Friday Letter

Friday Letter Archive | Friday Letter Alerts

September 5, 2008
5 Elul 5768

Dear SSDS Nassau Community,

This letter comes to you after just a few days of classes in session. After a month of learning and preparing for the school year, I must share with you my joy to finally meet your delightful children! Under bright blue skies, waves of children and parents, busses and cars began to converge on our beautiful campus, and teachers waited anxiously in their classrooms to receive their new students. A potpourri of happy, vibrant and nervous smiles, and a few tears, as children said goodbye to their parents and symbolically let go of the summer, but within no time, everyone was settled in with their teachers and classmates. As the children arrived and as I walked through all of the classrooms, I could not help thinking, “Are the children at Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County always so well-behaved?” Of course, first day jitters always lead to extra reserve, and no doubt, things are likely to change as the days go by, but I have asked many staff members this question, and their responses have all confirmed that they are very nice kids from really nice families in this school. I can already see how true that is.

As families were arriving, I heard more than one person ask, “Where’s Jerry?” while others entered the office and asked, “Where’s Wendy?” Over the summer, these fine people have left our support staff, and new people have come on board in their stead. Take a moment to introduce yourselves to Mr. Naresh Singh, our new security guard/custodian. He is a kind and talented gentleman who has been working tirelessly with Ed Clementi to get the school in shape and keep our children safe. But don’t let that kindness fool you! Naresh is also a fully licensed security guard and is here to keep us safe. In the office, joining Kathleen Niebling, is the newest member of our staff, Mrs. Cindy Finkelstein. Cindy replaced Wendy just the day before school began and has been a hero in a very busy office during the absolute busiest days of the year. Please take a moment to welcome Cindy to the school. I only hope for Naresh and for Cindy that you welcome them as warmly as you have welcomed me.

On that note, I would like to thank the entire Schechter community for the incredibly gracious welcome you have bestowed upon me. Your smiles, notes, emails and wishes for success have made me feel extremely welcome. It will take a few months to learn everyone’s names and I will probably ask each person their name at least three times (if not more!) before I finally get each name committed to memory, so please continue to be patient with me. By participating in the “Open Circle” program for kindergarten parents on Wednesday morning, I got to know many of the parents of our youngest students and I hope that means that kindergarten parents have also gotten to know each other. What a wonderful program “Open Circle” is, under the leadership of our Director of Pupil Services and school social worker, Gila Calev, and I look forward to participating in sessions with each of the classes in the months to come. A special thanks to the Parent Association for sponsoring the pizza luncheon for all the kindergarteners and their families. Wednesday’s event is just one of many events that happen because of the hard work and devotion of the Parent Association.

For now, my highest priority is to get to know the children and their styles of learning and interaction, and to that end I will spend as much time as humanly possible in the classrooms over the next few weeks. If you come by the office looking for me, it is my sincere hope that you will rarely find me there! However, if you have any problems, concerns, or information you would like to share with me, you can make an appointment to meet with me by leaving a message in the office and we will set a mutually convenient time to meet. We will also have an opportunity to meet on Wednesday evening, September 10^th, just before “Meet the Teacher Night.” (See details below.)

Here are some important upcoming events, times and dates:
Family Fun Day - Sunday, September 7, 2008 – 7 Elul 5768 from 12:00 to 3:00 -
Family Fun Day is brought to you by the Parent Association (PA) and Chez-zam. This is a perfect opportunity to kick off the school year, connect with old friends, and make some new ones. Admission for PA members is free, $18 for non-member families. You can join the PA as you arrive.

ASK After School Program for Kids begins - Monday, September 8^th, 8 Elul 5768 –
The first semester of our brand new After School Program will begin this coming Monday right after school. If you have not already registered, you must do so immediately.

Catered Lunch Program begins Monday, September 8^th, 8 Elul 5768 –
The first semester of served lunch, catered by “Bagel Boss” of Jericho, begins this Monday. Only those students who have pre-registered will be able to receive the catered lunch. If you are a late registrant, please send your child to school with a home-made lunch on Monday. Please click HERE for Lunch Program information.

Back to School Night - Wednesday, September 10th, 10 Elul 5768 -
New Parents’ Social, 6:00 p.m.
Meet the Principal, 6:30 p.m.
Meet the Teacher Night:

Grades K, 1, and 2 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Grades 3, 4, and 5 at 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Please see the attached flyer for a schedule of when your children’s teachers will be presenting their curriculum for the year. We understand that many people have more than one child in the school and we have tried to stagger the teachers’ presentations to accommodate as many parents as possible. I highly recommend that both parents attend if you have more than one child in the school, split up, and then compare notes later on.

Going Green – Friday Letter sent by email –
If you are not receiving the Friday Letter via email, please sign up to do so today. We have phased out paper distribution of flyers and letters, for the sake of our environment and to cut down on unnecessary costs. Please click HERE for information on the Friday Letter Alerts.

Please send us addresses for Grandparents and Special Friends –
Your children are participating in an Elementary school wide project for Rosh Hashanah preparing New Year’s cards to be sent out to 1-3 grandparents and/or special friends. Would you be so kind as to complete the form below so our records can be updated?

Sign Up for Family Math Day -
On Sunday, October 26^th, from 11:30 to 2:30, we will have our second annual Family Math Day. It’s a great day for parents and children to explore the magic of numbers. Click HERE for the attached flyer.

Please click these links for information on the JCC's After School Program and the Music Together program.

THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE WILL SEND HOME THE FRIDAY LETTER WITH THE CHILDREN, SO IF YOU DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THE EMAIL ALERT, YOU SHOULD READ THE FRIDAY LETTER ON THE WEBSITE EVERY WEEKEND.

I look forward to seeing you at Family Fun Day and at Back to School Night!

B’Shalom,

Dr. Cindy Dolgin
Elementary School Principal
Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County

PDF files

Strikers' Soccer Opening Day is THIS Sunday! Sign-Up NOW!!!
Grandparents and Special Friends Information
Meet the Teacher Night
Family Fun Day
ASK Program Registration Form