:: Abram Simon School Committee

Providing Support and Aid for a School in Need

There is a public school located at 4th and Mississippi Avenue SE named after WHC’s second senior rabbi, Abram Simon with which the Congregation has enjoyed a unique partnership with since 1991. For the past 18 years, congregants have volunteered their time, enthusiasm and financial support to the Abram Simon School. We work closely with the school’s principal Dr. Adelaide Flamer to tailor a volunteer program that responds to the needs of the school.

BOOK BUDDIES is a highly structured, volunteer reading program aimed at tutoring emerging readers in first and second grades. Thanks to a generous grant from Sisterhood, WHC volunteers introduced this program to the school's first graders in 2007. For the past two years, students’ test results proved that this targeted effort was unambiguously successful, and the principal has asked us to expand our program to include second grade students who were part of the Book Buddies in 2008. The only thing we need is YOU! We are looking for 8 volunteers to be part of this effort. The only requirement for volunteers is a good sense of humor and the ability to find one afternoon per week to commit to the kids at Simon. We will conduct training sessions early in the school year, and since we work in teams, car-pooling is a natural. What are you waiting for? Become part of the solution!

SEND A KID TO CAMP: The importance of a camping experience is well-known to our own congregants. The lessons learned away from home and school are often ones that stay with us the longest. This past summer WHC sent 35 Simon students to a one-week overnight camp at Camp Moss Hollow. Volunteers organized information sessions, arranged for physicals, assisted in filling out forms, set up transportation for the students to and from the camp – and even sent packages to the campers. WHC congregants and B’nai Mitzvah students did their part by donating over $10,000 to the WHC Abram Simon Camp Fund. Your donations are needed and welcome

SIMON FUN FAIR: Since 2005, WHC and the school have co-sponsored an end of year “Fun Fair” in lieu of the traditional Mitzvah Day project. Principal Flamer explained that she did not have any budget for a school-wide party and felt that WHC’s assistance in this activity would benefit the students greatly. This past year WHC provided a face painter, a DJ, a pop corn popper (thanks to Strosneider’s), and hosted numerous craft tables. All this project requires is some time on a June afternoon to supervise a craft project for the students. Please consider helping out at the Simon school in June 2010.

A “VIRTUAL” COMMITTEE: In many respects ours is a virtual committee since so many congregants spontaneously find ways to be included. For example, the WHC Religious School, ECC and several individuals donated new and slightly used books for the Abram Simon students to take home; the Sisterhood Mid-Atlantic Convention chose Simon as the recipient of their social action project; a Bar Mitzvah student provided sports equipment for the classes to use during recess; and the “Van Ness” knitters dazzled dozens of students with homemade sweaters, hats and scarves. There are so many ways WHC congregants have found to enhance the educational experience at Simon. Come and add your voice.