Our Community Ethics in Action
Ethics in Action
The McGillis School Ethics in Action program helps children experience their role in the larger community. Students participate in service learning opportunities within the school community, the Douglas neighborhood, and beyond.
Service opportunities range from visiting senior citizens in the neighborhood, raking leaves, raising money to contribute to Habitat for Humanity, adopting an endangered species, working in a community garden, and volunteering at the Utah Food Bank.
Service is highly valued throughout the school. In the Lower School, students meet bi-monthly in Family Groups while in the Middle School students participate in a service learning class.
From the McGillis' Purpose, Mission, and Vision document, Our teaching and our community are grounded in the fundamental values found in the Jewish culture and shared by all who seek to better the world. We celebrate Jewish traditions and holidays and bring the values they represent to life in the ways we educate our children, build our community, govern our school, and utilize our resources.
This Jewish Culture at McGillis section is here to educate our community about the Jewish traditions and holidays as well as share ways in which our Jewish culture enhances our education.
To better understand how Jewish holidays are celebrated by a Jewish family as well as how the holiday is interpreted and celebrated at McGillis, please see below.
Rosh Hashanah (Roesh Hah-shah-NAH, translation: "the head of the year")
The beginning of the Jewish year, in the early fall, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated at the birthday of the world. It also begins the ten-day period which are called "The Days of Awe" or the "High Holy Days", when Jews reflect on their actions of the past year, and seek forgiveness and resolve to do better. This ten-day period culminates in the holiday and day of fasting of Yom Kippur (see below). Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most reflective and introspective of the Jewish Holidays, when many Jews attend religious services.
At Rosh Hashanah, many food items are used to celebrate the hope for a sweet and abundant year to come. For example, apples dipped in honey, carrot dishes, sweet "kugels" ( noodle casseroles), and circular-shaped Challah with raisins are served at this ti
McGillis CelebrationThe McGillis School does not hold school on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Students learn about this holiday during Culture and Ethics class, focusing on the value of reflection and self-improvement. We share apples dipped in honey and wish our community a sweet new year. At a Shabbat celebration during this season, we will blow the shofar – an actual instrument made from a ram's horn - and sing fun songs. |
Traditional CelebrationTraditional Jews celebrate by attending Synagogue services, it is a holiday when "occasional" Jews make it a point to go to services. On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews greet each other with "L'Shana Tovah", (L-shah-nah Toh-vah) which means "A Good Year". The Shofar (Ram's horn) is blown during religious services to "awaken the soul" to contemplation, return and renewal. It is traditional to give additional "tzedakah" – donations to charity – at this time of year |
Sukkot: Sustainable Pathways, October 14, 2011
This event is inspired by the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. It links the sense of historical and spiritual pathways and shelter, with the need to secure a road to environmental sustainability. This special day of learning and reflection will highlight our place within the community and spark a new initiative for the school known as Sustainable Pathways.
Simchat Torah: Joy of the Book, October 21, 2011
This event and special learning day is inspired by the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Students will participate in a school-wide day of learning and the value of limud l'shma. The event focuses on literacy and the wonderful world of books.
These events expand upon Jewish tradition and bring learning to life in our school. They build community and are aimed at making education extraordinar
