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Impact TodayA REPORT TO THE COMMUNITYBOSTON, MAYour support of Jewish day school education today shapes our leaders of tomorrow. SPRING 2024 | 5784Letter from the Menahel .......................................2Empowering Parents .........................................2From Cosmos to QuakesMiddle Schoolers shine in their STEM Fair Challenges .................3 Torah Academy Tackles the Childcare Crisis .....................5 The Dynamic Duo Behind TA’s Early Childhood Center ...............................................5Your Life’s Work ...................6 INSIDE...

Letter from the MenahelRabbi Shmuel Ochs MenahelRabbi Binyomin Mermelstein Executive DirectorMr. Sam Tarlin General Studies Principal, Boys’ DivisionMrs. Devorah Moskovitz Director of Preschool and Kodesh Educational Coordinator, Girls’ DivisionMrs. Dina Feldman General Studies Principal and Director of Student Support Services, Girls’ DivisionMrs. Chana Wallach Director of Student Support Services, Boys’ DivisionMrs. Ruth Gluckin Assistant Director of PreschoolDear Readers,Welcome to our latest Impact Report, in which we highlight innovative problem-solving within our school community. As we continue to respond to the ever-changing educational and social-emotional needs of students, it’s inspiring to see how our collective efforts are driving positive change and addressing critical issues affecting our school community.In this edition, we spotlight our approach to enhancing student mental health by partnering with parents through a series of engaging parenting classes. These classes provide valuable tools and resources, fostering stronger connections between home and school and empowering families to navigate the challenges of modern-day parenting with confidence.Next, we showcase TA’s recent STEM Fair Challenge – a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of our students. Their projects showcased not only technical prowess, but also a passion for learning and exploration.Lastly, we explore how TA’s commitment to solving challenges facing the Jewish community led it to open an exciting new early education center in the heart of Brighton. These initiatives exemplify our school’s ethos of proactive problem-solving and innovation. With Hashem’s help, we can create meaningful change and cultivate an environment where every student and family can thrive. Thank you for your continued support! Warm regards,Rabbi Shmuel Ochs, Menahel2Empowering ParentsTorah Academy’s New Parenting InitiativeIn October, Torah Academy, in collaboration with Gateways Access to Jewish Education, was granted an impressive $25,000 to fund mental health programming. As administrators carefully considered which new initiatives would yield the most impact for students, they identified parents as the group that could collaborate with them to achieve results. Recognizing parents as essential partners in chinuch, TA administrators sought to empower students by empowering their parents. Mrs. Dina Feldman, the General Studies Principal and Special Education Director for the Girls’ Division, had long harbored the dream of positioning Torah Academy as an educational resource for families and took the initiative to organize the “Positive Parenting Series” led by renowned parenting educator, Mrs. Rivka Levitansky.This 7-part series took place on Zoom, with the initial session hosted at a lovely in-person event. Topics included nurturing warm relationships, discipline and setting limits, sibling rivalry, daily routines, and more. The course was designed primarily for mothers, with fathers invited to follow along by listening to session recordings. The goal was to Top: TA is awarded a $25,000 grant to fund mental health programming.Bottom: Parenting Class Kick-off session with Mrs. Levitansky.(continued on page 4)

The 6th-grade girls took center stage in a cosmic challenge inspired by their year-long study of astronomy. The task: engineer a parachute capable of safely transporting an egg through the stratosphere, mimicking the techniques employed in space landings.Eager students stood by open windows on the third floor, ready to send their parachutes and eggs hurtling through the air. The crowd gathered in the playground below. A mix of students, teachers, and visitors turned their eyes skyward.Flying eggs? At TA? Absolutely! The spirit of scientific exploration reaches its zenith each year at TA’s annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Fair Design Challenges. These challenges empower students to explore autonomously, seamlessly integrating with their grade-specific science curriculum. The hands-on learning experience not only breathes life into STEM subjects but also serves as a platform to spotlight the exceptional ingenuity and determination of the participating students.The eggs launched one at a time as the crowd cheered. The wind carried the delicate contraptions through the air, some gracefully gliding down to safety, while others embarked on a more dramatic descent, plummeting to the pavement below. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air as the girls marveled at the varying degrees of success.Next, the 7th and 8th grade girls, having studied earth science throughout the year, faced a different challenge. Mrs. Leah Ochs presented them with the task of engineering an earthquake-resistant structure using dry spaghetti, wood and cardboard. Students learned about the engineering design process (first designing, then testing and redesigning) before spending weeks building and refining their projects.At the thrilling STEM Challenge climax, the structures were subjected to 30 seconds of vigorous tremors on a shake table. The spectacle unfolded before the captivated audience, showcasing the resilience of some structures that stood firm, while others succumbed to the relentless shaking.Later in the day, an air of excitement and anticipation filled the Williston building as the boys’ division gathered for their challenge. Mr. Nate Berman, the dynamic science teacher, had set the stage for an engineering showdown between teams of 7th and 8th grade boys.The challenge was clear: which team’s bridge could hold the most weight? Using only 50 sticks of balsa wood and a mere 4 ounces of glue, the seven teams had arrived at a variety of creative solutions. The lunchroom buzzed with the hum of eager students ready to see which team would prevail. 3From Cosmos to Quakes Middle Schoolers Shine in their STEM Fair ChallengesStudents spent weeks creating their projects using the engineering design process, designing, testing, and redesigning their structures. MAKE IT BETTERDESIGN ITCREATE ITTEST ITENGENEERING DESIGN PROCESS

4As the weights mounted, so did the tension. The lunchroom echoed with a mixture of cheers, groans, and gasps as the bridges valiantly bore the load or succumbed to the pressure. The faculty, observing with pride, exchanged impressed glances, thrilled to witness the students’ passion for science and engineering.In a delightful twist, several younger students in the audience eagerly collected souvenir fragments of the fallen bridges. The notion that these bits of bricks and sticks were treasures to be cherished hinted at their own design challenge dreams.form a close-knit cohort of mothers who could learn from each other and provide ongoing support long after the series concluded.More than 35 mothers participated in the class. Several attendees also hold roles as moros and teachers at the school, thereby expanding the impact of these lessons within the TA community. Despite the dual roles of those mothers, Mrs. Feldman emphasized that during the classes, all participants were wearing their “mommy hats,” entering a judgment-free safe space to learn and ask questions.Mrs. Levitansky commended the forward-thinking approach of the administrators in organizing the class. It was evident from her meeting with them that they had put considerable thought into selecting the lesson topics and investing in their partnership with parents. Recognizing parents as partners in education is a hallmark of a Torah Academy education. Teachers, parents and administrators foster close communication with each other at every grade level.In her class introduction, Mrs. Levitansky empathized with the inherent challenges of parenting, openly acknowledging that being a parent is arguably the toughest job in the world. She emphasized the absence of perfection in parenting. Nonetheless, by the end of the course, her aspiration was for parents to approach their role with increased confidence and to experience greater cooperation from their children. This cohort of growth-oriented mothers, armed with expert knowledge and supported by a passionate administration, is poised to make real change within their families – change which will reverberate across the school and community.start-up costs. One major milestone has been the recent purchase of a property in Brighton to house its EEC. Renovations have begun, and naming opportunities are available. The program quickly filled with an initial enrollment of 20 children and is moving forward to open the new EEC this fall. Plans to expand to additional classes are already in the works to meet the even higher demand for this program.For Jewish parents seeking exceptional childcare, entrusting their youngest children to Torah Academy is a dream come true. This initiative empowers parents to fully re-enter the workforce, fostering greater economic stability for their families and, consequently, the community. TA confidently embarks on this new educational chapter, eagerly anticipating the opportunities it brings.*names have been changedEmpowering Parents (continued from page 2)Torah Academy Tackles the Childcare Crisis (continued from page 5)Top: Students and visitors observe the egg drop challenge.Middle: Students pose with their earthquake-resistant structures.Bottom: Students react with excitment as the bridge challenge results are announced.

5Meet the Dynamic Duo Behind TA’s Early Childhood CenterMrs. Chana Blanks and Mrs. Rivka Rochel Shepard serve as Co-Coordinators at the TA Early Childhood Center (EEC). Together, they oversee critical aspects such as hiring, enrollment, curriculum development, and EEC licensing requirements.With a background in public relations and business, Mrs. Blanks finds her skills well-suited for this role. Her business acumen provides the necessary knowledge to navigate the operational aspects of the center, while her experience in networking and interpersonal relationships aids in understanding and addressing the diverse needs of teachers and parents. Mrs. Rivka Rochel Shepard brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her role. With a master's degree in special education and early childhood development, Rivka Rochel possesses an impressive eighteen-year career in the field of early childhood education.Mrs. Blanks and Mrs. Shepard envision the TA EEC as a warm and welcoming space, fostering the early development of Torah Academy's youngest learners. Together, they aim to make the TA EEC a thriving and cherished addition to the Torah Academy family.Dovid and Sarah Lehman* eagerly anticipated their move to Brighton’s Jewish Community. Dovid was embarking on his Ph.D. studies, and Sarah was gearing up for a new full-time job as a speech therapist. Facing the reality of juggling student debt and high living costs on a single income, they recognized that securing full-time, affordable childcare would be paramount. Unfortunately, they discovered what many Jewish parents in Brighton were grappling with—a severe shortage of daycare options for their infant and toddler. The inadequacy of early childcare had long posed a significant obstacle for numerous families within Boston’s Jewish community. It influences decisions about the number of hours parents can work and, for many, their capacity to meet essential expenses. A concerned mother articulated her dilemma, stating, “I’m working just to cover my childcare costs. Financially, it just doesn’t make sense.”Rabbi Binyomin Mermelstein, TA’s Executive Director, keenly understood the gravity of this issue. It directly affected the ability of many school staff members to work and added a financial strain on TA families, over 50% of whom were already receiving financial aid. A parent expressed the predicament, confessing, “I’d love to pay full tuition, but I have to manage gas, food, and rent.” Venturing into the daycare sector had never seemed a feasible option for Torah Academy due to the prohibitive startup costs and an unsustainable financial model. However, the landscape was changing. Lack of quality child care was emerging as a statewide issue, prompting Governor Maura Healey to prioritize funding for early education and childcare accessibility in Massachusetts.Recognizing the opportunity to access state funds, Rabbi Mermelstein propelled TA into action to address this crisis within the Jewish community. His mission became the establishment of an Early Education Center (EEC). Rabbi Mermelstein is committed to turning this vision into a reality with determination, Divine assistance, and support from generous donors. TA applied for state grants and is encouraging families to apply for tuition vouchers. Fundraising is underway to cover the significant Renovations have begun for TA’s new EECTorah Academy Tackles the Childcare Crisis(continued on page 4)

(617) 731-3196 • info@torahacademy.us • www.torahacademy.us Non-Profit Org.U.S. PostageBP Print GroupPAID11 Williston RoadBrookline, MA 02445Address service requested Your Life’s WorkWhy do you give? Do you want to make a real difference for the next generation? Is your generosity a reflection of your values, or a way to inspire others to give? Whatever the reason you support Torah Academy, it’s clear you believe in the power of Jewish education. Build a strong future for the next generation.Will or Trust This gift resides side by side with your arrangements for your loved ones, and allows you to make a real difference without using your assets during your lifetime.Beneficiary DesignationMaking a gift through a retirement account, such as IRAs and 401(K) plans, is a simple way to impact eternity. Blended Giving Give an outright gift of cash or other assets today, combined with a future gift, such as naming Torah Academy in your will.To find out more about how you can make an impact through legacy planning, please contact Rabbi Binyomin Mermelstein at (917) 826-9637 or rabbimermelstein@torahacademy.us.