I have never pretended to be an expert in anything, let alone everything. There are things that I know, and when I am wrong, I am always open to learn. At 60, however, I would like to believe that I … Read More
Life at Our Fingertips, Thanks to ENIAC
By Marnie Diem, Coordinator of Technological Adventures On February 14, 1946, the first electronic computer was unveiled at the University of Pennsylvania. The ENIAC took up 1,500 square feet, and weighed as much as 15 cars. Today’s computers can be … Read More
The Urgent Question: Who Am I?
Yogi Bera once said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” That has not stopped innumerable people, from all walks of life, from predicting what the future will be for our children when they are grown. A day … Read More
Our Vision is Alive – And Evolving
By Melissa Michaelson, Principal Our visionary approach to education is one of the many reasons that Hillel Day School is unique. We don’t stay in one place; rather, we are always seeking the next best version of ourselves while keeping … Read More
It’s Full STEAMath Ahead at Hillel
By Joan Freedman, Director of Curriculum Two years ago we invited our families to school for Pi Night, a wildly successful evening devoted to math in all its magic. So why expand to a full-fledged STEAM Event? Because we feel … Read More
Homework: The Battle Continues
Exercise the brain like a muscle or give kids time to work on the family farm? Educators have been debating the effectiveness of homework as a tool for learning for over a century. Support for and against homework has ebbed … Read More
Inspired Early Childhood Education Respects Children
By Robin Pappas, Director of Early Learning Nine years ago, when our Early Childhood Center opened, we committed to providing a play-based, child-centered, and developmentally-appropriate preschool. Students took ownership of their learning, understood the process behind their projects, and most … Read More
A Safe and Supportive Environment Sets the Stage for Learning
By Barbara Applebaum, Assistant Principal Each Monday I walk into Hillel Day School, and, as I walk towards my office, I often greet four to five people by name. I might ask them about their weekend, or if they’re feeling … Read More
Small Greatness
I was deeply moved this past weekend by the final words that were shared between President George H.W. Bush, and his long-time dear friend, former Secretary of State, James Baker III. On the final morning of his life, President Bush … Read More
Utopia or Dystopia?
Hardly a week goes by that I don’t come across an analysis that either warns of how automation and Artificial Intelligence are going to wreak havoc on humanity or how they will solve all of humanity’s problems. Either way, our … Read More
You’ve Got To be Carefully Taught 2.0
I originally wrote this blog in 2015, and feel it is necessary to update and share again within the context of the violence of these last several weeks in Pittsburgh, Tallahassee, Thousand Oaks, and this week in Israel. It is … Read More