New Community Jewish High School
by Sharon Ann Dror
It may seem odd and bizarre that I only knew about this program because a friend of mine is a ASL teacher there full time and mentioned to me about this High School.
I decided to investigate this a bit further and went to observe the program. To my surprise and I'm sure many of us did not even know such a program existed right here in my backyard here in the Los Angeles area.
What makes this private coed Jewish High School so unique?
In 2002, the New Community Jewish High School (NCJHS) was formed and opened their doors in the West Valley area called West Hills, a few miles from a popular public high school, El Camino Real. They are using Shomei Torah Synagogue's facilities.
Shirley &Aaron Kotler made a donation of $250,000 to NCJHS and specifically designated it to start a full time sign language program. Shirley had a deaf brother, Sam Intrator who was married to Marion Schlessinger. Many of us in the Jewish Deaf Community were very fond of this couple who passed away several years ago. Marion was one of the 11 students that fled from Germany and survived the Holocaust. JDCC News wrote a story about her experience in the March/April 1999 issue. Sam and Marion were very involved with the Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf in the Los Angeles area for many years so it was an appropriate tribute in their memory to continue their memories. It would have been nice for NCJHS to acknowledge this as I did not see any mention of why they started a full time sign language program. I had to ask around and got bits and pieces.
It may seem odd that there are no deaf students nor interpreters at this school yet and I believe this is the first program ever anywhere. There are approximately 150 students currently so half of them take ASL 1, 2, 3.
Terrylene Theriot Sacchetti, a well known deaf actress taught ASL for two years before Anthony Natale who is also a well known deaf actor took over this job. Both are not Jewish but were very dedicated in teaching to these unique students who were eager in learning ASL.
It would be nice to see NCJHS have a collaborative relationship with the Jewish Deaf Community and encourage their learning ASL students be involved with the Jewish Deaf Community as well. The ASL teachers encourages students to attend deaf functions such as Deaf Expo, Deaf West, etc so the students do have experience in these events.
It was a nice and personal visit because I talked with the Principal, Bruce Powell for a few minutes during his rare free moment as he was a former principal at a different school for my step brother. I also met a former TRIPOD teacher, Tammy Shpall Pantilean there as well. We always say, the Jewish Deaf Community is small, well, the Jewish Community is a small world too!!!
For more information about NCJHS, their address is 7353 Valley Circle Blvd, West Hills, CA 91304. Phone 818/3480048, FAX 818/348-0092, website www.ncjhs.org