State tests show Maimonides' vigor
By Deborah Moon Seldner
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Last year, every Maimonides Jewish Day School student in a grade tested by the Oregon State Assessments met or exceeded the state's benchmarks.
With that confirmation of the strength of its secular program, school faculty is looking forward to building on that solid foundation and expanding its art and Hebrew programs for the coming year.
Some Maimonides' children tested in the 99th percentile, and perhaps even more exciting, some students who had struggled in previous years exceeded the state benchmarks, said school director Devora Wilhelm.
"It really shows our secular program is meeting the needs of children with differing needs," said Wilhelm. "Our secular program is able to meet the needs of individual learners."
Maimonides teacher Trish Jenkins attributed the achievement to the school's small class size. She said last year she taught kindergarten through second grade and was amazed at the end of the year that every kindergartener was reading well—"they were reading real books."
Jenkins said she also believed the students' friendships across grade levels and the strong sense of community helped students excel.
"They can each excel in their own way," she said. "Everybody helps each other."
In addition to the strong academic program, Jenkins said the students also receive enrichment programs that have been reduced or eliminated in many public schools. Music and art are part of the school's program, with arts due for a boost this year.
Maimonides has hired artist and teacher Elizabeth Craig, who has 20 years experience working with children, to revolutionize the school's art program from its Aleph Bet Preschool through Maimonides' middle school.
Craig said she uses art to help children express their ideas through a variety of mediums.
Craig said first she will work with the students on an exploration of art media including clay, wire, paper, wood, paint and fiber.
"Once they develop an understanding of the art media, they are able to choose the appropriate medium to express their ideas," she said.
Craig said Maimonides students will be focusing on art as a process rather than a specific end product. Students will be asked to draw on their own interests and areas they are studying in science, social studies or other subjects as inspiration for their artwork—an extension of the school's project-approach to education. Craig called this approach to art a more in-depth experience in which students can revisit concepts using a variety of materials.
"With children, you have to provoke and inspire them and see where they go with it, not tell them how it's done," said Craig.
Wilhelm said she is very excited about the new arts program, as well as the new Hebrew curriculum and Jewish Montessori program the school is bringing into the preschool and elementary program.
Israeli-born Portlander Ronnie Malka, who began developing an early childhood curriculum for modern Hebrew while working at the Early Childhood Learning Center at Mittleman Jewish Community Center, will bring her program to the school this year.
Malka will lead one lesson a week for children 3 years of age through first grade.
"I will be in once a week to introduce the weekly dialogue, theme, vocabulary, song, etc. and then will work with the teachers to help implement Hebrew into their daily activities," said Malka.
"We will build on it and use Hebrew on the playground as well as in the classroom," said Wilhelm. "Our goal is to integrate more Hebrew into the school."
The school plans to further augment its early childhood program with the purchase of some Jewish Montessori materials such as lunar-solar calendars and sandpaper Aleph-Bet, so children get a tactile appreciation of Hebrew letters.
"We are looking at increased enrollment for 2006-2007," said Wilhelm, noting most classes still have some openings.
For more information on Aleph Bet Preschool and Maimonides Jewish Day School, call Wilhelm at 503-977-7850.