Middle School Celebrates Siyyum

The 8th graders commemorated the end of middle school with Milken’s annual Siyyum on Friday, June 8. Eighty-four students participated in the culmination ceremony held at Stephen Wise Temple. Proud family members, friends, faculty, and staff joined together for this joyous occasion with delightful music by the middle school’s Kol Echad choir and Jazz Ensemble.

Student speakers shared stories of their Milken experiences, recalling how they had grown as both students and individuals, reflecting on the challenges they faced and overcame, and celebrating the connections and friendships they formed. With a slideshow of pictures of every 8th grader displayed on a background screen, students honored their classmates with kind words about their unique qualities in the “Through our Eyes” tribute.

Middle School Principal Limor Dankner thanked the faculty noting “The school is only as good as its teachers and we are blessed at Milken to have dedicated and innovative teachers who are masters of their craft.” She challenged students to reflect on Milken’s Portrait of a Graduate and reminded them that each student belongs to something greater than themselves; to embrace everyone around them with kindness, compassion, and empathy; and to take positive action.

Faculty took center stage, and Upper School Rabbi Aaron Finkelstein shared a story of one of Judaism’s greatest sages, Rabbi Akiva noting that the faculty exemplified Rabbi Akiva’s optimism and belief that no mind, no matter how fixed, was tougher than stone. Rabbi Finkelstein blessed the faculty hoping that they emulate Rabbi Akiva by leaving their legacy as well as the idea that “the lessons they teach in class and in life evolve from memories into values and into core experiences for the students.”

During the advisory honor roll, students crossed the bimah as their advisors recognized each one by sharing two of their positive qualities. As the ceremony concluded, Rabbi Finkelstein told the students they had power and blessed them to “use that power to live up to the values around you.” He urged them to take actions necessary to live their lives with nedivut — generosity, to practice savlanut — patience, and live a life of simcha — joy. As he recited the blessing for wearing a tallit, faculty wrapped their students in the tallitot, each conveying a Jewish value inscribed on it.

Congratulations to all of our 8th Graders! We look forward to welcoming you to the Upper School in the fall.

Watch the Siyyum livestream here.
 
 
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At Milken Community School, we think education is more than what you know. Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us.
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