Message from the Head of School – Ha’Onah 3/2020

What started as a typical season: school-wide Tu B’shvat plantings and seders, a successful Generations Day and an incredible eighth grade led Purim Megillah reading, shpiel and school wide activities quickly evolved into an unpredicted new academic reality. At first the campus was closed to all but students and employees. Then, 5th-8th grade journeys were canceled, as were events such as author Carla Naumburg’s parenting talk and the evening in memory of Yavneh Music Specialist, Angela Gold. Finally, the entire Yavneh campus was closed. Despite the grave disappointment, our community has risen to the occasion. Our teachers, none of whom had prior training in virtual instruction, and many of whom find themselves in the position of having to work while their own children are present, became instant masters at creating classrooms through Zoom. In an era of physical distancing, the ability to bring our students together virtually, providing them with a somewhat familiar routine has become more important than ever in supporting their emotional wellbeing. Students spend part of their day in live group sessions with their teachers, and other parts of their day accessing links and assignments at their own pace online. We are doing our best to make sure that some of those assignments require them to go off screen and engage in activities that do not require a computer. Highlights of our week include our all-school tefilah sessions on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays – gathering all grades together in one space, singing and feeling like we are part of something larger. If you’d like to join us for Kabbalat Shabbat on Fridays at 2:30PM, we’d love for you to join us. My best wishes to you, our extended Yavneh family, for good health and spirits during this unprecedented new reality. Go Blaze! -Zvi