Entries by Kevin Sterling

Feel Good Fridays in Kitah Gimmel

Kindness has always been central to the makeup of our third grade classroom. Throughout the year, we worked to foster positive student interactions, created a space for conversations in which students could share their similarities and celebrate differences, and practiced empathy. As we settled into our reality of distance learning, we knew that we wanted […]

Talking to Our Children About Recent Events

When we returned to school from the Shavuot holiday, protests for racial justice were taking place throughout the country. On Sunday evening, Schechter Manhattan Head of School, Benjamin Mann, shared the thoughts below with the Schechter Manhattan parents and faculty. “Abba, I just don’t understand.”  My son, a college student, expressed frustration, bewilderment, and indignation after […]

Chesed and Tzedakah during Distance Learning

At Schechter Manhattan we pride ourselves on our commitment to caring for others through acts of chesed (community service), as well as through giving tzedakah (monetary donations.) Each year beginning in third grade, students go beyond the walls of our school to participate in a year-long service project in our larger Upper West Side community. These hands-on experiences enhance […]

In Appreciation of Teachers

The teachers were smiling as they encouraged students to build landmarks in Israel, compete in a fun trivia game, create their own versions of Chagall windows, and develop solutions to real world STEAM problems.  As I stopped into the many virtual activities that the Schechter Manhattan faculty had prepared for Yom Haatzmaut last week, I […]

High School Placement: Process and Outcomes

In February and March, amidst the move to distance learning, high school placement results came in and I am so proud of our 8th grade students. Members of the class of 2020 were accepted to an array of competitive NYC high schools, including Jewish day schools, independent schools, selective public schools, and performing arts audition […]

A Cultural Shift

By Shira Jacobson, Curriculum and Programming Coordinator At the end of each year, we carefully assess our units of study.  Were the students engaged in the content of the lessons? Were students able to interact thoughtfully and critically with the material?  Were there sufficient resources available to the teachers and students?  At times, this process […]

Student Products: Distance Learning in Action

In the three weeks that Schechter Manhattan has been educating our students through distance learning, amongst our goals has been for students to continue to engage actively in meaningful learning activities.  While this has been challenging to do across digital platforms, we are gratified that the creative and tireless work of the Schechter Manhattan teaching […]

Menschlichkeit in a time of Social Distancing

Today is Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the first day of the Jewish month of Nisan.  According to Mishnah Rosh Hashanah (1:1) Nisan is the first month of the year for counting the regalim, the three pilgrimage festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. During the time of beit hamikdash, the Temple in Jerusalem, each of the regalim was an annual celebration, when Jews from […]

Distance Learning at Schechter Manhattan

The spread of the Coronavirus has surely led to big, quick changes in most of our lives.  Along with colleagues in other schools, at Schechter Manhattan we made the enormous shift from physical classroom to distance learning in just a few days.  Our parents and students have seen this in great detail, and with such […]