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School News

Partnership & Peace with ISRI

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MLKtapeOn Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, students and families from JCDSRI and the Islamic School of RI (ISRI) gathered together to create a tape art mural to promote peace. In addition, the students collected puzzle and activity books for children at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. For video coverage of this wonderful event, visit ABC6 or WPRI. 

In February 2015, when ISRI was vandalized with hateful, anti-Islamic messages, students from JCDSRI made cards to show solidarity and support for their Muslim peers. Head of School Adam Tilove hand delivered the messages to ISRI’s Head of School Abdelnasser Hussein, and a friendship was born.

This year, with financial support from the Rhode Island Foundation, the two schools are building a partnership in the form of a 12-week theater program for their 5th graders, facilitated by the Center for Dynamic Learning. In addition, several whole school activities are planned, including the recent community building day on Martin Luther King Day organized by the two schools’ Parent Associations.

Mr. Tilove understands that, in the wake of terrorism in Israel and Paris, many people are nervous IMG_3260about such a partnership. He states that, among other things, “I believe in my partner Abdelnasser Hussein and the lovely people I have met from ISRI. I believe in people’s innate goodness and kindness, and I will not let evil acts poison my faith in humanity. Further, I believe that living in peace and mutual respect with one’s neighbors is not an option, but a mandate from Heaven: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ is a command from God, not a qualified suggestion.”

ISRI’s Mr. Hussein is confident that cooperation and understanding will combat misconceptions and hatred. He says, “I believe religion and freedom of speech are the preliminary common grounds which will lead us to unity as citizens of the United States. We can present ourselves as role models for tolerance.”

 

Head of School Interviewed on WCAP Radio

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Adam Tilove

Adam TiloveOur Head of School, Adam Tilove, was interviewed on the L’Chaim radio show on WCAP 980, the ‘Voice of the Merrimack Valley’ in Worcester, Massachusetts. He explained the thinking behind our “Too Jewish” campaign, as well as the reasons for our eye-catching public billboard on I-95N. The ensuing conversation with the host enabled Adam to share the JCDSRI vision, our partnership with the Islamic School of RI, our STEAM partnership with Brown and RISD, our progressive curriculum, and our pluralistic community. In addition, Adam was able to engage listeners in the process of challenging their assumptions about Jewish day school in particular and Judaism in general.

You can listen to the whole show online (ad-free!). At the beginning of the broadcast, the host shares background information about the campaign and billboard; Adam joins him at about 8:45.

Billboard Inspires Questions, Conversation

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As a part of our new campaign, a bright pink billboard on I-95N is getting drivers’ attention. “Too Jewish? Challenge Your Assumptions,” it reads, along with a website, toojewish.info. The campaign, which grew out of a comment we often hear from parents who have not considered sending their kids to our school, asks people to rethink their attitudes about Judaism in general and Jewish day school in particular.

East Side Monthly magazine interviewed Head of School Adam Tilove and ran an article entitled, “What Does it Mean to Be ‘Too Jewish’?”

Mr. Tilove was also interviewed by ABC6 News about the intentions behind the billboard and the community reaction to it.

The Jewish Voice featured us on their front page at the beginning of November.

To capitalize on the high interest in the billboard and continue the conversation, the school is hosting a Community Conversation on November 19th at the Brown RISD Hillel at 7:00pm.

JCDSRI Students Save Animals’ Lives

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Fire-huskyLast year, Jill Davis’ third grade class became very invested in their Animal Adaptations unit. They had direct experience with disabled animals, since their class pets Gizmo and Gili (bearded dragons) were missing a foot and a leg, respectively. When it came time for the students to choose another pet to adopt, they found Bugsy, a guinea pig who was being bullied by his peers in the shelter. Fearful that the shelter would have to euthanize him, the students begged Ms. Davis to give him a new home in their classroom.

In the spring, the students chose “Animals Around the World” as the theme for their annual Read-A-Thon. They lined up sponsors and spent the whole day reading, earning donations based on the number of pages or books they read throughout the day. At the end of the day, the third graders had raised almost $2,000! They researched animal rescue facilities to choose the recipients of their fundraising.

The kids decided to donate half of the money to the ASPCA and half of the money to the PAWS Humane Society in Charles City, Iowa. Recently, Ms. Davis and her students received a heartfelt thank you from Julie Taylor, the director of PAWS Humane Society. Ms. Taylor was floored by the generous donation, and shared that the students have indeed helped to save the life of a husky named Fire (pictured). The Charles City Press published an article about our fabulous class and their life-saving donation.

Ms. Davis is also thrilled that, with the assistance of the reporter in Charles City, our school is establishing partnerships with two other elementary schools in Iowa. Our students will be able to connect with their peers there as they learn about the differences between rural and urban communities.

Returning Our Chicks to Casey Farm

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Today we returned our chicks back to their home on Casey Farm in Saunderstown, RI. While we were a bit sad to say goodbye to our feathery friends, we understood that the farm was a better place for them to grow up then in our classroom.

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It was wonderful to return to the farm (we visited in the fall!). Founded in 1702, it has 300 acres and overlooks Narragansett Bay. It now raises organically grown vegetables, herbs and flowers. And – of course – Casey Farm’s hens produce lots and lots of fresh eggs for both local families and nearby farmers’ markets! When we arrived at the farm, our guide, Terry, took us to the barn so we could introduce our chicks to their new home. We even learned about barn swallows and watched as they swooped over our heads.

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We then went outside to learn a little more about chickens. We practiced clucking like chicks and even tried to find food in the sand by scratching with our “claws.”

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We discovered some delicious worms and beetles!

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We met Marshmellow, the rabbit . . .

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. . . and then took a peek at the pigs (we even got to scratch their backs!)

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We then saw the hens roosting and learned how to tell the difference between a freshly laid egg and one that had been laid hours before (ask us how we can differentiate between them!)

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We moved on to feed some Rhode Island Red chickens (we learned that corn is like ice-cream for birds!)

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We also visited some baby geese . . .

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and baby turkeys (who tried to eat our zippers and buttons!)

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Finally, Terry taught us how the farmers prepare their eggs for the market. First, we washed the freshly laid eggs . . . 

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. . . and then weighed them to determine whether they were small, medium, large or extra-large. 

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Once weighed, we sorted the eggs into the corresponding containers.

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Afterward we sat at picnic benches and ate lunch – and then ran around the farm’s huge oaks and old stone walls. It was a very special adventure.