At Bernard Zell, every day is filled with discovery as students explore the world around them. Our 8th-grade class is currently exploring themes of identity, Tikkun Olam and activism. Yesterday they had the opportunity to deepen their learning of these themes when they visited Loyola University’s Museum of Art to view artist Ellen Rontal’s exhibit featuring charcoal portraits of Chicago’s homeless based on her volunteer work with the Chicago Help Initiative. She spoke with the students about how working with the homeless has given her so much in return. The students were so moved by her work and shared meaningful responses and also made Thanksgiving placemats for the homeless people Ms. Rontal works with. 

Thank you, Ms. Rontal, for sharing your important work with our students and Kol Hakavod, 8th graders, for striving to make the world a better place!