SAN DIEGO SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES NEW HEBREW CHARTER SCHOOL FOR SEPTEMBER 2012 OPENING

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Kavod Elementary to become third school in Hebrew Charter School Center network

NEW YORK — The Hebrew Charter School Center today celebrated the latest addition to its network of rigorous, Hebrew immersion charter schools with the formal approval of Kavod Elementary by the Board of the San Diego Unified School District late Tuesday night.

Kavod will join the Hebrew Language Academy in Brooklyn and Hatikvah International Academy in East Brunswick, N.J., as the third school to be developed according to the HCSC model when it opens this September. The Center is also working with planning groups in Harlem and Washington that submitted charter applications in the last several weeks.

“The Hebrew Charter School Center is thrilled to see another school of excellence using this model come to fruition, both for the parents of San Diego and the growth of our movement,” said HCSC Executive Director Aaron Listhaus. “We are supporting several other terrific schools in the pipeline, starting with the projects in Harlem and D.C., and we expect great things to come in those communities.”

Kavod, the Hebrew word for honor and respect, is being spearheaded by Tamar Caspi Shnall, a writer and journalist who lives in San Diego. The school plans to open with 210 students in grades K-2, and ultimately will grow to serve 530 students in grades K-5.

“The Board members and Founders of Kavod Elementary Charter School have been dedicated
and passionate about making the dream of a Hebrew language charter school in San Diego a reality,” Caspi Shnall said. “We are beyond thrilled the SDUSD Board of Education found our charter petition to be a solid document with a sound educational program and we look forward 2 to serving the children of San Diego, offering them an educational alternative and the opportunity to learn Hebrew. Just a few of us were able to complete this goal in a few short months, a task normally accomplished by a large team in at least twice the amount of time, and we couldn’t have done it without the support and guidance of the Hebrew Charter School Center. Kol HaKavod (All the honor and respect) to everyone involved in this amazing endeavor.”

About HCSC

The Hebrew Charter School Center (HCSC) is a nonprofit organization created by the Areivim Philanthropic Group in 2009. The Center’s mission is to promote the development and sustainability of the Hebrew charter school movement by supporting a network of excellent schools that serve diverse populations of students, foster strong inter-personal relationships, advance overall academic and social/emotional well-being, and promote high levels of Hebrew language proficiency and understanding of the culture and history of Israel and its immigrant communities.

HCSC works with planning teams and existing charter schools across the country to:

  • Build and increase the capacity for designing new, high quality Hebrew language charter schools;
  • Provide resources for established schools;
  • Grow a field of educators prepared to lead Hebrew language charter schools and the movement;
  • Promote and support a network of high quality Hebrew language charter schools;
  • Support local communities to develop Hebrew language charter schools and to maximally benefit from their impact on children and families.

For more information, go to:
http://www.hebrewcharters.org/