Let’s Talk: Helping our kids manage overwhelming feelings in difficult times
By Jodi Woodnick, School Counselor As we process the world around us, we collectively grieve. We grieve for lost months of school, graduations, sports seasons, and summers at camp, not to mention losses of life and expressions of sadness and anger all around us. And with grief comes a range of emotions from sadness to […]
Lower School Virtual Recess Provides Additional Social Connections
by Jodi Woodnick, School Counselor Since the start of remote learning, Pardes has offered “Virtual Recess” for our Lower School students as part of their remote learning experience. Virtual Recess has provided opportunities for students to get together socially twice a week for 30 minutes or so. Together we play games, check in on our […]
The Power of Workshop in our Older Grades – Reflections from a Middle School Teacher
by Sara Abrams, Sixth Grade Humanities Teacher When the announcement finally came in, a phone call from a colleague, “We’re closing the campus and are going to be enacting our remote learning plan,” my heart collapsed. So much of who I am is entrenched in my classroom, with my students, amongst my colleagues. I prepared […]
The Power of Workshop at the Youngest Grades – Reflections from a Lower School Teacher
by Addi Fraser, Kindergarten Teacher As I looked around my classroom, I saw writers passionately pouring their ideas onto paper, editing with intensity, and independently engaging in the writing process. These authors were not in middle school, they’re actually kindergartners. Kindergartners who love writing and beg to write everyday because of the incredible power of […]
Professional Development during Remote Learning
May 5, 2020 – Pardes has always recognized the importance of professional development opportunities for faculty and staff and encouraged their participation at national conferences, summer institutes and other programs. Professional development enables teachers to explore best practices in education and continue to hone their craft in an ever-changing educational landscape. One might think that […]
Socializing in the time of Social Distancing
My role as our Pardes Jewish Day School Counselor is relatively straightforward… I am here to help everyone interact with each other and the world as easily and with as much joy as possible. As I adjust to our new (and don’t forget, temporary) normal, I realize that the nature and quality of those interactions […]
Happy National School Counseling Week! Get to Know our School Counselor
The week of February 3 – February 7, 2020 is National School Counseling Week. Pardes Jewish Day School recognizes the importance of having a full-time school counselor on campus and the many benefits it provides our students, faculty and parents at all grade levels. Jodi Woodnick is a licensed social worker who has been working […]
Fifth Graders Write and Produce Play on Ancient Egypt
As a culminating activity for Mrs. Luther’s fifth grade social studies unit on Ancient Egypt, students created their own play, The Case of the Missing Pharaoh. Each student was significantly involved in the creation and production of the play. Students wrote the script, researched costumes, directed the play, selected the music, developed the choreography, and […]
Community Celebrates Pardes at the Cirque du Pardes Gala
January 27, 2020 – Sunday, January 26th was an evening of celebration at the annual Pardes Gala. Chaired by third grade parents Tricia and Phil Beron, this year’s Cirque du Pardes theme at The Clayton House did not disappoint. Bright festival colors and Cirque-like decor, including a stilt walker, contortionist and human hors d’oeuvres table, […]