December 2, 2021—“We feel so overjoyed and grateful that we could host a Hanukkah party this year!” said Isabelle Shub ’22 and Sophia Lin-David ’22, heads of Jew Kidz on the Block, the Upper School affinity group for Jewish students. With strains of “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” playing in the background, more than 30 Upper School students gathered during lunch to play dreidel, eat gelt, and celebrate the festival of lights. 

Longtime club advisors Associate Director of College Counseling Jennifer Graham helped the students organize the Hanukkah celebration and Director of the Virginia Wing Library Alice Stern pitched in too. “They were amazing at making this happen,” said Shub and Lin-David. 

The planning started a month in advance when Shub and Lin-David met with Director of Dining Heather Pierce to plan a Hanukkah-themed lunch for the whole school with latkes, tzimmes, cholent, applesauce, and sour cream. Because affinity group meetings happen during lunch, students brought trays of food to the party room.

“Planning the event was a great way to bring together members of the club who helped make posters, order decorations, and set up the event,” they said. Blue twirly whirlys hung from the ceiling and posters adorned the room explaining the rules of dreidel.

Lower School students had a celebration as well. Mathematics Faculty and Class II Coordinator Jodi Kerble runs the Jewish affinity group, and she brought in jelly donuts, gelt, and dreidels. One Lower School student even brought in their family menorah and candles.

Thinking about Purim in the spring, Shub and Lin-David shared, “As a club, Jew Kidz on the Block is looking forward to planning more holiday parties at school!”