Anniversary Dinner
Westchester Day School's 76th Anniversary Dinner: Now MORE than ever.
Westchester Day School (WDS) recently celebrated its 76th Anniversary Dinner, an evening steeped in Achdut (unity), themed "Now MORE than ever." The event resonated deeply, addressing the prevailing challenges facing Medinat Yisrael amid rising antisemitism.
Rabbi Rockoff, Head of School, encapsulated the essence of the evening, emphasizing the significance of togetherness not merely in physical presence but in purpose and solidarity. "B’yachad," he stressed, reflects a connection, a unified resolve mirroring echad (one) and achdut (unity).
The dinner spotlighted education as a vital tool in combating hate and safeguarding the Jewish community. WDS, as a beacon, nurtures an environment fostering love for Israel and Judaism while upholding academic excellence.
Alumni were featured prominently throughout the night ( and nationally on the Media) for their articulate and informed perspectives on Israel, a testament to WDS's impact. The Prize Drawing, themed "Made in Israel, purchased in Israel," featured an array of prizes embodying Israel's essence—art, jewelry, cosmetics, gourmet food, wine, and unique experiences.
This year's honorees - Batya & George Puro, Rachel & Jonathan Rosenfeld, Dara & Matthew Shatzkes, alongside WDS Science Teacher Becky Shapiro, epitomize unwavering dedication to WDS. Their commitment is honored alongside WDS's enduring emphasis on Israel's importance within its curriculum.
It was abundantly clear from the dinner that WDS produces and nurtures proud advocates for Judaism and Yisrael.
Now, more than ever, the community is urged to rally around WDS, ensuring it continues empowering children to embrace their Jewish roots, as they are our next generation of leaders.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Batya and George Puro
Batya and George Puro are the proud parents of Deborah (‘22), David (’24), Jacob (’26) and Esther (’28). They have been part of the WDS family since 2012. Batya is an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, and George runs a market research firm from his office in White Plains, overlooking the swing set in the backyard. George serves as a Trustee on the Board and has been on the Recruitment Committee and the Head of School Search Committee. More importantly, George is a transport specialist to/from WDS most mornings, as well as many evenings and weekends. He also can be found at WDS at school plays, hockey and basketball games, and has even served the students lunch from the WDS kitchen. Batya has been a Class Parent, a co-chair of the Parent-Teacher Liaison Committee and a co-organizer of the WDS bar/bat mitzvah gift program. She has enjoyed using her medical expertise at Mr. Slater’s Immigration Simulation. Batya and George are members of the Hebrew Institute of White Plains and Young Israel of White Plains. They are indebted to all of the teachers, coaches and administrators at Westchester Day School who have created such a wonderful environment for their children and prepared them so well to be leaders in high school and beyond. Also, the cookies. (Thanks Chef Chris!)
Rachel and Jon Rosenfeld
Rachel and Jon Rosenfeld are the proud parents of Emily ('18), Evie (’20), and Lucy (‘23). The Rosenfeld Family has been associated with Westchester Day School for over 50 years. With Jon having grown up in Scarsdale and graduating from WDS (class of 1990), there was never any doubt that the Rosenfeld children would attend WDS.
Jon is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AWH Partners, a real estate investment firm. He has served on the WDS Board of Trustees for the past 17 years and has chaired both the investment and audit committees. Over the years, Rachel has chaired the Teacher Appreciation committee and the Parent Liaison Committee and has volunteered for both the Learning to Look program and on various dinner committees. Rachel and Jon are both avid supporters of the WDS Girls Hockey Program (thank you Ari Loren!!). At games, Jon can be found standing “quietly” near the goalie crease and drinking multiple diet cokes while Rachel is sitting in the stands (and hopefully not tumbling down them). Rachel and Jon are active members of the Young Israel of Scarsdale. Additionally, Jon serves on the Board of Trustees at The Ramaz School and Rachel is an active member of the Westchester Chevra Kadisha.
Dara and Matthew Shatzkes
Dara and Matthew Shatzkes are the extremely proud parents of Madison ('24), Emma ('26), and Nathan (’29) and have been a part of the Westchester Day School family since 2014. Dara is a New York City Public School teacher. She is a passionate advocate of education and Westchester Day School. Over the years, she has been active in advising the school on educational matters. Dara can be spotted at girls hockey games, numerous events, and occasionally on the carpool line. Matthew is a healthcare attorney and a partner at Bochner, PLLC. He serves on WDS’ Board of Trustees and has served on several committees of the Board including the Executive Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee. Matthew enjoys volunteering as a chaperone on class trips whenever he can. Dara and Matthew strongly believe in the value of a Westchester Day School education. They are incredibly grateful to the Westchester Day School administration and faculty for meeting and supporting each of their children’s educational and emotional needs.
Becky Shapiro: Educator Award: Becky Shapiro Collins, K-6 Science teacher and STEM Coordinator
Although Becky Shapiro didn’t always think she’d be a science teacher, maybe she should have. From an early age, she was leading friends on nature walks through the woods, camping with the Girl Scouts and leading younger scouts, and working as a nature counselor at summer camps. She had an early childhood interest in marine biology, which led to her working as a scuba dive instructor in the Caribbean during college. When she drove through the woods for her interview at WDS in 2011 and saw the school’s location on the water, she knew this would be the place for her to teach and incorporate her love for nature and the ocean into her curriculum. On any given day, you might find her elbow-deep in her intertidal fish tank, strumming her ukulele and singing about the water cycle, or having her sixth graders extrapolate data about invasive crab populations based on crab count surveys on the beach. As the first designated Elementary Science teacher at WDS, she has spent the last 13 years developing and refining an expansive, standards-based, experiential learning curriculum for students in grades K-6. She was instrumental in the construction of the WDS garden ten years ago, and prior to WDS’s partnership with Grow Torah last year, single handedly managed and coordinated its use. Always looking to help the WDS team, she has also filled in as the 7th and 8th grade science teacher on four separate occasions.
In 2014, WDS was issued a grant to develop a STEAM curriculum. Becky spent that summer in various training sessions and returned to build the WDS Maker Space, equipped with 3D printers, a laser cutter, Arduino kits and more. For the past eight years, in addition to incorporating technology into the science curriculum, she has helped facilitate engineering electives for grades 6-8 and coordinate with the elementary teachers to incorporate STEAM projects into their classrooms. Under her direction, each grade from ganon-8th grade has participated in at least one large-scale, project-based STEAM unit per year. As part of WDS’s partnership with CIJE (the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education), Becky has also received continuous professional development in Science and STEM education, including a week-long training in Israel.
Becky is a graduate of Scarsdale High School, the University of Delaware (BA), and Manhattanville College (MPS). She currently lives in Pelham with her family: husband Eric Collins, sons Henry (6), Charlie (4), and daughter Maggie (6 months). Her parents are still in Scarsdale where she grew up and her mother Marcy is her biggest cheerleader as well as critical child care support. Her boys attended Ganon at WDS (Charlie is currently in Ganon Zahav) and it has been a highlight of her career to get to watch them learn and grow in such a warm, welcoming, and beautiful place.