March 14, 2024

Dear Students and Families,

As you know, Kehillah is starting an international student program in the 2024-25 academic year, with Hope Tsai as the International Student Program Advisor. On Monday, Hope and I returned from China, where we recruited prospective international students in Shanghai and Shenzhen, met with like-minded educators, and visited important cultural institutions.

For example, I went to the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, where I learned about the emigration of European Jews to Shanghai during World War II. Shanghai was one of the only ports in the world open to Jewish immigration at that time. (The United States infamously denied entry to passengers on the M.S. St. Louis in the winter of 1939, sending hundreds of fleeing Jews back to Europe.) Jews in Shanghai lived in makeshift living quarters, often four or more people in one room, but subsisted thanks to benefactors like Victor Sassoon, a Baghdadi Jew and owner of the famed Peace Hotel.

Meanwhile, in domestic admissions, almost 80 welcome packages were sent out TODAY to new students admitted to Kehillah!

Please join us in welcoming them on social media, and if you know of any families who have been admitted, encourage them to complete their paperwork as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Dave Weiner 

Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management

Important Events and Dates

Inspiring Independence: Academic Programming and the Future of Education at Kehillah

Thursday, March 14 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the MPR

Join Associate Head of School Dr. Roy Danovitch, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management Dave Weiner, and our guest speaker, former Vice Provost of Enrollment at Cornell Jonathan Burdick, to learn more about how Kehillah academics are evolving to better prepare students for life after high school.

End of 3rd Quarter (Noon Release)

Friday, March 15

Extended Winter Weekend (No School)

Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19

Virtual Kehillah Alum & Senior Panel for Juniors

Wednesday, March 20 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM

Juniors! Join us for a virtual panel to hear from recent Kehillah alums and current seniors about their experiences with the college application process. We will have ample time for Q&A so you can ask questions about navigating the process, enrolling at a school, and Jewish life in college. This session will be recorded and shared for those who cannot participate.

Meeting ID: 895 433 7958

Passcode: College

Purim Program

Thursday, March 21

Purim Carnival

Thursday, March 21 from 12:25 to 1:10 PM

Before you go...

Teresa Fradejas Nominated for Teaching Award

As we celebrate Langauge Week, we’d like to shout out our amazing Spanish teacher, Teresa Fradejas, who was recently nominated for the the prestigious Honored National Teaching Award by Seniors Ariela Steinberg and Sophie Parenti. This award celebrates educators who made a personal, academic, or inspirational impact on a student's life.

Thank you, Teresa, for the enduring impact you make on the lives of so many young people – both inside and outside your Spanish classes!

“I will forever be grateful to Sra. Fradejas for giving me the gift of communication, always being there for moral support, letting me make my crazy metaphors and analogies, and creating a safe space to smile, laugh, and learn.” -Ariela

Bittersweet Goodbyes

These past few months, Kehillah has hosted three Israeli students, all sisters, and today is their last day. We are sad to see them go, and wish them a safe flight on Monday!

You can read their goodbye letter to Kehillah here.