Friday, May 7, 2021
As we move towards the close of the school year, I thought I would use the two ‘penultimate’ articles to focus on results of our program. This week focusing on some data from the Upper School, including college acceptances, honors and test scores and then next week focused upon the results of the Educational Records Bureau (‘the ERB’ tests), which are taken mostly by students in grade eight and below. By sharing these metrics, I hope to paint a picture of how the school is doing as we start to wrap up the year.
There will be twelve students this year who will be honored at graduation on Thursday, May 20th and I look forward to being present to congratulate each and every one of them for their good work, their perseverance and their achievements for their entire pre-collegiate education, and especially for their maintaining focus in this most challenging year.
And meet the challenge they did, not only through their excellence in their work this year, but throughout their times at AEC. Here at AEC, we are committed to working with each individual student to help them achieve their dreams of a college education and provide them the opportunity to choose from a range of higher education options. We are so very, very fortunate to have David Girard, a thoughtful and accomplished college counselor working with our students.
And their record this year is truly astonishing. Here’s what our graduates are planning for next year.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Tavor Leadership Academy of the Israel Defense Forces
- Purdue University
- University of California, San Diego
- And University of Nevada, Las Vegas (seven students, three in the Honors Program)
In addition, there were admission offers to 22 schools overall, including:
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Northeastern University
- Oregon State University
- Saint Louis University
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- University of Texas at Dallas
Represented among the twelve members of the Class of 2021 are:
- AP Scholar
- AP Scholar with Honor
- AP Scholar with Distinction (2)
- Millennium Scholarships (9)
- National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist
- National Merit Scholarship Finalist
- Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship
- Rotary International Scholarship
In addition, Merit Scholarships Awarded: ($221,750 per year: $887,000 for four years)
The record of our high school students goes beyond these impressive college matriculations. Indeed, the honors bestowed upon our high schools students are evidence that the school itself - as Dr. McCue so aptly puts it – ‘is an incubator for their achievement.’ Here are just a few examples of the ways in which their accomplishments are recognized by the wider world.
Last night, I was fortunate enough to watch AEC Sophomore Jack Kim honored at the DECA International Career Development Conference ICDC for a Grand Award in Principles of Business Administration. Jack competed against the top state finalists nationwide for this highest award, and he is the first Nevada student selected to go on to finals! Congrats to the entire DECA team and to Brian Hemsworth, our coach.
List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City recently announced that two Adelson students, Jonah Tecktiel and Aviel Parenti were cited as winners of the 2021 JTS Ahavat Torah Award. JTS cited these two young men as ‘having excelled as students and as leaders, these individuals have earned the respect and admiration of their faculty and peers’. We are thrilled to celebrate their achievements through this award. Adelson was one of only two schools – and the only one west of the Delaware River –to been honored with two awardees
Sophomore Nicole Miller was recently appointed to the Nevada Youth Legislature, working with State Senator Keith Picard, focused on legislation that she will help draft that will be introduced to the legislature. Nicole applied, interviewed and was chosen from the largest number of applications compared to all the other spots combined
The list really does go on. Our robotics team has distinguished itself in competitions in its first year of organized entries, the others in our DECA program have also been honored, and numerous other students have received Adelson awards and noted in the wider community.
As for tests, Ashley McKinnon recently shared some representative results of her social studies students for their practice Advanced Placement (AP) exams. 9 of her 12 students took a full practice test two Sundays ago on Zoom. We had five ‘5’s’ (the highest score, one 4, one 3, and two 2s). Of the three remaining, based on past scores on components, Ashley anticipates one more 2, and two more 4/5s. For those unfamiliar with these college-level exams, these scores are truly outstanding.
We also are pleased to recognize the achievements of our students internally. For example, today I was privileged to share a reflection in advance of the Fonfa awards to Upper School students for outstanding writing. And this year, we will introduce the Sheldon Adelson ’Keter Shem Tov’ (crown of a good name) award at graduation for the student who best exemplifies the accomplishments, character and commitment that are a legacy of our founder, Mr. Adelson z”l.
While there is no single measure for excellence in high school education, the data enables us to recognize the quality, and the excellence – of Adelson’s high school program. We like to think of the program as ‘boutique’, in that it can cater to the whole individual child while maintaining the highest of academic standards and performance, all while building a strong foundation and community for our students.
While for many of our parents – especially those in the elementary and pre-school - looking at the ‘outcomes’ of an Adelson education might seem far, far off, it is worth noting, and keeping in mind, that we are a single, unified school dedicated to the success of all our children, from 18 months to 18 years old. And we have the medals to prove it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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PREVIOUS WEEKLY UPDATE WITH ARNIE MESSAGES
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Friday, April 30, 2021
Earlier this week, I was pleased to share my excitement in introducing Ms. Sharon Metz as our new Lower School Principal. I thought I’d use this space to share the reflections of those who know and who are getting to know Ms. Metz.
The following are taken from comments we received from colleagues and supervisors, including some who are ‘deans’ in the field of leadership in Jewish Day School education:
- In my two decades in schools, Sharon is the single most talented educator I have ever had the privilege to know. She is an absolutely gifted teacher; she crafts lessons and curricular plans with great intention and her delivery is masterful--differentiated, engaging, and superbly orchestrated.
- I give Sharon my highest recommendation for a leadership position at your school. You could not find a more talented, dedicated, thoughtful, and organized educator.
- Working in a school is hard work, but it is all in the interest of student learning and this is what motivates her. Sharon’s visionary thinking and ability to negotiate many tasks at once are second to none.
The following were gleaned from responses after Sharon’s recent sessions with faculty and parents:
- She seems to understand the value of parents’, teachers’, and students’ different perspectives. She seems well prepared to build relationships and work with our parents faculty and understand their needs.I feel that she will be able to further strengthen the alignment between the preschool, lower school, and upper school.
- I appreciate her knowledge of pedagogy, value of understanding vertical alignment, and how she provided specific examples of ways that she would make an impact at AEC.
- I felt more connected to Sharon as a potential leader for our school. She shows a warm and friendly personality and is honest and transparent with those she would be leading. She also seems very welcoming.
To be fair, if there was a common concern we heard from these recent meetings, it was Sharon’s lack of experience in a role such as Lower School Principal at AEC. Together, Sharon and the school are taking that seriously.
We are in the process of lining up professional development training, likely through Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education (where Dr. McCue, Mr. Koch and I have all trained), and on Monday, I look forward to speaking with a terrific, experienced Jewish Day School leader who we hope will become Sharon’s mentor, starting later this month.
Two other factors make me confident that we can help Sharon navigate the first months of her new role. First, she will be working with a truly outstanding team. I know Sharon looks forward to learning from and working closely with the Lower School Leadership Team that includes Daniel Kelly, Susan Tecktiel, Dr. Susan Baker, and Dina Rudaizky. It is my faith in them – and my commitment to helping them all through this period of transition – that gives me confidence.
But even more than that, I am encouraged because I have come to know Ms. Metz now after hours of conversation and meetings and I can see someone who is ready – ready to learn, ready to engage, and ready to lead. This is a life-long learner, a teachers’ teacher who knows what excellence in a Jewish Day School looks like and is ready to take the next step.
I am truly delighted to welcome Ms. Metz to our school, and I know that our community is as well.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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Friday, April 23, 2021
How do we help our children maintain a sense of good social emotional health? This is a question that all adults - parents and teachers alike - who live and work with young people have always asked. But over the last year, the question has become more profound. There are ample studies that indicate the challenge young people have experienced during this time of COVID. For example, a recent study noted that….
‘Children are likely to be experiencing worry, anxiety and fear, and this can include the types of fears that are very similar to those experienced by adults, such as a fear of dying, a fear of their relatives dying, or a fear of what it means to receive medical treatment. If schools have closed as part of necessary measures, then children may no longer have that sense of structure and stimulation that is provided by that environment, and now they have less opportunity to be with their friends and get that social support that is essential for good mental well-being.’
Obviously, those children and young people who have not had the benefit of in-person schooling, have been shown to be at the greatest risk for challenges to their mental health. But we should not overlook the impact of the restrictions, the legitimate restrictions, due to COVID that have been placed on kids, such as those attending our school, and others have experienced during this pandemic.
This applies to children in every division of our school, from the youngest to the oldest. Data shows that adolescents and post adolescents – basically our middle-and high schoolers - have been the most challenged by the toll during this period of ‘quarantining’.
We as adults have responsibility to think about the ways in which the challenges to young people's mental health is responded to and how to grow and access the tools that we have to help them.
We're very fortunate that this coming Wednesday evening, April 2, at 7:00 p.m., our school will have a chance to learn from two outstanding leaders in the field around social emotional well being for young people, Miriam Ament and Dr. Anat Geva from ‘No Shame on U’. No Shame On U is dedicated to helping communities such as ours understand that the way in which we treat others, especially young people, during times of difficulty, is critical in terms of how the young people themselves respond. Their focus is on breaking the stigma associated with mental health so the people who need the help will seek it, family members and friends will know how to provide proper support, and to save lives.
The way in which we respond to others – especially young people – in need says a lot about who we are as a community. The program this coming Wednesday evening will focus on the way in which we as adults, respond to young people who are demonstrating challenges around social emotional well being. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that for many of us we lack the tools, the language, and the understanding of how we can be the best partners, with those members of our community who might be in need.
We are enjoined in our tradition to never ‘stand idly by’ when we see the difficulties of others. This coming Wednesday, we will gain the insight and the tools to be the best partners we could possibly be, those amongst us who need to be brought closer, not shunned, and thus we can better achieve the goals of a community that is inclusive in the ways that matter most.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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Friday, April 16, 2021
After having completed all my vaccinations and getting the go ahead from my family and physician, I was able to spend time on campus this week. Having just returned this morning on the red eye back to Boston, I wanted to share a few reflections on how extraordinarily impressed I was by the entire experience.
First off - as I'm sure you're more than aware - the facility is more stunning than pictures can show. From the first entry into the school to the remarkable facilities we are providing our children, I was simply blown away by the beauty and by the care taken in design and upkeep of our school, and I'm thrilled to be part of such an elite private school facility.
It was great to finally meet face-to-face with our administrative team. Even though I've had a good deal of contact with them prior to this visit, it was a delightful surprise to see that everyone on the leadership team, with whom I have had zoom calls now for months in do, indeed wear shoes! Meeting in person was a richer experience than the Zoom calls, obviously, and I found the insight, depth, and commitment of my partners here on the school leadership group to be quite, quite remarkable.
I also had a chance to get to see the teachers, albeit far less than I ideally would have liked. They seem to be a group that - even at this tail end of the school year - are as dedicated and as devoted as one could possibly wish for, and also, apparently be happy working here.
While I only got to see parents a bit in the carlines yesterday, I got a chance to put faces and names together, and look forward to meeting more of you in my upcoming visits.
Finally, I got to walk around the halls a lot, trying a bit of ‘managing by walking around’. By doing this. I got to see lots and lots of children. I got to see them in the preschool when they walked into school, and the tenderness with which they held the hands of their teachers.
I got to see the elementary school students with their bright, bright shining faces, so engaged in their work so comfortable with each other so comfortable in the school, ready to work hard and focus on their learning.
I got to see a bunch of middle schoolers as many received awards in yesterday’s program, and how their classmates cheered them on.
Finally, I got to see some of our older students in their classrooms, and playing in the faculty student basketball game. They seemed ‘comfortable in their skin’, and with each other; it’s easy to be impressed with the community that they have made.
It was a real privilege for me to finally make it to campus really in many ways a dream come true. I now have a better understanding why people feel so positively towards the school, and my glimpses of the strong program, wonderful community, and warm, welcoming people makes the promise of trips back to more exciting.
I look forward to getting to know more of you. Thank you for a wonderful few days here in Summerlin, a town - and a school - that is far, far more impressive than I could have imagined.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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Friday, April 9, 2021
In the life of Jewish Day Schools, this is a week sandwiched between commemorations both ancient and contemporary. This past Sunday was the last day of Passover. Many of us were busy cleaning up our kitchens and returning to the business of everyday life. After having commemorated – and through the Seder reenacted - our Exodus, as a people for Egypt, we reaffirmed that through God's help, we are no longer a slave nation. The Holiday and its observance provides us with gifts, legacy opportunities, and responsibilities that animate our lives.
This week, the school commemorated Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day with a remarkable program yesterday for the school. That included firsthand accounts, poetry, music video, and more. And this coming week. We will be commemorating Israel's Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day), followed by Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's independence day. I look forward to being present on campus for these events and programs, which reaffirm our connection to Israel. Taken together, these series of commemorations mark. The tremendous changes that took place in the 20th century, and are further reminders of our connection to the Jewish people's story. That story started millennia ago and is present and evolving.
As a school, we have larger educational goals in mind, as well. Ample research informs us that adults who help raise children – parents and teachers alike - help children mature healthy and happy when they feel that they are part of something larger. The notion of being a part of something greater than oneself, enables any one of us to feel that we have a purpose, and that we have a role to play.
By giving children a narrative, a set of rituals, and to regularly return to the practice, we are giving children in this school, a great gift - membership in a community that sets the highest ideals and standards for itself, and a vision for the future. Children learn that they are part of an ongoing story that has a place for them in it, starting with Egypt, including the lessons of European and achieving a nation of our own.
In the Las Vegas community, we're very blessed to have such a large contingent of people who call themselves Israelis. For those of us who regularly say the blessings after meals. The phrase, ‘reishit tzimhat ge-ula-teinu’ - that the State of Israel is the first blossoms of the dawning of our redemption - is a deep and profound phrase. It means that we see in the establishment of the State of Israel, and in its flourishing, - even with its challenges - an opportunity to be able to see our history as evolving.
In keeping with these values and approach, we're pleased that we have worked together with the Israel American Committee, or IAC to put in place this current school year, a program called ‘Connectivism’. This program is designed to help our older students, high school juniors and seniors, gain a deeper and fuller understanding of the establishment of the State of Israel, of the challenges that it has confronted and currently confronts -both externally and internal - and to better prepare these students for when they leave the school and venture out into college and beyond. The program is designed to equip them with the information, the language and the confidence to confront those who are not simply critical of Israel, but actually are prepared to deny its right to exist.
You see, when we enable children to be part of something greater, and when we equip them with a narrative, we also have the responsibility to prepare them for the real life challenges that will confront them.
We are proud at this Jewish Day School to be the emissaries have a beautiful legacy that extends back many, many centuries, and has room and opportunity for engagement and participation for this generation and the story they will tell well beyond their time with us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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Friday, March 19, 2021
Last week, I started an exploration of how a school like ours is, in the best sense, countercultural. I can think of no better example to substantiate that claim than the holiday of Passover itself.
In sharing my reflections on this, I refer to a book that I would heartily recommend for anyone looking for a solid, well written introduction to the cycle of the Jewish year: The Jewish Way by Rabbi Irving ("Yitz') Greenberg. I find myself rereading his essay on Passover each year in preparation for the holiday.
Greenberg lays out the case for history as an ever-repeating scene of despair, “...statistically speaking, human life is of little value, the downtrodden and the poor accept their fate as destined. It can seem that the powerful and successful simply accept their good fortune as they are due, and that power -rather than justice - seems always to rule religion.
Jewish religion affirms otherwise. Judaism insists that history, and the social, economic, political reality in which people live will eventually be perfected. Much of what passes for the norm of human existence is really a deviation from the ultimate reality. And how do we know this? From an actual event in history, the Exodus.”
Greenberg suggests that “the freeing of the slaves testifies that human beings are meant to be free, and that history will not be finished until all our free. The Exodus reestablishes the dream of profession, and thereby creates the tension that must exist until reality is redeemed. This puts faithful Jews at odds with the world, out of step with reality – and our faith as ‘counter-cultural’. It makes Jewish faith a testimony, the Jews must give constantly until the rest of the world is persuaded; our fellow travelers and we are outsiders and challengers.”
“We affirm this year each year at the holiday of Passover, and at our Seders, where we re-enact the story of Exodus as a source of hope and renewal that can infuse the present with meaning. Passover, and the Seder, is the ultimate attempt to involve people in the experience of Exodus. On this night, the Jewish people rise up and set up for the Promised Land, slave again for you again, born again.”
Many of us will be participating in ‘reduced’ Seders this year, as we did last year, creating particular challenges. For those of us just gathering with our children, perhaps we can look at this year’s Seder as an opportunity to reinforce that quintessentially Jewish idea that physical acts reinforce our spiritual values.
The Torah teaches us that the verse that helps shape the Seder (Exodus 13:14), where Moses tells the Israelites, “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “, our Sages teach us that the verse does not say ‘if your children ask’, rather, when – we know that tapping children’s curiosity is what ensure the legacy of Judaism, and the way in which we, as parents (and grandparents) engage our children will not only ‘make memories that last a lifetime’, but also ensures that this view of the world, and history as having purpose, is secured.
It is a great, great privilege and responsibility to be the inheritor of a tradition that tells the world’s story of freedom and to be the link to share it with the next generation. May we absorb the significance of these teachings, and may we rise to the occasion to help inspire all seekers of Freedom, with our story of Exodus as our source and treasure.
Have a wonderful break, and a sweet Holiday of Passover.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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In the years since, I like to posit that I didn’t really leave the counterculture; rather it left me. Indeed, I think many of the values I held dear about the sanctity of life and building relationships of caring for those who are less fortunate, and about ‘telling truth to power’ still animate me – I’m not sure if the wider community hasn’t moved on to other values.
Except at a place like our school. I wanted to take time this week and next to explore the ways in which a school such as ours is deeply counter-cultural – in the very best sense of that word.
Our daily prayers open with an appreciation for being renewed to life, and the passages that follow show an appreciation for our body, for the world around us, and for our lives themselves. Indeed, much of our regular rituals are all expressing gratitude for what we have been given.
This approach – through practice, ritual and ultimately habit, builds a pattern in us all, but especially in children. It teaches them that the world is a place in which they can find joy, a place where they can care for their family and friends, and to be appreciated, in turn. And that while imperfections do, indeed, exist in the world, the world itself is not a malevolent place.
In this way, children learn to be confident and less fearful about the world around them. Judaism teaches that, ultimately, the world exists – and we exist – because God, the Author of all, brought us into being with love.. It is this belief more than any other that redeems us from solitude, from fate of tragedy and from viewing the world with despair.
I’m suggesting that because we operate from such a foundation, we are able to impart to children a perspective of gratitude more than grievance. We nurture optimism rather than anger. And what parent doesn’t want their children to be optimists? When you start as W.H. Auden puts it, 'In the prison of his days, Teach the free man how to praise’ we are enabled, and we enable the children in our care to see the world as a gracious place, a place in which they can handle life’s challenges with confidence and optimism, in which they can show honor, affection and gratitude.
This I suggest is the best way to address a culture that sometimes is led more by grievance, anger and despair. No, we’re not raising hippies. We’re raising children with a firm foundation upon which they can build a life of hope, which will be a focus in next week’s Etone, just prior to our Passover break.
Shabbat Shalom,
Arnold Zar-Kessler
Interim Head of School
The Adelson Educational Campus
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Thursday, February 11, 2021
What makes for a good preschool?
It’s a question that is always on the minds of us here at Adelson Educational Campus – teachers, administrators and of course, parents. As someone who was a founder of two different preschools here in Massachusetts (both, I’m pleased to say, operating, now in a combined total of fifty years of educating young children), as well as a grandfather of two preschoolers, I ask what makes for a good preschool, and then, how does our preschool at AEC stack up?
First off, there are the licensure regulations that enable us to open our doors. These requirements are meaningful – they ensure the health, safety and care of the children. But even though there are numerous measures of quality, our goal is not simply to be licensed (or perhaps to seek other certifications in the future). Rather, we need to ask, what do we know about your children and how is our program organized and delivered to meet those needs?
On the one hand, here are the obvious elements – a good facility, a clear, consistent structure, and qualified staff. Beyond that, a good preschool is distinguished by a warm and comforting environment, a focus on active learning, child-friendly facilities, and passionate teachers.
I had a chance this week to catch up with one of those passionate teachers, Debbie Castille. I asked her the question, ‘What makes for a good preschool?’, and I love her responses, which included:
‘A good preschool is one where you can see the development from the youngest to the oldest.’
‘You can see the introduction and the implementation of a theme’; an articulation that recognizes the developmental levels of these young children, moving from pictures, to stories, to recognition, to identification of words.’
In other words, ‘Learning happening from beginning to end’.
When I asked Debbie about our preschool, she launched into an excited description of what she finds there – ‘A lot of documentation boards, where we take pictures of the learning as well as the results of the learning.’
Finally, I asked Debbie, ‘What makes for a good preschool teacher?’
‘Patience’, she told me. And ‘Flexibility, the ability to pivot and the willingness to go with the children’s interests.’
Finally, ‘Good preschool teachers take delight in the learning process and the pride that children feel as they discover something new.’
Debbie certainly does that. I loved it when she told me, ‘When I see those children come in, so ready to learn - with backpacks almost as big as they are - seeing everything as so new, and so excited to learn, to socialize, and to see what the teacher has in store for them…’, Debbie said, ‘well, they just make you smile.’
Debbie exemplifies the experience, dedication, enthusiasm, creativity, flexibility, passion, warmth and good humor that distinguishes excellence in preschool teaching. And she is far from alone in our faculty. We are so pleased to have her, and her colleagues, working with our children.
A really good preschool also tries to build upon its success and find ways to improve. And that is part of the picture at AEC’s preschool as well. We have opportunities for greater curricular coherence, greater clarity in explaining our program to parents, greater consistency around our focus and the way in which we prepare kids for success in Kindergarten and beyond. We’re working on all that, and pleased that our team is primed for their next level of growth and excellence while maintaining the care and nurturance of our young children.
Finally, I think there is a ‘special sauce’ in our preschool program that might distinguish us from other quality preschools – our sense of purpose.
While we embrace that early learning and care programs with effective educators can improve children’s readiness and school success, with higher test scores, better attendance, less grade retention and long-term benefits in school completion, we also hope to lay a firm foundation – of caring for others, being part of the cycle of the week and year, being part of a tradition, and giving the building blocks of identity.
In short, our preschool is the first step in the AEC program, starting at 18 months and culminating at 18 years – to build ‘meschen’ people with heart, soul and conscience along with intelligence, wit, grit and resilience that will serve them well in whatever paths they choose.
Alli Abrahamson tells me that we are seeing some wonderful candidates for our Classes of 2034-2037(!), and we couldn’t be more delighted to welcome them and their families to the wonderful world of learning our terrific faculty has in store for them!
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Friday, February 5, 2021
Earlier this week, the AEC Board of Trustees announced several important decisions for the immediate future of our school, including my continuation as your Interim Head of School. I’m so honored to have the opportunity to lead the school that includes such a dedicated and caring group of professionals, a supportive parent community and well over 500 hundred of the greatest kids any Head of School could imagine. I am looking forward to another year of growth and success.
I would not have accepted without the assurance that Alli Abrahamson would step in as the Acting Assistant Head of School. Alli will remain as the Director of Advancement overseeing enrollment, development, marketing and communications. This was an easy decision, as many of you already know Alli’s character, kindness, and dedication to the school’s mission and values. Alli will help me manage the day-to-day operations, along with the big picture pursuits and assist in defining the school’s identity.
With the passing of our visionary and leader, Sheldon Adelson z”l, Tom Spiegel has agreed to assume the role of Chairman of the Board. Tom’s expertise and commitment to the school and our community will continue to provide stability and vigor, and I look forward to working closely with Tom, and to continue learning from him. We are also very grateful to Dr. Miriam Adelson who has communicated her desire to stay involved and committed to the school as a Board Trustee.
Now, as we plan for the future stability and continued success of the school, please allow me to share with you my goals for the upcoming school year.
- Continuing to move the school forward with achieving academic excellence across all divisions. In part, but not limited to, I will assist in curriculum oversight, articulation, and smooth alignment between divisions, ensuring that our faculty and students have the necessary resources they need to be successful.
- For the immediate future, our goal is focused on securing the next Lower School Principal. The school’s Lower School Principal search committee, composed of AEC administrators and faculty, along with the DRG search firm, is in the process of interviewing potential candidates to identify the best possible match for our school.
- The search for a permanent Head of School will continue. I am fully committed to finding the future leader of this amazing school. We all remain optimistic that the appropriate candidate will emerge, and we are confident that a post-COVID search will provide us with a strong group of potential candidates.
- As a school community, we have done a tremendous job keeping our students and faculty safe during this unprecedented school year. As much as we all hope the 2021-2022 school year will turn the page on COVID and everything will go back to normal, it’s never that easy. A major goal for next year will be navigating the mostly unknown path regarding COVID procedures and protocols. With the positive news of the push to roll out the vaccines over the next several months, we will continue to remain vigilant and work with the Southern Nevada Health District and CDC to determine how best to move forward and continue with full time in-person learning.
My intention is to be on campus as frequently as I can over the next 18 months, starting this spring and after I have received both of my vaccinations. I look forward to the day that I can meet each and every one of you in person. As much as I’ve enjoyed Zoom calls, I am excited to greet students daily, to meet this wonderful parent body in person, and to work side-by-side with the staff in the upcoming months.
I am inspired by everyone involved in their heroic efforts to go above and beyond what any of us expected for this school year. In my short time here at AEC, I’ve witnessed a remarkable commitment to learning from the children and their parents, and a true devotion to the students by every member of the faculty, staff, and administration. This community should be proud of its achievements – educating over 500 students every day in the storm of a pandemic, while others have ‘gone below’ for the duration.
I’m honored and humbled by the opportunity presented to me, and fully committed and excited to continue our partnership to ensure the future safety, growth, and success of our school, and so glad that we are all in this together.
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Friday, January 29, 2021
Of the great Jewish thinkers and educators of the twentieth century, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik stands as pre-eminent. Founder of the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA, a school known for its melding of innovation and commitment to tradition, Rabbi Soloveitchik is regarded as a scholar who spoke to Jews and non-Jews alike on issues of Jewish law, as well as the challenge of religion in a modern and postmodern world.
Probably no writing of R. Soloveitchik’s is as compelling to a wide audience as his 1965 ‘Lonely Man of Faith’, in which he outlines the distinction between the two narratives of the creation of man, as noted in Genesis chapters one and two. While the thrust of the book centers around the ‘second Adam’ as a response to alienation and as a model of religious life, Rabbi Soloveitchik notes some key differences between the ‘first Adam’ and the second one. For example, the book notes that ‘G-d, in imparting his blessing to Adam the first and giving him the mandate to subdue nature, directed Adam’s attention to (using) his intellect… ‘to gain control of nature’,…’summoned to ‘fill the earth and subdue it’.
Contrast that with the second chapter of Genesis, where we are shown that before the creation of man, … ‘ there was no one to work the ground’. But once ‘...G-d had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.’, ….The Lord G-d took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’, using the word ‘shomer' – a guardian, caregiver.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that when our children are taught this week about Tu B’Shvat, the ‘new year for the trees', that the lessons about caring for the earth – including contemporary movements around Jewish environmentalism such as ‘Shomrei Adamah’ (literally guardians of the earth) – take center stage.
In addition – and beside the beauty of the holiday of Tu B'Shvat itself (it’s right around now that almond trees start blooming in Israel, for example) – I love two important aspects of what it is we are able to impart to our children.
That Judaism has a plasticity that can consider and address contemporary issues and challenges. Issues of global climate were likely not on the minds of the Talmudists who created the holiday, but tapping into the tradition, we can find resonance for our responsibilities to the very earth we depend upon.
And, secondly – and perhaps more pertinently – when families make a choice to send their child(ren) to a faith-based school such as ours, the values they learn are not generated by any ‘flavor of the month club’. Rather, by having a core set of texts and beliefs, a school like ours gives children roots. To quote another great contemporary Jewish author and teacher, ‘May you have a strong foundation, When the winds of changes shift.’
I salute the teachers, who, this week, were able to share a lasting value, embedded in our tradition, and thus pass down lasting lessons that mold the character of our next generation of leaders.
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Friday, January 22, 2021
Earlier in the week, Principals Lilach Bluevise and Camille McCue and I participated in another of the frequent ‘check-in calls’ we have had this year with the heads of other independent schools in Las Vegas. Jeremy Gregerson of Meadows, Roxanne Stansbury of Dawson and Connie Yeh of 9th Bridge, along with the three of us from AEC, have what can be considered open and frank conversations on a range of topics, in which we share our practices, approaches, and reflections on our work and the work of our respective schools. As you can imagine, we’ve spent a good deal of time discussing COVID and learning about each other’s plans (for example, we invited them to a conversation our leadership team is planning with Dr. Chad Kinsgsley of the Southern Nevada Health District next week). We listen, we learn and we occasionally borrow from the other schools and – in general – share the sort of context that helps each of us do our best in leading our respective institutions.
This sort of collegiality – as surprising as it might seem to some who might see these schools as ‘competitors’ – is actually quite common in the universe of independent schools. I would suggest that it is the very nature of each school’s independence that enables such conversation and collaboration. Freed from the bounds of bureaucracy, union contracts, department regulations, those who work in and lead schools are enabled to rigorously focus on delivering what is in the best interests of our students - a central characteristic of independent schools.
In the U.S., there are over 20,000 ‘private’ schools. Of these, there are around 1,400 schools in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Each member school, including ours, is self-governed, and adheres to certain foundational standards of practice that help each member school achieve and maintain ‘accreditation’. (For the record, I served as chair of the committee that oversaw accreditation in New England as a member of the regional association Board for nine years).
A core principle of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is that each school is defined by its distinct character and identity, and yet all comport with certain standards of excellence, including the belief that all learners find pathways to success through the independence, innovation, and diversity of our schools, and that by encouraging children to think independently, every one of these schools has the power to inspire excellence.
This independence (which is, of course the ‘middle name’ of NWAIS, our regional association) translates into the practice where a school’s governing body can maintain its focus on serving its community, where school leadership ultimately answers to the families and the community, and where teachers and curriculum planners can zero in on what will enable our children to be successful, rather than which group can exert the greatest influence on state and national agencies.
All told, this translates into a higher quality education, one that ensures that the learning of students is always put first. Attention to our students’ individual needs naturally comes from this foundation of beliefs and practices, and responsiveness to parents (who are, after all, client partners) flows naturally – nowhere else is a parent’s voice so important.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that independent schools regularly perform better than the local public schools. Of course, there are environmental factors involved. But comparing the SAT scores of the state of Nevada, where less than 20% of students take the SATs, the 1150 score average of these self-selected students - and even the scores of prestigious charter/tech academies which are only around 50-60 points higher - really don’t compare with Adelson, where the average SAT score of 1320 represents literally the results of every student in the eligible grade. (I will be sharing more data on school performance in upcoming Etone columns.)
Taken together, the structures, the relationships (both within a school and in the larger community), the program and the outcomes build the case for the wisdom of the investment parents make when they decide to send their child(ren) to an independent school. It’s an education that lasts a lifetime, laying the foundation for success and stability, achieved not coincidentally, but by the very design of these institutions themselves.
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Friday, January 15, 2021
This week our community lost its leader. Sheldon Adelson was a towering figure, a self-made billionaire who came from the humblest of backgrounds, and through the strength of character, his determination and his intelligence made decisions that changed an industry, a city, and nations.
For our school, we have lost our founder, the man whose vision animates our program, our building and our very mission - why we open our doors every day. As Board Chair - even in his last months - Sheldon put his imprint on the direction of the school. His commitment to Jewish education and to the future success of every single child in the school was clear in all the conversations I had with him, and from the reports of so many who have worked with him through the years of the school's operation.
This week, our flags have been at half staff, we observed a school-wide moment of silence, some children wrote letters of condolence to their classmates who lost their grandfather, Mr. Adelson, parents have started collecting messages for the family. Today, in our Kabbalat Shabbat program, Dr. McCue will share some reflections about Sheldon, and Jackie Edery and I will recite the Mourners’ Kaddish. Next week, I will participate in discussions with students about comforting the mourners, and we have tentative plans to commemorate Mr. Adelson’s ‘shiloshim’, the thirtieth day of his passing, studying text, reflecting on his life and contributions and reciting a special ‘Rabbi’s Kaddish’. Further, we are looking into installing an annual remembrance of Sheldon on his yahrtzeit – the anniversary of his passing.
There is so much to learn from Sheldon's life. He embodied what Professor Angela Duckworth of Harvard calls 'grit' - passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement Duckworth and other educators insist that grit is the essential component of what separates successful students and adults, - even the most talented ones - from others. It was Sheldon’s grit that enabled him to rise above his very humble beginnings, to deal with failure and loss, to achieve unparalleled success and to reach incomparable heights, and to insist on staying loyal to the values he held dear. In this way, his legacy is to be a model to us in the school and anyone who works with young people.
In addition, I like to see Sheldon as an embodiment of a great American story. That we can rise. Sheldon’s life is a demonstration that there are tools available to us that can unlock opportunities, and the vision of becoming more - as individuals, as families and as a community - is a central part of his legacy.
I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to suggest that around this time of year, we recognize another great American and great American story, that of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King’s passion for the values he held dear, his unyielding commitment, especially in the face of adversity will always be an inspiration.
Kathryn Shetty, chair of our Social Studies / History department is working with her teachers to engage the Upper school students in a conversation around next week’s inauguration. The teachers will help the students place the event of this month in an historical context (including the inauguration of 1800, where John Adams was so angry about the outcome that he took a carriage out of town the morning of the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, so as not to be present), as well as the system that ensures for a peaceful transition of power and authority under the rule of law. Implicit in the lesson and the open Q-and-A that follows is the commitment each educator has – regardless of their particular political stripe to open, respectful discourse that is inclusive of difference. This is a way in which a Jewish day school such as ours confronts contemporary challenges and imparts to students a sense of place, purpose and hope.
Donniel Hartman, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem recently wrote, “…democracy, the rule of law, decency, reason, and tolerance will only prevail when we …. develop intellectual, educational, and cultural frameworks to enable everyone, even those on the other side of the partisan line, to embrace them."
Our Social Studies department and Rabbi Hartman distill the civic virtues that our school’s mission embraces. They are effectively narrators of the American story that is inclusive of great Americans with as widely different viewpoints as Mr. Adelson and Dr. King. Our children are blessed to have these wonderful teachers, these wonderful models, and – ultimately – to grow up in a land so rich in promise.
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Friday, January 8, 2021
There are moments when it feels like if I hear the phrase ‘we are living in unprecedented times’ even once more, I’ll burst – not that it’s untrue, rather that I am not sure how many more ‘unprecedenteds’ I can take.
That’s why today’s short piece might be titled ‘in praise of stability’.Yet I would like to offer another descriptor - we are part of a sweet school, as well. The word from Mirimus Labs is that we are ‘on time/on target’ to have results of this week’s school-wide COVID testing over the weekend, in time to make sure that we’re set to open our doors for in-person learning on Monday, January 11.
When we do so, our community can feel secure that everyone who enters the school will have tested COVID-negative, and that, in essence, we are starting the second of half of this ’unprecedented’ year as a COVID-free school.
When students enter, they will resume their studies. They will continue to be taught by a cadre of remarkable, talented, committed educators whose focus is clearly on the prize of providing their students with the tools – academic, social and spiritual – to excel, to become the very best persons they can be, and to set their sights high.
Parents will be able to confidently trust that the school is operating with the health and safety of their children at the forefront, that decisions are always made centered around the well being of their children.
This is what a good school does, and it delivers quality education day in and day out. Our school accomplishes that with the support of a terrific Board, and the ongoing, steady generosity of a remarkable, philanthropic, and visionary family.
Further, a wonderful school is always poised for its next big step. This week, AEC was introduced to the first of two terrific candidates for the permanent Head of School position, and it’s clear that the folks involved in the search process have been very, very successful.
Research tells us over and over how stability enables children to grow up well; that being able to depend on the structures and the caring individuals around them helps young people to do the ‘important work of growing up’. At times like these, such stability provides the space, and the place, for the healthy development that children and their families can trust.
We are embarking on the season of re-enrollment. I’m confident that many families will seek out the sense of strength, stability, and excellence that our school provides. It’s a prospect that can be reassuring in these very, very unsettling times.
So, let’s start the second half of this ‘unprecedented’ year confident, energized, and ready for whatever comes next, secure in knowing who we are and what we are here to do.