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I like to look for the wind. I realize that you can’t actually SEE wind, but you can see its impact on things that ARE visible. You can see the wind in treetops swaying, in leaves rustling, in waves dancing on a lake to make it shimmer. You can see wind bringing in a storm, and blowing clouds away so the sun can shine on us. You can only see the wind as it impacts other things.
Looking back on my 21 years at Mirowitz, I look for the tangible enactment of the intangible. |
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Like the wind, there are so many things in a school that can only be seen when you notice their impact on other things. The cultural milieu, the education, the deep love of teacher to student and vice versa, the partnership of parent and educator, the safe space to make mistakes, to learn and grow. These are the
ruach, the wind of Mirowitz. |
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Mirowitz students are the swaying leaves. They show visible signs of the intangible gifts they have been during their years at Mirowitz. Their intelligence, values, Jewish identity and moral compass. Their intellect, passion for justice, commitment to making this world better, this is where I see the wind. |
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It is in the children who journey through life with confidence, competence and compassion…with Jewish values and a love of Israel….with a sense of purpose and a model for what community can be.
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Ruach is the Hebrew word for wind, but it is also a name for God, sometimes translated as “spirit.” It is used in the second verse of Torah:
Ruach Elohim m’rachefet al p’nei hamayim. (The wind of God flutters on the face of the water.) |
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In your children, we see Ruach Elohim, the spirit of God. Thank you for sharing them with us and allowing us to contribute to the people they will become. |
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The school has seen ups and downs over my 21 years here. We survived a merger, a pandemic and an economic recession. |
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A cycle of passion has brought forth varying strong attitudes about denominational Judaism, Israel, Covid protocols and politics. We’ve seen employees come and go, and some stand steady and strong in all the weather. And throughout it all, we’ve remained true to our mission:
providing the highest quality secular and Jewish education, enabling students to become life-long learners and leaders and to apply Jewish values to all aspects of life. We’ve been committed to academic excellence, social responsibility and Jewish learning.
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We are proud that with our board, faculty, staff, parents and donors, our leadership team built a school of excellence, recognized both locally among independent schools and nationally among day schools. |
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But mostly, we are proud that Mirowitz has
ruach, the spirit of God. We are proud when people walk in our building and say, “You can just feel it. You can feel the joy, the learning and the values.” We are proud when we see the ruach, the wind, the breath of God in our students.
Thank you for being part of this holy work. I hope you’ll stay connected, give generously and support our new head of school with a full heart. She’s going to love you!
L’hitraot, b’hatzlacha and Shabbat Shalom,
Cheryl
P.S. The Ruach you can see in these photos was captured by Zev (4th grade) who won a raffle prize to be our student photographer this week!
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August 15: Bounce Back to school @ 4:00 p.m.
August 17: First Day School School (1/2 day for K)
August 31: Curriculum Night — K, 3, 5
September 1: Curriculum Night — 1, 2, 4
September 5: No School — Labor Day
September 26 & 27: No School — Rosh Hashana
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We are committed to doing more than simply preparing students for success on standardized tests. This week, students delighted their audiences with theater and band performances. |
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In bringing out the artist, the musician and the actor in our students, we are preparing them for success in life.
Kol Hakavod to Dr. Mark and Morah Betti for helping our musicians and actors see that their small part makes a big difference. |
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Our baseball teams continue to wrap up their seasons. Last Tuesday night, our 4th/5th grade baseball team won their season finale 18-8. Charles pitched three strong innings to earn the win, and Gabriel W. closed it out. Offensively, Sammy G had a pair of doubles while Seth and Noah each made solid plays on defense. Our team finished with an impressive 7-1 record. Big thanks to head coach Jeff Wax, and assistant coach Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham.
Our 1st grade and 2nd/3rd grade boys teams still have a game remaining to play, but both were rained out on Sunday.
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Morah Cheryl's Graduation Charge
We have a big dream for you. It’s bold and it’s controversial – but we say it loudly and proudly: We want EVERY Mirowitz graduate to be a leader. Since you began Kindergarten here, we have shaped your childhood experiences to build skills, tools and values. Tonight, I also finally graduate from Mirowitz with all of you. Since I do have a few minutes left of your attention…I share with you some stand-out leadership lessons I’ve learned during my years as head of school. They come from various sources and from life experience, and have become so imbedded that I can’t tell you their origin: |
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• Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are, and ask a lot of questions.
• Be efficient, but don’t try to be efficient with people. They take time to process, to learn and take perspective.
• Use your power to make a difference. You use it every day, so think about how to use it for good.
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• Find something you are passionate about and work hard…but remember Shabbat – in whatever form that takes in your Jewish life. Take the time to to rest, decompress, reconnect and restore. Guard that time. |
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• People in pain cause pain. Hurt people hurt people. Take perspective, listen and be gentle. |
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• Don’t build yourself up at another person’s expense. You are not a better Jew because someone practices differently, you are not smarter because you got a better grade, you are not greater in the eyes of God because you see someone else as lower. |
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• Sometimes doing the right thing means you’ll hurt someone. That’s hard. Lean on a friend or a mentor or a therapist. Leadership isn’t the easy path.
• Speak truth face to face. It is against Jewish tradition to publicly shame others. |
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• "In a place where there are no humans, work really hard to be human." (Hillel) We raised you to discern kind from unkind, so choose to do the right thing when you have the choice. |
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• Clouds pass. Storms come and go. The sunshine always returns. |
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• Make it a habit when you wake up and when you go to sleep to thank God for the gifts you’ve been given in this life. Gratitude grounds you, brings perspective and leads to happiness.
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• Change is hard. Sometimes the rules change and you don’t know what they are. Of course YOU know that well – and you have experience adapting - because YOU are the pandemic generation. |
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• Finally, have a dream. Always have a dream so you can make it come true.
Our dream at Mirowitz has been that you all become leaders. Every one of you. |
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Tonight we are so very proud – because our dream came true.
Graduates – as we celebrate all that you have achieved, and the young adults you have become…I share these beautiful words from Isaiah 55:
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May you go out with joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you and the trees of the field shall clap their hands. |
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We celebrated our 5th graders and our 8th graders a little extra this week. Both years mark major transition...from lower school to Mirowitz Middle School...and from Middle School to high school beyond our walls. Each student gave a speech highlighting important lessons that have shaped them. Here are a few snippits from 8th graders:
Jacob: “From the first day that I attended Mirowitz, all the way up until now, I have felt that our school has been a very safe space to express my opinions and my ideas. Because of this, my teachers, and classmates have all taught me to go above and beyond, and to push myself to my maximum potential every single day. I now have much more self-confidence and am willing to try new things, or always go into things with an open mindset.”
Sydney: When I see something that can be improved, I try to make it better. When I lead, I seek to make the circumstances better than they were before.
Lior: You need to learn something in school to make your time at school worthwhile. You may have learned that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, or maybe the Pythagorean theorem. I learned something more fundamental: the value of my own
Limmud and the responsibility that it requires. |
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Avoid the hassle and let us order your school supplies for you! Your child's school supplies will be ready and waiting for you at Bounce Back to School in the fall.
Order before July 1 for an early bird discount.
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Our hearts are with our Mirowitz families who have relatives in Ukraine, and who have already suffered losses. Our concern for the Jews in Ukraine, in Russia, and all over the world continues to rise as we are brought back to darker times of war and division.
May God who makes peace in the heavens bring peace upon us, upon all Israel and all the world.
Mirowitz joins the Jewish Federations of North America in the urgent work of rescue and relief. |
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Don't you wish you could set your DVR to tape your favorite Mirowitz program?
Fear not! We caught many precious moments on video. Find a comfy armchair and enjoy your child's 21-22 year over and over again. Click the photo below to see the video. |
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Who knew Mirowitz kids had so many hidden talents? We were amazed by dancers, rubics cubers, singers and musicians...and celebrated the contributions of our retiring teachers. |
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Mazel Tov to the '18 alumni of Mirowitz who will matriculate to these fine universities and programs:
Ellye Alperin
Loyola University
Tamir Armoza
Nativ Gap Year in Israel
Bradley University
Uriel Chill
IDF
Jordan Eisen
Northwestern University
David Fox
Drake University
Micah Frank
University of Kansas
Simone Hotter
Brandeis University
Ilay Kielmanowicz
IDF
Max Lagoy
American University
Idan Lerner
Gap Year
Moriah Lotsoff
American University
Olivia Riutcel
U. of Washington
Ellior Rose
Case Western Reserve University
Chad Ruff
U. of Illinois
Noah Sentnor
University of Colorado
Nadav Snir
Mechinat Telem
Halle Wasserman
University of Minnesota
Ben Yazdi
Washington University
If you know of an alum who is missing from this list, let Patty know.) |
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Throwback picture to these graduates from
Middle School. |
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Our next book club will meet Thursday, June 7 at Carly Sparks' house. We'll be reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. |
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to 3rd graders Asher and Gabriel who read Torah for the first time today, and led the school in Torah study. |
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and to our Middle School Torah Readers
Shira, Isaac and Marni |
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Thanks to
Jen Goldenberg and David Picker
for helping us serve lunch this week.
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Deborah Zorensky
The Mirowitz family prays for their speedy and complete recovery. |
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Jewish Federation invites you to stand with us at PrideFest and to celebrate Pride Shabbat.
Would you like to participate with Mirowitz? Let Shannon know! |
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Operation Max Levin: A St. Louis Homecoming
June 11 & 12
A fundraiser for
B'nai Amoona
Max is a 2007 graduate of Mirowitz legacy school Solomon Schechter.
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Sunday, September 18, 2022
10am-5pm
Washington University
Parking Lot Outside Simon Hall
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Our Parent In Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel, the start of the flowering of our redemption. Shield it with Your love. Spread over it the shelter of Your peace, Guide its leaders and advisors with Your light and Your truth. Establish for them Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of the defenders of our Holy Land. Cause them to inherit, our God, deliverance. Place the crown of victory upon them. Give the land peace and everlasting joy to its inhabitants. |
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