▪
HAPPY
NEW YEAR!!!
frontlines
FINISHED"
"
U)
H
Harry Kirsbaum
Contributing Writer
S
ome say that teaching is a thank-
less job, but Meredith Summer
isn't buying it.
A middle-school teacher for 17 years,
first in Southfield and now in Detroit,
she has used social media to keep track
of some of her students. It was Facebook
that happily caused a hastily put together
reunion of 25 former middle-schoolers
from Southfield with their favorite
teacher.
"I reposted a photo of my fifth-grade
class that a former student posted, and I
tagged the photo with everyone's name,"
said "Miss Summer:' who is Jewish.
"They chimed in, 'We should all get
together. That was two weeks ago."
Photos were taken, hugs were
exchanged and stories were shared over
pizza and salad on Aug. 16 at an Italian
restaurant in Berkley.
"She was one of my favorite teach-
ers," said Kim Smith, 23, of Detroit. "She
found me on Facebook and we've been
talking every now and then."
Smith is a graph-
ic arts student who
Teacher Meredith Summer with some of her former middle-
is graduating from
school students. They recently met for a reunion.
the Art Institute
of Michigan in
September.
second mom at school. She talked to me,
As Summer's student, she remembered
and she wasn't one of those teachers who
helping her out redecorating her sixth-
just pushed it on you; she made sure you
grade classroom in 2006 with some other
understood it."
students, and then getting snacks and
Summer's teaching method planted
pizza.
a seed in the fifth grader that is visible
Anna Lisa Fleming took Summer's
now O'Neill is a sophomore at Wayne
State University majoring in early child-
general studies and computer classes in
grades 5-7 from 2002-05.
hood education.
Now Fleming is 23 and finishing up
"I just want to help kids now," O'Neill
her undergraduate degree in health
said. "She'll be at my graduation, don't
administration and music performance at worry. She has no choice."
Eastern Michigan University of Ypsilanti,
Summer said, "This is the kind of
"She was really involved. She actually
stuff that makes me happy to be a teach-
cared," said Fleming of Ypsilanti. "A lot
er. I have other students who graduated
of teachers, once they let you go, they're
at the top of their class at University of
done. She definitely stayed with us, and
Michigan, students who have tried out
wanted to see how we were progressing
for American Idol and The Voice, and a
pro fighter in Las Vegas who is married
even after we left her class."
Summer's teaching rubbed off on
to another classmate. Right now, teach-
Lauren O'Neill. "She and my mom went
ers are kind of being attacked, so it's a
to school together, so we were close," said good reminder that I'm doing the right
thing."
O'Neill, 23, of Detroit. "She was like my
Cf)
0
CD
CD
0
Unique
Jewelry,
Affordably
Priced
Silver, Platinum, RG,
3
0
a
U)
Custom
Jewelry
Created
Just for You
❑
JN CONTENTS
- C 13
a
Dia mo n ds,
Summer Reunion
With Miss Summer
0
theJEWISHNEWS.com
Sept. 17-23, 2015 I 4-10 Tishrei 5776 I Vol. CXLVIII, No. 7
Shabbat & Holiday Lights
Around Town
69
Arts & Life
59
Calendar
30
Editor's Picks
62
Family Focus
45
High Holidays
42
Israel
5, 14, 18, 46,
48-49
jewish@ledu
56
Marketplace
70
10
Mentsh of the Month
Metro
8
NextGen
52
Obituaries
74
Points of View
48
Sports
58
Synagogue List
50
Torah Portion
51
Travel
34
Columnist
Danny Raskin
64
Shabbat Shuvah: Friday, Sept. 18, 7:19 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Sept. 19, 8:18 p.m.
Erev Yom Kippur: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 7:12 p.m.
Holiday Ends: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 8:11 p.m.
Shabbat: Friday, Sept. 25, 7:07 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Sept. 26, 8:06 p.m.
Erev Sukkot: Sunday, Sept. 27, 7:12 p.m.
Sukkot, Night 2: Monday, Sept. 28, 8:02 p.m.
Holiday Ends: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 8:00 p.m.
Times are from Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.
Our JN Mission
The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that's useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to
reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continu-
ity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity
and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive member of the community. Being competi-
tive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our
rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied advertisers, contented employees and profitable growth.
MB JEWELRY DESIGN
Bloomfield Plaza -
6600 Telegraph Rd.
Bloomfield Twp., MI 48301
248-671-0087
www.mbjewelrydesign.com
f
Cover page design: Michelle Sheridan.
The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is
published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical
postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes
to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, MI 48034.
poi
Need extra
spending money?
We buy Gold, Silver,
Stones and Coins.