Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1
14 Shvat 5763

In This Issue:
1. Introducing Project S.N.O.W.
2. Spotlight on Park Avenue Synagogue
3. Meet our Newest Staff Members
4. MATAN donation cards

Project S.N.O.W. (Special Needs of Westchester) is a community-wide endeavor, made possible through generous matching grants from UJA Federation of New York, the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Foundation, and a handful of anonymous supporters. With the help of Jerry Rosen of UJC, MATAN has opened a Westchester office at the JCC of MidWestchester, and are grateful for their cooperation in this endeavor.

Project SNOW is innovative in its 3-pronged approach involving the entire community. Our primary goals include:

We need information from Westchester parents whose children are already receiving a Jewish education, AND from those who are currently not in any program.

Please pass along this message to any parents that you know in Westchester.

IF YOU ARE A WESTCHESTER PARENT OF A CHILD WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS
***PLEASE CONTACT US TO COMPLETE A BRIEF AND CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY***

Email: SNOW@matankids.org
Phone: (914) 472-3300 ext. 345

MATAN provides ongoing consultation and support to Park Avenue Synagogue, a Conservative synagogue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Park Avenue's program was recently featured in the January 13th issue of The Jewish Week, which highlighted the school's collaboration with MATAN:

"Park Avenue …has a formal program aimed at tailoring its education toward students with diverse learning styles and intellectual needs, including special education. Last year, the synagogue initiated a partnership with MATAN: The Gift of Jewish Learning for Every Child, an organization that consults with Park Avenue on programs for children with learning disabilities. Congregational schoolteachers now receive training from MATAN consultants on individualizing Jewish education for students across the intelligence spectrum and integrating special-needs students into certain mainstream classes."

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

In addition to general school support, MATAN has created a class for students with learning differences. In its pilot year, the class is comprised of students ages 10 through 12 and is taught by special educator Rachel Gordon. The curriculum is designed to parallel the general Park Avenue curriculum, and includes topics such as Hebrew language, holidays, Bible study, and Jewish culture.

We are currently seeking students between the ages of 7 and 12 as we expand the program at Park Avenue. Please call 212-284-6774 for more information.

MATAN has seen significant growth throughout the past year as an increasing number of schools and communities recognize the need for all children to be included in Jewish educational programs. Increased demand has led to MATAN's increase in personnel. We welcome the following talented professionals to the MATAN staff:

Shira Bolensky, MA, Assistant Director of Project S.N.O.W.
Dani Grey, Student Intern from the Davidson School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Lisa Samick, Fundraising and Development
Abigail Uhrman, Curriculum Development

We feel extremely fortunate to be working with these individuals as we strive to achieve and enhance the mission of MATAN.

Don't forget! With your tax-deductible $18.00 contribution, you can now use MATAN donation cards to mark special occasions, honor someone's memory, or give in lieu of routine gifts. You can view and order these cards at www.matankids.org . Your contribution will truly make a difference in the lives of Jewish children. Thank you to everyone who has already taken advantage of this offer, and to everyone who responded to our "snail mail" on Chanukah. If you did not receive this mailing and would like to be added to our list, please e-mail us with your address.