16 | AUGUST 20 • 2020
Jews in the D
Return to Learn
Jewish day schools plan for in-person
and remote learning.
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
n developing back-to-school plans amid
COVID-19 this fall, some Jewish day
schools have certain organizational advan-
tages over public schools — less bureaucracy
to cope with and often a smaller student body
with smaller class sizes. However, the pan-
demic is an equalizer in some ways — making
everything more complicated.
FRANKEL JEWISH ACADEMY
Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) educates
135 students in grades 9-12, at the Jewish
Community Campus in West Bloomfield.
According to FJA director of advancement
Shana Kantor, the March transition to virtual
learning was easier because students have had
school-issued Macbooks for two years.
“They were unbelievable right out of the gate
with really good communication with par-
ents,
” says Julie Feldman of West Bloomfield,
whose daughter Emily just completed her
senior year at Frankel. Her daughter Allie will
be a sophomore this year.
FJA
’
s new school year begins Aug. 31. To
help develop its “Return to Learn Plan,
” the
school surveyed parents, students, faculty and
other staff, according to Kantor. “They asked
about what went well [with virtual learning]
and what didn’
t,
” said FJA parent Meredith
Weingarden of Farmington Hills. “They asked
what would make us comfortable about send-
ing them to school or staying home.
”
She added that her daughter, Emilie, a
17-year-old senior, did “pretty well” with
online instruction and had good results on
three AP (advanced placement) exams. Emilie
describes the online format as a “pretty good
experience. Everyone was going into it at the
same time, which made it easier.
”
FJA
’
s “Return to Learn Plan,
” available
on the school’
s website, begins with a letter
from Rabbi Azaryah Cohen, head of school,
and Randell Gawel, principal. “Technology
provided us with an opportunity for connec-
tion during a time when we were grappling
with the challenges of social distancing and
self-quarantine. It also
became apparent that
nothing, despite the
tremendous effort
and dedication of those involved, could fully
replace the real benefit of face-to-face human
contact and real time communication.
”
A footnote to their letter notes
that the plan is subject to revision,
based on changing circumstances
and any new guidance from the
Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap,
the Centers for Disease Control
and local medical professionals.
Recognizing the limitations of
virtual learning, FJA will offer
on-campus, in-person instruction
with stringent health screening,
social distancing, required masks,
sanitation measures and other
safeguards. The plan notes that
the school will follow not only
state-required safety protocols
but also its “recommended” and
“strongly recommended” practices. Remote,
synchronous classes will be available online
for students who prefer not to be physically
present or who are home due to a mild illness
or quarantine for COVID-19.
With the goal of minimizing time spent
onsite, the FJA school day will be shortened
to slightly less than five hours, with another
virtual hour scheduled Monday through
Thursday. Students will follow the same
schedule whether learning on campus or at
home. Synchronous classes will enable remote
students to ask questions, see their classmates
and participate in real time through a Zoom
format.
“Our revised schedule, and health and safe-
ty procedures, will help ensure that there are
multiple layers of intervention to safeguard
our school community and prevent the spread
of COVID-19 while students and staff are in
the building,
” the FJA statement said.
Feldman thinks that the plan is “well-
thought out and safe. There is no zero risk but
it’
s low risk.
” Weingarden concurs: “I think it’
s
pretty comprehensive. I think they’
re doing
everything they can.
”
However, she is concerned about keeping
her family safe when Emilie returns to school
because one family member is immuno-com-
promised, wondering if they need to be kept 6
feet apart.
Emilie said she wants to return to school
in-person, especially because she doesn’
t want
to miss out on all the fun things of senior year
— prom, graduation and spirit week. Most of
her friends are going in person. “My school
did a great job in coming up with a plan — it’
s
very comprehensive.
”
Kantor said FJA administrators expect
that 75 to 80 percent of students will choose
in-person instruction. Also, the school is
receiving inquiries from prospective students
because many other local schools will offer
only remote learning this fall.
ORTHODOX DAY SCHOOLS
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah provides preschool
through high school for girls and preschool
through eighth grade for boys with 1,150 stu-
dents at schools in Oak Park and Southfield.
According to Rabbi Yitzchok Grossbard, dean
of the Yeshiva, online instruction has been
provided since the school buildings closed
earlier in the year.
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah has a plan for
in-school instruction this fall as well as an
online “learning accommodations for those
who are medically unable to participate in
in-person classes,
” Rabbi Grossbard said. He
expects the plan to be finalized and released
by late August.
Yeshivas Darchai Torah, located in
Southfield, was closed until Aug. 17. Efforts to
reach school officials by phone were unsuc-
cessful. The school enrolls around 300 stu-
dents in grades pre-K through 12.
Randell
Gawel
Rabbi
Azaryah
Cohen
FJA
FJA Entrance