Dr. David Finells first Shabbat Shalom message of the new school year: (it is long, but well worth the read!) Dear Rockwern Families: Classrooms have been cleaned and painted; hallway floors have been waxed and polished; books and supplies have been replenished; teachers and staff have been meeting; opening lesson plans have been created and colorful bulletin boards have been put up - all in preparation of welcoming you, our families and students, to a new year. As one walks the hallways and goes into the classrooms there is the fresh scent of renewal and the promise of potential embodied in the year about to begin. Welcome to the 2014- 2015 school year at Rockwern Academy! Bruchim Habaim! As I mentioned to Rockwern Academy parents in my welcome letter a couple of weeks ago, this year we have four important goals on which we will be focusing. I look forward to working with you as we continue to make Rockwern Academy a place where children learn to be intellectually engaged, spiritually aware, and socially responsible. This year our school community will continue focusing great attention on the follow four areas: Enrollment: We begin this school year with 208 students enrolled at Rockwern Academy! All of our E.C.E.C. classes, kindergarten, and second grade are full and have waiting lists. Word of mouth continues to be the biggest factor in driving enrollment so I ask that all Rockwern parents continue helping spread the good word about the unique education and wonderful community we have here. Due to the generosity of our community partners (such as the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Community Federation, and the Rockwern Foundation) and the many people who support the schools annual fundraising efforts, tuition continues to be affordable for any family who wants to send their children to Rockwern Academy. 21st Century Learning: Learning to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and connect through technology are essential skills in a knowledge-based economy. These are areas where Rockwern Academy truly excels. However, rather than resting on our laurels, we are working hard to continually expand our program of 21st Century Learning as a primary focus of our academic program. During the coming year and beyond we will continue to make it a priority to strengthen our efforts in integrating collaborative problem-solving and technology into our classroom instruction. During the past year all of our students in fourth grade and up received a dedicated laptop/tablet, our teachers strengthened their training in effective use of Promethean Boards to enhance instruction, and over the summer, our technology lab has been upgraded with beautiful new, large screen, wireless Lenovo computers.This year and in the years to come our faculty, under the leadership of our new Assistant Principal, Mrs. Elaine Kaplan, will be discussing ways in which we can continue to increase opportunities for our students to learn through digital means, such as social networking, ICT (Information, Communications, Technology) literacy, technological awareness, and simulation. This is one of the reasons why project-based learning will continue to be such an important part of our program as it facilitates the learning of these important 21st Century Learning skills. Each of these elements will enable our students to function proficiently in social networks and contribute to the development of social and intellectual progress in our society and our world. Jewish day schools like Rockwern Academy are actually uniquely positioned to implement this vision, as many elements of 21st Century Learning are already embodied in the way Jewish culture approaches learning. We have always had a focus on global connectedness, second language acquisition, collaborative study, asking probing questions, and integrating our curriculum. So at Rockwern Academy we are fortunate to already have a firm base on which to continue strengthening our focus on 21st Century Learning during this coming school year and for many years to come. Community Building: This year we are also focusing a great deal on continuing to strengthen the sense of community among our families. Rockwern is a more than a school that provides an excellent Jewish and general academic education in a nurturing and values-based environment. Rockwern is also a community, where we come together to learn and celebrate together during good times, and to support each other during challenging times. So this year we are continuing to put renewed energy into providing opportunities to come together as a community. Under the leadership of our professional staff and our wonderful Parent/Teacher Organization, there is a renewed spirit of pride and active involvement in our school community. I encourage every family to get involved by volunteering to support the school and by attending meetings and programs offered during the year. It is fun and a great way to meet people! Accreditation: Rockwern Academy will complete its in-depth self-study during this coming school year, and the ISACS accreditation team will visit the school from April 27 - 29, 2015. This self-study involves all facets of the school and includes a thorough study of our educational program, an opportunity to reflect on our mission as a school, an assessment of our operations, and a plan for school improvement. Accreditation certifies that the ISACS standards have been met and is aimed at helping schools review their mission and improve their programs through a continuous cycle of introspection, evaluation, and revision. Parental and community input is an important piece of this process, and I look forward to continue receiving feedback about where our school is doing well and where it could use improvement. So we begin the school year this coming week with a great sense of excitement and gratitude. I know it will be another year of wonderful learning and amazing growth for us all. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, who has given us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this day! Shabbat shalom and welcome to a new year at Rockwern Academy! David B. Finell, Head of School
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 21:34:22 +0000
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