32 | AUGUST 17 • 2023
school where they feel that
sense of community, which
some students say is lacking
in a public-school setting.
While they are not specifically
saying they feel uneasy with
the rise in antisemitism, they
do appreciate being in a school
where their needs as Jewish
students are seen and met.
”
HILLEL DAY SCHOOL
Hillel Day School Head of
School Dr. Darin Katz said
this fall, Hillel is
well positioned to
carry out the first
year of its strategic
plan with goals
of educational
excellence,
financial vitality,
nurturing Jewish identity and
cultivating a strong vibrant
community.
“Overall, families come to
Hillel looking to give their
children an outstanding and
attentive education in secular
studies, all the while instilling
in them Jewish values and
identity,
” Katz said. “What they
understand and appreciate,
perhaps after seeing incidents
that have happened in outside
school districts, is the power
and benefit of a Hillel education
and being in the environment
of a Jewish day school.
”
Katz is happy to report that
at 190 preschoolers this fall,
the Hillel Early Childhood
Center is at capacity. And, with
73% of those rising preschool
graduates remaining at Hillel
this fall, there are so many
kindergarteners that Hillel had
to add another classroom to
accommodate the four separate
classes. Katz said that, in total,
there are 390 students enrolled
from kindergarten to Grade 8,
bringing the total student count
to just under 600 children.
From a facility standpoint,
Katz said students, faculty
and families can now take full
advantage of the campus’ newly
renovated outdoor spaces.
“Coming out of the
pandemic, we realized just
how important outdoor spaces
were to education and for
students’ physical as well as
mental health,
” Katz said. “We
had a vision to create a robust,
outdoor athletic facility that we
view as an extension of learning
spaces.
”
From a facility and security
standpoint, Katz described
the addition of an emergency
backup generator as well
as the addition of security
cameras and other security
enhancements.
For decades, Katz said the
school was plagued with power
outages due to stormy weather.
Even as storms increase and
intensify with climate change,
Katz said those days of the
power flickering out and
disrupting instruction time on
campus should be over.
Another necessary reality,
Katz said, was to bolster
security on the campus. Hillel
is increasing the number and
sophistication of security
cameras “to monitor every
nook and cranny” of the
campus’ interior and exterior.
This fall, Hillel will also install a
fence around the sides and back
perimeter of the grounds.
Another project will
restore the oldest structure
on the campus — the little
red schoolhouse, which is a
historical landmark. Built in the
mid 19th-century and known
as the Fractional District
Schoolhouse, the building
that sits alongside Middlebelt
Road will be treated to a
needed restoration. Thanks
to the generosity of several
donors, Katz said there’s even a
search on for an old-fashioned
school bell to be mounted on
top. The structure will retain
its historical integrity, but
with a few modern comforts,
such as a screen monitor.
The schoolhouse will serve
as a multipurpose room for
instructional and meeting
purposes.
Even three years on since the
pandemic, Katz said faculty are
still observing long-term effects
among its students.
“Even though we remained
open during that time, it was a
tough time for everyone,
” Katz
said. “Our main focus on those
first two years went beyond
education, and we were all
on survival mode. I don’t like
describing what we are seeing
now as learning loss because
that puts the onus and fault
on the students. What we are
seeing now is that the needs
of our students are wide and
diverse.
”
In providing support for
these needs, Katz said Hillel, as
of last year, employed speech
pathologists and occupational
therapists, thanks to a grant
provided by the Jewish Fund.
They are mainly working with
the youngest students on their
literacy, socialization and self-
sufficiency skills.
“We had these professionals
with us part-time last year and
hope this year to give them
more hours to work with our
students,
” Katz said. “Their
work has resulted in huge
improvements for students
coming out of the pandemic,
who maybe just needed a little
bit of help to catch up with
letter and sound recognition in
their reading. Overall, they have
been very supportive for the
social, academic and emotional
needs of our students.
”
BACK TO SCHOOL
continued from page 31
Dr. Darin
Katz
Hillel students enjoy
fun activities on the
newly renovated out-
door spaces.