Post-Sept. 11 security increased at campuses

In response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, school security has been increased through both strict adherence to the security procedures already in place and through the addition of new precautions.

Several of the policies that were previously in existence are now more rigorous.

“There have always been guards on both doors [at both campuses], but now the entry and exit policy is stricter in terms of the level of ID required to admit someone who is not familiar to the building,” said Head of School Jonathan Cannon. “It is not possible to enter the building except through the main entrance to the building.”

Israel trip to proceed despite year-old Intifada
The annual senior trip to Israel and Poland is scheduled to take place despite growing concerns among students and parents about the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East.

“The situation in America and Israel and all around the world means that certainties of a few years ago are not certainties now, and while we cannot affect international policy, we can and will plan to send a trip [to Israel] on the hope and assumption that the world will look very different in a few months time,” Head of School Jonathan Cannon said at a meeting about the trip for seniors and their parents on Oct. 11.

Cannon emphasized that each individual family must decide whether its student will participate in the trip.

‘Keeping the faith’: partnership with Catholic school complements Jewish history courses
The faculty and administration at JDS have begun a multi-year religious exchange program with the Good Counsel Catholic High School of Wheaton, Maryland aimed at fulfilling the school’s mission of learning about community.

“[This is] an effort to teach students more about the diverse world that we all live in,” said Jewish History Department Chair Cynthia Peterman.

The American Jewish Committee, a Jewish organization that promotes religious tolerance, sent a letter to JDS last spring asking if the school was interested in participating in the Catholic Jewish Educational Enrichment Program (C-JEEP).

Administration, faculty educate post-attacks

In the weeks following Sept. 11, the administration and faculty instituted a multi-faceted campaign aimed at teaching students about tolerance and current events going on in the country and the world.

Although some students learned of the Sept. 11 attacks from radio or Internet reports, many first heard of the planes crashing into the World Trade Centers from an announcement made by the administration that morning.

Throughout the day, administrators continued updating students on the situation as many students, with permission from their parents, began leaving school early. Classes were terminated early, according to Dean Roslyn Landy.