Phase II Launch... and Completion

STOP THE PRESSES!

Phase II of Bialik Expansion Kicks off with a “Larger than Life” Press Conference That Truly Celebrates the Bialik Experience

Host'du gehert? Have you heard? Granted, we weren’t quite shouting from the rooftops, but from our fourth floor vantage point, with various members of the press and many honourable guests present, we were sure close! Phase II of Bialik High School’s expansion was officially launched on April 29th with a press conference that will likely forever hold press conferences everywhere to an entirely new standard—the Bialik standard.

From the masterful accompaniment of Lorna Smith’s choir singing Yiddish songs “Ani Ma’amin” and “Toh Zog Nisht Kain Mol as Dir Gait Dem Letzn Vehg” to the cast of Annie Get Your Gun reminding us that “There’s No Business like Show Business,” our students’ talent made the case for our new state-of-the-art theatre complex better than anyone else ever could. And, of course, the “Aintz, Tzvai, Drei, Go Bulldogs” cheer from this year’s bantam basketball teams gave us all a chuckle as we simultaneously applauded the teams’ hard work and accomplishment this season. Bravo!

Lead donors (picture at right: Michael Eliesen, Liane Eliesen, Matt Newpol, Josh Newpol, Alix Newpol, Debby Newpol, Arnold Cohen, Sara Tauben, Mitzi Becker, Hillel Becker, Lisa (Blatt) '81 Alexander, and Debra Mayers) were in attendance to lend us their support. Indeed, if you were expecting a boring run-of-the-mill press conference, you got off on the wrong floor!

JPPS-Bialik President Arnold Cohen ’82 opened the much-anticipated event with a passionate affirmation of our school’s commitment to teach in four languages. Our esteemed President demonstrated his flair for quadrilingual mastery, opening ersht in fluent Yiddish, switching effortlessly to Hebrew, then on to French, before settling into his mother tongue, English.

Bialik President Naomi Blumer was next on the docket, and she so eloquently reminded everyone of Bialik’s commitment to its students and to its specialized programming, such as LEAP and Section Française. “Because of the popularity of these programs, Bialik is bursting at the seams and this is largely attributable to Elaine Wisenthal-Milech’s leadership,” she declared.

This was the cue that brought Principal and Educational Director Elaine Wisenthal-Milech up to the dais, and like any good leader, she deferred all kudos to the students of Bialik. “This is for them; this is all about our students. They deserve our best.”

Bialik was honoured and pleased to welcome Marc Gold of Federation CJA who spoke about the partnership forged between Bialik and the Generation J Initiative. Gold introduced Natana Shek-Dor ’81, Director of the Generation J Initiative (www.gen-j.ca/media/singles/1208278291.pdf) who presented Generation J T-Shirts to student representatives Miranda Tuwaig and David Benrimoh.

Expansion Campaign Cabinet Co-chairs Michael Eliesen and Matt Newpol emphasized the obligation we have to provide our students with every advantage to succeed academically, artistically, and athletically. Indeed, Bialik graduates students who are both proud of their Jewish identities and competitively positioned to take their place on the world stage.

With the completion of Phase I and now the launch of Phase II, Bialik’s Expansion Campaign is going public. No doubt, with all the innovation and sheer talent present in our student, parent, teacher, and alumni bodies, Bialik Expansion will meet its benchmarks with room to spare, but we need everyone’s help and support. Please consider making a pledge to this all important cause. You can donate online (http://www.bialikmtl.ca/giving) or by downloading the pledge form and mailing it in.

View the case for support, including naming opportunities, here.

Join us, grow with us—Bialik High School.

UPDATE: Come visit Bialik and see all of the changes, as Phase II is complete! Click here for more info.