Alumni Stories

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Congratulations! Alumni Scholarship Winners:
2009:
Ashley B.
Joshua K. |

2008:
Aryeh F.

A Letter from Tova

Josh K.'s Story
Attending Morasha Jewish Day School from pre-kindergarten through 6th grade had an enormous impact on me.  At Morasha, I learned many important values such as education, community and giving to others, which stem from the all-encompassing core Jewish precept of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the world.”  Being a student at Morasha gave me the opportunity to not only learn these values, but to also put them to use.

For me, these values came to life daily through the culture and curriculum of the school.  In particular, the Tzedekah Project where we researched and learned about different Jewish and secular charities taught me the importance of community service and giving to those less fortunate.  Also, the Kindergarten Buddies Program that paired third graders with kindergartners helped me really appreciate the significance of education and helping younger children.  The culture at Morasha provided many leadership opportunities for me.  As time progressed, I felt I had become a role model for younger students.  This philosophy created the best kind of learning community where not only the teachers taught, but the students learned from each other as well.  These projects, and so many other components of Morasha, firmly implanted the seeds that have continued to grow in me, becoming a central part of the way I perceive and approach the world.

This past fall, as I began my life as a first year student at Goucher College, my Morasha roots definitely played a role in my desire to find something meaningful and fulfilling to do with some of my free time.  I wanted to be involved in something that would let me step outside of myself, and be able to give as well as sustain the values of community, education, and Tikkun Olam.

Ashley B.'s Story
I attended Morasha from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade for 9 years and graduated El Toro High School in 2007.  In high school, I was captain of my volleyball team as well as a member of ASB, Associated Student Body, for three years.  Academically, I was on the Principal’s Honor Roll and was selected by my principal as Most Outstanding Female Student my senior year.  I am currently attending UC Irvine where I am on the women’s volleyball team.  I am studying business economics and plan to minor in accounting.  School keeps me pretty busy, but I also coach 14-year-old girls’ club volleyball at Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club in Lake Forest, CA.   In my free time, I love to watch movies, workout, and hang out with friends. 

As a graduate of Morasha Jewish Day School, I learned many values and skills which have contributed to the person I am today.  I like to participate in community service projects as well as help those in need in my free time.  During high school my involvement in ASB in the positions of class secretary and student commissioner, led me to receive the Principal’s Most Outstanding Female Student award my senior year.   I currently show my leadership skills by coaching at a local volleyball club and mentoring girls to become strong, bright female athletes.  On a regular basis, I am my UCI womens’ volleyball spokesperson where I encourage new recruits to be part of “Eater Nation.”  All these aspects of my life would not have been possible without the confidence I gained at Morasha through the one on one learning and individualism. 

Yair's Story '92
Yair graduated from Morasha in 1992. He fondly remembers the outdoor hikes after Tefillah which allowed the students to expereince nature and to feel closer to G-d. After Morasha, Yair went to La Paz Junior High and Mission Veiejo High School. He graduated from Marshall School of Business at University of Southern Califonrina in 2002. Yair has since traveled, lived and worked in varous locales such as San Francisco, Taiwain, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. He eventually found his way back to the OC where he currettly works in the family's avocado import/export business. In August of 2007 he welcomed a daughter to his family.

Gavriella's story '89:

Gaviella graduated from Morasha in 1989.  She has the honor of being a member of the 1st graduating class of Morasha.  After attending Milkin Community High School, Gaviella went on to attend the University of California at Santa Cruz.  She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelors of Science in Molecular Biology.  From there, Gaviella attended the University of California at Irvine and was awarded an MBA in 2007.  Some of Gaviella’s fondest memories of Morasha are the outstanding Art and Music programs she participated in.  She also remembers the many school plays she helped plan as well as perform.

Sondra's story '94:
Her year book statement, “ten years from now I see myself finishing my sports scholarship for catching [softball] and starting my career as a fashion designer.”

graduatd in 2004 from Cal State Northridge where she accepted a full four year scholarship for softball.she set the record for the most doubles hit by an individual in the history of that school. Her second goal, to be a fashion designer, faded as she and found her real passion, teaching

Sondra says “Morasha was an excellent foundation for me and really helped me to focus on my goals over the years.” and “I still have friends from my days at Morasha! Not many people have friends from elementary school. But there were 8 of us and we really bonded.”