On Monday, March 13, Westchester Day School hosted a tribute evening in memory of Laurie Lebowitz, z”l, to coincide with her first yahrzeit. Along with her husband, Hal Klestzick, Laurie, dedicated a tremendous amount of time to WDS. She was a devoted parent volunteer who served as chairperson of the Learning to Look art appreciation program at Westchester Day School from 2006-2014. Laurie believed in the power of incorporating art education into the classroom and her energy, expertise, vision, passion and commitment to the Learning to Look program continues to bring enrichment to WDS students and parents alike.
In honor of Laurie’s legacy, Westchester Day School partnered with her family and dear friends, to establish the Laurie Lebowitz Learning to Look Fund. The fund aims to raise awareness of the program and ensure it remains an active part of the Westchester Day School curriculum for many years to come. Over 150 friends, family and supporters gathered to share beautiful memories of Laurie and learn more about the unique Learning to Look program. Rikki Kapplan, who has taught, and continues to teach, WDS parent and grandparent volunteers for the last 14 years, treated the group to an insightful, educational and fascinating model lesson on Henri Matisse and his famous work “Icarus.” Rabbi Dani Rockoff, head of school shared words of Torah, and Rabbi Reuven Fink from the Young Israel of New Rochelle addressed the group prior to the dedication of a commemorative plaque next to the rotating display of artwork produced by WDS students throughout the year.
For those not familiar with the program, Learning to Look is an art appreciation program for WDS students in grades k-fifth. The program is chaired and taught by parent volunteers who are trained in the Learning to Look curriculum, which is based on paintings found in the Permanent Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Neuberger Museum. Students are encouraged to explore famous artist’s work by looking at the elements of art: color, line, shape, texture, light and space. At the end of each session, students create their own works of art inspired by the paintings studied in class. The culminating experience for the students is a field trip to the MET, the MOMA or the Neuberger Museum to view in person the artwork they studied all year in class. There is nothing quite like viewing an artist’s masterpiece on display in real life.
“Westchester Day School has been blessed by the many volunteers who bring the Learning to Look program to life for our students. Laurie Lebowitz, z”l, led the way with her enthusiasm for hands-on art education, and we are grateful that we are able to honor her legacy with this evening of tribute, and with the Learning to Look Fund, to perpetuate her impact through this program for years to come,” said Rabbi Rockoff.
Westchester Day School is so grateful to the Klestzick and Lebowitz families and friends, for helping support the art appreciation program at Westchester Day School and inspiring the next generation of students to look at art in meaningful ways.
