin baseball team played a magnificent game against Arlington Baptist Academy Tuesday, winning 11-5. In a game that was full of great performances, Rubin Waranch ’11 played like an MVP going 5-for-5, with a grand slam, a triple, and seven RBIs. Other notable offensive stats were: Adin Reisner ’10, who went 2-for-3; Ben Verovsky ’08, who went 3-for-5; Alex Verovsky ’11, who went 2-for-4; Steven Verovsky ’11, who went 3-for-5; and Scott Burstyn ’08, who went 2-for-4.

Ben Verovsky was the starting pitcher and went three innings with only one walk, five strikeouts, and only giving up two earned runs. Jeremy Hiken ’09 came in as relief and pitched four innings, with only two walks, seven strikeouts, and also only giving up two earned runs. Since Ben pitched less than four innings, Jeremy gets the win. Both athletes pitched an amazing game, showing good control and working quickly to get outs at pivotal parts of the game.

The defensive effort was the best of the season thus far, with shoestring catches by Daniel Eisenberg ’08 and Adin Reisner, and a double play turned by Daniel Saltzberg ‘09 and Steven Verovsky. The coaching staff is proud of the entire team, who has worked very hard to produce such outstanding results. Keep up the good work!
Coach Foye C. Minton

JUDAICS.COMMUNICATIONS
Purim
On Friday, March 21, Purim Day, the King suspended all regular classes and opened his Palace to the royal Cardin court for a day of celebration, feasting and creative fun.

We, his subjects, arrived in full costume and regalia, a testament to the kingdom’s imagination. Tigger (Mr. Whittfield), King Elvis (Rabbi Seltzer), Queen Elizabeth (Ms. Prince), a giant Lollipop (Alex Lichtenauer), and even an Israeli tank (Gabe Baraban) were in attendance. As is his right, King Ahasuerus put the people to work preparing the annual Purim seudah. Everyone had a job! Some painted faces, some baked hamentaschen, and others took a crash course in party planning. Everyone was having such a good time, the words, “When do we eat?” never echoed against the castle walls.

Our jobs finished, we were treated to a royal theatrical performance by Katherine Lyons. Vashti, Esther, Mordechai, King Ahashuerus, and Haman all came to life through dramatic monologues. After each monologue, Dr. Prentiss and Morah Rosen challenged the students to compare their images of the Purim characters to those portrayed on stage.

Then, for the first time in the kingdom’s history, the reading of the Megillah was done by our very own students, parents, and faculty members; Adina Shanholtz, Emily Boling, Avi Miller, Gabe Baraban, Kayla Reisman, Dr. Jay Baraban, Peter Schulman and Rabbi Chaitovsky. All chanted the Megillah with such grace, skill, and clarity that we never missed a chance to drown out Haman’s name.

The late morning was celebrated with making mishloach manot (gifts of food) to be sent to prospective Cardin students now attending Kreiger Schechter Day School, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and Beth Israel. Excitement ran high and imaginations wild as Paul Belanger, world renowned balloon artist, led a competition for the most original balloon hat design. Everyone received balloons and a pump, and the rowdy spirit of Purim filled the air.

Our seudah began with the Purim Kiddush, a parody on the traditional text, led by Daniel Eisenberg, Sophie Solomon, Zach Wildhorn, Shachar Binyamin, and Emily Boling. We then watched our basketball and cross-country stars take off their sneakers and put on their dancing shoes for a swing line dance choreographed by Mr. Blumenfeld. Later, we were treated to the world premiere of a Purim skit written by the students in Ms. Lyons and Dr. Prentiss’ drama minyan who put their own spin on the first chapter of Megillat Esther. That hilarious entertainment was followed by an ice-cream bar and a royal dance to the music of DJ Doug.

King Ahashuerus, a real party animal known for giving feasts that lasted seven days, said that this was the best feast yet, a day to feel good, let loose and go a little wild as someone other than yourself.

Pray Ball
“Today is Orioles Opening Day.” That’s how I started the Conservative minyan this past Monday morning. “There is so much in baseball that corresponds to praying.”

In baseball, there is the “walk.” You don’t hit the ball, but you go to first anyway. You take a little stroll, and you have done something positive. Sometimes in prayer, a person is not moved, he doesn’t strike the ball, but he appreciates the brief time away from the hectic schedule of the day. He takes a brief stroll in prayer, sometimes, just to meditate.

Just as a player can get a hit by hitting the ball to any part of the field, so one day in prayer, a particular sentence or image can jump out at a person, and he understands something he never did before. A prayer can make a hit in many directions. A prayer may speak to a particular problem one is having, stimulate thought, remind one of an important value, add a bit of beauty to the day, connect one to land of Israel, or give him a sense of meaning in being a human being and a Jew. Right field, left field, center field -hits in baseball are like lines in a prayer.

Baseball, like prayer, requires great skill and years of practice.

Finally, there is the homerun, the greatest hit of all. The home run is the most powerful type of prayer; it is the most direct possible relationship to God for any individual, when he really reaches God with prayer.

I confessed to my students that I was never really a good athlete in high school. While I may have made several hits, I never hit a home run.

The Passover Playbill
People have long wondered why there are so many Jews who direct, write, and perform for Broadway. I recently discovered many distinct and undeniable similarities between hits on Broadway and stories in the Haggadah. I even speculate that as many as 20 Broadway shows were lifted directly from the Passover texts and rituals.

1. Dribbler On The Doorpost
2. The Pharaoh and I
3. How To Succeed In The Bulrushes Without Really Trying
4. Once Upon A Matzah
5. Wild Beasts
6. My Fair Slavey
7. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Promised Land
8. Into the Desert
9. Les Matzarables
10. False Idols
11. The Sound of Hallel
12. Little Orphan Moses
13. Moses Get Your Staff
14. The Prophet Of The Seder
15. A Charoset Line
16. Hello Moses
17. Bye Bye Pharaoh
18. Mench of L’Matzah
19. Egyptsy
20. Bring In ‘Da Boils, Bring in ‘Da Frogs

Rabbi Stuart Seltzer
Dean of Judaic Studies

CLASSES IN ACTION
Deviant Day at Cardin!
Tuesday, April 1 was deviant day at Cardin for students in AP Psychology and Psychology. The objective was for students to gain insight into abnormality by violating some basic aspect of their self-image for a school day. Students examined their own comfort zones in exploring their demonstration of deviance. Student choices could be physical, verbal, or non-verbal. The student code of conduct could not be violated and reactions were to be recorded in a journal. This exercise provided insights into individual and group boundaries of societal norms and generated empathy for those who suffer disorders that can be a life-long challenge. The day was interesting, engaging, and thought provoking for our students.
Bob Cantor

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Admissions
The admissions season does not end in March at Cardin! We are receiving calls daily and many visitors continue to visit and learn about our program. We are already looking forward to next year's pool of applicants and have planned a day with the current 7th grade classes at The Day School at Baltimore Hebrew and Krieger Schechter Day School on May 12. In June, with the assistance of a generous recruitment grant from the Avi Chai Foundation, we will introduce The Cardin School to 5th, 6th, and 7th grade families with a sports event and picnic.

Last week, 6th and 7th grade students from Baltimore Hebrew walked over to Cardin to learn about Bikhor Cholim and participate in a blanket making project for Project Linus, a national organization that serves children in hospitals.

With all of this activity, it is important for our current parents to continue to tell their stories at every opportunity and to encourage friends and family members to seriously consider Cardin as an outstanding option for their children's high school education! Contact Margi Hoffman in the admissions office with any questions you may have.

HORRORS!
Dr. Norman Prentiss traveled to Salt Lake City for the World Horror Convention, March 27-30. He moderated a panel on “Grammatical Pet Peeves,” and served on two other panels (“Working with Editors” and “Why Editors Reject a Story”). In addition, during a half-hour reading slot, Dr. Prentiss presented a short story and a brief excerpt from his forthcoming book, Invisible Fences.

Avi's Angle
Ahhh, yes, the quintessential senior in his last trimester of high school. The embodiment of laziness coupled with an immobile student whose eyes are peered narrowly toward the coming year out of high school. Some of my friends from outside of Cardin (yes, they exist) often brag to me about how little they need to do now that we’re in the homestretch of high school. Since transcripts have been sent out and college decision letters delivered, there is seemingly no reason for most seniors to care about their studies beyond earning a passing grade. And, as I reflect on this epidemic of senioritis, it might be a blessing in disguise that I cannot be a part of it.

You may wonder why the Cardin seniors are not able to take part in this exodus of effort that leaves so many students inactive for a trimester or two. Well, there is no simple answer to something that feels like an indescribable drive to learn, discuss, and question the world. Although at times, some of their students have tried to succumb to senioritis, my teachers at Cardin have remained steadfast and dedicated to making every last second of my senior year a meaningful one. Whether it’s engaging discussions in Morah Rosen’s Senior History Seminar or unique projects like Deviant Day in Mr. Cantor’s AP Psychology class, I have not had a chance to be lazy, even if I wanted to. Simply speaking, it has been difficult for Cardin seniors to fully absorb senioritis because they have been exposed to the same innovative and stimulating lessons that continue to make Cardin such a successful school in which to learn and grow. And with internships, AP tests, and finally, graduation approaching, the Cardin seniors’ high school experience is still far from over.

So, as my friends sit idly at their desks watching the seconds of their senior year melt off the clock, I still go to school groveling from time to time about how I still have to “do stuff.” I know, however, that although I may complain about my last trimester now, the long-term benefits of these last few months will outweigh the amount of time used to experience senioritis instead.
Avi Zaleon
Cardin Class of 2008

COLLEGE CORNER
Amtrak wants to help you visit colleges!
Helping college-bound families explore the possibilities, Amtrak is offering a Buy One Ticket, Get 50% Off a Companion Ticket discount for high school juniors and seniors traveling with a parent or guardian to visit any college campus throughout the United States. This discount is available for travel until December 18, 2008. Go to www.campusvisit.com/amtrak and fill out a short form about your trip. Press “submit” to get your special promotion code, then use it to book your ticket with an Amtrak agent by phone. Tickets must be purchased at least 7 days in advance. Some blackout dates apply. Check the website for full details.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Summer Programs for High School Women at Bryn Mawr College
Contact and Application: www.brynmawr.edu/summerprograms

Writing for College: June 22 – July 12, 2008
This three-week program prepares high-school-age young women to write well for college. Participate in either of the writing-intensive strands, Creative Writing or Urban Studies, and become part of a supportive community of writers!

Science for College: Hands-on Preparation for College Science: June 22 – July 12, 2008
Gain access to sate-of-the-art laboratories and renowned science faculty. With dedicated and creative teachers, engage in seminars, labs and field trips and become part of a community of novice scientists!

Women of Distinction: Personalizing the College Admissions Process: July 13 – 18, 2008
Want help navigating the college admissions process? Through interactive workshops and personality assessment tools, find out what is important to you in selecting a college!

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