Our Blog

After last week’s reflections, you might think we’ve got it made in the shade at HBHA. With high MAP and ACT scores, and a robust Jewish Studies program, maybe we’ve done our job and all we have to do is keep the ship pointing straight. However, as we approach the High Holidays, the time is ripe for reflection about what we can do better. Yes, HBHA is an amazing school, but there are areas where we can become even stronger. Here are some of the questions I am asking myself that will guide our community’s work over the coming year and decades:

• How might we develop our educational vision and product to attract families that never considered Jewish day school a priority for their children?
• How might we build a financial foundation that will support the richness of our program while remaining affordable to families of all income brackets?
• How might we use the melting pot of HBHA to build community all across Jewish Kansas City in order to make a tighter, more supportive and inclusive Jewish community?
• How might we use our position in the community to support our community partners - the synagogues, The J, JFS, and so on?
• How might we provide our students opportunities for creativity, curiosity and social/emotional growth while maintaining our rigorous expectations in General and Jewish studies?
• How might we build our capacity and resources to provide meaningful social interactions with students who don’t currently attend HBHA?
• How might we leverage our talented and experienced staff, our strong community partnerships, and the resources of Kansas City to create a program that is a paradigm for 21st Century education?
• How might we continue to shift the perception of value at HBHA to further enhance a culture of philanthropy?
• How might we continue to attract and retain the best new teachers to provide an exceptional education to our students?
• How might we streamline our communications so parents and community members are always ‘in-the-know’ but never overwhelmed by emails?

We, the faculty, staff, and administration will do everything in our power to strengthen and grow the capacity of HBHA this year. We hope that you will join us in making 5780 the best year ever for HBHA. We wish you a happy holiday, full of meaning, reflection, and joy.

Shannah Tova U’metuka,

Adam Tilove
Head of School