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Hillel Day School Moving
Away From Traditional Tests
There is value in setting national stan-
dards in education, providing parity for
public school students in the wide variety
of communities across this nation. But
high-stakes standardized testing for
kids has been shown to actually deflate
meaningful and purposeful learning, and
does not even accurately measure the
totality of students' talents and abilities.
("Verdict Is Out: Does Common Core
really advance education or does it hin-
der learning for kids?" Aug. 21, page 1)
At Hillel, we are moving away from
high-stakes and traditional tests that only
summarize concepts taught and where
the student is expected solely to regurgi-
tate the learned information. Instead, we
are utilizing more formative assessments,
where the intervals between assessments
are much shorter, and the results are
used to inform and individualize our
instruction and support.
We at Hillel are committed to spend-

ing our energy on authentic, real-world,
interdisciplinary learning, by developing
critical thinking skills in our students
so they are able to communicate their
knowledge effectively and creatively solve
problems on which they will work with
others collaboratively.
This is why we have invested in the
transformation of our school that reflects
the world our children will inherit — a
world in which their mastery of these
skills, in addition to core Jewish values
and community, will empower them to
make great contributions to their own
communities and the global landscape.
Our new Farber Family IDEA
Collaborative, featuring an innovation
hub, maker space, state-of-the-art science
and production studios, sets our students
on a path to success in the 21st century.
Some say that private schools will
have to follow the Common Core State
Standards to prepare students for the
ACT and SAT, but we at Hillel use them
solely as a point of reference. In fact, the

data show that students in educational
environments like ours consistently per-
form better on these tests. Our end goal
is developing a love for learning for the
sake of learning, not to do well on a test.

Steve Freedman, Head of School
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit
Farmington Hills

Corrections
• The calendar listing last week for the
Holocaust-themed films An Interview
with Stephen M. Goldman and Fields of
Ashes: The George Zeff Story, listed the
wrong date. The films will be shown
7:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the
Civic Theater, 33332 Grand River Ave.,
Farmington. The cost is $10 at the door.
For advance tickets, call (248) 851-2150.
Goldman and Zeff will participate in a
discussion after the films.
• In "Seniors At Camp" (Aug. 21, page
28), an incorrect name for Tamarack
Camps' Butzel Retreat Center in
Ortonville was used.

Attorneys 11.'
Shmooze

After-work meet-up
to be first event
of new Jewish Bar
Association.

T

he newly formed Jewish Bar
Association of Michigan
will hold its opening event,
a social get-together, at 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Local Kitchen
and Bar in Ferndale.
"It's about net-
working and a
chance to learn
about our group:'
said JBAM president,
Rachel Loebl of
Huntington Woods.
"We have a lot of
great things in the
Rachel Loebl
works. We're plan-
ning lectures on real estate law, legal
malpractice and how to combat sub-
liminal hate speech in the media.
"We're planning a pro-bono pro-
gram providing free legal services
and offering a mentoring program
matching new lawyers with seasoned
ones. We're also planning events with
Chabad in Midtown Detroit and with

Come Play Detroit.
"There really is something for
everyone:' said Loebl. "We're a multi-
generational organization."
Attorney Keith Sirlin of Bloomfield
Township, longtime president of the
former group of local Jewish attorneys,
the B'nai B'rith Barristers, said, "I am
delighted that 'next generation' people
have taken up the cause of a Jewish
bar association and are keeping the
concept going."
Sirlin is on the executive board of
the new group, acting as head adviser.
He said several judges have already
come aboard, including U.S. District
Judges Bernard Friedman and Mark
Goldsmith as well as retired Oakland
County Circuit Judge Ed Sosnick and
retired Southfield District Court Judge
Stephen Cooper.
"Our group is not just limited to
lawyers:' said Loebl. "Anyone who
has a connection to law or wants to
network with attorneys can join. You

don't have to be Jewish, either. If you
want to volunteer or are interested
in one of our topics or want to help
us come up with future topics, we're
happy to have you. We're very inclu-
sive.
"People are very excited about the
group:' Loebl added. "They're kind of
shocked that this hasn't existed for so
long. The attitude has been, 'How can
I get involved, how can I help?"'
Local Kitchen and Bar is considered
a "hip" restaurant specializing in a
New American menu. Hors d'oeuvres
will be served at the event. There will
be a kosher option and a cash bar. The
restaurant is located at 344 W Nine
Mile in downtown Ferndale.
The cost of the event is $10 for
JBAM members, and $20 for non-
members who RSVP before Sept. 12
and $25 afterward. For information
or reservations, contact Rachel Loebl
at rachel@loebloffice.com or (248)
733-5530. ❑

CD

'N

September 4 • 2014

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