Wow!

The new EVJCC building at Ray and Alma School Roads is under construction and is really shaping up! Walls are up, and our vision is becoming reality. Michael Waxman, the Building Chairman, reports that we are on target to open in the new location this August. Work on the exterior of the building and surrounding site should begin soon. New equipment and furniture will be in place in time for the opening as well.

All this is possible due to the commitment of generous members in our community who are helping us meet the August deadline.

The Capital Campaign Committee, chaired by Ben Benedict, continues to progress towards our goal of raising $4.7 million to make our new location and building a reality. New donors from the East Valley and the Greater Phoenix community have stepped forward to support the campaign. They recognize the importance of the EVJCC developing a permanent home and want to do their part. We are getting closer to the goal, but we are not there yet and need everyone's help.

It will take all of us who believe in the importance of a permanent home for the EVJCC, to build this legacy. When you are contacted to ask for a pledge, please give generously and be a part of this community achievement. If you have family, friends, or your employer who are potential donors, please contact Ben Benedict, Ilene Blau or George Jacobson.

Together, we are making it happen!

George Jacobson
EVJCC President

AROUND THE CENTER

Seniors' Terrific Tuesdays

Join us each Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, May 3rd at 10:30 a.m. - "Music by Harp" is the program for today. Musician Donna Freter will entertain us with the strings of her harp, making beautiful music on a beautiful instrument.

Tuesday, May 10th at 10:30 a.m. - Our last "Rabbi a month" program for the season, we welcome Rabbi Mari Chernow of Temple Chai. Her choice of Mitzvot and other topics will interest us all.

Tuesday, May 17th at 10:30 a.m. - Coming back for a return visit will be Professor Ed Everroad of Scottsdale Community College (SCC). His topic will be "Contemporary Cinema, Past, Present and it's Stars." We enjoyed it very much before, and I know we will this time around!

Tuesday, May 24th at 11:30 a.m. - Our annual lunch out at the end of the season. We will meet at McGrath's Seafood Restaurant, located at 1610 S. Stapley Drive in Mesa. Please join us for a fun time.

SCHOOL • YOUTH • CAMP

Early Childhood

Spring School Event

The JCC School Spring Open House, Pizza dinner and quilt raffle will take place on Tuesday, May 10. Children and families will gather to enjoy a meal together, visit this and next year's classrooms and await the drawing for the wonderful class quilts.

A yearly fundraiser since 1978, the art for the quilts is done by our students and teachers. The quilts are constructed by super seamstress, Diane Umeda, with help from Eileen Bayer. These quilts have become treasured keepsakes throughout the East Valley. This year's quilts are on display in the JCC lobby. Raffle tickets may be purchased in the office.

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Preschool and Kindergarten Graduation

Graduation for the 2004-05 school year will take place on Friday, May 27 at 10:00 a.m. Children will sing traditional songs and each class will have its own presentation. Diplomas will be presented to kindergarten graduates during the program. All other age groups will receive certificates in their classrooms afterward.

This annual event is an exciting way to close the school year while looking forward to summer camp and the 05-06 school year in our New Building.

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2005-06 Enrollment Update

We are delighted to report that our classes are filling up; our kindergarten has only ONE opening. Young threes and older fours are more than half full.

Our staff is excited to start the coming school year in our beautiful new building which will be a wonderful place to continue the program that means so much to all of us. Please call is you have questions about registration/openings; 480-897-0588. Ask for Cynthia or Diane.

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Job Openings

For the 2005-06 school year we have openings for two teacher's aides. One position is from 8:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.; the other from 8:15 a.m - 2 p.m. Please call Cynthia at 480-897-0588 if you are interested or know someone who might be. Work begins on Monday, August 8.

Day School

Teacher of Week

Deena Charnofsky, the EVJCC's 1st/2nd Grade Teacher was chosen as "Teacher of the Week" by KNIX 102.5FM, The Dairy Council, and Fulton Homes. Mrs. Charnofsky was chosen after her student, Shayna Edson, wrote a letter to the station nominating Deena, "Mrs. Charnofsky teaches first and second grade together. She works very hard to teach us how to do math, spelling, writing and science. She is very nice and I like her a lot. That is why I think she should be the Teacher of the Week." KNIX surprised Deena at a field trip, presented her with a "Got Milk?" basket and $500 cash.

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Student Award

Moriah Greathouse, a 6th grade student at the EVJCC Day School, is the Arizona finalist (1st place winner) in the Library of Congress "Letters about Lieterature" essay contest Last October, Moriah wrote a letter to Jerry Spinelli, author of "Loser," after reading the book. Moriah received a cash prize for being the first place winner from the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. More than 46,000 students from across the country took part in the national contest.

Youth

Summer Camp

Summer is just around the corner and registration is filling up fast. Join us as we beat the heat and hit the road for a summer of fun at the East Valley JCC.

Many new programs and ideas are being offered, along with our favorites from summers past. We anticipate the best Family Picnic ever (June 16th), along with overnighters, and a week full of Maccabiah Games sure to ignite a spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship. The Israeli Scouts will be stopping at our camp (June 21st). All are welcome to join us for this special event! Our sixth annual Mitzvah Mania Week is sure to be another great success, thanks to all the campers and their families who donate time, food, clothes, etc. We'll be on stage for our annual Rock Show on July 14th, with great songs and costumes galore. This is one event you don't want to miss!

Our field trips are looking good! We've planned new field trips to compliment our favorite old ones we always enjoy! They include Makutu's Island, the Circus, Sunsplash, Pump It Up and many more. Our trips don't end there!

We also have our CIT program for 9th graders. This is a great program for any young teen that may want to become counselors themselves one day. They will gain practical experience in a fun, social setting while learning the basics of camp counseling and programming through workshops and other hands on projects. Some of their projects include: Maccabiah Games (programming, judging, evaluating, etc.), planning for the family picnic, and working on Mitzvah Mania Week. It's the perfect program to mold young teens into effective camp counselors.

We are offering the Getaway Gang program again this summer. This program is open to any 5th - 9th grader who's summer is so crazy and they're just too busy to attend camp everyday, but still want to go on fun and exciting trips! We are offering 2 exciting Getaway adventures this summer; Trip 1 - June 22 - 24 - Malibu, California, where we'll be hanging out on the beach and Six Flags Magic Mountain! Trip 2 - July 20 - 22 Albuquerque, New Mexico to play at Cliffs Amusement Park, the Zoo and Beach Waterpark!

Of course Summer Stock will be back with an exciting new production of The Lady Cries Murder - an uproarious comedy set in the fabulous 1940's. Mix in some singin' and dancin' to famous big band melodies and you've got Summer Stock 2005! So shake the mothballs out of your trench coat and get ready for some actin', singin', dancin' and a whole lot of fun! Plan on another summer of great fun creating, rehearsing and performing!

This summer will prove to be one of the best summers ever and we're looking forward to seeing everyone at camp! So, get signed up for camp today! Call Lisa at 480-897-0588.

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Youth Clubs

Guess what we're doing this month for our youth club activity? You guessed it - Stratum Laser Tag - Again!!! We received so many requests to go back "just one more time - please"! The date will be Wednesday, May 18th from 6:30 - 8:00pm. The cost is $10.00 per person. Please RSVP Lisa by Tuesday, May 17th. This is our last event of the year, so please join in on all the fun!

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BBYO Elections

On April 7, 2005, Tempe BBYO (Rabbi Marvin Meir Reznikoff AZA & Tovah BBG) boarded a bus destined for Tucson for a weekend of fun and relaxation at their regional conclave. Twenty-five youth from the East Valley met up with 150 others from around Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. They experienced diverse programming, ranging from Judaic education to Athletics. Of course, the teens also socialized, hung out and had an overall good time.

Four members from Tempe were elected to the Regional Board: Regional Aleph Moreh Julian Gottlieb (Membership and Education), Regional S'gannit Becca Ivanhoe (Programming), Regional Aleph Godol Mike Samuels (President), and Regional N'siah Laura Charnofsky (President). Samuels is the third Regional Aleph Godol from Reznikoff in the past four years and Charnofsky is the first Regional N'siah from Tovah since before they restarted in the Spring of 1993. We are very proud of their accomplishments and wish them the best of luck in the 58th Term Regional Board.

Reznikoff AZA and Tovah BBG have a long history of training tomorrow's leaders in a fun and creative environment. If you have a son or daughter that is interested in joining, please call Mike (602-538-9970), Julian (602-614-7030), Laura (480-612-4617) or advisor Aaron Blau (480-330-9115) for information on upcoming events.