Scholastic Art Awards Winners

Congratulations to our 2017 Scholastic Art Awards Winners!!!

Kol Hakavod to Rosenblatt High School art students Tamar Abrahami, Sydney Black, Eva Demsky, Ashley Klein, Macayla Gritz and Jillian Horowitz who collectively earned six silver keys and eight honorable mentions in the Scholastic Art Awards competition! “I am so proud of our art students” said their teacher Anita Schwartz, “It will be a wonderful exhibit. Put it on your calendar!”

The Regional Scholastic Art Exhibition for Palm Beach will be open on Saturday, February 25^th at 1:00 pm beginning with a small outside ceremony to present the awards to the students who won Gold, silver, or honorable mention. This exhibition will be open until March 8^th.

Silver Winners will be on exhibit at:

 The Armory Art Center

1700 Parker Avenue

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Honorable mentions will be on exhibit at:

EG2 Gallery4912South Dixie Highway,

West Palm Beach, FL 33405

Day #4 of our Minimester Program

Day #4 of our Minimester Program

A Sampling of Some of Our Courses

Thank you to all of our visiting instructors this week, including Dr. William Hahn, Dr. Roseanne Lesack, Dr. Howard Gelb, Rabbi Ed Bernstein, Dr. Dan Salama, Dr. Maria Alvarez, Craig Zeuner, Hava Holzhauer, Justin Dash and Eric Altschul.

From Broadway to the Big Screen
Liz Restivo

Ms. Restivo's Minimester, "From Broadway to the Big Screen," proved to be a musically magical time for all! Students were introduced to a  history of some of the best Broadway shows that made it to the movies - from Oklahoma to My Fair Lady to Chicago.  The week even culminated in an impromptu musical number!

Holocaust Fiction and Survivor Accounts
Gene Davis

Students explored the question of the validity of such Holocaust fiction as Sarah’s Key and Schindler’s List, as opposed to reading and studying Holocaust survivor accounts exclusively, like Primo Levi’s Survival at Auschwitz and Elie Wiesel’s Night. 

Support material in the course consisted of readings in Facing History and Ourselves, online interviews, documentaries, reviews, clips of popular films on the subject, and critical readings on the morality of composing fiction on the Holocaust.

Health and Nutrition

Brenda Schneider 

Students in this course enjoyed a week of nutrition centered activities that culminated in the student created recipe book that you see here!

How to Feel Better about Anything

Pam Howard

Students in How to Feel Better About Anything learned an important truth that it isn't our circumstances, but our thoughts about our circumstances, that determine how we feel. They also learned how to use the self-coaching model developed by Life Coach Brooke Castillo to feel better, create what they want in life, and take responsibility for their feelings, actions, and results.

Good Bacteria Foods

Nachshon Carmi

After four days of learning about food fermentation, we moved to a hands-on experience. We chopped cabbage, mixed it with salt and packed it into jars. We will follow the fermentation process in the weeks to come. In this course we also 

agreed that fermented foods are an acquired taste - while exploring the taste and health differences of familiar fermented foods (bread and cheese)  others such as sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir and miso.

Day #3 of our Minimester Program

Day #3 of our Minimester Program

A Sampling of Some of Our Courses

How To Beat The Test

Ellen Finegold

How to Beat the Test worked on an important study skill today, effective flash carding.  The 16 SAT words they learned today will be on their test tomorrow, employing  effective test taking techniques.   We will also review methods for writing answers to free response questions that produce clear concise high scoring results. We also practiced relaxation techniques that help to reduce test anxiety.

Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Rabbi Lesack

We have explored thus far biblical/religious elements of the conflict as well as historical elements of the conflict.Today, we focused on military/security aspects of the conflict, and explored the Six-Day War (we watched an ABC News video from 1967) and the after effects of the war from multiple perspectives. We learned about and discussed elements of security, the different terms of the West Bank/Occupied Territories/Judea and Samaria, and the security fence in the aftermath of the 2nd Intifada. 

Comedians and Politics

Dr. Katherine Bain

We’ve been enjoying funny video clips from the usual sites such as SNL, Daily Show, and the Simpsons, admiring the art of comedy and its relation to politics. Other media include political cartoons and satirical writing. The class has discussed and analyzed factors that influence comedy: examples that made us laugh or were boring, elements of satire, and the insider perspective of our own DKJA comedian, the incomparable Dana Lipson.

So You Want to be a CEO?

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Scott Ball

Students in both courses have been introduced to various professionals and business leaders to learn more about leadership, management and what it takes to build and lead a successful organization. Some of the guest speakers thus far have included Donna Klein Jewish Academy Head of School Helena Levine and Chief Financial Office Norma Brown, as well as parents and local professionals Craig Zeuner, Justin Dash and Hava Holzhauer.

Day #2 of our Minimester Program

Day #2 of our Minimester Program

A Sampling of Some of Our Courses

Puppet Making

Eilat Asseo

Students were introduced to a short video to make us aware of the different ways we can see inanimate objects. We started to make a stick puppet, made of a bottle cleaner, stuffing material, and googly eyes. Over the course of this class students will gain a better understanding of puppetry and the movements of puppets in professional drama settings.

Got Almond Milk?
Liz Restivo and Reggie DeLandsheer

The Mini-mester “Got Almond Milk?” has been opening students’ eyes to the paradigm shift that Ms. Restivo and Mr. Delandsheer experienced when they decided to adopt a plant-based diet.  Students have been engaged in meaningful discussion about disease, nutrition, and ethics - and they even learned how to make vegan cauliflower buffalo wings just in time for Superbowl Sunday!  Click here for the delicious recipe: http://www.hotforfoodblog.com/recipes/2014/2/11/cauliflower-buffalo-wings    

So You Want to Be a Doctor?

Ellen Finegold

So You Want to Be a Doctor had a very special guest speaker today., Dr.Woon of Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital talked with the students about the practice of veterinary medicine and the process of becoming a vet using a Powerpoint presentation to help students visualize her talk. Students asked some insightful questions and demonstrated their knowledge of anatomy by answering questions about x rays that Dr. Woon showed on the Smartboard.  The students thoroughly enjoyed the session.

Good Bacteria Foods
Nachshon Carmi

Our class met today to taste fermented foods and learn about the benefits of probiotic foods. We spoke about the role fermentation plays in enhancing flavor, the nutritional value of foods and how these types of foods help in supporting a healthy gut.

Day #1 of our Minimester Program

Day #1 of our Minimester Program

A Sampling of Some of Our Courses

Israel Small Country Big Ideas

Miriam Taub

We discussed how Israel is making a world of difference.

Students are researching the technological achievements and innovations of Israel as a high-tech world leader, compared to other countries.

They are preparing a powerpoint presentation of the amazing achievements of the tiny State of Israel.

T-Shirt Rugs

SIlvana Delbo

Here is a novel and fun way to "recycle" your old t-shirts...turn them into a rug!  High school students learned the process of weaving using a hula-hula hoop and old t-shirts.  The end result will be a rug made out of old t-shirts!  

Cooking Around the World

Lydia Zafrir

During the minimester, our class will make different kinds of foods from different countries.

On Tuesday we made pasta with tomato sauce.

On Wednesday we will make a typical food from Israel, “Shakshooka” and an Israeli salad.

On Thursday we will learn how to make Sushi.

On Friday we will learn how to cook Moroccan Fish.

Noah’s Ark Mosaic Project Will Soon Grace The Entrance of DKJA

Come visit us in the ceramic studio (room 107 CA) to see our students’ mosaic panel creation in progress. As part of our TIAarts Legacy Heritage Project, nn Monday, January 9th, 2017, students in grades five through twelve started working on two beautiful mosaic panels about the story of Noah’s Ark. Under the direction and guidance of Holly Odess, Diane Fried, Terri Hamilton and Anita Schwartz. Odess and Fried have worked on mosaic projects at many schools in South Florida.

“I’m amazed at the progress the students are making." said Odess, a mosaic artist since 2001. “I’m very pleased.”

  The first panel is a depiction of the animals entering the ark, as a menacing storm brews. The second panel shows the dove and olive branch, one of the most ancient symbols of peace.

The story of the dove and the olive branch first appeared in the story of Noah's Ark.  After the great flood, Noah sends out a dove to see if the waters have subsided. The dove returns with a fresh olive leaf in her beak as proof of land.

  The works will adorn both sides of the main stairwell, just outside of our new prayer space. These mosaic panels will be enjoyed by all for many years to come!

Writing Workshop for 9th Grade
January 24-26

The 2nd annual Minimester is proud to offer the freshman class an intensive 3-day writing workshop. Led by DKJA English department instructors, the mandatory workshop will take place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2:10pm - 3:00pm.  

Tuesday session - Mr. Davis:          Decoding writing prompts to create effective thesis statements

Wednesday session - Mr. Laub:     Structuring  - Organization beyond the thesis and into the development of ideas

Thursday session - Ms. Restivo:     Taking it to the next level - Revising your writing for grammar and syntax 

We look forward to working with the 9th Grade Class!

The English Department

Student Art Field Trip

Footwear Art by Kobi Levi

A Visit to the Nathan D. Rosen Gallery at the Sandler Center

On January 13, 2017 Mrs. Anita Schwartz’s High School Studio Art Elective class was treated to a very special field trip to The Sandler Center. Israeli artist and shoe designer Kobi Levi personally welcomed them to see his exhibition of handmade, highly creative shoes. Kobi Levi generously encouraged our students to try on any shoes in the exhibit. It was so much fun to try on shoes that had been designed for Madonna, Lady Gaga and Whoopi Goldberg!

Kobi Levi has said:”In my artistic footwear design the shoe is my canvas. The trigger to create a new piece comes when an idea, a concept and/or an image comes to mind. The combination of the image and footwear creates a new hybrid and the design/concept comes to life. The piece is a wearable sculpture. Most of the inspirations are out of the "shoe-world", and give the footwear an extreme transformation. The result is usually humoristic with a unique point of view about footwear. All the pieces are hand-made in my studio."

Special Thanks to Sue Harrington and The Sandler Center for giving us this wonderful and enriching opportunity.

Anita Schwartz

Guest Speakers Build Jewish identity

January 11, 2017 13 Tevet 5777   Dear Parents,   We bring in outside speakers on a regular basis to expose our students to the larger world, to the many opportunities and possibilities available to them, and to help strengthen their Jewish identity.   This week, our students had the opportunity to listen to two unique speakers on two very different topics that focused on all three items.   On Tuesday, 11th and 12th grade students met and heard from former MK Rabbi Dov Lipman. Rabbi Lipman, an American who made aliyah to Israel and served in the previous government as a member of the Yesh Atid party, shared with the students his story of aliyah, his experience as a member of Israel's Knesset, and his hopes and dreams for Israel's future. He was engaging, thoughtful and honest, meeting with students afterwards who had additional questions for him. He shared with the group stories and experiences of his 10 plus years in Israel, while letting them know that while Israel needs their continued support, he is very optimistic about Israel's future.   This morning, about 60 students packed the bleachers in the gym to hear from Art Shamsky. Mr. Shamsky  played for the 1969 "Miracle Mets" and spoke to the students about his life, being Jewish and playing baseball at the highest levels. He showed off his world series ring to all the students and spoke of missing a key double header against the Pirates due to a Jewish holiday and that he was shocked that his manager was understanding of his decision. Mr. Shamsky reminded our students to always do their best, as one never knows when their big break will come.     These are just two of the many different types of speakers that our students get to meet during a school year, and to hear from them words of insight, information and inspiration. Together, these diverse speakers help us educate our students and strengthen their Jewish identity today and for the future.   B'shalom,   Rabbi Marshall Lesack Principal