2010-2011 Report - Mandel Jewish Day School

2010-2011 annual report 5770-5771
42 years of
academic
excellence
Board of Trustees
president
Orry Jacobs
Vice Presidents
Jonathan Kaye
Nancy Levin
board MISSION
The Board’s mission is to create plans, set policies and take actions that will
ensure the viability of the school for future generations. Board meetings are listed
in the school calendar and are open to anyone who would like to observe.
past presidents
senior staff
Marc W. Freimuth
Jerry Isaak-Shapiro, Head of School
Robert Goldberg
Irwin G. Haber
Leah Spector, Assistant Head of School/Director of Judaics
and Hebrew
Jeffrey Kahn
Janet Keane, Chief Financial Officer
Adam Levin
Terry Pollack, Director of General Academics
Laurie Goetz
John Marcus
Cathy Schreiber, Director of Early Childhood
TRUSTEES
Dan Aaron Polster
Laura Simon, Director of Admissions
Lori Riga
Scott Simon
Treasurer
Michael Haas
Secretary
Terry Adelman*
Karil Bialostosky*
Glenn Bieler*
Dan Dobres
Barry Epstein
Shari Goldberg*
David Gordon
Al Gray*
Fran Immerman
Rabbi Sruly Koval*
Eliana LeVine
Lisa Linden
Debbie Meckler
Stephanie Miller
Emily Ludwig
Michael Pasternak
Margaret Ratner
(Presidential Appointee)
Arthur Rosner**
Peter Rzepka
Barry Sands
Walter Schaffer
Jonathan Shanes
Laura Leventhal, Director of Development
Karil Bialostosky, Director of Endowment and Grants
Kathy Peskin, Director of Marketing
Ellen Joseph, Student Services Coordinator
Keith Sherwin
new 2011/2012 board members
Daniel C. Worthington
Susan Hurwitz
honorary life
members
Nancy Kumin
Ian & Gloria Abrams
Nick & Carol Federico
Rochelle Gross
Simon Kadis
David & Helen Kangesser**
Peter & Aliki Rzepka
Neil Waxman
Sam Weisberg
Ryan Rivchun
Anat Nurko
Meg Ratner
Jonathan Ross
new 2010/2011 board members
Barry Epstein is an entrepreneur and small business owner
who is President of Eppco Enterprises Inc. as well as a partner
in Hunan Coventry. He is a member of Kol Halev Synagogue
and on the Boards of Siegal College and Kol Halev. Barry has
two grandchildren at Agnon.
Rabbi Sruly Koval is a teacher and director of Jewish Family
Experience (JFX) in Shaker Heights, a family based learning
center. He is a member of the Green Road Synagogue.
Eliana Levine is a mathematician by profession. She is a
member of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation and is on the Board
of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. She has three children
at Agnon.
Helen Salz
Suzanne Scharfstein
Glenn Starkman
Lisa Linden is a public relations and communications
specialist. She is a member of Park Synagogue and has two
children at Agnon.
Rabbi Edward J. Sukol
Jerome Weiss
Stephanie Miller is a personal trainer and group fitness
instructor at Total Customized Fitness, where she specializes
in teaching boot camps. She has one child at Agnon.
Ike Yedid
Joelle Reizes is in the communications, marketing and public
relations field and works at Life Line Screening. She is a
member of Park Synagogue and has two children at Agnon
and one who graduated in 2011.
*Term expired 6/2011
** Of blessed memory
Ryan Rivchun is an attorney with the Rivchun Law Firm,
LLC. He is a member of Park Synagogue and has one child at
Agnon.
A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PRESIDENT
The 2010 – 2011 school year was
a very successful one. The secret
to our success was a simple recipe:
we combined an outstanding and
committed faculty and administrative
team with a very engaged Board,
terrific students and a dedicated
parent body. We then let the various
parties interact and ended up with
a terrific year, including enrollment figures that exceeded
our expectations due to an increased number of transfer
students.
We also exceeded our fundraising goals and again,
completed the year with a balanced budget. To help assure
long-term financial viability, we added a member to the Agnon
administrative staff to work on endowment development. As
a result, we received approximately $600,000 in endowment
pledges, in addition to several legacy gifts through estate
plans. Finally, we celebrated the accomplishments of current
and former Agnon graduates. This included five members of
the Class of 2007 who were named National Merit Scholar
Semifinalists.
In the coming year, we look forward to analyzing the results
of our 2010-2011 benchmarking study. Under the auspices
of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, we are
evaluating Agnon’s educational quality and fiscal operations
and comparing ourselves to other day schools in Cleveland
and around the country. Results from this study, along with
our own Parent Satisfaction Survey, will be instrumental in
improving an Agnon education for future generations.
Sincerely,
A MESSAGE FROM THE head of school
You’re about to leaf through some
numbers – some pretty impressive
numbers, but numbers nonetheless.
Remember though that numbers
(even the positive variety) only tell a
part of the story. To be sure, they’ll let
you know that the volunteer and professional leadership of the school are
responsible stewards of this amazing
institution; and they’ll also underscore
the fact that Agnon is admired, celebrated and supported
by an ever-expanding circle of people in our community –
people who recognize that a Jewish Community Day School
education is absolutely essential for the quality of our Jewish
present and the security of our Jewish future.
But at the end of the day, there’s an even more important
story behind the numbers – the one that tells us that children
whose families have different levels of Jewish affiliation and
observance and knowledge can and should be under the
same school roof with each other. It’s also the story in which
teaching differently to those who learn differently not only
creates personal successes – it builds community. Finally,
it’s a story of innovative, sophisticated academic excellence
in both general and Judaic studies, and of students who are
prepared to assume their own leadership roles in their high
schools, their colleges and their community.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, our staff and faculty and
most importantly Agnon’s students, thank you for your interest and your support.
Bivracha,
Jerry D. Isaak-Shapiro
Head of School
Orry Jacobs
President, Board of Trustees
VISION STATEMENT
The Agnon School strives to provide genuine academic excellence
in which the integration of Judaic and general studies presents an
interconnected world for students in the 21st century. Agnon is a school
for the entire Jewish community, regardless of affiliation, observance
or perspective. Agnon teaches to the whole child, celebrating his/
her multiple strengths while meeting individual learning needs and
challenges. As a result of an Agnon education, students become selfconfident, compassionate, creative and engaged Jews and committed
citizens, prepared for the academic and social challenges of the modern
world.
The Agnon School endeavors to be a national model for Jewish day
schools, where staff and faculty learn from the best private and public
schools. Students, their families and staff come together to create an
inclusive, caring community that incorporates the local Jewish and
general community, Israel and the world. We develop within our students
a profound sense of connectedness with the Jewish people, its history,
values and culture, and most particularly with the State of Israel and the
Hebrew language.
Student Accomplishments
whiz kids
neosef
power of the pen
Agnon 8 graders David Kaye and Itamar
Nurko were each named a Beachwood
Patch “Whiz Kid of the Week.” The 14-year
olds were honored for connecting to their
Jewishness while on a class trip to Israel.
Part of their visit included hand-delivering
new clothes to low-income Ethiopian
children living in Israel.
Ten Agnon middle school students
participated in the 58th annual Northeastern
Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSF)
and all left as winners. After presenting
their projects to a team of scientists and
engineers, each Agnon student received
recognition from the judges.
Twelve Agnon middle
school students
participated in the
district’s “Power of
the Pen” competition
– a leading Ohio
interscholastic
program in written
expression that
challenges 7th and
Aaron Dobres
8th graders to write
creatively. Coached
by middle school
teacher Diane Lavin,
7th graders Aaron
Dobres, Charlie
Rose and Ariana
Starkman and 8th
grader Zoe Farkas
moved on from
Ariana Starkman
the district level to
qualify for the “Power of the Pen” Regional
Tournament.
th
Second Place Winners
Danielle Buchinsky
(8th grade): How do
different sodas affect
the loss of tooth
enamel?
Mitchell Maly (7th
grade): What is the
effect of acid rain on
plant life?
Itamar Nurko
David Kaye
Danielle Buchinsky
hebrew spelling
bee
Agnon 5th grader Callie Gordon and 7th
grader Danielle Bieler each won their
division’s first prize at Agnon’s fifth Annual
Hebrew Spelling Bee for students in 4th
- 8th grade, giving them an opportunity to
enrich their Hebrew vocabulary in a fun and
motivating way. The challenge generated
much enthusiasm among Agnon students
who studied up to 400 Hebrew words, along
with their definitions, to compete for exciting
prizes.
Naomi Shapiro
(8th grade): What
is the effect of the
temperature of milk
on the viscosity of
yogurt?
Third Place
Winners
Mitchell Maly
Matthew Baratz (7th
grade): What is the
effect of salinity on
plant growth?
Jacob Browner (8th
grade): Does steel
wool rust faster in
purified water or
saltwater?
Naomi Shapiro
Zachary Reizes (8th
grade): How does
concentration affect
electricity output of an
Acetic Acid battery?
Ariana Starkman (7th grade): What is the
effect of sound on walking in a straight line
blindfolded?
Honorable Mentions
Callie Gordon
Danielle Bieler
Rotem Avisar (7th grade): What is the effect
of fertilizer (ppm) on the pH of water?
Noa Shapiro-Franklin (8th grade): What is
the effect of acids and bases on enzyme
action?
Barak Spector (7th grade): Does the acidity
level differ in various types of tea?
Special Awards
Special Awards went to Danielle
Buchinsky, Naomi Shapiro, and Ariana
Starkman.
scripps
spelling
bee
Agnon 8th grader
Sergy Prokvolit tied
for ninth place against
58 contestants from
Sergy Prokvolit
around the region at the
2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Sergy
also represented Agnon the previous year
at this prestigious event.
soccer success
Coach Mitch Borrow and the Agnon
Soccer Team won all 11 of their regular
season games. The athletes were honored
at a school pep rally to celebrate the team’s
winning season.
Faculty & Staff Accomplishments
steiger family
education grant
presidential
meeting
Agnon 1st grade
teacher Johannah
Cross was this
year’s recipient
of the Steiger
Family Education
Grant. Presented
by the Jewish
Education Center
of Cleveland, this
Johannah Cross
grant recognizes
an outstanding local Jewish day school
teacher who demonstrates a dedication
to teaching and a devotion to students.
As a result of this award, The Sun Press
News selected her as their “Person of
the Week.”
Agnon 5th/6th grade
teacher Dina
Rock was among
a delegation of
educators who met
President Obama
and hand-delivered
recommendations
for teacher
evaluations
Dina Rock
based on student
performance. Earlier in the year, she
was the Hope Street group’s Ohio
representative at a Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation event focusing on
educational reforms. She recommended
making student achievement gains a
major component of teacher evaluation
measures. Hope Street is a nonpartisan
coalition dedicated to expanding
economic opportunity for Americans.
sydney taylor
book awards
As a member of
the Association of
Jewish Libraries
prestigious
“Sydney Taylor
Book Awards”
Committee, Agnon
Librarian Aimee
Lurie helped to
select the best
new Jewish books
Aimee Lurie
for children and teens. She is part of
this diverse group of librarians and
educators who read and reviewed nearly
100 books with Jewish subject matter.
Aimee then donated several of the
books to Agnon’s Anne Frank Library.
The Agnon School
was honored with
an award at the
2010 Partnership for
Excellence in Jewish
Education (PEJE)
National Assembly
for Advancing Jewish
Day Schools. Jerry
Isaak-Shapiro’s Agnon
Jerry Isaak-Shapiro Agenda newsletter
column won first place in the category of
“Inspiring Communications from a Head of
School” for his article entitled “Teach Your
Children Well.” This Day School Excellence
Award was presented to a head of school
who exemplified best practices in an
inspirational message. Held in Baltimore,
the three-day conference was attended by
more than 1100 people representing 300
organizations from America, Canada and
several other countries. The Assembly
featured over 100 sessions, keynote
presentations and events on day school
sustainability.
Volunteer & Staff Recognition
parent volunteer
of the year
Lila Hanft
video marketing
award
The school’s video, “All About Agnon,”
received the Video Marketing People’s
Choice Award at the 2010 PEJE National
Assembly. This informative video featured on
Agnon’s website was produced by Class of
2004 Agnon alumni Dana Leavitt, Allison
Scharfstein and Danielle Weiss for their
high school senior project. Video Marketing
Awards were presented to schools that
used the power of film to creatively position
themselves to potential parents and donors.
peje award
grandparent volunteer
of the year
Agnon’s “Parent
Volunteer of the Year”
Award was presented
to Lila Hanft. Mother
to Sascha Roberts in
6th grade, Lila used her
technology, Internet,
social media and
journalism talents
to design, build and
continually improve the
school’s website.
staff milestones
Char Moses
Agnon’s “Grandparent
Volunteer of the Year”
Award went to Char
Moses, grandmother
of Max Moses in
Kindergarten and
Jake Moses in 3rd
grade. Helping out at
numerous programs,
Char often captured
events with her camera
and created photo
albums or DVDs for the
entire class.
Michele Sudow, Kindergarten Teacher | 30 years of service
Connie Mafrici, Food Service Assistant | Retiring after 22 years
Diane Lavin, Middle School Teacher | 15 years of service
Moran Chajmovic, 5th Grade Judaics Teacher | Retiring after 14 years
Moshe Glauber, Technology Coordinator | 10 years of service
Michele Sudow
30 years of service
Cathy Schreiber, Director of Early Childhood | 10 years of service
Shorashim
exploring our roots: an integrated 7th
grade program
Each year Agnon’s 7th graders explore the concept of family and heritage in a year-long, multi-disciplinary program called
Shorashim, a term which literally means “roots” in Hebrew. Agnon believes that students absorb more when they discover how
their families’ experiences fit into the cultural, historical and scientific events of the 20th century, while unraveling their own
personal pasts. Shorashim not only encourages students to research their family histories, listen to their family stories and
learn about their family heirlooms, it also integrates these experiences with science, health, social studies, math, language arts,
Judaics, art, and music in the following ways:
science & health social studies
math
music
Students focus on family genetic
traits as well as the medical
breakthroughs and topics that
occurred during the time of their
parents, grandparents and great
grandparents.
How much did a dozen eggs cost
in 1955? While learning about
their roots in a historical context,
students also contrast the various
price of products through the
decades by charting graphs using
mathematical price comparisons.
Learning melodies from the past,
students learn specific songs
and instrumental music that
are significant to recent Jewish
history.
During social studies, students
look at the larger historical and
geographical context of recent
Jewish history – the decades of
their great grandparents to the
present. While learning about
Jewish and general history, they
become profoundly connected
to their own, personal history
– and to the histories of their
classmates. Students also travel
to Washington, DC, to visit
several historical sites including
The Holocaust Museum.
judaics
Students study Jewish history
and immigration over the past
several generations, identifying
values and traditions in their
own families which link them to
this time period. Other areas of
emphasis include Israel as the
Jewish homeland, the meaning
of student names and the
connections their names have to
the Torah.
art
language arts
In language arts, students
conduct personal interviews with
family members, focusing on
stories, heirlooms, documents
and photographs. They then
write creatively about these
heirlooms, producing poems
and short stories based upon
their interviews and research.
Students also write factually
about the stories their family
members have shared.
Creating unique aesthetic
compositions, students draw
heirlooms in a media-specific
way, incorporating the words that
they wrote in language arts into
their drawings by using their text
as shape. In addition, hundreds
of family photos are assembled
into a photo timeline representing
each 7th grader’s family through
the decades. A personalized
photo album is created which
also acts as a roadmap of Jewish
immigration.
Shorashim
culminates with a
family program
featuring a
reader’s theater,
where the script
is comprised of
student writings.
In addition, there
are instrumental
ensembles plus
songs and dance
performances. An
exhibition displays
student projects,
family photos,
documents and
heirlooms. A family
photographic time
line with historical
events is also
showcased.
YEAR IN REVIEW
ANNUAL GIVING
2010-2011 Donors of Distinction
$25,000 and Above
$5,000 - $9,999
$1,800 - $2,499
Anonymous (3)
Anonymous (2)
Sheldon and Terry Adelman
Lois Davis
B & B Wood Products
Jamie and Wendy Cohen
Forest City Enterprises
Charitable Foundation
Daniel and Laurie Goetz
Ellen E. and Victor J. Cohn
Supporting Foundation
Immerman Family
Fran Gordon Immerman
Lee and Denise Farkas
Eugenia and Henry Green
Memorial II Fund
Michael and Shari Goldberg
Sherwin Goodman
Andrew and Judy Green
Bradley Ortman and Melissa
Myers
Kangesser Foundation
David and Hedy Adler
Charles and Ilana Horowitz
Ratner
Peter and Aliki Rzepka
$10,000 to $24,999
Greg and Hallie Abrams
Rochelle and Harley Gross
Philanthropic Fund
Michael Haas and Raquel
Flatow Haas
Robert and Susan Hurwitz
Family Foundation
Jonathan and Lesley Kaye
Adam and Nancy Levin
Mandel Family Foundation
Joseph and Florence Mandel
Family Foundation
David and Tania Gordon
Irwin and Ida Haber
Richard Horvitz
Orry and Sheila Jacobs
Simon Kadis
Krieger Fund of Cleveland
Foundation
Norman and Carolyn Kreiger
Robert and Barbara Leiken
Jonathan and Suzanne
Scharfstein
Bernard and Barbara
Scharfstein
$2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous
Barry and Barbara Epstein
Michael and Ann Epstein
Larry and Bonnie Frankel
Alvin, Rachel and Lottie
Gray Fund
Jerry and Deborah IsaakShapiro
Steven and Giselle Lander
Philip and Lisa Linden
Saul and Anat Nurko
Jared
and Stephanie Miller
William Proper and Ilene
Tepper
Lori Riga and Jeffrey Saks
Pershing Square Foundation
Neil and Connie Waxman
Jonathan and Margaret
Ratner
Abe and Idelle Wolf
The Reisman Family
Sidney and Phyllis Reisman
Tony and Wendy Reisman
Stephen and Penni Weinberg
Matt and Ilana Weisberg
Joshua Polster and Eliana
LeVine
Ryan and Lauren Rivchun
Jeffrey Sunshine and Helen
Salz
Earl and Marilyn Weiss
Timothy and Sandy Wuliger
$1,000 - $1,799
John and Rabbi Sharon
Marcus
Joshua and Lisa Mayers
David and Ruth Moskowitz
Family Foundation
David and Inez Myers
Foundation
Michael Pasternak and Allison
Gilmore
Dan Polster and Deborah
Coleman
Jonathan and Elisa Ross
Steve and Carrie Rudow
Jeffrey and Michelle Rzepka
Diana Shall
Scott Simon
Sinai Synagogue Foundation
Shaw and Ally Abrams
David and Robert Stein
Family Foundation
Dale and Susan Bass
Ralph and Rachael Stewart
Lawrence and Marilyn
Blaustein
David and Peggy Sugerman
Mitchell and Caroline Borrow
$750 - $999
Martin and Carolann Cohen
Steven Dettelbach and Karil
Bialostosky
Nathan Dobres (of blessed
memory)
Isaac and Joan Yedid
Andrew Altman and Amy
Lilpson
Glenn and Jill Bieler
Bennett and Sharon Fagin
Daniel and Wendy Dobres
Judah and Darci Friedman
Arnold Feltoon
Michael and Stacy Goldberg
Louis Freiberg
Brian and Lauren Greene
Stephen and Amy Hoffman
Kevin and Liz Gregory
Don and Judy Jacobson
Jason and Meredith Hillman
Gary and Roberta Kaplan
Terry Pollack and Barbara
Gross
David Leavitt and Leah
Spector
Marcia Levine
Eric and Emily Ludwig
Glenn Starkman and Debra
Rosenthal
Stephen and Carolyn Warner
DONORS
Every donor is appreciated! We look forward to providing a listing of all
Spring Benefit donors in our mid-year report.
Shaw & Ally Abrams
Howard Bram & Lynn Berg
Jeffrey & Tamara Dubin
Charles & Ruth Friedman
Greg & Hallie Abrams
Merna Braunschweiger
Scott & Halle Dubin
Judah & Darci Friedman
Ian & Gloria Abrams
Richard & Jackie Brooks
Jason Friedman
Sheldon & Terry Adelman
Marvin Browdy
David Effron & Rachel KabbEffron
Daniel & Ines Ades
Kenneth & Rachel Browner
Fred & Sharon Eichenbaum
Avrum & Phyllis Froimson
David & Hedy Adler
Roy & Lynn Buchinsky
Martin & Carolyn Alpert
Armond & Amy Budish
Andrew Altman & Amy Lipson
Eileen Carleton
Michael & Susie Altman
Lionel & Diane Caron
Murray & Connie Altose
Christine Catalogna
Alex & Helene Antwarg
Barry & Lynn Chesler
Martin & Richard Evans
Mario & Tsipi Arenas
David Clar & Karen RosenblumClar
Bennett & Sharon Fagin
Joel & Julie Falck
Matthew & Rifka Claypool
Lee & Denise Farkas
Dan & Ziona Austrian
Avery & Susannah Cohen
Kim Favor
B & B Wood Products
Jamie & Wendy Cohen
Nick & Carol Federico
Jeffrey Babbush
Jeffrey & Arielle Cohen
Evan Feinberg
Shayna Bach
Martin & Carolann Cohen
Oren Baratz & Susanne WishBaratz
Ellen & Victor Cohn
Dale & Susan Bass
Ronald & Francine Crocco
Ruben Aronov & Margarita
Aronova
Marcia Coven
Doug & Johannah Cross
Michael & Wendy Cynamon
Kenneth & Marilyn
Dachner
Charles & Ruth Daroff
Rabbi Fred & Helen Eisenberg
Rachel Eisenberg
Jennifer Emery
Barry & Barbara Epstein
Michael & Ann Epstein
Steven Friedman
Allen & Kris Frydenberg
Stephen & Nancy Gage
Jeffrey & Kelli Gellis
Gary Ginstling & Marta Lederer
Nancy Gluck
Frank Godfrey III & Cynthia Kerr
Daniel & Laurie Goetz
Allen & Denise Gold
Bobby Goldberg
David & Mindi Goldberg
Floyd & Sandy Goldberg
Michael & Shari Goldberg
DONOR PROFILES
LOIS DAVIS BELIEVES IN THE AGNON SCHOOL
“My motivation for making a major gift to The Agnon School
was my realization that unless children attend a Jewish day
school they will not get enough of a Jewish education. These
Lois Davis
days, there are too many distractions and after-school activi-
Brad & Linda Demsey
ties. Children used to attend religious and Hebrew school four
Rabbi Steven Denker
days a week. Now, they attend for two days and that is simply
Steven Dettelbach & Karil
Bialostosky
Daniel & Wendy Dobres
not enough time for them to learn.”
Arnold & Carol Feltoon
Michael & Stacy Goldberg
John & Deborah Fialka
Jerrold & Barbara Goldstein
Michael & Judy Fitzmaurice
Joshua & Tiffany Goldstein
Gina Beim
Ken & Marge Flanz
Sherwin Goodman
Rich & Nadine
Bendycki
Claudia Folkman & George
Mathiowitz
David & Tania Gordon
Steve & Etti Berkman
Forest City Enterprises Charitable
Foundation
Fran Gordon Immerman
David & Ruth Dobres
Richard & Rachel
Berkowitz
Irwin Frank
Robert & Sandra
Berkowitz
Mitchell & Susan Frankel
Roger & Naomi Gordon
Alan & Lori Gottlieb
David & Leslie Granoff
Al Gray
Frances Berman
Sam & Rina Frankel Family
Foundation
Glenn & Jill Bieler
Larry & Bonnie Frankel
Lawrence & Marilyn
Blaustein
Mort & Carol Frankel
Kevin & Liz Gregory
David Franklin & Rabbi Rona
Shapiro
Mila Grosman
Harley & Rochelle Gross
Rosalie Franklin
Gary & Cari Gross
Louis Freiberg
Stanley Grossman
Marc & Ann Freimuth
Gary & Hannah Grunwald
Gretel B. Bloch Foundation
Harvey & Linda Boardman
Jeff & Anna Boardman
Israel Borow
Mitchell & Caroline Borrow
Nathan Dobres, of blessed
memory
Richard & Robin Douglass
Daniel & Paula Dreyfuss
Andrew & Loren Frieder
Andrew & Judy Green
Brian & Lauren Green
DONORS
Michael Haas & Raquel Flatow
Haas
William & Shirley Haas
Jeff & Nicole Haas
Paul Katz & Lisa Aronson
Benjamin Katz
Jonathan & Lesley Kaye
Richard Marshall & Kathleen
Newell
Joshua Polster & Eliana LeVine
Marshall Carpet One
William Proper
Jack & Janet Keane
Doug & Ruth Mayers
Dwayne Keeney & Shoshana
Chazin
Joshua & Lisa Mayers
William & Robin McCann
Marcia Hales
Brian Kelly & Rabbi Lauren
Werber
S. Mattuch & Elizabeth Meacham
Sheldon Hanft
Chiam & Chaya Keren
Francine Hekelman
Herschel & Maxine Koblenz
Nahum & Julia Meller
Heinen’s
Scott & Vicki Koller
David & Becky Heller
Hank & Kelly Kornblut
Irwin & Ida Haber
Lawrence Haims & Barbara
Brothers
Irwin & Susan Kornbluth
Rabbi Sruly & Ruchi Koval
Milton and Charlotte
R. Kramer Charitable
Foundation
Norman & Carolyn
Kreiger Fund
Harvey & Nancy Kumin
Harry & Janet Kushnir
Shelah Kutunow
Larry & Fran Lake
Gerald & Florence Lander
Marjorie Heller
Jason & Meredith Hillman
Stephen & Amy Hoffman
Michael & Eydie Holsman
Marvin & Pauline Horn
Edward Horowitz & Lisa Bernd
Richard Horvitz
John & Margaret Hrynik
Eric & Deb Hurwitz
Robert & Susan Hurwitz
Robert Immerman
David & Linda Inwood
Jerry & Deborah Isaak-Shapiro
Josh & Lisa Jacobs
Neal Jacobs
Orry & Sheila Jacobs
Don & Judy Jacobson
Joseph & Melanie Joltin
Jay & Ellen Joseph
Mark Jowell & Simone Noble
Ben Kadis
Simon Kadis
Franck & Wendy Kakou
Bernard & Sedell Kamenir
Kangesser Foundation
David Kaplan
Gary & Roberta Kaplan
Sarah Kaplan Ferrin
Steve & Kim Karl
Steven & Giselle Lander
Justine Larson
Michael Lauer & Robin Avery
Arthur & Diane Lavin
David Leavitt & Leah Spector
Leanne Leavitt
Gerri Leikin
Robert & Barbara Leiken
Mark & Laura Leventhal
Levin Consulting
Adam & Nancy Levin
Howard & Susan Levin
Mark & Berinthia LeVine
Sherry Lieber
Dennis & Karen Linden
Philip & Lisa Linden
Shelley Lipson
James Loeb & Judith MitchellLoeb
Martha Klein Lottman
Eric & Emily Ludwig
Saul & Emily Ludwig
Brian & Lauren Luntz
Michael & Yulia Maly
Mandel Family Foundations
Bob & Lori Marcantonio
John & Rabbi Sharon Marcus
William & Michal Marcus
Kevin & Sheila Margolis
Edward & Deborah Meckler
Progressive Foundation
Charles & Ilana Horowitz Ratner
Jonathan & Margaret Ratner
Sidney & Phillis Reisman
Tony & Wendy Reiskan
Ofer & Joelle Reizes
Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation
Sandra Meyer
Stuart & Elin Meyer
Michael & Hedy Milgrom
Abraham & Barbara Miller
Jared & Stephanie Miller
Laurence & Carole Miller
Dennis & Flossy Mitchell
Nechama Moskowitz
Jason & Sharon Moses
Marjorie Moskovitz
Mark & Abby Moskovitz
David & Ruth Moskovitz
David & Inez Myers Foundation
Guilherme Nebel de Mello &
Lakshmi Nebel
Sara Nehrer
Gary & Sharyn Neides
Robert & Ilene Neides
Raymond & Sandra November
Saul & Anat Nurko
Kenneth & Marilyn Oif
Eric Olsen & Jennifer Finkel
Amnon & Aya Ophir
Bradley Ortman & Melissa Myers
Amos Oshrin & Sheryl Kottler
Oshrin
Dave & Gina Page
Stanley & Linda Palumbo
Jay & Mindy Resnick
Jeffrey & Jessica Resnick
Lawrence Rich
Ryan & Lauren Rivchun
David & Dina Rock
D. Kyle & Cynthia Rose
David & Enid Rosenberg
Arthur & Barbara Rosenfeld
Tena Rosner
Jonathan & Elisa Ross
Alan & Barbara Rosskamm
Sam & Terry Roth
Daniel & MaryAnn Rothstein
Steve & Carrie Rudow
John Ruhl & Ivy Turkington
Fred & Anne Rzepka
Jeffrey & Michelle Rzepka
Peter & Aliki Rzepka
Zachary & Deborah Paris
Eli & Hanna Saar
Michael Pasternak & Allison
Gilmore
Jill Sadowsky
Jeffrey Saks & Lori Riga
Katelynn Patterson
Elisabeth Sapell
Fred & Susan Pearlman
George Sapir
Pershing Square Foundation
Vadim Satonovsky & Irina
Grinblat
Kathy Peskin
Julian Peskin
Cantor Misha Pisman
Sandro & Kim Piunno
Play It Again Sports
Jay Plotkin & Adella Wasserstein
Terry Pollack & Barbara Gross
Barry & Sally Pollack
Dan Polster & Deborah Coleman
William & Wendy Sattin
Beth Schaberg
Sheldon & Faith Schaffer
Bernard & Barbara Scharfstein
Jonathan & Suzanne Scharfstein
Ronald & Francine Schatten
Rabbi Jeffrey & Deborah Schein
Don & Toni Scherzer
Jane Glaubinger Schmidt
Scott & Jody Spero
Brent & Kate Weinstock
Jim & Eileen Wilkoff
Gary Schnur
Elaine Spiegel
Barry & Myta Weisberg
Abe & Idelle Wolf
Cathy Schreiber
Stuart & Jodi Spiegel
Matt & Ilana Weisberg
Clifford & Linda Wolf
Keith & Kimberly Schrode
Jacqueline Spieler
Bill & Barbara Weiss
Dan & Ellen Worthington
Marcy Scolnick
SS&G Financial Services
Earl & Marilyn Weiss
Timothy & Sandy Wuliger
Rabbi Steve Segar & Andy Getz
Glenn Starkman & Debra
Rosenthal
Elie Weiss & Sara Hurand
Isaac & Joan Yedid
Leonard & Karen Steiger
Rabbi Stephen & Naomi Weiss
Daniel Yulish
Robert & Carol Weitzner
Gerald Zahler
Wellpoint Foundation
Eldar Zarbavel & Tanya Linetsky
Stephen & Joan Werber
Richard & Marcie Zeiger
Charles & Joan Whitehill
Nan Zieleniec
Alan & Jessica Semel
Diana Shall
Jeffrey & Joan Shall
Jeremiah & Wendi Shapera
Donald & Arlene Shapiro
Loren & Brenda Shapiro
Stuart & Rebecca Sharpe
Bruce Shaw & Iona Elovitz
Greg & Debra Shaw
David & Karen Shiffman
Maxine Shiffman
Naomi Shiffman
Cantor Aaron Shifman
Michael & Amy Shore
Sanford & Estelle Shore
Ilya & Victoria Shteyndler
Kenneth & Amy Shuman
David Shutkin & Connie
Friedman
Valentin Shvartsman & Faina
Rozenfeld
Michael & Anita Siegal
Kenneth Sieman &
Jacqueline Sandman
Ahuva Silver
Robert & Myrtle Silverman
Bart & Sherry Simon
Laura Simon
Scott Simon
Sinai Synagogue Foundation
Warren & Zahava Sklar
Steven & Michal Soclof
Vivian Solganik
Bradley & Amy Solomon
Sharon Soltesz
David & Robert Stein Family
Foundation
David & Erica Steinweg
Jack & Tudy Stewart
Jim & Jodi Stewart
Ralph & Rachael Stewart
Alex Stolyar
Strassman Insurance Services,
Inc.
Burton & Sandi Zucker
We regret any errors or omissions. Please contact the
Development Office at 216-464-4055 ext. 124 with any
corrections.
Arthur & Karen Strauss
Sue Strauss
Thomas & Michele Sudow
David & Peggy Sugerman
Rabbi Edward & Roxanne Sukol
Gilbert & Sylvia Sunshine
Jeffrey Sunshine & Helen Salz
Target
Eric & Alison Tannenbaum
Gabriel & Susan Tannenbaum
Ilene Tepper
Samuel Tobias & Mira Kleiner
Neil & Jennifer
Tramer
Yevgeniya Tsirulnik
Gina Villa
Ilya & Marina Viner
Wachovia Foundation
Stephen & Carolyn Warner
Neil & Connie Waxman
Joel & Malka Weil
Sanford & Bev Weinberg
Stephen & Penni Weinberg
Beth Ellen Weiner
DONOR PROFILES
THE SCHARFSTEINS GIVE BACK TO THE
AGNON SCHOOL
The Agnon School is pleased to announce the creation
of an Alumni College Scholarship Fund and Staff
Education Fund, made possible by a gift from alumni
parents Jonathan and Suzanne Scharfstein and their
parents, Bernard and Barbara Scharfstein.
“Our goals were twofold. We wanted to revive The
Agnon School Alumni College Scholarship Endowment
Fund because we place a high value on education
and feel pride as we watch Agnon alumni enter
college. Moreover, we know how important an Agnon
education is in establishing a solid foundation that
enabled students to achieve this important milestone.
As each Agnon alumnus matriculates into college, we
know that they take a big piece of The Agnon School
with them,” said the Scharfstein family members. “We
also funded continuing education programs for Agnon
teachers through the Staff Education Fund to support
professional teacher development and to honor their
amazing dedication to Agnon students. As a family,
we are all indebted to the Agnon teachers who helped
instill within our children the love of learning and the
excitement of discovering new information.”
Noah Kirsch (Class of 2007) was the first alumnus
to benefit from the Scharfstein’s generosity, winning
the 2011 Agnon Alumni College Scholarship. He is
now attending Tufts University as a freshman. In his
award-winning essay, Noah wrote, “Humility started
with botched art projects, leadership began with a hand
tentatively raised in science class. Curiosity was honed
through experimentation, and passion was engendered
by success. Those are the things that make Agnon
special: the intimacy, the trust, the interdependency.
It fosters true learning, true creativity, and a lifelong
pursuit of success.”
Funds Established
Endowment Funds
Established
Endowment Gifts and
Legacy Commitments
Scharfstein Alumni Scholarship and
Staff Development Fund
Sheldon and Terry Adelman
Lois Davis
Simon Kadis
Matching Gifts
Lubrizol Foundation
Merrill Lynch and Co. Foundation
Progressive Foundation
Wachovia Foundation
Wellpoint Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
Agnon Affiliations
Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland
Independent Schools Association of the Central States
Ohio Association of Independent Schools
RAVSAK – The Jewish Community Day School Network
Donor Wish List
Monthly All-School Kabbalat Shabbat Sponsors | $150
Middle School Weekly Lunch Sponsors | $250
Tu B’shvat All-School Lunch | $750
Grade Level Shabbat Dinner Sponsors | $1,000
Hebrew Language Books and Locking
Cart for Library | $4,000
50” Flat Screen TV Plus Mounting and Wiring | $2,500
(Communications Vehicle for School Lobby)
Two Wall Mounted Basketball Hoops/
Gym Additions | $5,000
Musical Instrument Lending Library | $5,000
Graded (K – 3rd Grade) Reading Books/
10 Additional Classroom Sets | $3,400
Middle School Reading Café Expansion | $2,500
Early Education Commons Enhancements | $3,000
Please consider
Agnon for
your milestone
donations and in
your charitable
giving plans.
For Annual Fund information,
contact Laura Leventhal at
[email protected].
For Endowment and
Planned Giving, contact Karil
Bialostosky at kbialostosky@
agnon.org.
Or, contact them at
(216) 464-4055.
BUDGET
Continuity Commission
State Aid
Other
Contributions and
Fundraising
Tuition
JCF Subvention
Income
$
% to total
Continuity Commission
185,000
4%
State Aid
232,000
5%
Other
32,0001%
Contributions and
Fundraising
832,00018%
JCF Subvention
608,000
13%
Tuition
2,621,00058%
Total
4,510,000100%
Supplies
Other
Occupancy
Tuition Assistance
Expenses
Employee
Compensation
$
% to total
Employee
Compensation3,247,00072%
Occupancy369,0008%
Tuition Assistance
578,00013%
Supplies277,0006%
Other37,0001%
Total4,508,000100%
Alumni Notes
Mazal tov to the following Agnon alumni:
class of 2010
class of 2002
Sara Shore is at Cleveland
Heights High School and ranked
#1 in her class of 571 students.
Ariela Alpert is living in Rwanda
for a year and working as the
International Coordinator for the
Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village,
a Rwandan boarding school for
orphans modeled after an Israeli
youth village. Ariela was also the
Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s
“Face of the Month.”
class of 2008
Shoshi Bieler is at Shaker
Heights High School and won
first place in the individual
documentary category in the
National History Day competition
for her district.
Nadav Marcus is at Shaker
Heights High School and
recently founded “Caring for
a Cause,” a non-profit social
justice organization that fights
homelessness in Cleveland.
class of 2007
Daniel Kaplan graduated
from Orange High School in
May 2011 and was elected
International President of United
Synagogue Youth (USY), a
Jewish youth group affiliated with
the Conservative movement.
In the fall, he enrolled in USY’s
Nativ, a gap-year program,
studying at Hebrew University
and volunteering and teaching in
Yerucham, Israel. He will attend
college in 2012.
Agnon graduates Yoni Kirsch
(Hawken), Ben Leb (Orange),
Ilana Polster (Shaker), Michelle
Scharfstein (Shaker) and Adam
Stewart (Solon) were recognized
as National Merit Scholarship
Program Semifinalists.
Ilana Polster, who graduated
from Shaker Heights High
School, and Yoni Kirsch, who
graduated from Hawken, were
invited to compete in the U.S.
Presidential Scholars Program.
Candidates are identified based
upon exceptional SAT or ACT
scores.
class of 1999
Noah Sudow was one of three
individuals selected to participate
in a cutting-edge venture
between the Jewish Federation
of Cleveland and PresenTense,
an Israel-based program.
The partnership was formed
to help young Jewish social
entrepreneurs develop innovative
ideas. Noah’s idea was to foster
academic, intellectual and
economic cooperation between
Israeli and Northeast Ohio-based
researchers. Noah is also the
son of Agnon Kindergarten
teacher Michele Sudow.
class of 1997
Samantha Rose was a Plain
Dealer guest columnist whose
article, “No Going Back in
Egypt,” was featured in February,
2011. Samantha studied in
Cairo on U.S. Fulbright and
U.S. Department of Education
fellowships. She is a graduate
of Wellesley College and
holds a master’s degree in
Middle Eastern history from the
University of St. Andrews.
alumni participate in jewish
community programs:
14 Agnon alumni were selected to participate in the following
prestigious Jewish community programs.
Saltzman Youth Panel
Sam Baker: Class of 2007/Orange High School
Sam Falck: Class of 2008/Orange High School
Kevin Froimson: Class of 2008/University School
Brooke Peskin: Class of 2008/Beachwood High School
Elissa Rosner: Class of 2007/Hawken School
The Saltzman Youth Panel – a Jewish Federation of Cleveland
program – educates teens about the philanthropic process.
A select panel of 40 high school juniors and seniors allocated
$50,000 to worthy organizations, with 85% of funds awarded to
programs serving the Jewish community.
Diller Teen Fellows Program/Ambassadors for Unity
Jacob Douglass: Class of 2009/Beachwood High School
Rachel Kraus: Class of 2008/Solon High School
Nadav Pecha: Class of 2009/Solon High School
Kia Picker: Class of 2008/Solon High School
Noah Shutkin: Class of 2008/Shaker Heights High School
Ari Sobel: Class of 2008/Beachwood High School
Howard Sobel: Class of 2008/Beachwood High School
The mission of this Jewish American/Israeli exchange leadership
program is to inspire and empower teens from Cleveland and
Beit She’an, Israel, to become informed, active Jewish agents of
change. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and
the International Diller Teen Fellows program, select high school
sophomores and juniors hosted teens visiting from Beit She’an
and, in turn, stayed with Beit She’an families when they traveled
to Israel. In addition, they participated in social justice projects.
Write On For Israel
Alana Friedman: Class of 2008/Montessori High School
Rachel Shaw: Class of 2008/Shaker Heights High School
Write On For Israel, a two-year joint project of the Avi Chai
Foundation and the Cleveland Jewish News administered through
Akiva, trains high school students to become advocates for Israel
and includes a free 10-day trip there. In addition to learning about
the Middle East as juniors, students gain knowledge from guest
speakers while honing their research, debate, organizational and
writing skills. As seniors, participants developed and implemented
Israel-related projects.
wanted
Alumni contact information and notes so we can keep in touch and celebrate with
you. Please send information to Laura Leventhal at [email protected].

1970
1969
Agnon founded by Bobby & Linda
Goldberg, Simon & Ziona* Kadis,
Gene & Marilyn Maeroff, Aviva
Orlan, Peter & Aliki Rzepka,
Walter & Beth Schaffer and Rabbi
Mordechai and Haniti Schreiber.
Doors open at Brith Emeth
Temple for Kindergarten
and 1st graders.
Kindergarten tuition: $375.
1st grade tuition: $575.
First benefit raffle held.
THE LAST 42
1989
1992

1994
1995

 1996
School receives $50,000
allocation from Jewish
Federation of Cleveland.
Agnon increases Kindergarten to
two classes.
Gym program created.
Morris Sorin appointed Head of
School.
Ray Levi, Head of School,
1992 - 1999.
1973
1971
School receives state charter.
Enrollment: 117.
Faculty: 10 full-time and
4 part-time teachers.
School becomes Jewish
Federation of Cleveland
beneficiary agency.

1975
1976

1974
First 8th grade graduation held
for five students.
School moves to larger space at
Beth Am.
First art show held.
First all-school show held:
“We Sing of Thee America.”
Integrated social studies, Judaics,
music and art.
Barry Sands, Board President,
announces College of Jewish
Studies, Akiva and Agnon to
share new building.
Ilana Sebo, Head of School,
1975 – 1983.
1977
1978

New outdoor play facility
completed.
First Kindergarten students
graduate from 8th grade.
Space limitations cap enrollment
at 206.
“Hot” lunch program begins with
art teacher Barbara Weiss using
hot plate to boil hot dogs once a
week.
Extra-curricular activities include
track and field, photography and
typing.
1982
1983

1984
After-school activities include
dance, basketball, drama, pottery
and stitchery.
Sharon Eichenbaum, Head of
School, 1983 – 1988.
Major capital building campaign
provides for gym addition, art
lab, increased early childhood
facilities, more middle school
classrooms and kosher kitchen.
More than 100 students present
“Noah” at Beachwood High
School to celebrate Agnon’s Bar
Mitzvah year.
First Agnon Science Fair held.
Independent Schools
Association of the Central States
(ISACS) Board recommends
full accreditation for The Agnon
School.

1986
1985
Board creates Development
Committee to increase school
fund-raising efforts.

1988
Michael Wolf, Head of School,
1988-1992.
Lunch program expands;
PTA members cook, serve and
clean up.
Agnon’s first 7th grade class trip
to Washington, D.C.
First faculty trip to Israel.
Agnon celebrates 25th
anniversary.
Family education expands
to include retreats, evening
programs and adult Hebrew
classes.
Art lab, computer lab, sanctuary/
music room, additional
classrooms and courtyards
added.
“Numbers 2000” program,
precursor to Shorashim,
introduced to 7th graders.
Annual 8th grade class trip to
Israel initiated.

 2000
1999
Agnon enrolls 407 students –
the most ever.
Peter Rzepka honored at 30th
Anniversary tribute dinner.
Lee Lazar, Head of School,
1999 – 2000.
Joe Eideson, Head of School,
2000 – 2003.
 2004
2003
First “Celebration of Learning”
program.
Upper and lower playgrounds
expanded.
Jerry Isaak-Shapiro named
Head of School.
Agnon named Blue Ribbon
School.
 2007

2005
Enrollment increases 15% since
Jerry Isaak-Shapiro’s arrival.
Bobby Goldberg honored at 36th
Anniversary celebration.
ISACS accreditation renewed.
Strategic Plan and Core Values
revised.

 2011
2008
Agnon enrolls largest
Kindergarten ever – 45 students
in three classes.
Agnon expands administrative
staff to include Endowment
Director.

THE NEXT 42
* Of Blessed Memory
The Agnon School
26500 Shaker Blvd.
Beachwood, OH 44122
ISACS Accredited
Contact us
(216) 464-4055
www.theagnonschool.org
2010-2011 annual report 5770-5771
MISSION STATEMENT
The Agnon School, a private Jewish Day
School, develops ethical leaders and
confident critical thinkers with a lifelong love
of learning. By integrating superior general
academics and Judaic studies, Agnon achieves
academic excellence in a nurturing, welcoming
environment that engages and teaches to the
whole child.
OUR NAME: SHMUEL YOSEF AGNON
The Agnon School is named after Shmuel Yosef
Agnon (1888-1970), the first Israeli to win the
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966. S.Y. Agnon
saw himself as standing halfway between Jewish
tradition and modern culture. He was firmly rooted
in both worlds, just as we are here at Agnon.