2016 Events
2016 International Korczak Association (IKA) Conference
This year’s annual conference took place in Holland, October 12-October 15. The title of the conference was “Trust as the Foundation of Emotional Safety”. Tatyana Tsyrlina Spady, board member of the Korczak Association USA attended the conference and can share with you the materials. She can be reached at tsyrlina@aol.com.
2016 International Brain Gym® Conference
This year’s annual conference took place June 23-June 26 in Portland, Maine. The title for the 2016 conference was Port of Potential. Mariola gave a talk on “How to Love a Child”. The Take a Break Area from the Five Star Program® was of great interest to many international attendees. To learn more visit the Educational Kinesiology Foundation website at http://www.edukconference.org.
Board Member writes Essay
In 2016, Professor Sara Efrat Efron, wrote an essay about Dr. Korczak for the PRISM Journal. PRISM is an interdisciplinary peer reviewed journal for Holocaust educators. Her essay, pages 18-23, titled Janusz Korczak Educator: Teaching Humanity in the Face of Evil contains illustrations from Tomek Bogacki’s Champion of Children book and DanielBerek’s private Dr. Korczak’s collection.
Our Founder’s book gets Published
“The Five Star Program™-A Step-by-Step Teacher’s Guide to Innovative Classroom Strategies that Awaken Students’ Unique Potential” has been published and is available at Createspace and Amazon. Our founder, Mariola Strahlberg created a simple five-step process to help students improve their academic performance, manage stress, and foster a positive attitude towards learning. The program has been used for many years in local schools, summer camps, after school programs and in Mariola’s private practice. To learn more visit Five Star Program™.
JKA-USA involved in Polish Saturday School
Since April 2015, Mariola has been working with a Polish Saturday School in Mahwah, NJ to introduce children to the teachings of Korczak, life in the orphanage, the idea of children’s rights and the Five-Star Program. Click here to read more.
2015 Events
Polish Consulate in NYC involved in Korczak
In July 2015, Mariola met with the Consul General Urszula Gacek and Vice Consul Alicja Tunk at the Polish Consulate in NYC and together they developed a plan for future collaborations. Click here to read more.
CATS Conference, Caux, Switzerland, July 27-August 2, 2015
In 2015, Mariola brought along Erin Schirm and Nick VanSant to participate and present at the CATS conference. Both of them have been long time supporters of JKA-USA and have been working with youth in their professional lives. Click here to read more.
Bergen County Jewish Community Center Training
In June 2015, Mariola held a training session for the summer camp staff on the Five Star Program™ at the JCC in Washington Township NJ. For the past 7 years she has been bringing her five star ideas to the staff who works with autistic children. The counselors found cross lateral movements, PACE music and relaxation exercises helpful for calming the participants.
Five Star Program™ helps Children
In May 2015, Mariola and 6 volunteers completed their involvement in the after school homework help program at the Spring Valley Public Library of NY for the 2014/15 school year. Click here to read more.
Marcia Talmage Schneider’s Book is out!
On June 9th 2015, the publication of her book Janusz Korczak: Sculptor of Children’s Souls was celebrated at Congregation of Ansche Chesed in New York City. Members of our board attended. Click here to read more and see this article.
Alexander Hamilton Elementary School Donates to our Cause
In June 2015 – The Hamilton Elementary School in Glen Rock, NJ held a fundraiser to collect materials needed for the Homework Help program in Spring Valley NY. They collected much needed basic school supplies, educational games, books and many other wonderful items to benefit the children of the East Ramapo NY School District who participate in the program. Click here to read more.
“Lacing up for Freedom Walkathon”
In May 2015 we participated in a walkathon at Ridgewood Duck Pond for Durga Tree International, Inc. They are a NJ based non-profit who raise money for several grassroots organizations working to end modern day slavery of children. Click here to read more or visit them at Durgatreeinternational.com.
2014 Events
Exhibit: Janusz Korczak Educational Moments
During March and April of 2014, Finkelstein Library in Spring Valley, NY has hosted JKA-USA exhibit entitled “Janusz Korczak – Educational Moments”. This exhibit contains 14 posters depicting the life in the orphanage and the story of Janusz Korczak and Stefa Wilczynska . The exhibit closed on Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 27, and was marked by several special activities. Click here to read more…
Holocaust Remembrance Day
On April 27, 2014, JKA-USA staff held a ceremony at the Finkelstein Library in Spring Valley, NY in cooperation with Library personnel. The event was well attended by more than 50 people. Activities included a reading of Korczak story, an art project for children, prayers and music. Click here to read more.
Tribute To Korczakowo Camp Founder Jerzy Zgodzinski
Jerzy Zgodzinski, the founder of Korczakowo and beloved “Chief” to his students who called themselves “Korczakians”, died on June 22 just one week before the 2014 Camp’s opening. The camp, located in an unpolluted forest in Poland, is based on the teachings of Korczak. Click here to read more.
Butterfly Memorial for Korczak and Zgodzinski
In August 2014, during the Korczakowo Camp session, one day was dedicated to creating butterflies symbolizing peace, love and children’s rights. The butterflies were displayed to pay tribute to Korczak and the camp’s founder, Jerzy Zgodzinski who died suddenly just before the camp was to begin. Click here to read more.
2013 Events
Summer at Korczakowo and CATS Conference
Shining Mountain Center for Peaceful Childhood, the Janusz Korczak Association of the USA and many generous donors, sponsored a wonderful summer experience for four young Americans to attend Korczakowo Camp in Poland and the International CATS youth conference in Caux, Switzerland…. Click here to read more.