March 28, 2024

Dear Parents,

This week, we began the exciting course selection process for the 2024-25 school year. Students were presented with the Curriculum Guide and step-by-step instructions for requesting their classes for next year. We have intentionally designed this process to be student-driven, and we ask that parents support their student in taking ownership of their learning.

Over the next three weeks, each student will meet individually with their assigned course counselor to discuss educational goals and courses for next year. (Parents are welcome to join that meeting if they wish.) Afterward, the student must sign the list of courses they selected and obtain a parent’s signature, then submit the form to me by April 19. The Academic Operations team will then begin building schedules, and we’ll reach out to students with conflicts and questions. 

We anticipate this being a straightforward process that empowers students to make informed, engaged decisions about their education here at Kehillah and beyond. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Or, even better, suggest to your student that they contact me!

All good wishes,

Richard Brownstone

Dean of Academic Operations

Important Events and Dates

Kikar Coffee

Friday, April 5 from 8:15 to 9:15 AM

It's Kikar Coffee time! Come hear our College Counselors, Kaylin Liang and Jordana Bischoff, give a talk on "The College Process."

Special Schedule

Thursday, April 11

Bay Area Case Studies Program & College Fair

Wednesday, April 17 from 6:15 to 9:30 PM

This annual event is designed to help students and families understand a holistic application process from the college admission officers' perspective. You will meet in small groups that simulate an admissions committee, working with current admission professionals to review mock admission files and learning what factors truly matter to colleges as they review and select candidates.

After the application review exercise, students can meet with college admission representatives from around the country at the college fair. Click here to view the list of colleges participating in this year’s event. The event takes place at Sacred Heart Prep (150 Valparaiso Ave, Atherton).

Participating students and parents must INDIVIDUALLY register in advance using strivefair.com/midpen.

Passover Program

Thursday, April 18

Passover Break (No School)

Monday, April 22 through Tuesday, April 30

Before you go...

Help us shout out our amazing STEM students!

Last week eight AP Chemistry students (Ian Cohen, Karen Glenn, Eytan Goldhaber-Fiebert, Alex Kim, Amber Leonard, Jacob Lipman, Dov Morris, and Tziporah Walfish) participated in the National Chemistry Olympiad, sponsored by the American Chemical Society.

For two hours, they took a 60-question exam that included topics such as stoichiometry, solutions, laboratory concepts, states of matter, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, oxidation-reduction, atomic structure, bonding, and organic chemistry.

Cross your fingers for them as we wait to hear back if they will advance to nationals!

Additionally, six of our Kehillah students (Dana Gorenshtein, Enora Grignou, Jenna Mu, Marie Shotts, Stella Talcott, and Annie Weisfeld) attended the Pave It Forward Luncheon. This event was meant to help women and nonbinary students connect with potential STEM mentors from Silicon Valley.

Our students got to spend their lunch with several of the keynote speakers, including Sabrina Farmer, the Chief Technology Officer from GitLab, Julia Brau Donnelly, the Chief Financial Officer from Pinterest, Kate Hogan, the Chief Operations Officer from Accenture, and Karen Pavlin, the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer from ServiceNow.

Goodbye to our Teach With Africa teachers! 

The amazing Sno and Catrine had their last day today. We will miss them but their impact will remain with us and our school. Here are some of our favorite quotes from them:

• We feared entering into a Jewish school because we didn't know if we would be welcomed but saw how everyone was welcomed to be themselves within the Jewish space and we quickly learned that everyone was safe here.
• You celebrate Jewish traditions like Purim and, at the same time, celebrate one another and support everyone's well-being.
• We love it that the school is called "Kehillah" and we see that every student knows their responsibilities to building the community.
• Students feel at home here. They are kind, smiling, they greet you and welcome you. 
• Students are in partnership with one another and with their teachers. 
• Students are supported to have difficult conversations. 
• We were surprised by how comfortable kids are in their spaces and how many spaces at Kehillah are for the students, to meet their needs. 

Dave was on TV!

Our very own Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management David Weiner was on TV this week promoting Kehillah’s new International Student Program.

Check it out! (Tip: you may want to translate your webpage.)