LOCAL NEWS I

Dealwith
Import
Specialists

Yavneh

Continued from Page 1

We believe you should be rewarded with
convenience. If you wish, we'll bring the
vehicle of your choice right to your door
for your personal inspection.

Call today for your appointment.

Factory Authorized Dealer
Over 20 Years Experience
• Service
• Sales
• Leasing
• Parts
• FREE pickup and
delivery service
• FREE loaner cars available

9099 Holly Road • Grand Blanc, MI

(313) 695-4400
Open Saturday 9 am-3 pm

TOMGLEASCIN INC.

MERCEDES-BENZ

DESIGN-1T, INC.

FREE DOLLHOUSE

.

‘1611*..
-. 4

Custom Formica Furniture and More

RESIDENTIAL

• Wall Units
• Dining Rooms
• Custom Bedrooms
• Credenzas
• Tables
• Kitchens/Baths

,

DEAL DIRECT WITH
THE MANUFACTURER

Free Consultation with our experienced Design Staff

24645 Halsted Rd. • Farmington Hills

24

.0,.•
... ,...
.

. til-a

, _. -„.
. . ..-
: ...,e
_.

m

.

---..-

Buy One . . . Get One Free
Bring A Friend .. .
Split The Cost

COMMERCIAL

• Conference Tables
• Desks
Reception/Secretarial
• Built-In Book Units
• File Cabinets
• Credenzas

„R. I ..,

,..,,,ni.
P-= 4
C.....: ',":". Lund* i
7.:111

i

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1990

471-3223

Offer Ends Nov. 10!
($59.95 Value)

#7

Doi/

tiotitet/

&

7s, So/diet Shaft

Mon.-Sat. 10.5 • Friday 10.8

3947 W. 12 Mile Rd. • Berkley

543.3115

community support." She
hopes by the time her
younger children are ready
to attend school, Yavneh
will have more students.
Dr. Eichner isn't
discouraged by the enroll-
ment figures. "Let's look at
the positive side," she said.
"While we lost nine chil-
dren, we got 11. new ones.
That is tremendous growth."
The school is one of 14
Reform day schools in the
United States. It has seven
students in kindergarten,
including five Soviet
emigres, and a combined
class of five first graders and
two second graders. Three
students are members of
Conservative synagogues,
one is connected to a Reform
temple and the rest are unaf-
filiated. There are two full-
time teachers, Ailene Stein-
born and Donna Brennan,
and a part-time Hebrew
teacher, Julie Englender.
"If parents are happy with
the education their children
receive, the sky's the limit
on growth,' Dr. Eichner said.
"If we develop the way other
day schools have, we will
continue to grow."
One of Yavneh's new
students is Jordan Alter, 5,
who was enrolled in the
kindergarten class at the
beginning of the summer.
Jordan had been enrolled
in another day school, but
after hearing about Yavneh,
Robert and Denise Alter
decided to drop in for an
unannounced visit before
classes ended in June. The
couple said they were cap-
tivated by the brightly-
colored hallways and the en-
thusiasm of the teachers and
students.
They were also impressed
with the innovative secular
and Judaic curriculum and
the individualized instruc-
tion allowing Jordan to go at
his own pace, said Mrs.
Alter, who is pleased with
her son's academic progress.
Both classrooms have
separate work stations
where students can improve
their science, social studies,
English and math skills. The
school also has access to a
computer room and art and
music lessons.
"I am concerned about the
small number of students,"
Mrs. Alter said. "He is an
only child and like many
children he can be egocen-
tric. He needs the challenge
of interacting with a group
of children."
But she has no regrets
about Yavneh. "My child
will be there next year,"
Mrs. Alter said.
David Henig, whose
daughter, Sara, 6, is now in

the first grade after atten-
ding Yavneh's kindergarten
class last year, said Sara was
sent to Yavneh because
Temple Beth Jacob didn't
have a religious school.
Mr. Henig said, "Sara
loves going there. She's
learning a lot."
Mr. Henig also makes
fund-raising calls for the
school, and fund raising is a
critical problem. Yavneh
and Jewish Community
Center officials say the
school is behind on rent
payments, but will not
disclose the amount. Jim
Jonas, the school's presi-
dent, says, "We never in-
tended to let this happen.
The Center has been ex-
tremely patient and under-
standing."
The school has a budget of
$200,000 a year, Mr. Jonas

"There is
community support,
but never as much
as I would like."

Jim Jonas

said. Most of that comes
from tuition, which costs
between $3,000 and $4,400 a
child, and private donations.
"There is community sup-
port, but never as much as I
would like," Mr. Jonas said.
"The Reform Jewish com-
munity has to recognize the
benefits of a day school edu-
cation."
While Reform community
rabbis often visited Yavneh
Academy last year, Dr.
Eichner said the school will
falter without rabbinical
and lay support. The rabbis
have agreed to mention
Yavneh Academy to their
congregations and religious
schools so parents will know
it is a viable educational op-
tion.
Rabbi Harold Loss of Tem-
ple Israel sees no conflict
between his commitment to
the temple's religious school
and his commitment to
Yavneh. There is room for
both a day school and after-
noon school in the Reform
community, he said.
"We have to try to get the
message out to the commun-
ity," Rabbi Loss said. "The
day school is a good thing for
the Jewish community. It's
important to get families in-
volved in a day school envi-
ronment.
"If there is no school, it is
the children who will lose,"
Rabbi Loss said. "We as a
community have to want to
make it work." ❑