The CESJDS Pawdcast

 

Podcast Episode #23

The CESJDS Alumni Community: Lifelong Friendships and Networks

CESJDS Head of School Rabbi Malkus sits down with alumni Emily Odesser '09 and Kira Epstein Begal '00, and CESJDS Associate Director of Alumni Relations Benji Shedlo to learn about how the CESJDS k'hillah has extended beyond the classroom and into their personal and professional lives.

Podcast Episode #21

The CESJDS-BMHS Partnership: Discovering Commonalities Among Different Cultures

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus, Bishop McNamara High School (BMHS) President/CEO Dr. John Barnhardt, and students Abby C. (CESJDS Grade 11) and Khadi B. (BMHS Grade 11) discuss how our unique partnership has led to discovering commonalities among our different cultures.

Podcast Episode #19

The Gift of Failure: Perspectives from the CESJDS Community on this Year’s School-Wide Read

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with Dean of Students Roz Landy, Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies Chair Deborah Feigenson, and CESJDS Parent Jana Sharp to discuss the school-wide read The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey.

Podcast Episode #17

Your Child’s First School Experience: What to Ask and How to Prepare

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with Lower School Principal Rabbi Matthew Bellas, Lower School Math and Schedule Coordinator Jennifer Rittberg, and Lower School Language Arts, Social Studies, and DEIJ Coordinator Kim Sherk to discuss preparing for a child's first school experience.

Podcast Episode #15

Engaging Student Leadership Opportunities - The CESJDS STEM Center Fellows Program

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with Uppser School STEM Coordinator and Middle School Math and Science Chair Cassandra Batson, and CESJDS STEM Fellows Darya D. (Grade 11) and Johnathon G. (Grade 9) to discuss the STEM Center Fellows program and hear student perspectives on leadership and community engagement through the program.

Podcast Episode #13

Developing a Love of Torah Study: The Tanakh Standards and Benchmarks Program in the Lower School

Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus sits down with Lower School Principal Rabbi Matthew Bellas to discuss how our the CESJDS Lower School is using the Tanakh/Bible Standards and Benchmarks Program to engage students in Jewish life and learning.

Podcast Episode #11

The Real Deal – Exploring Why JDS has Exceptional College Guidance.

Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus sits down with Director of College Guidance Sue Rexford to discuss the individualized college process at JDS. Our talented college guidance team spends a lot of time getting to know our students and families to help them through this important milestone.

Podcast Episode #9

Our Commitment to New Student Integration and Lower School Guidance

Rabbi Matthew Bellas, Lower School Principal, sits down with Gayle Elster, Guidance Support Specialist and Gurim Guidance Counselor, and Dara Buchman, Kindergarten and First Grade School Counselor to discuss new student integration and our Lower School Guidance Department.

Podcast Episode #7

Kindergarten Readiness - Part 1 - Rabbi Matthew Bellas, Gayle Elster, and Rhonda Kleiner

In part one of our two-part series, Rabbi Matthew Bellas, Lower School Principal, sits down with Gayle Elster, Guidance Support Specialist and Gurim Guidance Counselor, and Rhonda Kleiner, Kindergarten Teacher, to discuss various perspectives of Kindergarten readiness.

Podcast Episode #5

Avoiding the "Summer Slide" - Lower School Faculty

Jamie Kaminsky, 2nd and 3rd Grade Guidance Counselor, hosts several Lower School Faculty members to discuss the "summer slide." Hadas Heyman, 3rd Grade Judaic Studies Teacher and Tech Specialist, Jenny Rittberg, Math Coordinator, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Language Arts Enrichment Specialist, Carol Urbach, Learning Specialist, and Mollie Wour, 5th Grade General Studies Teacher and Math Specialist discuss activities your child can engage in to stay sharp, and have fun over Summer break. 

Podcast Episode #3

Executive Function - Heidi Tacktill and Sarah Andrea

Sarah Andrea, 3rd Grade General Studies Teacher, and Heidi Tacktill, Learning Specialist, discuss Executive Function, how we approach this at JDS, and ways to work with students at home

Podcast Episode #1

Coach Becky Silberman and Talia Shemony '20

Talia Shemony '20 has a conversation with Director of Athletics, Becky Silberman.

Podcast Episode #25

CESJDS Students Build Confidence, Empathy, and Leadership Through Our Robust Performing Arts

In the latest CESJDS Pawdcast, Rabbi Mitch Malkus as he sits down with the Debra Herman Berger Director of Arts Education David Solomon, CESJDS Parent Naomi Gerstenblith, Bee K. (Grade 11), and Skye F. (Grade 12) to discuss the incredible impact of the CESJDS performing arts programming.

Podcast Episode #24

Student Leadership, Responsibility, and Citizenship – The CESJDS Safety Patrols

In the first CESJDS Pawdcast for the 2024-2025 school year, Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with Lower School PE Teacher and Safety Patrol Coordinator Amy Strong, Lower School Vice Principal and Guidance Counselor Rebecca Prigal, and two fifth grade students Benjy R. and Maya L. to discuss the Lower School Safety Patrol Program, and how it is one of the many ways that CESJDS begins to instill student leadership, citizenship, and responsibility.

Podcast Episode #22

Center for Health and Wellness: A New Approach to Health Education and Student Support

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with the Center for Health and Wellness Co-Directors Rachel Soifer and Melissa Gartner and Health and Wellness Fellow Ellie S. (Grade 10) to discuss our approach to health education and student support.

Podcast Episode #22

Center for Health and Wellness: A New Approach to Health Education and Student Support

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with the Center for Health and Wellness Co-Directors Rachel Soifer and Melissa Gartner and Health and Wellness Fellow Ellie S. (Grade 10) to discuss our approach to health education and student support.

Podcast Episode #20

Athletics at CESJDS: An Opportunity to Compete and Build Skills, Relationships, and K’hillah/Community

Head of School Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with Athletic Director Becky Silberman, Board Member and President of the CESJDS Booster Club Geoff Chesman, and students Tali L. (Grade 10) and Caden M. (Grade 10) to discuss what makes the CESJDS athletic program unique.

Podcast Episode #18

Supporting Students During Times of War in Israel and Crisis in Our Community

During this difficult time, Rabbi Mitch Malkus sat down with High School Dean of Students, Roz Landy, Middle School Guidance Counselor Deb Amchin, and Lower School Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor Rebecca Prigal for a discussion on building resilience and empathy during times of war in Israel and crisis in our community.

Podcast Episode #16

10th Grade Family History Project: Making connections between World History, Jewish History, and Your History

Rabbi Mitch Malkus sits down with Director of the Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History and Jewish History Teacher Rachel Bergstein to discuss the 10th grade Jewish history project and how it helps students draw a connection between their personal history, world history, and Jewish history.

Podcast Episode #14

Engaging Students in the Learning Process through Student Led Learning Conferences

Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus sits down with Director of Educational Support Services Lenore Layman, Upper School Academic Dean Aileen Goldstein ‘96, and Middle School English Teacher David Carrington to discuss how Student Led Learning Conferences engage students in the learning process and empower them to become more effective learners.

Podcast Episode #12

Innovation Minimester – Where the most creative kids on the planet can innovate!

Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus sits down with Middle School Principal Dr. Eliana Lipsky to discuss how our Middle School Innovation Minimester encourages students to value process over product and turn their passions into creative actions that positively impact the world around them.

Podcast Episode #10

Remembering Charles E. Smith

Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus sits down with David B. Smith, Charles E. Smith’s grandson to share his reflections of his grandfather, grandmother, and his family’s vision for JDS.

Podcast Episode #8

College Readiness Part 1 - Sue Rexford and Dr. Sharon Alston

Sue Rexford, Director of College Guidance, sits down with Dr. Sharon Alston, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Enrollment at American University, to discuss common questions students and their parents have during the college application process.

Podcast Episode #6

Jewish Life at the Upper School - Shoshanna Schechter and Miriam Stein

A conversation between incoming Director of Jewish Life, Shoshanna Schechter '98 and Miriam Stein, Director of Upper School Admissions, and previous Director of Jewish Life. Ms. Stein and Ms. Schechter discuss her path from her graduation that has lead her back to JDS, and her goals for Jewish Life at the Upper School. 

Podcast Episode #4

Enrichment 360- Catherine Welch and Kim Sherk

Catherine Welch, Lower Language Arts and Social Studies Coordinator, and Kim Sherk, Language Arts Enrichment Specialist discuss the new Lower School initiative: Enrichment 360.

Podcast Episode #2

Nancy Wassner and 11th Grade English

Nancy Wassner, High School English Teacher, introduces the excellent work of her 11th grade students' "This I Believe" project.