Lion's Tale Volume 37 Issue 1 by The Lion's Tale

The Lion’s Tale

the lion’s tale

Volume 37 Issue 1

August 27, 2019

CESJDS

ACADEMIC EPIDEMIC With cheating on the rise, faculty search for ways to prevent dishonesty

pg 6-7

Changes to online classes pg. 02

Meet new faculty pg. 08-09

Tips and Tricks for school pg. 11

news

02 the lion’s tale

Online classes bring more opportunities

News Briefs

Aug. 29, Sept. 12 Back to School Nights Middle school parents can meet with their children’s teachers on Aug. 29. High school parents will have the same opportunity on Sept. 12. Sept. 4-5 School Photos Grades 6-11 will have school pictures during their science classes. Sept. 9-10 High School Musical Auditions High school auditions for this year’s musical, “Chicago: High School Edition” are on Sept. 9-10. Callbacks will be held on Sept. 11.

Sept. 13 Course Change Deadline Sept. 13 is the last day that students can change their classes. Students can fill out online forms in order to change courses. Sept. 30, Oct. 1 Rosh Hashanah School will be closed for Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. compiled by maya preuss

Check out The Lion’s Tale’s website for exclusive content

lincoln aftergood reporter

have to move as slowly as you do when you have other people in the class [who work at different paces],” Trainor said. Sophomore Zoe Wertlieb plans to take an online Judaic studies class this year related to connecting

The pilot program for online classes begun in 2017 will continue this year as an established part of the curriculum. The online program allows high school students to take courses not offered physically at CESJDS. “You have to be much more of a The Online self-advocate in an online class.... Judaic Studies In an online class, you can still have Consortium and the Virtual High a personal relationship with the School both offer teacher, but it is different.” extensive varieties of different subjects - director of instructional such as specialized technology ginger thornton mathematics, science, Judaic studies, history and creative writing classes. modern themes to the book of Online classes cannot replace Psalms. She believes that it will give required core or Judaic studies her a chance to learn something classes at CESJDS, and a student new in a course different than a can only have two credits worth of traditional Tanakh course. online general elective classes and “I felt that the online class half a credit of online Judaic studies options were better than the real for their entire academic career. ones offered at school,” Wertlieb Dean of Academics Aileen said. “The other ones just don’t seem Goldstein thinks that online classes very interesting to me.” are an important way to offer While the classes do not require students various subjects that could a fee from participating students, not be fit into their regular schedule. JDS does have to pay for them, so “As broad a range of classes as the school can only allow a limited we offer, there are always things number of students to take each we just can’t offer in a school our course. This number varies based size that students are interested on JDS’ yearly budget but typically in,” Goldstein said. “There are other ranges between 16 and 32 students. places they can get that education. Students who would like to We want to open up that opportunity participate must apply through their while the student is here to expand guidance counselor by the end of the those horizons beyond what we can previous school year, and students offer.” with less flexible schedules get Junior Sasha Trainor enjoyed preferential admission into online her online Judaic studies class programs. because it allowed her to finish her Director of Instructional course work more quickly, giving her Technology Ginger Thornton thinks ample free time to finish other work that online classes are valuable for the rest of the week. because of the unique skills a student “It is different because you can can gain from taking them. go at your own pace, so you don’t “You have to be much more of

Students took an online course during the 2017-2018 school year.

Students took an online course during the 2018-2019 school year. compiled by maya preuss

a self-advocate in an online class.... In an online class, you can still have a personal relationship with the teacher, but it is different,” Thornton said. “It is someone that at most you have met in a virtual meeting and you never meet them face-to-face. Learning how to learn in that environment, I think, is very important.” Goldstein believes that it is valuable to offer online classes, but also thinks that it is beneficial to limit the number of online classes a student can take. “I think that in the same way different teachers and disciplines fulfill different needs for students and provide different experiences, I think the online [experience] is yet another experience,” Goldstein said. “We really value the teacher-student relationship and that is why we are limiting the amount of online classes any student can take in their high school career.”

photo illustration by matthew rabinowitz

photo by maya preuss Senior Mattie Watson sits quietly in the Levitt Media Center and works on classwork in the 2018-2019 school year for her online class, A Look at Contemporary Israel Through the Eye of the Tanakh. Even without any direct contact with a teacher, Watson feels the work is straightforward and clear.

news

the lion’s tale 03

After meetings, Israel trip has new precautions

and AMHSI all know what to expect.” Seven weeks after the discussion panel, JDS announced via email that “Cohen will be stepping down as Head of School and will not be working with [the] CESJDS Capstone Trip.” The email, written by Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus and Associate Head of School and High School Principal Dr. Marc Lindner, was sent to parents of the rising senior class on July 11, which detailed seven other key “changes/enhancements” that will be implemented this upcoming year. The list included the following categories: “Medical care,” “Travel

to and from Eastern Europe,” “Volunteer periods,” “Policies and procedures around student behavior,” “Communication,” “Clarifying CESJDS’ role in the trip” and “Program management.” Regarding JDS’ role in the trip, the Upper School administration emphasized that JDS will be involved in every aspect of the student experience and that parents will have a constant stream of communication. AMHSI appointed their own “veteran teacher” to serve as a resource of program oversight and supervision while students are at various kibbutzim and service programs run by different

organizations. “I see that person’s role more as the person who’s going to do the planning for the volunteer period in advance to make sure that, as we put it in the email, accommodations are reasonable for students [and] that the experience students are going to have is somewhat equitable across the different volunteer experiences,” Lindner said. Additionally, in response to a medical emergency that occurred on the Eastern European leg of the trip earlier this past year, JDS announced that medical personnel will be available for that portion of the trip and AMHSI infirmary hours will be extended to accommodate afterhours medical concerns. The recent incidents which prompted parent feedback did not influence senior Davida Goldman’s desire to attend the Israel trip. While she remains excited to visit Israel for the first time, she has specific questions regarding the code of conduct that have not been answered. “One of the things me and my dad were concerned about was learning how far the zero-tolerance policy goes,” Davida said, citing rules forbidding drinking wine during Pesach and hypothesizing about other situations where conduct might be called into question.

offer, then they end up just adding it [all] up and it ends up being extremely expensive,” sophomore Zoe Fischman said. Despite student concerns that the food can be expensive, about 60 percent of the student body buys food from the cafeteria on any given day, according to Gilbert. To help create better price clarity, Gilbert decided to add three different sized bowls at different price points, $6.20, $8.40 and $9.50 respectively. The three sizes will each have a different color to maintain consistency throughout the year, making it clear how much a student’s lunch will cost. “I am trying to figure out what’s a fair representation of what you’re buying, how it translates [to the cashier] and exciting food that works well, that the students like, [that] also fits into the schools

larger nutritional values,” Gilbert said. Starting this year, there will also be three different menus over the course of the year. There will be a fall, winter and spring menu. Within these menus, food will also switch every six to eight weeks in order to keep a variety of options available. Also, when the winter menu begins after Thanksgiving, there will be many more vegetarian plant-based options available including a vegan beef crumble chili. Gilbert is also trying to create a more environmentally friendly lunch program that utilizes more recycled materials. Early in the 2018-2019 school year, Gilbert considered adding recycled plasticware; however, the plant-based ware cannot yet withstand high heat, so it could easily melt when being used for high-temperature foods.

Until the functionality of recycled and plant-based plastic ware improves, regular plastic ware will be necessary. “It’s a lot of people to cater to, so it’s hard to find environmentally friendly options, but I think [switching to recycled utensils] is a super great and pretty easy way that they can switch,” sophomore Talia Jacobsohn said. Planning for the next school year begins several months in advance. Early in the calendar year, Gilbert starts conducting research about new food options and starting on July 1, he makes decisions and finalizes the menu for the upcoming school year. Students and staff would like to see Gilbert continue to experiment with new options while also keeping the price low. “I think that the lunch

josie stein contributing editor Following feedback from parents, CESJDS Upper School administrators assured families of the Class of 2020 that significant reforms will be made to ensure the safety and proper management of students during the Irene and Daniel Simpkins Senior Capstone Israel Trip. During a discussion panel held in the spring, parents of the senior and junior classes expressed their grievances regarding how the program and discipline within it were managed. In particular, parents directed their dissatisfaction at former Alexander Muss High School in Israel Head of School Mordechai Cohen, who oversaw the questioning and punishment of students following an alcohol and drugrelated incident on the trip. Dan Goldman, the father of a member of the class of 2020, attended one of the parent discussion panels and witnessed a “disconnect” between JDS’ administration, AMHSI administrators and families. “One of my biggest takeaways was that everyone was not on the same page at the meeting,” Goldman said. “Hopefully the result of all this is a lot more clarity [and] a lot more transparency, [so] students, parents

photo courtesy of shira godin Banners wave in front of one of AMHSI’s dormitories in Hod HaSharon, Israel that CESJDS seniors live in during their capstone trip to Israel.

While no specific revisions of the code of conduct were mentioned in the email, JDS administration emphasized in the email that the “approach utilized by AMHSI during the 2019 Capstone Trip will not be repeated.” Lindner will quickly be informed and get involved if any specific disciplinary action needs to be taken. “The rules, so to speak, to me, aren’t changing in any kind of drastic way,” Lindner said. “It’s much more about how any violations will be treated and how things will be approached if something comes up.” Further updates to the trip have yet to be seen. However, Malkus and Lindner said in the email that they are “confident that the above changes, along with [their] ongoing involvement, will enhance this already special and unique capstone experience.” “Everything we’ve gone through recently with the trip is worth it if what ends up happening is that people continue to participate,” Lindner said. “Everything about communication, program management and even discipline, the overarching principles there are to create the very best and most meaningful experience that hopefully is going to be really longlasting for students.”

What’s on the menu for this year maya preuss asst. news editor

Just as students make new study plans, determined that the year will be different, and teachers revisit and freshen up their lesson plans, CESJDS food services manager Erick Gilbert makes changes to the lunch program as the new year ushers in. One of the biggest changes Gilbert considered involved greater clarity regarding food pricing. In past years, students often did not know how much they actually were paying for their food, which Gilbert understands. When students get food from multiple stations, the price can be unclear. “I think that food ends up being much more expensive because you pay for different bundles or if you don’t get specifically what they

department at JDS has been making significant strides towards a better lunch with more freedom for the students,” Fischman said. “I really appreciate that, and the food has significantly improved over the time I had at JDS since kindergarten.”

Burgers and deli are the most popular on meat days.

Quesadillas are the most popular on dairy days.

On average, buyers spend $6.50 per day.

16-24 man hours are required to prepare for most meals.

compiled by maya preuss

opinion

04 the lion’s tale

the

lion’s tale

editors-in-chief sabrina bramson, alex landy managing editor, copy oren minsk in-depth and design editor daphne kaplan news editor matthew rabinowitz, asst. maya preuss opinion editor izzy may , asst. jessica gallo features editors sally rogal, josie stein sports editor sophia miller, asst. mischa trainor style editor irit skulnik editorial cartoonist molly zatman reporters aaron adams, lincoln aftergood, tal arber, sam schwartz, jonathan morris, ivan endelman, eva bard, hannah davis, rochelle berman, sophie kaplan staff adviser jessica nassau adviser emerita susan zuckerman Editorial and Ethics Policy As the student newspaper of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, The Lion’s Tale is a public forum for student opinion and expression. All content is determined by students. Its purpose is to inform the CESJDS community and to express the views of its staff and readers. The staff has made every effort to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of its news. Signed columns reflect the opinion of the writer; staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of The Lion’s Tale editorial board. The Lion’s Tale staff welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns, all of which must be signed. The staff reserves the right to refuse any material and may edit letters or columns for length, clarity, libel, obscenity and/or disruptiveness.

Ditch the deepfakes Democracy relies on discussion, debate and differing opinions, all of which require a foundation of facts upon which we all agree. Today, however, we cannot even agree on the facts, hindering the meaningful discussions needed to move this country forward. The president uses the term “fake news” to erode public trust in the media, and there is now a tool used to intentionally deceive the public: deepfakes. The new technology enables computers to easily generate realistic animations of politicians saying essentially anything. Not only do deepfakes make it harder to tell real from fake, but they also make it challenging for people to agree on reality, which is the first step in achieving progress as a nation. Deepfakes have been in existence since, but they are now more realistic and easier to make than ever. As they begin to pop up, they will have a similar effect as the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election using Facebook, especially considering the main targets of this technology are bound to be politicians. A video of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

The staff will adhere to the ethics policies of The Society of Professional Journalists and the National Scholastic Press Association. The adviser will be held to the Journalism Education Association’s Adviser Code of Ethics.

cartoon by molly zatman cover design by daphne kaplan

to ensure that the public has a proper understanding of the matters in their country, which is crucial for knowledgable voting and achieving other democratic values. With this technology, we will struggle to agree on what politicians and candidates say, so it will be impossible to discuss support or opposition for them or their policy objectives. It is clear that videos created by this new technology, and made up news in general, impede the goals of the First Amendment. Here is what we need to do: be aware that made up information exists. Don’t believe everything you see on social media, and verify what you see with multiple reputable news sources. Notify others to do the same to lessen the dangerous effect of false information. Know who to trust. Trust reliable media, as its goal is to provide you with accurate information. Made up news is not

sees issues that were discussed almost 60 years ago in different perspectives. While it seems like the time is right to replace some of these books with more contemporary and diverse ones, some are afraid that new books will de-emphasize the importance of the classics. According to the Harvard Political View Magazine, schools in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago have begun to alter their curriculums by incorporating books written by authors of a multitude of ethnic backgrounds in order to adapt to the modern-day world. The factor that these schools have, which JDS does not have, is a diverse student body. Diversity drives teachers to swap out books in order for the students to better relate to what they are reading; perhaps because JDS is not as diverse, the impetus to change does not feel as urgent. In the JDS English curriculum

for the upcoming school year, students across all high school grades will read 30 novels and plays. Only 20 percent of these books are written by female authors, only 20 percent of the authors are of color, and there is only one woman of color, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” written by Zora Neale Hurston, an African-American woman. According to English Department Chair Tom Worden, it is challenging to balance both what teachers believe is most important for their students to read with the feedback from parents. The JDS community has expressed “a real desire to read classics,” Worden said, “even though I have [also] had a lot of people express real pride in us as a school for teaching a play like ‘Angels in America.’” The curriculum used to include books like the “House on Mango Street” and “The Color Purple,” which are books

only spread via social networks, but also by politicians on national television. Our job is to fact check their claims and hold them accountable for their possibly made up statistics. Make yourself politically aware -- be a part of the people fighting the problem, not causing it -- by reading reliable newspapers, watching wellrespected news channels and fulfilling your civic duty.

-The Lion’s Tale

English curriculum needs more diversity

Submissions may be emailed to jdslionstale@ gmail.com, mailed to The Lion’s Tale or brought to room 320. The Lion’s Tale is funded by The Simon Hirshman Endowment for the Upper School Newspaper and The Kuttner-Levenson Endowment for the Upper School Cultural Arts and Student Publications, and community advertisements. The Lion’s Tale reserves the right to refuse advertisement for any reason.

speaking at the Center for American Progress Ideas conference in May was altered to make her sound “sluggish and slurred,” according to the Washington Post. Interviewees on a Fox News broadcast called Pelosi an alcoholic after seeing the video, and the president’s attorney Rudy Guilliani even shared the video on Twitter. While Pelosi’s words were not altered, the clip shows the effect that deepfakes and video alterations can have on the public. According to a 2019 Pew Research Center poll, one in two Americans believe that made up news and information, such as deepfakes, is a significant problem in the United States that has a large impact on a political leader’s ability to do their job. Those 50 percent of Americans are correct: we are facing a major problem. First, the use of this technology is unethical by putting words in the mouths of others, potentially ruining reputations. But the larger threat is one of public trust and impression, which translates to a threat to democracy as a whole. The First Amendment protects a free press in order

rochelle berman reporter

The English curriculum at CESJDS has been carefully crafted in order to expose students to different styles of literature and the deeper meaning of the texts. In my opinion, one aspect that the English department has fallen short on is the lack of diversity found within the JDS high school’s book list. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Education shows that schools have mostly kept the same English curriculum since the 1960s. The problem with this is that the world now

about the Hispanic and AfricanAmerican communities that were on a list of options for students to read over spring break. These books were eventually cut from the curriculum “because of a feeling that they did not speak to our experience here,” Worden said. It does not make sense that JDS’ lack of diversity in the student body as well as negative feedback from parents leads to students reading fewer books from diverse perspectives. In fact, it should be the exact opposite. The majority of the students at JDS are rarely exposed to cultures other than their own, and therefore JDS should be attempting to familiarize students with more cultures rather than shielding their students from the outside world.

opinion

should the arts credit be required

Against

often prevents me from taking other classes and participating in activities that appeal more to me. My weekends are filled up with other things that I like to do, and fitting in “If most students participate in art time to go to museums takes time away for me to experiences already, then there does pursue my real interests. not need to be a requirement to change The requirement also the way we think about the arts.” adds stress to the course registration process as students - sophomore mischa trainor have other requirements to fulfill such as sports, community service requirements and Judaic credits. looked at the class that [had] just graduated Students are limited to two elective periods [2018],” Director of Arts Education Dr. David per semester, so finding time in the schedule Solomon said. “Had that system been in place for an arts class that would potentially be of for that class, 80% of the seniors would have interest can be challenging for many. fulfilled the arts requirement, so only 20% Some people might find an art class of the seniors would have had to do work more valuable or interesting than another beyond that.” language or science classes, and they still If most students participate in art have the option to take many art classes. But experiences already, then there does not that doesn’t mean everyone else should be need to be a requirement to change the way forced to; we should be allowed to keep our we think about the arts. options open. When an activity becomes about Art is important, but so are other things. fulfilling a requirement instead of having Participating in art activities does have many fun and exploring my interests, I end up benefits, but why should I have to prioritize appreciating the experience less. going to a museum over going to a BBYO Fulfilling the arts credits requirement program or a baseball game?

Source: Americans for The Arts

have the opportunity to learn how to better connect with peers in art classes. While in math two students should reach the same answer, in the arts two students can have two completely different, creative and unique answers -- highlighting the differences in their personalities and helping them better understand each other. The mural painted near the cafeteria and collaboration in musical performances are just a couple of examples of social growth experiences in the arts at JDS. Additionally, the arts allow students to express themselves as individuals. Individual paintings, sculptures and musical solos are different examples of student expression in the arts. JDS advertises the opportunities it provides for students to express themselves individually,

adam drexler reporter

While exploring the arts is important, having an arts requirement causes students to stress about fulfilling the requirement, give up other experiences and therefore appreciate the arts less. “When we designed the system, we

percent of corporate officials state that businessess prioritize searching for creativity in the hiring process

In favor

mischa trainor contributing editor

If science classes were optional, would CESJDS be doing its job of providing students with a well-rounded education? Any high school that would allow this sort of choice could not be considered an academically strong school, so why should it be any different with the arts? The arts are a key component in a student’s education. While often “As a society, we will lose the overlooked, they provide students with important and arts altogether if arts classes aren’t useful life skills that are not required.” necessarily emphasized in the core classes. - sophomore adam drexler “[The arts] teach students to solve problems creatively and how to go about solving challenging and the arts are the most valuable place for problems and think outside the students to do so. box,” Director of Arts Education While the arts teach us important Dr. David Solomon said. skills, they also teach us about beauty, truth A 2002 report by the and our fundamental human nature. We Arts Education Partnership value the lessons of math and history, and revealed that students we show it by requiring all students to take exposed to music, drama these classes. and dance tend to be If students are not exposed to the arts more proficient in in school, it is likely that they will never reading, writing and develop a taste for them. As a society, we math than students will lose the arts altogether if arts classes with no exposure to aren’t required. By having required arts the arts. credits, we show that we also value art and Although the arts are not the lessons that it teaches. taught as core courses such as English or math, students

percent of Americans think the arts are a crucial part of forming a wholistic education

Source: Americans for The Arts

the lion’s tale 05

states require high school students to fulfill an arts requirement prior to graduating, including Marlyand

Source: Arts Education Partnership

in-depth 06

the lion’s tale

academic

With cheating on the rise, faculty searc matthew rabinowitz contributing editor

igh school students continue to find ways to break CESJDS’ academic honesty policy in order to brighten their transcripts to compete in today’s hyper-competitive college admissions process. JDS administrators and teachers recently have been fostering more discussion about academic dishonesty in order to combat its spread. However, JDS’ culture of collaboration and of taking advantage of every given resource, including technology, has proven to be a threat to the academic integrity of its students.

The Academic Honesty Policy Throughout JDS’ existence, its academic honesty policy has adapted with the times. The school has incorporated new rules to combat the use of technology, worked with students to input their opinions and looked into the policies of nearby schools and the studies on which they are based. JDS’ current policy classifies academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism or unauthorized collaboration and explains the punishments for violating the policy. Students can retake an assignment for up to 50 percent on their first breach, receive a “zero” on the assignment on their second breach and get a “zero” and self-report their violation on their college application on their third breach. Parents are also a part of the process; they receive a note on the first breach and meet with administrators on the second and third breaches. According to Dean of Academics Aileen Goldsteen, JDS bases its policy on that of the Center for

Student Conduct at the University of California at Berkeley. “It is our job as a school and especially as a Jewish institution to raise the next generation to be honest, take responsibility for their actions and to be thoughtful, intentional and forthright about their own work,” Goldstein said.

Student Culture Thirty-four out of 59 high school students who responded to an endof-year Lion’s Tale survey have cheated. Thirty-one collaborated when not allowed to, 21 plagiarized, and 49 saw one of their peers break the academic honesty policy. Of those 49 students, only two have reported the person that they have seen. This means that over 50 percent of JDS students that participated in the poll have broken its academic honesty policy. In the 2018-2019 school year, when the poll was administered, 355 students were enrolled in high school. As of May, there were only 60 recorded instances of academic honesty violations over the past two years, showing just how many incidents go unnoticed. There has been a resurgence in cheat-sheets, or unauthorized materials brought into testing with material on them, but Goldstein and Atwood affirm that collaboration and abusing extended time are most rampant. Plagiarism, meanwhile, has decreased in recent years. “It’s kind of like an epidemic. I will be shocked if someone doesn’t take the opportunity to cheat if they can,” Catherine* said. “Why aren’t you taking advantage of all the resources you can?” A substiture teacher caught Catherine using a cheat-sheet on a make-up test during Structured Study Hall last year. She used her extension pass to postpone the test

in order to study for standardized testing, but she was unprepared when the test finally came around. Cheat sheets and other unauthorized materials are not the only way students cheat on tests. Students with extended time take their tests at two separate times, leaving them with the opportunity to review after taking the first part of their tests. According to senior Maya Bellas, some students with extended

percent of 17,000 polled graduate students admitted to cheating and 68 percent of 71,300 polled undergraduate students admitted to it.

The Committee Because JDS values honesty and integrity, teachers, guidance counselors and administrators formed a committee to research academic honesty at JDS and around the country in order to find ways to

“It is our job as a school especially as a Jewish

institution to raise the next generation to be honest, take responsibility for their actions and to be thoughtful, intentional and forthright about their own work.”

-dean of academics aileen goldstein

time will push off finishing their tests in order to study more or they will correct parts of the test that they have already completed during their second test sessions. Other students will intentionally skip school on test days in order to study more and gain an advantage over others. JDS is not the only school plagued with academic dishonesty. According to the International Center for Academic Integrity, in both high schools and universities in the U.S., more than half of all students admit to breaching their academic integrity in some form. In the Center’s survey of over 70,000 high school students, 64 percent of high school students admitted to cheating on a test, 58 percent admitted to plagiarism, and 95 percent admitted to cheating in some form or fashion. Fourty-three

counter the growing issue. “There’s a troubling amount of violations of the academic honesty policy, and we’ve noticed as a faculty a growing trend, particularly in the area of collaboration,” history teacher and chair of the committee Carl Atwood said. Although the committee, which unofficially goes by the name, “Academic Honesty Committee,” has not implemented any changes so far, it spent most of last year researching academic honesty and learning about the policies of schools around the globe. Research has included surveying JDS departments and learning about their unique challenges, looking at past data, polling student groups and faculty and comparing JDS’ history of academic dishonesty with “national statistics and trends,” according to

Atwood. “I think there’s a lot of ways where students have a lack of clarity about what is or is not academically honest, or what does academic integrity really mean or look like in different situations,” Atwood said. To both Goldstein and Atwood, collaboration is seen as a gray area where proper instructions are often not communicated to students. In one situation last year, six students were accused of improper collaboration even though they may not have broken the academic honesty code. According to Goldstein, the students were allowed to work together on notes in class, but they had an individual writing assignment at home. It was possible that their writing was similar due to their shared notes or because they actually did collaborate at home. Teachers are trying to find ways to combat academic dishonesty in the gray area. Jewish history teacher Dr. Daniel Rosenthal structures his assignments in order to minimize ways that students will breach the policy. For example, Rosenthal gives different assignments to different students, ensures that assignments focus on individual writing rather than general knowledge and requires students to document their research and writing processes to ensure that they complete all of their required work. “My thought is that we can understand why students feel pressured to do something that cuts corners with their academic work, so the approach that I take is to find every way to make that less possible and to give students the time to do work properly,” Rosenthal said. “There’s no benefit to work that is academically dishonest; it doesn’t help anyone.”

in-depth the lion’s tale 07

epidemic

ch for ways to prevent dishonesty Bellas agrees with Rosenthal’s methods; she believes that teachers need to do more to curb many students’ inherent instincts to cheat. “When it comes to extended time and when it comes to testing, I think teachers need to just have their guard up a little bit more, understanding that we are teenagers, and this is a very real thing,” Bellas said. “It’s very much [taking place] at our school, so by making sure that students are looking at their own papers and that students with extended time are taking their tests on time, I think that’s just a step to having … more academic integrity in our whole school.”

An Honor Board Some schools, however, have other methods of countering academic dishonesty, such as enforcing harsher punishments and having honor boards. An honor board is a committee of nominated or elected students who review academic dishonesty cases and provide their school’s administration with advice on what punitive measures should be carried out. Although JDS administration has considered implementing an honor board, students have resisted the idea. “Every time in our history since [Dean of Students Roslyn] Landy has been here that we have raised it, the students have opposed the idea or have said, ... ‘We will not rat out our friends; we do not want to be put in that position,’” Goldstein said. According to Goldstein, honor boards can often be too strict as well because they believe that their own integrity is being challenged by the cases that they observe. The Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. has an honor board consisting of

two elected members from each grade. Whenever a breach of the school’s academic honesty policy occurs, the honor board and supervising teachers convene to discuss the breach. Although their decision is just a recommendation for the school’s administration, administrators do actually take them into consideration. Sidwell senior Lance Duncan believes that having an honor board is an essential part of giving students fair punishments for their wrongdoings. “I do think that there is definitely value in having student input when important decisions are being made regarding honor code violations. I think it’s good to hold students accountable,” Lance said. Although students are required to judge other students within Sidwell’s honor board, members have faced little resentment from other students. “One thing that I definitely think is good, from my experience at Sidwell, I’ve never seen backlash to a student on honor committee from a student in question,” Lance said. “The honor committee, from what I understand, is very good at keeping matters private.” Future Plans Curbing the spread of academic dishonesty is not a hopeless cause. Even though 24% of the Classes of 2019 and 2020 have had at least one incident of academic dishonesty, the creation of the Academic Honesty Committee is just the start of a long process of finding solutions. Ideas such as creating an honor board are being tossed around, and primary issues such as collaboration and extended time abuse are being addressed. Faculty and the committee are having meetings

about changing and enforcing the current policy. Even with many possible solutions, one factor is key in stopping academic dishonesty: the decision to commit such an act. When someone is stressed about their grades and is up late studying, cheating or collaborating often seem like the easiest and most effective

paths to take. “How can we [the teachers] help you? How can we help you make better choices when it’s 11:30 p.m., and you’re working on the fourth of your five assignments that are due tomorrow? What can we do to help you make choices that you’re proud of?” Atwood said. “How can we make it safe for you to say to

yourself, ‘You know what? Maybe I’ll turn this in a day late.’ Or maybe you can’t complete it tonight, but how can we help you make choices that will reflect the integrity that we hope you have?” *Name has been changed to respect the student’s privacy

CHEAT SHEET 128 academic dishonesty incidents were reported between 2015 and 2019.

Nine students have been required to report their dishonesty to colleges in the last four graduating classes. Most common offense over the past two years: “Inappropriate collaboration and/or submitting the work of another as one’s own work.” Information from Dean of Academics Aileen Goldstein

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FRESH FACULTY IN THE HOUSE 08

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Middle school Toshba teacher Marc Silberstein, (left) has hiked 200+ miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Middle school humanities teacher Samantha McKay (left) does historical reanactments. High school history teacher Matthew Cohen (middle) plays the drums.

High school Jewish texts teacher Rabbi Benjamin Barer (right) recently welcomed a baby daughter.

Middle school history teacher Matthew Jacobson (right) is fluent in Italian. Not pictured: Upper school instrumental music teacher Jeremy Levine

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Middle school science teacher Hayley Anglin (left) has a dimple in her eye. Middle school math teacher Bridget Finn (middle) volunteered at Colonial Williamsburg as a youth interpreter in eighth grade.

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High school science teacher Emma Lucore (right) is knowledgeable about birds. Not pictured: High school math teacher Karen Pang

Middle school counselor Hannah Braune-Friedman (left) lived in England for four years. Administrative assistant Donnie Anderson (right) enjoys putting together puzzles and giving them as a gifts.

Upper school Spanish teacher Pedro Gonzales (left) was born in Cuba. Middle school Hebrew teacher Dr. Vered Rosen (right) salsa dances. Not pictured: High school Hebrew teacher Dana Shacham and middle school Hebrew teacher Liat Arditi-Zarouk

Not pictured: Study hall teacher Tamar Gasko

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Staff & Student Services

compiled by daphne kaplan

features the lion’s tale

Alumna returns as director of Jewish life Schechter started attending JDS as a freshman after previously attending the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy and the Yeshiva of Greater Washington and immediately felt the positive impact of being in the community. She said that being exposed to all the opportunities JDS offered in terms of Jewish learning was the reason she went into the Jewish education field as an adult. “As we get older and need different things, sometimes the way we want to express ourselves changes,” Schechter said. “Being photo courtesy of shoshana shechter [at JDS] and having different Incoming Director of Jewish Life Shoshana opportunities for Jewish expression Shechter is excited to return to CESJDS in opened my eyes that there are so many ways to connect to the Jewish her new role. community as an individual and in jessica gallo the world around us.” reporter The position of Director of In the mid-90s, Shoshana Jewish Life was created while Schecter was sitting in a CESJDS Schechter was a student. She feels classroom studying Jewish History that the way the position shaped the when it dawned on her: she could Jewish programming at JDS had a big do this for the rest of her life. Little impact on the way she approached did she know then that over twenty Judaism, both as a student, as an years later, she’d be walking back adult and now, in an administrative into the same school as the new teaching role. Director of Jewish Life. “I have very positive memories

of my own Jewish identity and future life as a Jew being enhanced through that position,” Schechter said. “I can remember I didn’t always know exactly what the person did, but that [Jewish learning] was always going to be creative or interesting.” Schechter is looking forward to

“In the classroom, you learn so much, which is awesome. But there is also you and what your Jewish identity and future look like. You might think you know that now or have some sort of idea, but it probably won’t end up being what you picture,” Schechter said. “I see my role in this as the way to enhance “I see my role in this as the way to your Jewish life beyond enhance your Jewish life beyond the classroom the classroom space and open your space and open your eyes to eyes to different ways to express different ways your Judaism.” to express your - director of Jewish life Judaism.” shoshana schechter H i g h School Principal and Associate Head of School enhancing the programming at JDS Marc Lindner was the head of the in terms of helping students find and hiring committee and said he is shape their own Jewish identity. She looking forward to seeing everything finds that making Jewish learning Schechter will do. “come alive outside the classroom” “She has such a broad is a key aspect in helping students background in Jewish educational learn about what they want to institutions and brings a tremendous incorporate into their own identity amount of wisdom and thought and as it forms. new ideas to everyone, and we are

really excited to have her,” Lindner said. In her free time, Schechter enjoys spending time with her daughters, Netanya (8), Elianna (4), and Kinneret (4) Shaffin who are all starting JDS this year. She also likes cooking Jewish and Israeli foods and doing makeup. She is currently in the process of earning her Doctorate in Jewish Education from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. Before coming to JDS, Schechter worked as the Director of Hillel at Randolph-Macon College and Virginia Commonwealth University. She had previously led many tours and programs to Israel through Randolph-Macon and volunteered with the Jewish Service Corps after college. She feels that these experiences helped her develop the “open-door policy” that she has grown used to over the years. “Please feel welcome to come and talk to me about pretty much anything,” Schechter said. “I want to learn who you all are and what you want to learn and what inspires you and how I can be helpful in that.”

Last-minute preparation for school sally rogal & sophia miller features editor & contributing editor Walking down the seemingly endless aisles of Staples, junior Tess Mendelson spends time trying to find the perfect supplies for her upcoming school year. She believes that staying organized is vital for having a successful year, and that starts with your supplies. The week before school begins, students can be found shopping for school supplies, finishing lastminute school work and trying out for fall sports. While this week may seem busy, for many, it is the last worry-free week before school and stress start up again. Many students spend time shopping for school supplies because they want to start their year off on the right foot. Some, including Mendelson, believe school supplies have a big impact on a student’s year

because it gives them an aspect of control over their school lives amidst the hectic, anxious atmosphere leading up to school. Mendelson spends an average of four hours shopping for school supplies every year. “The organizational aspect of just shopping for school supplies gets you in the proper mindset preschool starting,” Mendelson said. Students also use the last week of summer to participate in extracurriculars. Sophomore and member of the CESJDS Junior State of America (JSA) club Naomi Gould attended a convention for the nationwide club in Stamford, Connecticut from August 17 to 18. The convention was solely for people accepted into the JSA cabinet, which is the regional board. Seven JDS students, in addition to dozens of newly-chosen JSA cabinet members, attended the one-night convention to start outlining plans and goals for

the year to come. “As someone who has never been on Cabinet before, it was a little nerve-racking having to meet new people, learn new systems and jump right into the work, but by the end of the convention, I already felt comfortable with the other Cabinet members and felt ready to jump into work during the school year,” Gould said. Students also prepare for school by finishing up their summer school work. Most students pack their summer full of different activities leaving little time for school work. English teacher Melissa Fisanich thinks that if students have paced themselves throughout the course of the summer then “it’s not a bad thing to have read your summer reading homework close to the start of school.” This way, books stays fresh in students’ minds come the school year. Another way students prepare

for school is by trying out for high school fall sports. Senior Ryan Bauman has varsity soccer tryouts and unofficial varsity basketball practices that he attends. He thinks that having tryouts before school allows him to begin readjusting to the school environment prior to the first day of school. “The week before school is about getting into the mindset and being prepared for school, and having the tryouts helps because you get to see everyone at school and you get to see your friends [and] meet new people,” Bauman said. “It’s a good segway into school.”

photos by sophia miller Above: Junior Tess Mendelson checks off items on a to-do list in her planner. Below: Sophomore Maya Preuss laces up her soccer cleats.

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Fall Season Sports Schedule Aug. 27-29- Middle School Sports Tryouts 4:00 Sept. 4- Girls Varsity Soccer @ Spencerville 3:45 Sept. 4- Boys Varsity Soccer @ Spencerville 5:30 Sept. 5- Girls Varsity Soccer v.s. Oakrest 4:30 Sept. 5- Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Burke 5:00 Sept. 8- Girls Varsity Soccer @ Beth Tfiloh 12:00 Sept 8- Boys Varsity Soccer @ Beth Tfiloh 2:00 Sept. 9- Boys Middle School Soccer vs. Mclean 4:30 Sept. 9- Girls Middle School Soccer @ Burke 4:30 Sept. 9- Girls Middle School Volleyball vs. Mclean 4:30 Sept. 9- Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Mclean 5:45 Sept. 10- Boys Varsity Soccer @ Sandy Spring Friends School 4:30 Sept. 11- Boys Varsity Soccer @ Washington Christian Academy 4:00 Sept. 11- Cross Country Meet @ Sandy Spring Friends School 4:30 Sept. 11- Boys Middle School Soccer vs. Burke 4:30 Sept. 11- Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Washington Christian Academy 4:30 Sept. 11- Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Washington Christian Academy 4:30 Sept. 11- Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball vs. Field School 5:00 compiled by sophia miller

Taking a shot: on the court and with a camera ivan endelman reporter

When tennis coach Brendan Mattingly isn’t on the court, he can be found continuing his hobby as a sports photographer. Mattingly was a professional photographer for most of his lifetime, working for large companies such as ESPN and even the United States government. Mattingly is a certified United States Professional Tennis Association teaching professional and has competed professionally at country clubs and tennis tournaments. During his junior year of high school, Mattingly decided to give tennis a try and ended up sticking with the sport. He then went on to express his love for sports through photography. In addition to working for companies such as Forbes, GQ and Sports Illustrated, Mattingly has traveled all over the world for his job to places like Ireland and the Grand Canyon to take pictures.

Mattingly’s first job at CESJDS was coaching the girls varsity tennis team during the fall of last year. His former experience helped to lead the young tennis team through their first year with a new coach, with the team being represented in three out of the five championship matches. Sophomore Talia Jacobson feels that Mattingly brings a unique atmosphere to the team. “Coach Brendan brings a very positive atmosphere and a community feeling to the team,” Jacobson said. Boys co-captain and sophomore Oren Swagel has seen an improvement of team unity throughout their first season with Mattingly as coach. “Coach not only makes us better individual players, but he makes us better teammates, teaching us important values of being a team player,” Swagel said. Players are encouraged by Mattingly’s calm demeanor and previous experience and are excited

for the future of their team. First doubles player and sophomore Jason Vinokur has had a successful season, culminating in a league win along with his partner Adam Drexler. “He motivates us to play better every single match and teaches us all the techniques that are needed to win,” Vinokur said. While Mattingly acknowledges the inexperience of the teams due to a lack of upperclassman, he plans to

help the teams win and believes that with practice and patience this goal can be achieved. “It’s been a long time since we’ve won a tennis banner,” Mattingly said. “I’d like to get us into the habit of being in contention and winning banners.”

photo by sophia miller Mattingly gives feedback to singles player and junior Gigi Becker on her serve.

Previewing the fall season

Boys Soccer

The boys varsity soccer team is excited to get back on the field and take on the upcoming fall season by improving their skills. Junior Ben Schreiber has played soccer at CESJDS since he was in sixth grade and wants to continue to see the program grow. “We need to get used to each other and build better chemistry,” Schreiber said. Schreiber expressed the team’s desire to make it to the PVAC playoffs after winning three games and losing eight in the previous year. He said that the incoming freshmen can help the team increase their win total after a disappointing 2018 season.

Girls Tennis

Senior Ryan Bauman kicks a ball with his friends at varsity soccer tryouts.

After a successful and energetic season winning three out of their five matches, the girls’ varsity tennis team looks to continue their success in the PVAC and dominate on the court. Junior Tori Diamond said that the close connection between everyone on the team and their love for tennis brings the whole team together. “What is so special about the team is that we are like sisters,” Diamond said. “We form a bond the minute you step onto the court.”

Girls Soccer

Cross Country

Girls Volleyball

After an exciting season that concluded in a semifinals loss, the girls varsity soccer team cannot wait to get back on the field. The team had a dominant campaign in which they won nine games and lost only four games in last year’s season. Junior Talia Kraner emphasized the importance of team bonding and helping each other, which she believes will be one of the key factors that could help the team win games in the upcoming season. “I think our goal as a team is to work hard, focus, get better and win,” Kraner said.

The JDS cross country program has won many banners and practices five times a week without fail. Each year, these athletes look to train hard to beat personal records. They push each other to their limits in order to make a drastic improvement by the end of the season. “I push them by pacing each other and helping each other get through difficult workouts,” junior Adam Alter said. Alter believes that if people work hard they will get results. With the upcoming season in the fall, Alter said he is very excited to start working and set records for him personally and the team. The team hopes to improve upon their performance this coming season.

The girls varsity volleyball team had a great season last year, winning seven matches and losing four. They are looking forward to the coming fall where they will have the chance to compete and be successful once again in a very competitive PVAC league. Senior Mattie Watson expressed her excitement for the upcoming season and hopes to bring a lot of teamwork and success to the volleyball program at JDS. Watson said that the team’s goal is to win games, but having fun is also important. “This program is special to me because of the closeness between my teammates and the community feel,” Watson said.

compiled by sophia miller and tal arber photo by sophia miller

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Pro advice from a senior

Tips and tricks for slaying the school year izzy may contributing editor As a senior, I’ve gone through many first days of school. This means that I consider myself a well-informed expert on how to be fully prepared coming into each new year. And now, I’ve decided to impart my wisdom onto my fellow students in the list form below. First, get to school earlier in the morning. This gives you time to settle into the school atmosphere before starting class, which can help you feel

more relaxed and comfortable in the school setting. Also, if you need to finish up any homework, working at school always helps me focus better in an environment where I am used to working. Before school hours also provides a good opportunity to meet with teachers. Secondly, always carry around a paper planner. According to PBS, writing tasks down on paper increases the likelihood that you will remember them. If you have a paper planner handy, you can look back at assignments when you sit down to do work.

Always carry around an extra pencil. You never know when you might lose or break your regular pencil, so it’s helpful to have one handy. Additionally, there’s always one person in class who asks to borrow a pencil. People will really appreciate it if you lend them one when they’re in need! Keep a sweatshirt in your locker. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there are some classrooms in school that are just way colder than others. I always tend to focus better when I’m comfortable, so keeping yourself warm in colder

temperature is also important for your education. Lastly, SparkNotes is your best friend. Although you should always do the assigned reading, SparkNotes serves as a great clarification tool if you had difficulty understanding the chapter or if you want some more context. Also, if you read the assigned reading a while before the next class, reading through SparkNotes right before class starts can be a good refresher on the chapter. I hope these tips are helpful going into this school year!

Find balance at Corepower Yoga hannah davis reporter Whether you have done a single yoga pose or have been taking classes for years, the Yoga Sculpt class at Corepower Yoga in Bethesda takes the yoga experience to a whole new level. Although Corepower has been around for some time, it has recently grown in popularity among CESJDS students, so I decided to try a Yoga Sculpt class. My prior yoga experience was limited to my grandma’s yoga study. Yoga Sculpt definitely wasn’t grandma’s yoga. A Yoga Sculpt class is a very intense and hard core yoga class

that gets your whole body moving and strengthens your muscles with each move. The class uses weights to enhance the workout. The intensity of Yoga Sculpt was very appealing to me, especially compared to traditional yoga classes. I prefer fast paced workouts, and Yoga Sculpt fit the bill. I was nervous that I would not know how to do a single move or pose, but the yoga instructor was very upbeat, helpful, lively and ready to teach an intense yoga class. She played fun pop music, dimmed the lights and got everyone moving. Corepower makes it easy to give workouts a try: your first

Works out at: Balance Gym in Glover Park, D.C.

“I like it beacuse it offers a variety of fitness classes and it has a nice casual atmosphere.” - Emma Hart Admissions Associate

compiled by irit skulnik and sophia miller

week is free. After the free week, each class is $27, which is pricey. However, you can pay a monthly fee of $139, which will be cheaper in the end if you utilize your membership. They also have a student membership for $119 per month. There are other costs as well. If you do not own a yoga mat, you have to pay an extra $3 to rent one for each class. This is similar to both SoulCycle and Zengo Cycle, you must pay an extra $3 for the shoes if you do not own a pair of special cycle shoes. At Corepower Yoga there are five different classes to choose from, and there is always a class running Works out at: Life Time Athletic in Potomac, Md.

during the studio’s hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Depending on the class you take, workout intensity, room temperature and the use of weights may vary. In my class, the temperature rose to 103 degrees which made the workout harder and more fun. If you like working out in the heat and humid air or prefer a more extreme workout, I recommend taking the Yoga Sculpt class. If you’d like a more mild workout, the CorePower Yoga 1 class looks like a good bet. Walking into the building you are greeted with a very aesthetically pleasing reception area which

“I like it because it gets my gets my energy flowing, and I feel good after I go...” - Hannah Azachi Junior

compiled by sabrina bramson

includes lantern style lighting above the desk, wooden accents and white cabinetry. The studio itself has many big windows that allow ample sunlight to flow in as well as glossy hardwood floors throughout. The studio is very modern and is a nice environment to enjoy a yoga class. If you ever want to try something new like I did, learn a new way to exercise or just have fun, I recommend taking a class at Corepower Yoga, especially the Yoga Sculpt class. Corepower Yoga is located at 6708 Wisconsin Ave Suite 300, Bethesda, Md. 20815. Works out at: Northwest Branch Trail in Silver Spring, Md.

“I like being out in nature, and I use that excerise .... I walk with my family from the bottom of the trail to the top, and it’s a really nice walk.” - Brett Kugler Learning Specialist

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Best Poke The SPOt DC Poki at The Spot is super tasty and fresh. A variety of toppings, protein and sauces are offered. A bowl of poke starts at $11.50. However, they do raise the price if you order avocado, yellow tail or an extra scoop of fish. The service is very fast and efficient.

Most Insta Worthy Item Pike Kitchen This strawberry matche latte from Monster Tea at Pike Kitchen has a beautiful ombre effect that makes it totally Instagram worthy. If you’re a fan of matcha, then you should definitely try this. This drink is very pretty, and you’ll definitely want pictures.

The Spot is located in Rockville Town Square which has an ice skating rink, a library and multiple stores including Color Me Mine. It’s also less than a half a mile from the closest metro step, and only about a 15 minute drive from school.

Best Location The SPOt

Mian, located at The Spot, offers several different kinds of noodle dishes that are mostly under $10. The noodles are delicious and will leave you wanting more. When your order is ready a number pops up on a large screen so it’s clear when your food is ready.

Best soup Pike kitchen Viet at Pike Kitchen offers a classic, tasty pho starting at $7.45 with many choices of protein and a veggie option. The portion is quite large, so you might end up with leftovers. They serve lime, bean sprouts and basil on the side. This pho will not dissapoint.

Best Noodle Dish The SPOt

THE spot vs. Pike Kitchen Rockville is home to two trendy, competing Asian food halls: The Spot and Pike Kitchen. Both of these food halls offer many different dishes that come from different places around Asia at reasonable prices, so there is something for everyone.

For as little as $4.50, you can get three kabobs from CheersCut at The Spot. There are three levels of spice offered to suit everyone’s tastes. A variety of proteins and veggies, like broccoli, chicken and tofu, make this cheap eat worth the win.

BEst CHEAP EAT The SPOt

compiled by mischa trainor and maya preuss

Best Atmosphere The SPOt The Spot has a modern vibe, with a green wall, a cool floor mural and a tatami mat seating area. It can accommodate lots of people. There is lots of natural light.

BEst Dessert The SPOt Alpaca Dessert at The Spot offers delicious ice cream in a tasty bubble waffle. For around $8, you get the waffle, ice cream and three toppings. There are many flavors including like matcha and black sesame.

Pike Kitchen: 1066 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The Spot: 255 N Washington St, Rockville, Md. Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-12 p.m.