Even as their online learning continues in earnest, students took part virtually in a special ceremony for Yom HaZikaron on April 28. On April 29 on Yom Haatzmaut, they joined the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven in a virtual “party” for the Israeli emissaries who had served the Greater New Haven community until they had to return to Israel in March. After the party, Ezra Academy students played an online Jeopardy-like game with all categories involving Israel among other fun activities to celebrate Israel.

Ezra Academy’s online learning program continues with children virtually meeting together as a class, and in small groups and one-on-one with their teachers. They continue to celebrate first aliyot to the Torah and first-time Torah readings. During the week of April 20, they had over 50 people join in for such milestone occasions with grandparents, friends and relatives joining in from as far away as Israel.

Students continue to engage in project-based learning. For instance, they made movies to depict Newton’s Laws of Gravity. They have engaged in music, art and building Minecraft projects to respond to the reading of a novel. Students have also participated in live, online learning with the likes of Bill Gates and Hadi Partovi, founder of Code.org.

“Perhaps the most touching moment for me has been the video our community made to express their appreciation of our faculty and the amazing work they are doing in this difficult time,” says Dr. Melanie Waynik, Ezra Academy’s Head of School. “You can see many of these things firsthand if you go to our Facebook page.”

Find out more about Ezra Academy in Woodbridge at ezraacademyct.org.