Community Magazine January 2014

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS… SHAARE TORAH PRESCHOOL DIVISION It’s never too early to start preparing our children for their future. Mrs. Golding, director of the early childhood division, highlighted the importance of challenging a child’s mind with questions that develop critical thinking. “Employers are looking for creative thinkers, people who can think out of the box and connect the dots in different ways. Rote memorization of facts is no longer enough. It’s what we do with the information that counts. Therefore, our goal in Shaare Torah is to stimulate children’s thinking by engaging them in cognitively challenging experiences, and using the type of questioning that encourages higher order thinking skills. Here, no matter which class your child is in, no matter what lesson you observe, you will find children who are engaged and enthusiastic about learning – children who are developing their minds, stretching their brains and loving every minute of it.” The audience was invited to peek into an early childhood class, to see for themselves how Shaare Torah’s expert staff engages the young minds of its preschoolers. LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK AND PLANNING SHAARE TORAH ELEMENTARY GIRLS SCHOOL DIVISION Mrs. Bussu, Menahelet of the girl’s elementary school, spoke about the school’s unique middot program. “At Shaare Torah we believe that middot tovot encompass solid social and communication skills. The goal of our middot program is to empower our girls to be confident, articulate, refined and knowledgeable. We want them to have a voice, to stand up for their convictions and to lead when leadership is called for… Learning happens inside and outside the classroom, and our stated curriculum is but a small part of our comprehensive educational program. Here, when we say middot program, we are referring to a school culture that permeates every action and interaction in our building. We coach our girls to tap into their unique strengths, to share and to give back.” THE SHAARE TORAH FORMULA SHAARE TORAH BOYS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIVISION Rabbi Shmuel Schwebel, general studies principal of the boys’ elementary school, relayed the three important ingredients that make up the “Shaare Torah formula.” ON A WINDY AND FRIGID NIGHT THAT FOLLOWED A DAY OF SNOW AND SLEET, SHAARE TORAH’S AUDITORIUM WAS FILLED WITH PARENTS SEARCHING FOR THEIR CHILDREN’S FUTURE HOME AWAY FROM HOME. THE INFORMATIVE PROGRAM PRESENTED ON DECEMBER 10 TH BY SHAARE TORAH’S PRINCIPALS, AS WELL SEVERAL STUDENTS AND PARENTS, SHOWCASED THE SCHOOLS UNIQUE AND EXCITING APPROACH TO BOTH HEBREW AND SECULAR STUDIES AND ITS PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. SHAARE TORAH OPEN HOUSE 2013 42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE