Toward the end of last year, MDS Head of School Raizi Chechik collected stories and pictures to archive as a testament to this historic year. This project inspired the creation of an MDS student time capsule that allows students to recall and retell their memories.

The “Stories Our Children Will Tell” archive, created on the Padlet platform by Student Activities Director Melissa Appel and STEAM Instructor Aliza Rubin, provided an outlet for the gratitude, humor and wisdom of the students. Youngest learners shared videos and appreciation for their teachers, and the oldest wrote in detail about their memories from March 2020 through present times.

“I took tremendous pride in reading each student’s personal and authentic narrative from this past year,” said Julie Averbuch, director of the Literacy Program. “To highlight all of these stories on one website is truly remarkable and something our community will look at for years to come!”

When the school transitioned to remote learning in March 2020, the teachers were challenged to convert to instruction via virtual classrooms. Under the tutelage of Educational Technology and Remote Learning Director Elisha Hus, a remote learning school, MDS MiBayit, was created.

“COVID was hard but the teachers quickly learned how to use Zoom and tried to do everything they could to make their lessons virtual,” says Elana Nash. “I was very impressed that they got through it. Also, I’m very grateful for my friends who helped support me. I would have gone crazy without them.”

“I am grateful to the teachers for all the hard work they did and how they helped make everyone feel happy during the pandemic,” says Moriah Damti.

MDS shared immense gratitude for the students who created these meaningful messages of thanks to the faculty and to all of the teachers—the protagonists in the students’ stories—for helping the students so beautifully recall their memories.