JPPS-Bialik Newsroom

JPPS-Bialik’s Head of School, Laurence Fhima, is proud to announce the end of a thorough yet gratifying process to find the next Principal for Bialik. Ms. Fhima and her hard-working search committee are thrilled that Shireen Deen-Butman will assume the position effective July 1, 2010. Born in India, and having lived in Israel, Ms.

The 2010 JPPS-Bialik Concert Gala was a major success as the extended JPPS-Bialik family joined together for a night of great food and drink, entertainment, and naturally, schmoozing! More than 250 people attended the 2010 Gala, which honoured the Roskies siblings for their role in advancing Jewish education and the preservation of Yiddish. About $120,000 was raised from generous members of the community.

Purim was wonderfully celebrated at Bialik thanks in part to the laugh-filled assembly for the entire school organized by the student Jewish Life committee. Complete with a Megillah reading by Director of Jewish Studies, Rabbi Daniel Rosenberg, the assembly included karaoke sung by Bialik staff, a Purim costume contest, and a special stand-up comedic performance by eight-time Just for Laughs Festival veteran Mike Paterson! Wow! Chag Sameach, indeed.

His Honourable MP for the riding of Papineau, Justin Trudeau, stopped by Bialik recently for an interactive event with the entire school. Before answering a plethora of questions related to his growing up at 24 Sussex Drive or possible future plans to run for Prime Minister, Justin passionately spoke about the need for young people to strive to be today’s leaders, as opposed to waiting for an arbitrary time when they get older.

“Some of you may think there is a disabled guy on stage. I'd like to set you straight. The only time I'm disabled is when I'm seeking a good parking spot. The rest of the time I'm not disabled.” Such is the worldview of adventurer, author, motivational speaker, and double amputee Warren Macdonald, who amazed a packed gym at Bialik High School on November 4, 2009.

The morning of October 18th was quite out of the ordinary for the student population of Bialik, for the Helen and Sam Steinberg Gymnasium was filled with the beautiful sounds of klezmer music thanks to the KlezKanada band.

Bialik High School’s working relationship with the City of Côte St. Luc was further cemented following a recent meeting of JPPS-Bialik’s Head of School Laurence Fhima, Bialik High School Principal Andrew Trager, JPPS-Bialik Head of Maintenance and Security Florian Gaudreau, and District 2 City Councillor Mike Cohen.

The end of the academic year may be close at hand, but JPPS-Bialik is already preparing for next year with a new leadership team and administrative structure. Building on strengths from within, Andrew Trager, a 15 year JPPS-Bialik veteran, including Bialik Vice-Principal between 2005 and 2007, assumes the position of Acting Principal for the 2009-2010 year while the search continues to fill the position long term.

Secondary IV Bialik High School student Jeremy Little did an outstanding job of channeling the soul of the late Moshe Rabeinu as he placed fifth overall in the world in the final round of the International Contest of the Chidon HaTanach, or International Bible Contest, that took place in Israel on Yom Ha’atzmaut (April 29, 2009).

The JPPS-Bialik Board of Directors announced that Laurence Fhima has been appointed Head of School/CEO of JPPS-Bialik, effective immediately. Since being appointed Chief Operating Officer this past year, and for many years before that, she has demonstrated superior management skills as well as dedication and commitment to ensuring that JPPS-Bialik continues to grow from strength to strength. In Ms. Fhima’s words, “I am honoured by this promotion and humbled by the confidence that the Board has shown in my ability to lead such an exceptional school as JPPS-Bialik.”