Every parent knows the scene: you ask, “What did you do in school today?” and the answer comes back—one word, flat and final: “Nothing.”
This week, when parents gathered to meet our new principal, Mrs. Coen, she leaned right into that familiar moment. And she gave us a new way to think about it.
“Your children have a full-time job,” she said. “Being here at school is an introduction to what the world is like, and this job here at Hebrew Academy is filled with joy. If you could see it daily… You would feel the joy.”
That word—joy—isn’t just a nice extra. It’s what we work for. It’s the sign that our students are not only learning, but belonging. It’s the outcome of teachers who see each child, a community that nurtures them, and an environment where Jewish identity and academic excellence go hand in hand.
And Mrs. Coen left us with something practical, too. A way to move past the one-word answers and open the door to what’s really happening inside those school walls:
Instead of asking “What did you do?” try asking:
“What was the most amazing thing you learned today?”
“What was the most amazing thing you did today?”
The answers will surprise you. They’ll make you smile. And they’ll remind you why you’ve entrusted us with something so precious.
We’re thrilled to welcome Mrs. Coen—not just as a leader, but as family. Her roots at Hebrew Academy run deep, as the wife of a proud graduate and the daughter-in-law of a beloved former teacher. That makes her homecoming all the more meaningful.
Here’s to a year filled with growth, learning, and, most of all, joy.