Hello Nursery - 2nd Grade Families! Our annual PTC Young Family Winter Event on Sunday, January 24 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Along with providing your family a morning of fun, get a chance to know other Bernard Zell students and families in Early Childhood and Lower School!

Our main focus during this current wave of Covid infections is to keep everyone safe, healthy, and in school. Like all schools, however, we are often forced to deal with the difficult realities of staffing, especially when faculty and staff are impacted by the pandemic. 

Due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases throughout our community and the greater Chicagoloand area, we have decided to postpone the Alumni Event scheduled to take place on campus this Thursday, January 13. Please also join our virtual, weekly community meeting, Morning Brew with Head of School Gary Weisserman this Friday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. CT via Zoom for a sneak peek at how we're celebrating the 75th day of school in our 75th year.

It may be freezing in Chicago, but the first almond trees are starting to bloom in Israel and spring is around the corner! Beginning this Sunday evening and continuing through Monday, January 17, we celebrate the one-day holiday of Tu Bishvat. This holiday is celebrated around the world with the planting of seeds, tasting of fruits, a commitment to planting trees in Israel and recommitting to Bal Tashchit, the Jewish value of not wasting.

Below is a list of helpful ways you can use Tu B'Shevat to spice up your week:

Friday, January 14 is the 75th day of school in our 75th year! Please mark your calendars and be sure to tune in to The Morning Brew to see how our students are enjoying this celebratory day. We hope you will also join us!

Fourth grade students grade have been having a blast studying geography in social studies! They are learning about continents, oceans, landforms and lines of latitude and longitude.

In addition, the class got to practice their sharp research and paraphrasing skills by choosing a state and then creating an informational brochure to entice others in the class to visit. They culminated their geography unit by making globes — a fun (and messy!) demonstration to showcase all they've learned so far! 

What makes tropical rainforests so special and unique? Is it the diversity of life? The intense vegetation? Or is it the complicated interdependence of the creatures who live there? 

Over the past two months, students in SK110 have been exploring and researching various characteristics of rainforests throughout the world. They have read, watched and studied their intricate and delicate existence and have begun to discuss why rainforests are deemed "the lungs of the world." 

Help us share our best wishes and mazels to alumnae Hannah Goldwin ’18, Jordan Leib ’19 and Josie Stahl ’19 who were selected for Springboard Chicago's 18 Under 18! Click here to view the full article and don't forget to share your congratulations with the alumnae on our Facebook or Instagram post! 

Are you and your kids looking for a reason to get out of the house? Do you love animals and like to volunteer for meaningful mitzvahs? If you answered yes to those questions, we have great news! Our amazing PTC Yad B'Yad Committee are asking for volunteers to assist in making toys for shelter animals on Sunday, February 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Anti-Cruelty Society. 

Join Mr. Weisserman and the Board of Trustees for an informative evening on Tuesday, February 15 via Zoom. Be among the first to hear about enhancements to our academic program and the school's strategic priorities as we celebrate our landmark 75th anniversary. 

Click 'Read More' below to read announcements from the Chesed Committee for January 12, 2021.