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A great leader has vision and works hard to make that vision a reality. We are delighted to announce that we have a true visionary right here at Mirowitz! Our beloved Reb Scott has been recognized by his peers throughout St. Louis and chosen to receive the prestigious JProSTL Visionary Award.
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When Reb Scott moved to St. Louis from Boston to work at Mirowitz, we as a school didn't quite understand what it meant to be pluralistic. We had just merged, and needed someone to lead us to a new reality in which families engaged across differences and embraced the idea that there are many valid ways to practice Judaism. |
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Reb Scott was up for the challenge. He led us through a transformational process, guiding our exploration of Jewish pluralism and our understanding that "pluralism" means much more than "respect for difference." He taught us to celebrate the fact that our Jewish identities are a mosaic of perspectives, practices, cultures and beliefs. He helped us appreciate that we can have different perspectives AND be bound together by a shared heritage, sacred texts and tradition of wrestling with difficult questions. Because of Reb Scott’s tireless work, Mirowitz is now considered a leader in the Jewish day school world in the practice of Pluralism.
Reb Scott’s creativity and indefatigable enthusiasm have earned him the respect of everyone at school. |
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He has the extraordinary ability to make Judaism meaningful, joyful and relevant for children, teachers, parents and grandparents.
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During this pandemic, his creativity and leadership has been nothing short of visionary. Where there are limitations, Scott sees opportunity. During the spring of 2020, when we were briefly online, Reb Scott surprised us daily with clever challenges (i.e. "In-Tents T'fillah, Pray-n-Play T’fillah) and gave us all the gift of connection and Jewish meaning during a dark period of isolation for students and parents. |
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When we returned, he has mastered the ability to engage 150 elementary students simultaneously Zooming into Torah Study from a dozen classrooms. |
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And he has provided a vital pastoral role during the pandemic, helping teachers and staff attend to their own mental health and the mental health of our students.
He does all of this while continuing to push our curriculum forward, helping to expand our work with Diversity Equity and Inclusion and supporting the transformation of our Hebrew curriculum to the Proficiency Approach. Reb Scott is nationally treasured as a mentor for the Teacher Institute for the Arts of the Legacy Heritage Fund.
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Reb Scott is an exceptional educator, a true visionary, whose day to day work adds holiness to our school and the entire St. Louis Jewish Community.
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We are honored to be led by him, to learn from him and to call him our rabbi and friend.
Shabbat Shalom,
Cheryl
Watch our video tribute to Reb Scott below.
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January 14: Teacher Recording Day - NO SCHOOL
January 15: Financial Aid Applications Due
January 17: MLK Drive Thru Social Action Event -
NO SCHOOL: MLK Day
February 17: Mirowitz Grandparent Date Night
February 18: Professional Development - NO SCHOOL
February 21: Presidents' Day - NO SCHOOL
March 17: Purim
March 24: Parent Teacher Conferences - Noon dismissal
March 25: Parent Teacher Conferences - NO SCHOOL
March 28: Professional Development - NO SCHOOL
April 15-22: Passover Break - NO SCHOOL
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Basketball is back in full swing, as most of our elementary teams got their first action of the season. The highlight was a 46-21 win by our 2nd/3rd-grade girls! Hannah and Abigail scored a combined 20 points in the win. Dasha and Ashira added 8 points each.
Our 2nd-grade boys team played well, but dropped their opener 28-20. Head coach Drew Newman said "the game was neck and neck until the last few minutes. Our team did a great job on the boards."
Our K-1 girls team fell 12-3. Head coach Lamont Brown said "the girls had fun while learning the sport. Although we were paired with an older team the girls played hard."
Next week our middle school boys play a pair of games, at Whitfield Tuesday and at home against Andrews Academy of Lake St. Louis Thursday. That game is preceded by the opener for our 4th-5th-grade boys team against the same school.
Baseball registration has begun. If you would like to register your child for a Mirowitz baseball team, please send me an email.
(Pre-COVID pics below! We are looking forward to creating a new album of basketball photos!)
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Thank you to the 100 parents (exactly!) who have shared your opinions with us about Mirowitz and the experiences your family is having this year.
We take your feedback very seriously, and use it to guide both our day-to-day operations and our longer-term strategic planning as we strive for excellence.
If you have not yet completed the survey, we hope you will take fifteen minutes to do so. To ensure that everyone has a chance to complete the survey, we will keep it open until the end of the year. We are studying every survey, and would like to begin next semester having processed your feedback so we can rededicate ourselves to the commitments we have made to each of you. Contact Mary if you have any questions.
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In order to give returning students and their siblings priority in the process, the deadline for completing your application for financial aid is January 16. Applications received after that date will not be included in the initial tuition assistance distribution, and will be considered along with new families who apply by January 31. (See more about how to apply here.)
To be considered, you must submit a financial statement form online.
The committee recognizes that the FACTS formula may not portray the whole picture of a family's financial situation. There is a text box on the site in which you may write a letter clarifying your family finances. The financial aid committee takes great care to read these notes.
If you have additional questions, read answers to Frequently Asked Questions or contact Mary.
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1. Volunteer with your big kid: We would like to have 20+ tweens and teens helping us as magnet makers, actors, crafters and tattoo artists. Does your big kid want to help? Let us know.
2. Come play! If you have a pre-schooler, we hope you'll drive thru and invite all of your friends to join you. During the 30 minute (or so) drive-thru, you and your child will participate in activities that feed the hungry, care for the earth and pursue justice.
Free book from PJ Library for the first 75 families to RSVP.
Free, but time slots are limited.
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Thanks to all of the parents of newly vaccinated students who have sent me a copy of their child's Covid-19 vaccination card. If you have not yet done so, you can email it to me here. |
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In Honor of
Samuel R.
“Happy 6th Birthday, Samuel! We are very proud of you and love you so much!”
Love, Mommy, Daddy, & Mabel
In Honor of
Samuel R.
“Happy Birthday Samuel!”
Love, Elaine & Larry Amitin
In Honor of
Naomi Sherman and Zev VanLinn
“You 2 did such a beautiful job reading Torah! We are so proud of you and grateful for your sweet friendship.”
Love, Seth and Jane Sherman
In Honor of
Naomi and Zev
“Mazel tov on a beautiful job reading Torah and leading tfillah this week. We are so proud of you!”
Love, The VanLinn Family
In Honor of
Reb Scott
“Thank you so much for the work you put in getting Naomi Torah reading ready!”
From, Seth and Jane Sherman
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Putting our Best Feet Forward |
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To Zev and Naomi who chanted Torah and led a discussion in the lower school this week. |
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And to Jacob, Lior and Marni who chanted Torah in the middle school this week. |
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Meet Carly Sparks
Relationship to Mirowitz: I'm the mom of 2 Mirowitz students: Sam (8th grade) and Eliot (3rd grade)
Volunteer duties: I'll do whatever Morah Alex and Morah Val need! It's just so great to be able to go back into the building this year.
Why do you do it? This school inspires me and my family every day. It's a HUGE blessing to have a place like this to entrust with helping my kids become their best.
Fun fact:
Our poodle Kyly is basically our third child. It's too bad she cannot go to school at Mirowitz.
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Thanks to
Simone Picker
for serving lunch
this week
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Can you help serve lunch after break? We need volunteers! You can sign up by logging onto the Mirowitz App on your computer here. |
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Deborah Zorensky
Alice Handelman
The Mirowitz family prays for their speedy and complete recovery. |
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Help support the 8th grade Israel Trip by purchasing Cards for a Cause! Five keepsake boxes to choose from, each with 30 beautiful greeting cards. $30 per box!
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Help Celebrate Our Staff While Supporting The 8th Grade
Israel Trip
To send a cookie gram email Chef A.J. He will then prepare and deliver your message with 3 chocolate chip cookies to the staff member of your choice.
The cost is $5 and all proceeds benefit the 8th grade trip to Israel. Payments are through Venmo @Robin-Moll or PayPal robinlmoll80@gmail.com
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Your loving kindness, envelop it in Your peace, and bestow Your light and truth upon its leaders, ministers, and advisors, and grace them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land, grant them deliverance, and adorn them in a mantle of victory. Ordain peace in the land and grant its inhabitants eternal happiness.
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