ignite! the drive for academic excellence

Transcription

1

2 In a 21st-century world that is changing so rapidly, we must ignite a love of Torah in our students that will anchor them throughout their lives. Rabbi Yossi Kastan Living in the 21st century carries tremendous benefits for our students. With information at their fingertips from a young age, students have opportunities to learn, produce, and innovate like no other previous generation. This level of global exposure, however, also carries tremendous challenges and responsibilities. Our children communicate and socialize differently; lines between opinion and fact are easily blurred, and the messages and imagery are, many times, inconsistent with our traditional Torah values. As a Modern Orthodox school, we are passionately focused on the religious, spiritual, academic, and social welfare of each student in our care. As educators, we can no longer just teach; we must ignite a flame, one that will spark our children s intellectual curiosity, kindle their unique strengths, and bring light to their understanding and commitment to navigating their journeys as Torah-committed Jews. That goal, to ignite a love of Torah and Hashem in our students that will ensure the future of the Jewish people, is the neshama, the soul, of our institution. Rabbi Yossi Kastan, Head of School

3 the drive for academic excellence להקשיב לחכמה אזנך תטה לבך לתבונה (משלי ב:ו) We help students master both the fundamentals and the higher-level intellectual skills they will need to not only survive but thrive in the world. Excellence is measured by what the students learn, not purely by the things we teach; by the skills that the students acquire, not merely by the opportunities we provide; by the behaviors and attitudes that each child embodies and exemplifies, not solely by the programs we develop. We promote and ensure this excellence in methodical, thoughtful and measurable ways. We make learning relevant in each subject so that students are intellectually curious and take the initiative to learn and think independently. We challenge students to define, redefine and truly understand a problem before searching for a solution so that they will exercise genuine critical thinking and problemsolving skills. We expose students to communal and global issues so that they apply their learned information to their understanding of the world. We teach students to enjoy the journey of the question more than the destination of the answer so that students take academic risks to test their hypotheses, opinions and beliefs. We laud perseverance so that our students consistently tackle challenging intellectual tasks. We praise resilience so that our students embrace, celebrate, and learn from mistakes. Through a rigorous and interwoven dual curriculum of general and Judaic studies, we promote a conceptual understanding of math, foster sincere inquiry through the scientific process, stimulate personal expression through critical skills of reading and writing, embrace cultures and civilizations through history and social studies, and stimulate Torah values and wisdom so that our students are fully prepared to navigate and succeed in a 21st-century world through the lens of their strong Jewish identity.

4 the passion for religious commitment עץ חיים היא למחזיקים בה (משלי ג:י ח) We inspire our students to learn Torah, love Torah and, most important, live Torah so that they may embrace the Jewish identity that anchors and guides them in the world. Our achrayut (responsibility) is to develop sophisticated, knowledgeable Jewish students who can make daily decisions that are based in Torah values, and draw upon those values as a living blueprint as they mature into Jewish adulthood in the 21st century. To accomplish this, through our rich Judaic curriculum, including Tanach, Mishna, Gemara, Dinim, Chagim and Hashkafa, we proactively provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills in a wide range of Torah texts, as well as the wisdom to analyze, synthesize and apply that knowledge to modernday case studies and ethical dilemmas and issues. Through Jewish experiential programs, we offer students the opportunity to apply the Jewish values they learn in their classrooms. From Chesed trips to Middot assemblies, we promote our students awareness and commitment for Tikkun Olam in the local, national and global Jewish community. From pre-shabbat ruach to Chagim, we provide our students with a meaningful connection to Jewish heritage, history and culture. By doing so, we endeavor to cultivate students with a profound cognitive understanding of Torah, along with a deep emotional connection to the Torah s application to Jewish life and living in modern day. With this harmony between mind and soul, we successfully develop students with a strong Jewish identity that will guide them along their journey.

5 the commitment to character development דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה (ויקרא רבה) We weave the teaching of Torah values and Middot throughout our entire curriculum so that each student fulfills his or her capacity as a true Tzelem Elokim image of God. BMA provides the perfect platform for students to grow in character and attain the virtues of menschlichkeit. Every day there are real-life opportunities from daily social dynamics with peers to interactions with teachers to apply the Torah values that we instill in an environment of loving support and guidance. Middot assemblies and Chesed trips and programs enable us to focus on specific virtues such as tzniut (modesty), honesty, kindness, compassion, tzedakah and achrayut (responsibility) to self, peers, teachers, community and Hashem. While the Torah values we teach are timeless, today s digital and media worlds create new challenges in their application in day-to-day living. More than ever, our students must learn how to best articulate and express themselves in respectful dialogues and healthy discourse, and to embrace diversity and individual differences while sharing their own personal opinions and beliefs. They must learn to maintain a level of personal tzniut, even when faced with today s media, which constantly blurs the lines of acceptable dress, speech and demeanor. At BMA, our students learn to embrace, apply and model the appropriate middot and derech eretz in everyday interactions and situations both in and out of school.

6 the mastery of 21st-century skills חנוך לנער על פי דרכו גם כי יזקין לא יסור ממנה (משלי כ ב:ו) We merge technology and instruction, giving students greater access to knowledge and making learning more meaningful, so that they may successfully compete in a global society. At BMA, we prepare our students to understand and utilize technology in positive and productive ways both as media consumers and as media producers. As media consumers, our students learn to synthesize and make sense of vast amounts of data and information, so that they can articulate their own opinions informed by their Jewish identity and values. As media producers, our students comfortably embrace technological opportunities such as producing films and podcasts, editing photos and utilizing secure social/educational media so that they may safely and responsibly share their positive messages with the world. To that end, our responsibility is to deliver 21st-century technology learning opportunities that foster intellectual curiosity, promote peer collaboration and instill students with an enthusiasm for learning in both Judaic and general studies. Our commitment is to develop our students with the skills of digital citizenship and the confidence to share their messages with others. We embrace the power of new media for a new type of learner the 21st-century student. With access to extraordinarily rich Judaic studies applications and general studies software, we encourage our students to express their individual interpretations of the knowledge and values we teach them and to become independent researchers and thinkers who will make a lasting contribution to the digital world.

7 the power of enrichment programs בכל דרכיך דעהו והוא יישר ארחתיך (משלי ג:ו) We honor and support the whole child by providing opportunities and resources integral to achieving each child s full potential both in and out of the classroom. At BMA, we are passionate about the uniqueness of each child. Every student has distinctive learning styles and special interests. BMA s Academic Support Department ensures that each student receives the necessary academic support and enrichment he or she needs in order to reach his or her fullest potential. In addition, a myriad of experiential learning opportunities including academically-focused trips and Chesed trips, assemblies, speakers and special guests to the school highlight and bring to life what is learned in the classroom, helping students discover the significance and beauty of their learning. Our robust and expanding roster of after-school programs is built on the belief that these activities are integral for each student s development. From sports teams to art and drama programs, from Science and Math enrichment clubs to Mishmar, BMA offers each child an appropriate outlet for self-expression and personal growth. Through these ongoing programs, students learn lessons that directly translate back to their success in the classroom, such as teamwork, collaboration, respect, resilience, perseverance, and sportsmanship. At BMA, these programs are not considered extra curricular, but rather an integral, complementary component to the academic, social and spiritual development of each child.

8 the experience of unique learning spaces דירה נאה מרחיבה את הדעת (ע פ ברכות נ ז:) We utilize our beautiful campus as a learning lab, which enables us to expand academic, social and spiritual opportunities for all students. Expansive yet secure, inviting yet protected, our campus is a place where parents feel safe to bring their children and where children are happy to spend their days. Our campus provides an atmosphere that encourages curiosity, fosters creativity, and inspires critical thinking and integrity. The passion for learning that we cultivate each day in the classrooms comes to life in the spaces around our campus. The courts promote lessons in sportsmanship and teamwork. The fields foster values of perseverance. The outdoor seating areas stimulate observation and reflection. The planters and gardens inspire an appreciation for Hashem s creations and the complementary relationship between Science, Math and Torah. The natural light that shines through the large windows of each classroom provokes the perfect metaphor for the BMA way of teaching where we design relevant learning based on what s happening out in the world, and we see what s happening in the world through the lens of what we learn in the classroom.

9 the connection to our school community הנה מה טוב ומה נעים שבת אחים גם יחד (תהילים קלג:א) We define the BMA community by the strong bonds, warm feelings and friendly support within the school community feelings that make our campus a home away from home. BMA is more than a school for children. It is a community for adults to participate in continued scholarship, engage in community advocacy and volunteerism, and cultivate a sense of belonging for each of our families and their children. From evenings of Jewish learning to parenting seminars, our parents model lifelong learning as well as personal and spiritual growth. From book fairs to bake sales, our vibrant Parent Teacher Association (PTA) engages parents in ongoing fundraisers and programs to secure resources for the myriad of academic, social and religious programs. From breakfasts meetings with the Head of School to parent-teacher conferences, our parents take an active interest in many dimensions of school life. Our community is not defined by geography, but rather by our shared commitment to Brauser Maimonides Academy and our collective mission to develop the next generation of Torah-committed Jews.

10 your children s jewish future at brauser maimonides academy The best way to learn more about BMA s vision, philosophy and community is to come for a visit and experience it for yourself. A visit to our campus is worth a thousand words. We invite you to come take a tour and spend time with us to experience the warmth and caring that make our school a second home for our students and their families. Everywhere you turn, you will encounter the happy faces of children who are excited by what they are learning. You will notice the small classes that enable teachers to give personal attention to every student so that each can succeed and reach his or her full potential. You will observe the learning environment in which our students thrive intellectually, socially and spiritually. You will witness how our educational philosophy of academic excellence, religious commitment and character development is a living, breathing practice from early childhood through middle school. Please contact us to schedule a visit. We welcome you and your family to become part of our future and part of the vibrant, loving BMA community.

11 Brauser Maimonides Academy 5300 SW 40th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida