Sunday, January 8, 2012

Engage the World: Kadima's New View book Comes to Life


After months of creative work, our new view book is complete!  It is entitled "Engage the World" and it does a very nice job in communicating Kadima's core values.  Check out some of the pages here....









Kadima and Tikkun Olam: Making a Difference as a School Community

Kadima ended the 2011 year with a flurry of community service projects.....

There was the Toy Drive in honor and memory of Daniella Gannot z"l


and, we raised more for a family that we adopted through Jewish Family Service.  In addition, we collected more than 150 pairs of shoes as our 5th grade class spearheaded the "Shoes that Fit" Campaign, and our entire middle school visited a assisted living facility and brought real Chanukkah Cheer tot the community.

It is awesome that Kadima students and families work so hard to make a difference.....

Kadima Festival of Lights -- Great way to end the year

Our Elementary School and ECEC enjoyed spectacular student performances, and fun and vibrant activities at our Chanukkah Festival of Lights this year....





Friday, January 6, 2012

Three and a Half More Years!

What an awesome time to be leading the Kadima community!  The following was published in this week's Kol Echad eNewsletter.  And, my family and I are thrilled!  Our school is really heading in a great direction, and our growth and success is happening at a rapid pace....



NEWS FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT, SUZY BOOKBINDER   

Dear Kadima Community,

This is a very special time in the 41 year history of Kadima Day School.  All three of our divisions are improving and innovating with a keen sense of purpose.  The learning which occurs on a daily basis focuses on critical thinking, and active student engagement, and a shift is underway as our curriculum focuses on the needs of the 21st century learner.  Kodiak spirit is at an all time high, as is parent and community participation at our first-class events and programs.

Three years ago, we selected our Head of School, Bill Cohen, to lead us on a path of excellence and innovation.  As a Board of Trustees, we believed that there was some amazing things happening at Kadima, but we also believed that the school needed a fresh energy, a renewed sense of purpose, increased accountability and annual fundraising, and better marketing to the Jewish community of the West Valley.  During his tenure, thus far, Bill has worked tirelessly to lead Kadima through a challenging economic landscape and through a process of improvement which has not been easy.  

I am, therefore, thrilled to inform you that the Board of Trustees and Bill have recently reached and signed an agreement for a three-year contract extension for Bill as Kadima's Head of School, through June of 2015.  We believe that in this second phase of Bill's Head of School tenure, that Kadima will flourish and grow in tremendous ways. Mazal tov to Bill, and his family, on reaching this agreement, and for ensuring that Kadima maintains the stability that is required for a school to grow in terms of student population, annual fundraising, and community support.   

This is a wonderful way for our school and community to enter the new year of 2012!

Sincerely,

Suzy Bookbinder
President, Board of Trustees