Anniversary Dinner
The Anniversary Gala dinner is our school’s largest annual fundraiser, a vital source for closing financial gaps that tuition alone cannot cover. The generosity of our WDS community enables us to uphold an exceptional dual-curriculum education, cater to the holistic needs of our students, offer diverse learning opportunities, amplify our spirit, and extend a welcoming hand to Israeli families who faced temporary displacement this year —all while addressing heightened security needs post October 7th.
77th Annual Anniversary Dinner
In today’s world, the light of Jewish education, community, and achdut (unity) continues to inspire and guide us. At WDS, we ensure our children excel academically and embrace the values of chesed and kindness. This year’s theme, A small amount of light pushes away much darkness, reflects our commitment to igniting the light (or spark) in every WDS child, inspiring them to shine in all they do.
Every day, we strive to nurture our students' Jewish identities, nurture their growth as they develop into thoughtful individuals who carry the torch of Torah and mitzvot with pride. Children are the shining lights of our future, embracing the spirit of Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael, representing the Jewish people wherever life takes them.
Your partnership allows us to meet the evolving needs of our school today. The Annual Dinner provides essential financial support, enabling us to continue offering an exceptional dual-curriculum, addressing the social-emotional needs of our students, and creating enriching experiences that empower them to shine... even brighter!
This year, we are honored to recognize Rachel Berger Groner & Samuel Groner and Pamela & Aaron Lauchheimer for their unwavering dedication to WDS. We are also proud to present Dena Ingerman with the Nediv Lev Award, in recognition of her years of chesed and devoted volunteering at WDS and the Faculty Award to our Art Specialist, Jolanta Goldstein, whose creativity and passion has made a lasting impact on our students.
Rachel Berger Groner and Sammy Groner
Sammy Groner and Rachel Berger Groner are the proud parents of Hadar ('22) and Merav ('25). Their family joined the Westchester Day School (WDS) community in 2014, when Hadar began 1st grade. For Rachel, this marked a return to her roots as a WDS alumna from the Class of 1994, where she spent her formative years from Ganon through 8th grade. She feels incredibly fortunate to give Hadar and Merav the same exceptional educational experiences she fondly remembers.
Sammy and Rachel reside in Yonkers, where they are active members of their local and Jewish communities. Sammy is a litigation partner at Fried Frank and has served WDS in multiple capacities, including as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee. His contributions have included co-chairing the Strategic Initiatives Committee and serving on the Development Committee. Beyond WDS, Sammy is a member of the ADL’s New York Regional Board and serves on the Board of the Etzion Foundation. Previously, he was Vice President of Young Israel Ohab Zedek of North Riverdale/Yonkers (YIOZ) and continues to be deeply involved in shul and community activities. Sammy cherishes every opportunity to support his daughters, from attending their school plays and singing along to the fun songs they’ve learned about Rashi, Ushpizin, and grammar, to cheering Merav on at 7th and 8th grade girls’ basketball games.
Rachel, a veterinarian with her own mobile practice, specializes in nutritional therapy and dietary consultations for pets. She has enthusiastically shared her time and talents with WDS through various volunteer roles, including teaching and chairing the WDS Learning to Look Art Appreciation program from 2018 to 2021. She has also assisted at the annual Book Fair, participated in Mr. Slater’s 4th Grade Immigration Simulation (as the resident doctor!), and supported family recruitment efforts in Riverdale. Rachel currently coordinates and maintains the WDS Bar/Bat Mitzvah Gift Program and Calendar. Outside of WDS, she volunteers with the American Museum of Natural History’s afterschool program and walks dogs for the nonprofit organization PAWS NY.
Sammy and Rachel’s unwavering commitment to WDS and their active involvement in its programs and initiatives reflect their deep appreciation for the school and its impact on their family. They are thrilled to be part of a community that has shaped not only their daughters’ lives but also their own.
Pamela and Aaron Lauchheimer
Pamela and Aaron Lauchheimer are the proud parents of Michael (‘22), Andrew (’25), and Emma (’25). They have been part of our WDS family since 2010. Pamela is a product manager at USAA, and Aaron is a litigation partner at Morrison Cohen LLP. Pamela joined the PTA on Michael’s first day at WDS and is most proud of her prowess for selling WDS swag. Leading by example, Pamela told Aaron it was important to be involved in their kids’ school. Aaron took Pamela a little too seriously and has served as a Trustee on the Board since 2011, including serving as President of the Board from 2018-2023 (like we said, a little too seriously). Pamela and Aaron cannot believe that this is their last year with kids in WDS. They are relieved that their nephew, William Spier (‘34), is in the Ganon so they will have an excuse to continue attending events at WDS. Pamela and Aaron are members of the Young Israel of Scarsdale, where Pamela serves as Treasurer and is a member of the Executive Committee. Pamela and Aaron were not afforded enough space here to fully express their feelings towards everyone who makes Westchester Day School the extraordinary school that it is, so they will simply say, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Dena Ingerman: Nediv Lev Award
Dena Ingerman is the proud mother of A
ndrew ('24), Hailey ('27), and Noah ('31). Since moving to Scarsdale in January 2015, Dena and her husband Jason have been dedicated members of the Westchester Day School (WDS) community. Their excitement to join WDS was so great that they moved mid-school year to enroll Andrew, diving headfirst into their new chapter.
Dena is an attorney at the Law Office of Alan J. Garfunkel LLC, a small corporate firm. Yet, despite her professional commitments, she is a constant presence at WDS, offering her time and skills wherever needed. Over the years, Dena has taken on formal roles such as class parent, PTA Treasurer, and PTA President. However, some of her most cherished WDS moments have been less formal. A true innovator, Dena introduced the school to the art of maple syrup making after successfully tapping her own trees. Collaborating with our Science educator, she engaged students in the fun experiential learning process of both tapping trees around campus, and making syrup that everyone enjoyed. When school spirit called for balloon towers, Dena rallied her family—Jason and the kids included—to inflate and assemble them. Last year, as a member of the Dinner decor committee, Dena transformed her living room into a water bead preparation station to create stunning centerpieces. And finally, who can forget the alpacas Dena helped bring to campus, for the Class of '24 graduation videoshoot?! Those who know Dena know that if she is not at work or WDS, she must be busy adding sparkle and joy to the world through her incredible bedazzling talent!
If there’s a task that needs doing—especially at odd hours or on weekends—you can count on Dena to step up, not because she can’t say no, but because she genuinely values contributing to the WDS community. For Dena, being involved at WDS is a privilege that allows her to teach her children the importance of community and the joy of giving back. Dena is deeply grateful to be part of a school that celebrates each individual's contributions. She considers it an honor to send her children to WDS, a place that fosters connection, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Jolanta Goldstein: Faculty Award
Jolanta Goldstein was born and raised in Poland, where she attended a professional music school and earned a degree in music and education, followed by a master’s degree in literature and pedagogy from the University of Gdansk. Her journey soon took her to Israel, where she pursued graduate studies and began a deeply personal exploration of her family’s history.
Her passion for uncovering stories of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust led her to conduct extensive research, interviewing survivors across Israel, the United States, Poland, England, and Australia. She further honed her expertise through studies in Jerusalem, Oxford, and Brandeis. Jolanta later utilized her linguistic skills and research background to support Holocaust restitution efforts, working with the State of New York and the Claims Conference to assist survivors.
After becoming a mother, Jolanta returned to her roots in music and education, creating a classical music and visual arts appreciation program initially for her own children. The program’s success led her to introduce it at their nursery school, where she further refined and expanded it to engage older students.
For the past two decades, Jolanta has been a dedicated educator, with over a decade spent at Westchester Day School. Starting as a parent volunteer, she eventually became the school’s beloved art specialist.
What Jolanta treasures most about teaching is not just sharing her passion for art and music with her students but also watching them grow creatively. She finds immense joy in helping them push the boundaries of their imagination, discover their unique artistic voices, and take pride in their creations. Seeing students share their love of art through various chesed (kindness) projects has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her work at WDS.
Beyond teaching, Jolanta enjoys creating her own art, crafting for meaningful causes, listening to music, walking in nature, and spending time with animals. She is deeply grateful for the sense of community she has found at WDS and in Westchester, which have become a true family for her and her two wonderful sons, Avi and Ben.