Annual Report 2015-2016

Zvi Weiss, Head of School

The 2015-2016 school year was one of many firsts at Yavneh. We pioneered a dual immersion instructional approach in our K-3 classrooms. We expanded our technology and engineering offerings and introduced a STEAM afterschool program and STEAM summer camp sessions. In addition to our now annual Day of Code,

we hosted our first annual Night of Innovation, with programming for middle school students, parents, teachers and adults in our community. We were finalists in the Technion's Rube Goldberg challenge and a Hanukkiah that we made was featured on the White House blog. We had a student win first place in an international Hebrew poetry contest and a number of our students placed in the national Math Olympiads. We forged a new relationship with Downtown Streets Team in which our eighth grade students came to understanding the plight of the homeless. For the first time in recent memory, we watched our students participate in a full-scale musical theater production, perform in our choir and in our four new modern bands. We hosted our first Sukkot in the Sequioas Family Camp and our first Hebrew community sing-a-longs. We weren't the only ones impressed by our growth and successes: we "aced" our mid-term accreditation by the California Association of Independent Schools.

In the coming school year, we look forward to further building on these successes. As our student body continues to grow, we are excited to open a second kindergarten class and welcome our new Middle School Dean, Cindy Schlesinger to our leadership team. We owe an enormous amount of gratitude to the vision of our lay leadership, the devotion of our exemplary faculty and staff, as well as the ongoing support of families and community members as together we are nurture tomorrow's leaders.

Arnnon Geshuri – Chair, Board of Trustees Yavneh Day School’s Board of Trustees is focused on supporting the school on multiple fronts. We work with the leadership team and our community to drive strategic initiatives and inspire financial partnerships. We support our faculty and staff on creative efforts to expand the school and enrich the learning environment. We stand alongside our families and students to make the school and our world a better place.

As we continue our journey together, the Board of Trustees will set more ambitious goals to drive collaboration with parents, students, faculty and community to ensure an extraordinary future for our school. We are honored to have an exceptional team of professionals and volunteers who bring devotion, energy, caring, thoughtfulness, intelligence, and values to Yavneh. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank our community for the support, involvement, and ongoing participation they share with our students, faculty and families. Together, we will grow Yavneh for our students today and for future generations.

Evaluation Assessment (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for 2-8 graders and Educational Record Bureau (ERB) Writing Assessment Program (WrAP). Key findings are listed below. We continue to use this data to examine our growth and determine areas in need of improvement as well as areas to celebrate.

In 2015-2106, Hanover Research complied the following findings: • A substantial proportion of Yavneh students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 exhibit strong

performance on the CPAA assessment. For example, 100% of Grade 1 & 91% of Kindergarten performed at or above expectations in Mathematics & 95% of Grade 1 and 83% of Kindergarten perform at or above expectations in Literacy.

• The mean MAP RIT scores of Yavneh students enrolled in Grade 2 through Grade 8 are above the corresponding national means in all subjects tested (Mathematics, Reading, and Language).

• The majority of Yavneh students score higher than the national mean on every subject and in every grade. For example, in 2016, 85% of Grade 6 scored higher than national means in Mathematics and Reading and 77% scored higher than national means in Language.

• Compared to 2015, a higher or equal proportion of students in 2016 perform at or above expectations or national norms. This trend holds true for all student cohorts in which data is available (Class of 2023, 2020, and 2019). For example, in 2015, 82% of the Class of 2020 performed at or above the national mean on MAP Reading. In 2016, 86% of the Class of 2020 performed at or above the national mean on MAP Reading.

In Global Research, students compared and contrasted the burial rites of ancient Egypt with Jewish burial rituals. Students even found connections between grammar and midrash while studying the Book of Esther, when it was observed that the placement of a semi-colon in a translation allowed for a new understanding of Mordechai’s motives in adopting Esther. This ability to apply learning strategies and modalities from one learning to another enables our students to be their fully whole self regardless of subject and to further their critical thinking. Integration extended well beyond the Humanities as every grade in the school also participated in a J-STEAM Challenge - from creating circuit based light up Chanukah cards to engineering Sukkot according to the parameters of the mishna. Our 6th grade students were even finalists for the Technion Rube Goldberg Challenge in which they designed a Rube Goldberg machine that told the story of Passover and revealed a Seder plate. In addition to furthering our integration initiatives this year, we will also be expanding the second year of our successful Beit Midrash program. Our Middle School students piloted this partnership learning of text last year and we are excited to expand it into our 3rd through 5th grade classes. We know it will deepen our students’ relationships with each other and their learning.

Dr. Diana Wilmot – Chief Academic Officer/Principal

With our vision focused on academic excellence, a critical component is monitoring our students’ progress and evaluating our growth over time. We have partnered with Hanover Research to provide an objective analysis of our students’ performance on the assessments we have administered throughout last year. These assessments include: Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAA) for K-2, Northwest

Rabbi Laurie Hahn Tapper - Rabbi and Head of Jewish Studies Integration and Collaboration were our guiding words last year and the results were amazing! Teachers worked across disciplines, creating engaging and exciting learning opportunities that yielded new and innovative understandings of themselves and Judaism. In the Middle School, Jewish Studies teachers taught alongside the Language Arts and Global Research teachers which created opportunities such as exploring what Jewish texts say about self-defense while reading the literary classic, The Outsiders.

2015-2016 Financials

Chai Challenge

The success of our 2nd Annual Chai Challenge is the participation and dedicated support our families, faculty, and Board of Trustees exhibit through their 100% participation. As each class achieved 100% participation, an anonymous donor gifted $1800. We are so pleased to announce all classes, faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees reached 100% participation, providing an additional $21,600 to our Annual Campaign! Thank you!

Night at the Shuk: An Evening to Honor Hana Cidon

Yavneh’s community came together for another wonderful Yavneh event honoring our beloved Kindergarten teacher, Hana Cidon. Current families, teachers, community members, and alumni parents and students came together to celebrate Morah Hana’s 18 years of dedication and love of our students. Guests enjoyed sharing stories and memories about Kitah Gan and danced the night away with music by Lior Ben Hur and Sol Tevel. We greatly thank all those that donated to our Music Program in Honor of Hana Cidon. (listed alphabetically)

Lauren and Eric Carlinsky Rabbi Debbie Israel & Congregation Emeth Lynn Osband and Steve Dick Aurianne and Adam Dorsay Susan and Steve Ellenberg Shanin Fox Rebecca and Arnnon Geshuri Shirley Goldstein Rabbi Laurie and Aaron Hahn Tapper Beth Hawthorne and Makenna Hawthorne Kehillah Jewish High School Julie and Stuart Krigel Sonja and Jeff Margolis Jessica and Brian McBeth Debbie Mendlowitz and Tim Schacher Caroline and Amit Menipaz Leslie Banks Miller and James Miller Bonnie Slavitt-Moore and Jack Moore Vanina Sandel and Sharon Mutchnik

Nirit Peer and Mataan Peer Marcia and Harry Ratner Rachel Rosenberg and Reese Rosenberg Andrea and Joel Rubnitz Sami Rubnitz Naomi and Jeffrey Salowe Danielle Sapiens Cindy Schlesinger Maureen and Russell Schneider Carrie and Marc Schneider Barbara and David Silverstein Daniela and Seth Silverstein Belinda and Howard Solovei South Peninsula Hebrew Day School Susan and Ari Sweedler Sara and Daniel Winger Jennifer Copaken and Todd Yellin Debra and Zvi Weiss Kari Wolff, Drew and Arthur Goldstein

2015-2106 Event Highlights

Sukkot in the Sequoias Families came together to celebrate Sukkot under the canopy of the Redwoods. 50 parents and children built a sukkah, shared meals, and spent two nights in community. We thank the Meyers-Lipton family and The Sequoia Retreat Center for hosting the Yavneh community and look forward to this new annual tradition.

2nd Annual Day of Code, Tinkering and Play Expanding on the success of the first Day of Code, Yavneh added tinkering and “play”, such as rocket building and launching, and building light-up bugs and toys. Of course, traditional coding was also included, such as Minecraft, Python, Scratch and Scratch Junior. Over 300 guests, preschool students to grandparents, participated in the event, over half being outside the direct Yavneh community. Please join us for our 3rd Annual Day of Code on November 6, 2016.

Night of Innovation Yavneh was pleased to host Dr. Milton Chen, author of Education Nation. In an engaging conversation on the 6 edges in education; parents, teachers and community learned about the revolutionary changes through innovative reform and the use of technology in education, presenting a clear vision for classrooms to enhance learning opportunities for all children.

While adults engaged in conversation, over forty 5th - 8th grade students participated in a design challenge while employing the principles of design thinking from Stanford University's d. School and attended one of four workshops, such as digital animation, modern band, and tinkering.

As a grant recipient from KLA-Tencor Foundation, Yavneh Day School was able to extend this free evening to the greater community, hosting teachers and academics from over 12 greater Bay Area schools. We look forward to our 2nd Annual Night of Innovation on February 7, 2017.

YPA: Yavneh’s Parent Association

The Yavneh Parent Association is a dedicated group of parents helping create a warm, welcoming, and engaging community at Yavneh! Among the many behind the scenes efforts they bring to our families; challah on Fridays, Shabbat for the entire school and producing the yearbook, they set up and took down the Sukkah, hosted Pasta in the Hut, and organized the Book Fair, holiday student enrichment, Staff Appreciation week and the annual Camping Trip at Big Basin. Finally, the YPA hosted the Annual Meeting / Ice Cream Social to welcome summer, and thank all the volunteers that made the school year successful and memorable.

2015-2016 Annual Campaign

We greatly thank the following donors who generously contributed to Yavneh Day School’s 2015-2016 Annual Campaign. This list includes tribute gifts, car donations and gifts made to the *Bernard Slavitt Memorial Scholarship Fund. List completed as of July 30, 2016, please forgive any omissions or errors.

Builder’s Circle ($3,601 and above) Anonymous Arissa Balaban Michele and Jason Balaban Teri and James Baron Dana Romalis & Rabbi Joshua Berkenwald Lauren and Eric Carlinsky Susan and Steve Ellenberg Rebecca and Arnnon Geshuri Lilian and Daniel Halem Britt and Eli Harari Hana and Dan Lang Rabbis Shoshana and Philip Ohriner

Andrea and Joel Rubnitz Julie and Matthew Sachse Naomi and Jeff Salowe Barbara and David Silverstein Daniela and Seth Silverstein Rose Heide and Gary Sweet Ann and Richard Tavan Debra and Zvi Weiss Kari Wolff Jean and Lew Wolff Jennifer Copaken and Todd Yellin

Havdalah ($1,801-$3600) Rebecca Dishotsky and Kirk Everett Julie and Stuart Krigel Orit Avinoon-Metz and Ran Metz John Murnin

Cindy and Allen Ruby Dafna Talmor and James Stichnoth Diana and Dewey Wilmot Marsha and Jonathan Witkin

Ner ($541-$1800) Anonymous Briana Balaban Patricia Bergman Louise and Sheldon Bernbaum Merav and Rami Branitzky Jennifer and Jeffery Bush Genevieve and Norman Dishotsky Aurianne and Adam Dorsay Melissa and Michael Fehl Ilana and Ilan Friedlander Gali and Ishai Froind Sandy and David Gaertner Irena and Yosef Geshuri Jyl Jurman Andi Weisman and Kyle Kyllan Jeanette and Stuart Lerner

Shannon and Robert Levine Jessica and Brian McBeth Lissa Minkin Nirit Peer Rotem Skurnik Pool and Kirby Pool Candice Reimers Merle Kahn and Larry Samuelson Danielle and Noam Sapiens Cyndi Sherman and Steve Schleimer Julia and Eric Schloss Maureen and Russell Schneider Alla and Artiom Shamis Lonnie and Joshua Spin Polina and Max Spivak Amy and Paul Steinberg April and Steven Tilles

V’Samim ($181-$540) Amazon Smile Foundation Addy Squarer and James Beninghaus Leanne and Carl Berkenwald Phyllis and Joseph Carlinsky Yifat and Allon Cohen Eleanor and Lloyd Dickman Dorothy and Richard Dorsay Renée and Howard Fine

Jodi Gerston Alisa and Harold Goldberg Helaine and Stephen Green Marta and Gilley Jacoby Nadine Lewandowski Sonya and Jeffrey Margolis Yulia and Oleg Margulis Nelly and Phil Marquez

Tamar and Kobi Meir Betty and Bill Menkin Debrah and Richard Miller Golda Miller Elisa Schweizer and Shai Miller Bonnie Slavitt-Moore and Jack Moore* Paralyn Sales Kim Cousens and Jonathan Peck Elena Klaw and Oliver Pohland Teresa and Raymond Rogoway Sheila Romalis Robin Sabes Carrie and Marc Schneider

Michelle and Joseph Schwartz Miriam Schwartz Rebecca and David Silberstein Belinda and Howard Solovei Sabrina and Irvin Stein Beth Bottos and Peter Stout Virginia Stout Shelly Phillips and Theodore Tapper Target Foundation Laurie and Jeremy Tavan Victoria Harrison and Peter Ullman Eive and Benjamin Warwick Cheryl and Vernon Weitzman

Yayin (up to $180) Anonymous (6) Rena Alisa John Annicelli Wendy and Mitchell Askenas Hagit and Ofer Avitzur Maya and Asaf Bar Vered and Meir Batito Stephanie Behan Nira and Ilan Ben-Simhon Kiana and Ivan Bergman Etta Greenhouse and Alvin Berkin Mindy and Rabbi Allan Berkowitz Mark Bernbaum Michael Bernbaum Naomi and Rodger Bernstein Steve Bertman Jennifer Green and Scott Budman Marleen and Marshall Burak Delia Cantor Hana and Yigal Cidon Steve Citron-Pousty Marjorie Copaken Gladys Davis Trevor Davis Lynn Osband and Steve Dick Rabbi Melanie Aron and Michael Dine Talia and Oren Dvir Miriam Engel Sandy and Burt Epstein Reuma Etkin Francine and Kenneth Fehl Cindy Kaplan and Brian Fergason Joanne and Marc Field Shanin Fox Darrin Garcia Elisa and Larry Gerston Angela Gold Amy and Hilton Goldstein Aviva and Uri Greenberg Shannon and Scott Guggenheim Oded and Elhanani Hadani Ira Hanegby

Hila and Gil Harel Keren and Nadav Hayun Carla Naumburg and Joshua Herzig-Marx Tatyana and Vadim Heyfitch L.D. and Michael Hirschklau Holly Homayonfar Jennifer Horton Margaret and David Hulgrave Madelyn and Dov Isaacs Rita and Jerry Jacobson Rubin and Arlene Jurman Pazit and Eric Kagel Yetta and David Kane Terri and Barry Kane Megan Karpf Alexa and Louis Kaskowitz Kehillah Jewish High School Rabbi Darren Kleinberg Maryanna Kantorovich Esther Kletter Barbara and Scott Knaster Marlo and Scott Kohn Shelia and Marty Krietzman Andrea and Edgardo Laber Reuben Levy Rose Litvin Miriam and Charles Marr Sandy and David Mayer Limor and Eli Mazor Caroline and Amit Menipaz Marsha and David Mesher Elena Darevsky and Aleksandr Mikhlin Aaron Miller Leslie Banks and James Miller Debrah and Richard Miller Helen and Marshall Minkin Julia and Yuval Minkowski Sharon Resheff and Ofer Mizrach Nitza Ramot Mullen and Keith Mullen Vanina Sandel and Sharon Mutchnik Jana Veitsman and Eugene Naoumov Gila and Ishai Naveh

Adit and Idan Netser Joy and Jonathan Null Lea and Valentin Ovrootsky Lisa and Corey Peterson Ken Porush Lois and Harold Price Melody Randel Marci Schwartz and Gary Richman Francine Rosen Esther Rosenfeld and Hadar Shachar Susan and Allen Rosenzweig Olga and Michael Rosito Francine Rosen Yael Ross Stephanie and Neal Rothstein Lynne and Stuart Rovin Vicky Markham and David Sabes Judy and David Schultz Myrtle and Joel Schwartz

Debbie Mendlowitz and Tim Schacher Yael and Marc Shull Doina Smith Ruth and Al Sporer Sara Hammer and Charles Statman Nate Stein Joy Sweet Tova Sweet Frida Dobrouskin and Eugene Vodkin Jennifer Wakefield Marjorie Alpert and Jeff Warwick Elise and Kai Wessels Judy and Ed Wolff Patricia Nelson and Scott Zamvil Tamara and Alexander Zelster Jamie and Ilan Zimmer Heidi and David Zinman Marion and Robert Zinman

In Kind Donations Ron Godinez, RC Power Inc. Rachael and Damon Huck Rachael’s Outrageous Desserts Diane and Scott Myers-Lipton The Sequoia Retreat Center Nurit Sabadosh, Alef Bet Judaica David Tabibian, Royal Liquors Jack Tanowitz, Progressive Solutions

Company Matched Donations Apple, Inc ebay Foundation SanDisk Corporation Google KLA-Tencor Netflix Nvidia

Grants California Math Council Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, JValley Generator KLA-Tencor Foundation Legacy Heritage Scholarship Fund for Jewish Education Pets in the Classroom WestEd; Center for the Future of Teaching & Learning