Learning-filled year at Cohen School

Students stand under the tallit during closing ceremonies.

The Cohen School at Temple Torat Yisrael, located in East Greenwich, celebrated its closing ceremonies and graduation on June 7 with many families in attendance. The program offered an opportunity for school leadership to express gratitude to all of the amazing people that helped the school have a successful year.

What a fast year it has been! Last June, I attended the Cohen School’s closing ceremonies to present the Wendy B. Adler award in memory of my mother, and I was moved by the beauty of the temple and the friendliness of families. I felt in my heart from that day, that I wanted to be a part of this community and I am thankful that I was offered the opportunity to be the school director.

One of the most amazing lessons that I learned this year as a new school director is that the saying that “it takes a village” is true. On behalf of the Cohen School, I would like to thank the many people (the village) who have been instrumental in providing a positive, engaging experience with Judaism, while strengthening social connections and our students’ Jewish identities.

Andrew Sholes, Temple president, and Susan Smoller, head of personnel, have the passion to create a vibrant Jewish community and a school that promotes Torat Yisrael’s values. To support this, any resource that our school has needed, they have happily provided.

Our school is very fortunate to have Rachel Silverman as the head of the school committee, an active and amazing parent committee. Under her stewardship, they have dedicated many volunteer, hands-on hours, doing whatever it takes to enable the Cohen School and its programming to be an engaging and meaningful experience.

The Cohen School community is blessed to have Rabbi Aaron Philmus who not only wants to participate in the programming of events but also wants to be in the middle of them and experiencing these learning moments with the students. Rabbi Philmus believes in the importance of having the students spiritually connected with their Jewish learning and wants to create lifelong Jewish memories and pride.

I am so proud of our amazing, hardworking and kind students. It is never easy to enter into a new environment, but the students were absolutely inviting and supportive. I can honestly say that I am impressed with the level of respect, kindness and cooperation that I have witnessed this year.

Members of our “village” include the unseen Cohen School community builders – our office staff – Anita Olinsky, Sheryl Ponder, Stephanie Reinsant and Josh Ritz. They have always been there to happily support our school by providing all the resources that we need to be successful.

Most importantly, all of this would not be possible without our inspiring, encouraging and nurturing teachers. Ariel Marcus, Allie Robbio, Alyse Teitelbaum and Hillary Schulman. Our teachers’ commitment, dedication, hard work and excitement each week created an experiential learning environment for our students. Barbara Dwares was an instrumental part of our Community Tzedakah curriculum and really has helped shaped this pilot program. This year the students made sandwiches to feed the hungry, collected food for the Kosher Food Pantry and donated toiletries to the family shelter. Shirah Bergman was our great Pre-K Sprouts teacher who helped introduce Jewish values, holidays and songs to our little ones (ages 3-5) and their families once a month.

During closing ceremonies, all of the students were invited under the tallit on the bimah for a blessing and song lead by Rabbi Philmus. The K-1 students received the Aleph-Bet diplomas, the 2-3rd grade beat-boxed their Hebrew letter sounds, the 4-5th grade sang “Bakitah” and the 6-7th grade class performed Amidah Aerobics. Families and students then watched a photo slideshow about the fantastic experience that they had this year.

Our graduating class received certificates as we bestowed a mazel tov to Marcus Evans, Evan Hammer, Zach Hammer, Sydney Hammer and Brody Parris. Special awards were presented to Samantha Finder (Wendy B. Adler award), Evan Hammer (Anna R. Sholes award) and Marcus Evans (Michelle Pam Ross award).

At the Cohen School, we all look forward to another year of exploration, spirit, community building, hands-on learning and fun! Have a wonderful summer!

DORI ADLER is education director at Temple Torat Yisrael.