REFLECTIONS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

What’s Happening at Cardin?
Our students are quite remarkable. They work diligently in their classes, play hard for their sports teams, participate in programs to assist those less fortunate and are involved in a myriad of activities outside of Cardin all while remaining typical teenagers. How do they do it? By being fully committed to excellence in everything they do. Two programs that exemplify this drive in our students are Moot Beit Din and Project ROPE, both under the auspices of RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network.

Moot Beit Din, which Rabbi Chaitovsky leads and describes eloquently below, is an opportunity for our students to meet face-to-face with their peers across the continent as they struggle with the in-depth analysis of a Jewish legal issue. Cardin students have been participating in Moot Beit Din for SIX years – how remarkable for a school just seven years old! (Take a look at the website for more information: http://www.ravsak.org/programs/moot-beit-din.) This year, there were more schools represented than ever before. Our students worked during the school day, after school and on Sundays to prepare a compelling case. I received this text message from Shachar Binyamin, ’10, immediately after the Cardin delegation presentation – “WE WERE AMAZING!” 

Project ROPE, Roots of Philanthropic Education, is described by RAVSAK as “the only youth philanthropy program structured to be run in Jewish day schools.” It is unprecedented in the scope of activities and the depth of Jewish education which it offers. Students immerse themselves in issues and organizations in their local communities and in Israel, thus deepening their knowledge, and connection with the people, of Israel. At Cardin, teachers chose a group of students to participate; the students were then invited to an informational lunch prior to the beginning of the school year, and then decided whether they wanted to participate. Nine sophomores and juniors accepted the challenge and have been meeting at least once a week throughout the school year. Students first looked at Jewish texts to see our strong commitment to philanthropy and this year’s theme, assisting underprivileged youth. They visited Our Daily Bread during a professional development day and heard from speakers to understand further how to ask for donations, how to decide to whom to give funds and to learn about Jewish philanthropy in America at the turn of the 20th century. The Project ROPE committee had to work cooperatively to develop a mission statement, establish criteria for giving, identify organizations in Baltimore that meet the criteria, write RFPs (requests for proposals), and then choose from among these groups to determine where to donate the money raised. The committee also had to set a goal for fundraising and determine how to go about raising those funds. The students are in the process of meeting with individual donors. Monthly, students meet with their counterparts throughout North America through phone conferencing. Finally, 30% of the funds Cardin students raise will be combined with the funds raised by the other participant schools in order to be distributed to an organization in Israel that meets the criteria established by the joint-Israel committee.

Both of these programs have provided our students with an opportunity to exhibit their maturity, diligence and commitment on a national stage. We are very proud of them.

Text Talk on Parshat Emor 
with Beverly Rogers, '12
During geometry class, Beverly Rogers, ’12, said to me, “I have an H block study hall.” I think the blank look on my face made her add, “To learn Emor for the eNewsletter.” This took me by surprise inasmuch as usually, I have to remind the student that we had agreed to learn the parsha. Normally, I meet with Rabbi Seltzer during H block but when I explained why I needed to move our meeting, he was more than happy to give up the time and in fact, he joined Beverly and me for part of the period.

GOOD & WELFARE
Congratuations to Judith Schagrin, mother of Kate Scher, '12, for receiving the 2009 Betsy R. Rosenbaum Award – presented to an administrator of a state or local public child welfare agency who has done exceptional work.

Congratulations to Dr. Norman Prentiss, winner of the Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction. Dr. Prentiss received his award at the World Horror Convention in Brighton, England in March.

WHAT’S DEVELOPING AT CARDIN
Race for Cardin
Save the morning of Sunday, June 6 for the 2nd annual Race for Cardin Athletics. This year’s event promises to surpass the involvement that we had last year. If every family plans to walk, run, stroll or even skip, we can raise needed funds for our growing athletic program. Please plan to join us for what promises to be a wonderful morning. Bring your friends and neighbors. The more participants, the more fun! See the attached form. Call Coach Minton for more details.

Honoring Dr. Prentiss
Save the Date: Sunday, June 6 at 7pm for a book reading and signing honoring Dr. Prentiss as we celebrate the publication of his new book and honor his receiving the Bram Stoker Award for Horror. This promises to be a wonderful event. See the attached flyer for more information and watch for your formal invitation in the mail.

Pamper Yourself
Now you can finally pamper yourself and Cardin can benefit too!. Join us on Monday, May 3 from 4-7pm at Tranquille Hair and & Body in Towson. Please let Margi Hoffman know if you plan to join us.

The Annual Fund Drive for The Shoshana S. Cardin School
As we move toward the end of the 2009-2010 school year, I want to extend my appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the annual fund drive thus far. In a year of economic jitters, it is good to know that so many of you consider the Cardin School to be an important recipient of your generosity. It is not too late to give a gift for this year’s drive. Remember that every dollar received supports the unique academic program at we offer at Cardin. For more information, go to http://www.shoshanascardin.org/annual_fund. Please contact Margi Hoffman about possible matching gifts from your employer.

Eco Bike Ride
Join JUST Cardin and participate in the ECO BIKE RIDE in support of the Kayam Farm at Pearlstone. Save the date SUNDAY, MAY 16 (rain or shine) and watch for details about how to join the Cardin team. Get your bikes out and begin to practice. Please contact Jackie Villet, Foye Minton or Margi Hoffman for details. Check this link and sign up now! http://www.firstgiving.com/process/teamarea/default.asp?did=21252&TeamId=99403&EventId=72528. Parents and students are urgently needed to serve as hosts for the Rest Stop that Cardin is sponsoring. There will be shifts throughout the day. Please contact Margi Hoffman to offer your assistance.

JUDAICS.COMMUNICATIONS
The Yoms
From Pesach to Shavuot, we celebrate new holidays and days of commemoration that our forefathers could not have conceived of: Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut, and Yom Yerushalayim. At Cardin, we call these additions to the calendar, “the Yoms.” They remind us that no two days are the same, especially when we invest each day with special meaning and significance.

On Yom HaShoah, Monday, April 12, Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation talked about the stereotyping, intolerance and prejudice that continue to prevail today as she prepared our students for A Day of Silence. Morah Czopnik shared personal thoughts on the significance of the day, we lit a memorial candle, and Rabbi Chaitovsky chanted the traditional “El Maleh Rachamim” prayer. On Monday, April 13, Natan Mish and Hadar Madnick, our young emissaries or “shinshinim” from Ashkelon) answered questions formulated by our students about their gap year here in the United States. They spoke from the heart, encouraging us to come visit them in Israel.

On Monday, April 19, we participated in Krieger Schechter’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony, and Emily Boling,'10 and Tara Lichtenstein, '10 led the community in song. On Erev Yom HaZikaron, Adin Resiner, '10 and Savan Chaban (Morah Zohara’s) daughter hosted the BZD’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony. During the week of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, we enjoyed two lectures. Ayalah Brilliant, the BZD shlicha and instructor of our 12th grade pre-Israel trip course presented an original power point on “the 100th anniversary of the Kibbutz movement.” In addition, Dr Ari Roth, the associate director for the graduate program in National Security Studies and the MA in Global Security Studies lectured on how changes in weapons technology over the last 20 years have made Israel more vulnerable than it has ever been. He also discussed discuss some of the ways that Israel can try to improve its security situation. On Yom Yerushalayim, Wednesday, May 12th, Dr. Barry Gittlen of Towson University and Baltimore Hebrew Institute will tell the archeological story of Jerusalem’s fascinating history.

Rabbi Stuart Seltzer
Dean of Judaic Studies

CLASSES IN ACTION
Hebrew IV
In Hebrew IV, students are learning about communication. Each student had to teach the class about a different animals' mode of communication. In addition, each student wrote how they felt about their experience. Here are some letters from the students:

Mollye Lipton, '10:
“I learned so much about elephants that I never knew before! I learned that they communicate with their whole body. I also learned a lot about fish when I did a report on them through our Hebrew class. I learned about they way they communicate, and about the food system of all the fish. The bigger fish eat the smaller fish, and it is a whole chain. Overall, I learned many new things about these animals that I never would have known before!”

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Spirit Week

Moot Beit Din
Crazed…confident…exhausted…exhilarated...harried…happy....
These are just some of the words that describe the experience at the recent Moot Beit Din Shabbaton and Competition held in Crystal City just outside of DC. Similar to a traditional Moot Court, the Moot Beit Din presents a complicated case that teams representing pluralistic schools from all over North America analyze from the perspective of Jewish law. This year’s case involved the issues of terrorism and torture. The Cardin School was ably represented by Shachar Binyamin, '10, Adin Reisner, '10, Gabe Baraban, '11 and Beth Zaleon, '11. After nearly two months of research, writing and preparation, the Cardin students displayed poise under pressure, eloquence, and total command of the material as they masterfully defended their position in front of a panel of three distinguished judges. The Cardin School congratulates its MBD Team for a job truly well done. This was Cardin’s sixth MBD competition.
Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky

ALUMNI UPDATE
Mazal Tov
Chelsea Schein, '07, received The Edward S. Reed Prize for scholarly excellence in Scientific and Philosophical Studies of Mind at Franklin & Marshall College: http://www.fandm.edu/spm. The program combines the disciplines of Philosophy, Psychology, and Biology to examine the nature of the human psyche. Currently working on an independent project focusing on moral values and academic dishonesty, Chelsea has received a fellowship to stay in Lancaster this summer and collaborate on a social psychology project.

Johanna Schein, ’07, was inducted into Franklin & Marshall College’s chapter of the Pi Gamma Mu Social Science Honor Society. Last summer, Johanna received a fellowship to gather oral histories, conduct primary research, and co-author a 120-page volume that traced the College’s transition to co-education. An American Studies major, Johanna has been awarded an internship with the National Archives in Washington, D.C. this summer where she will be working on a public outreach project in the Archive’s Legislative Division.

Matt Marcus was inducted into two national honor societies, Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma These honor societies recognize academic excellence (requiring a minimum 3.5 GPA) during a student's first year in college. Matthew was also awarded Semester Academic Honors (Dean's List) for Fall 2009 at the University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering.

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