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The Detroit
Jewish News
speaks to your
interests and
your concern

1/7

2000

14

To order your same Von or w ~
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for family or friendsiPfas

The Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit's Jan. 9 open house
features visitors from Boston's New Jewish High School.

F

DIANA LIEBERMAN

StaffWriter

first-hand accounts of build-
ing a Jewish high school
will be offered by students
and parents of Boston's
New Jewish High School at an open
house Sunday, Jan. 9, for the Jewish
Academy of Metropolitan Detroit.
The Academy, soon to be the com-
munity's first multi-denominational
Jewish high school, will use the oppor-
tunity to introduce many of its faculty
and staff. The event is set for 12:30
p.m. in
Handleman Hall
of the Jewish
Community
Center in West
Bloomfield.
While the
Academy has yet
to open its doors,
the Boston-based
high school, -
known informally
as "New Jew," has
been holding
classes for three
years.
Rabbi Lee
Buckman, head of
the Academy, said
the Boston-area
families would be describing their
experiences in founding a "model in
the Jewish day high school move-
ment."
"We'll learn what it means to make
history, what it means to build a
school, and what it means to shape a
vision," Rabbi Buckman said.
The Detroit-area high school, set to
open in the fall, recently added several
critical faculty and administrative
positions to its staff:
Amy Sklar Bloom, department
'
head, history and social sciences: A
former teacher in the Walled Lake
Consolidated School District, Bloom
went on to receive a cum laude law
degree and to practice as a litigator.
Most recently, she has worked for
Oakland Schools in social studies cur-
ricula and teacher training.
Rabbi Steven Burg, instructor, rab-
binics: Rabbi Burg, associate regional

,

director of the National Conference of
Synagogue Youth, will continue in
that position as he teaches at the
Academy.
Gale Lawson, department head,
mathematics: Lawson, who has
achieved Ph.D. candidacy, has 18
years' experience teaching math and
six years as a school counselor at corn-
munity college and university levels.
Mitch Master, director of fine and
performing arts: With experience
ranging from the Cranbrook
Eddcational Community to Camp
Tanuga, Master most recently has

of professional development: An assis-
tant professor at Michigan State
University, Wohl's teaching experi-
ences range from elementary school to
Elderhostel courses. Her Ph.D. disser-
tation centered on interpretive reading
of holy texts.
Other new staff members are Dana
Rhodes, director of recruitment, and
administrative assistant Silvia Marcus.
In addition, the Academy staff
includes Dr. Helene Cohen, director
of academic affairs, and Rabbi Aaron
Bergman, director of Jewish studies.
Both came on board in the fall.

AC ta lk:P% 4

-

directed community theater Several sta f f mem-
Jeff Garden, president o
and run "Popcorn Players"
the
school's steering com-
bers of the Academy
acting classes in
mittee, said the Academy
discuss plans for the
Birmingham.
off to an excellent start.
school's first year.
Yaakova (Cobi)
They are, from left,
Located in the JCC's
Sacerdoti, department head, Amy Bloom, Dr.
Kahn Building in West
Hebrew language and litera- Helene Cohen,
Bloomfield, the school
Rabbi Lee Buckman, will open with ninth- an
ture: Originally from Israel,
Sacerdoti received a Ph.D. in Gale Lawson and
tenth-grade classes only.
Hebrew language and litera- Stu Schultz.
Garden estimates an
ture from the University of
enrollment of about 35
Michigan, where she has taught for
for the first year.
the past eight years.
The school will meet the needs
Stu Schultz, department head,
of "kids who are looking for an
science: Schultz is a consultant for
excellent well-rounded education,
the Oakland Schools' distance-learn-
religious and secular; motivating
ing project in science for elementary
teachers; co-curricular and extra-cur
students. After a,28-year teaching
ricular activities," Garden said.
career in the West Bloomfield
"We would encourage all parents o
School District, he pioneered a math
day school and public school students
and science program on satellite
to come on Jan. 9," he added. "It will
television.
be something they'll be very excited
Dr. Renee Soloway Wohl, director
about by the time they leave." ❑