I know you don't want to hear about any of that. But these opening days, with all of our students here inside the school building, learning how the teacher will go about her or his procedures, it's simply a joy to experience.

So many of my communications since the spring of 2020 have been devoted to protocols, new protective measures, case statistics, and reminders. Of course you'll hear more from me on the necessary topics.

But just for a moment I want to share the dynamism going on with the teaching and learning at Levine, because there is so much more to our school than masking and cohorting and responding to COVID cases.

• Our science program is expanding beyond the classroom walls and entering the extraordinary fields of botany, ecology, plant life, natural nutrients, and vegetables and herbs. You've all seen that little glass house up near the school's front façade -- our fabulous new greenhouse made possible by a gift from the Haymann Family. In addition to the new greenhouse, the Class of 2021 has donated to Levine as their Class Gift two raised garden beds to enhance the study of plant life.
• Several classrooms from PreK through the Lower School grades will be embarking on new complex strategies designed to serve our highly capable students.
• In our Judaic Studies Program, special studies on the Holocaust, in addition to Jewish History, will now be required components in the 7th and 8th grades.
• Spanish language study, as an additional course elective, is now being expanded to 5th and 6th graders. 
• Our K8 food service has taken important healthy steps forward, with an expanded salad bar option with all fresh-cut vegetables, fresh fruits available daily, the elimination of hot dogs and desserts, and on-premises preparation for all lunch items. Remember: healthy eating is as important a facet of our educational program as knowledge, academic skills, and physical education. At the same time, our EC learning kitchen has been entirely remodeled to better suit the needs of our youngest children. 

• Our Middle School sports program is now offering opportunities for our 4th graders to participate in inter-scholastic competition; more importantly, this year our athletic program will resume after being shut down last year.

There is so much more to be celebrating; so much more we are doing on the academic front to keep our academic and extracurricular programs vibrant, ever-evolving, and always focused on meeting the needs of our students and preparing them for the strongest high school programs in the city.

We look forward to sharing more with you throughout this school year, and we can't wait to re-engage with you inside the school building. You'll hear about those opportunities inside these e-Newsletters and also straight from your child's teachers.

But why wait? Call us to arrange for a brief tour inside the school -- yes, a tour, even though you are already enrolled here! One of us can take you around -- the EC Director, K8 Principal, Admissions Director, myself -- we're here to engage with you.

We want you to see the dynamism live, in this new school year with amazing growth in our admissions as we opened on day one with over 400 students!

Praying for your continued health and safety.

 

Tom Elieff, Head of School