“We Are One,” Ma’ayanot’s theme for the 2020-2021 school year, reflects the emphasis on community and friendship that remains the hallmark of Ma’ayanot. This year and all its challenges are an unparalleled educational opportunity for each student to reflect on her role as an individual and as part of the community, and to understand how each individual’s actions can contribute to a successful year in school and to a rich communal life, in the spirit of kol Yisrael arevim zeh la-zeh.

With carefully-planned adherence to all safety guidelines, Ma’ayanot has built community time into each grade’s weekly schedule. Ma’ayanot launched the community time program with an experiential activity conveying the message that “each student is her own person, yet together they unite as one grade, and all grades unite to create one Ma’ayanot community,” explained Student Activities Director Aliza Adler. With the musical accompaniment of a fun achdut-themed playlist, each student created her own quilt square, representing her unique identity. Each grade’s squares will be combined into a quilt to adorn the grade’s lounge and represent their unity as a grade. Future community time assemblies will include small-group advisory opportunities, innovative Torah programming and other bonding activities.

Community time “helped me connect with old friends and new,” said junior Kira Jacobs. Added junior Gabriella Herrmann, “We are not all related, but we are all family.” Ma’ayanot helps each student grow and shine as an individual, while instilling the bedrock confidence and sense of mission and belonging that comes from being part of a strong community, and from contributing one’s unique talents to it. Ma’ayanot helps each student actualize both her individual strengths and her essential role in the Ma’ayanot community and the world beyond.