A Typically Atypical Day at Davis

The following is a note from our Head of School, Amy Shafron, reflecting the excitement of a typically atypical day at Davis. The Davis Academy is a multifaceted organization and sometimes joy and sorrow exist alongside one another...

Hi all – Happy Monday!

Every once in a while I stop myself and try to capture what’s happening around us. As you well know, this doesn’t come easily or often enough because we are all moving at such a fast pace around here. But this morning I’m taking that moment and feel inspired to share my thoughts with you.

Yesterday was Sunday as you know, often a day to relax at home, visit with family or catch up with the personal to-do list that we don’t get to during the week. We are a school after all, and schools are closed on Sundays.

Not Davis. The truth is we are rarely “closed”.  We are so much more than a school -  we are a community - a family. As such, the ruach that is unique to Davis is 24/7 and yesterday was the perfect illustration:

·         Many of us were at the Lower School campus, hosting almost 500 guests, most of whom were under the age of 5,  from across the community at a crazy Pajama Party & Concert (yes, we did wear PJ’s in public)! These young families sure got a taste of our Davis ruach at this exciting outreach event!;

·         Several members of our kehillah were at Edu Con, learning and growing and developing vision for the future of our educational program;

·         Over 60 of our students were sharing their amazing technology based creations, with the support of our faculty and their parents at the “Davis dominated” Tech Fair, bringing home the highest number of 1^st place wins of any participating school (and now heading off to state level competition);

·         Hundreds of students, from our smallest to our tallest, were at the Middle School campus with members of our faculty and alumni helpers rehearsing for our annual musical; and

·         A great showing of Davis graduates came “home” as volunteer callers to work with our staff at our first-ever alumni phone-a-thon bringing in thousands of new dollars for our Davis fund drive.

Unfortunately, throughout the same day, several of our administrators, faculty members and families were also working through the sadness of a loss within our own parent community, supporting each other and working through how to best support the kindergarten family and classroom kehillah that will need us most through this difficult time.

And this was all on a typical Sunday.

There’s something special here. You can feel it most days, but it’s not often enough that we slow down to really feel the ruach.

Thank you for being the spirit that is Davis. It’s each of you, each of us, that makes this so much more than just a school. It’s those behind the scenes that ensure our facilities are “open”, our faculty and staff who are making things happen, our students who are shining, our graduates who are giving back, and our parents who are caring enough to support our efforts.

It’s 24/7 that you can feel that special spirit that is Davis. But today is Monday, so I wish you each a Happy Monday!

Amy

Amy Shafron Head of School The Davis Academy 8105 Roberts Drive or 7901 Roberts Drive Atlanta, GA 30350 770-671-0085     Main Line 678-527-3294     Direct Dial 770-671-8838     Fax

Catch our Ruach!  The Davis Academy is Atlanta’s Reform Jewish Day
School and a proud affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.