Local News
First incidence of possible COVID exposure in Kaufman Silverberg Child Care Centre at Rady JCC reported
By BERNIE BELLAN
The first incidence of possible COVID exposure in one of the two child care centres operated by the Rady JCC was reported on December 5.
On December 10 we were notified by a parent of a child in the child care centre located at the Asper Campus that parents of infants and toddlers (up to three years of age) had been told to keep their children at home until December 17. That parent had said that one of the workers in the child care centre had tested positive for COVID.
We contacted Rob Berkowits, Executive Director of the Rady JCC, to attempt to ascertain the degree to which children in the Kaufman Silverberg Child Centre, which is located in the Asper Campus, may have been exposed to COVID. We asked whether it was true that a worker in the child care centre had tested positive and, if so, had the child care centre been closed?
In an email received from Rob on December 15, he wrote the following:
Dear Bernie,
Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in the Rady JCC Early Learning Programs.
The Rady Early Learning Centre has been providing ongoing care for families at our both locations since the start of the outbreak last March.. At the first stages of the Pandemic, children of Critical and Essential workers were attending our centres while maintaining a healthy and safe environment for children, parents and educators. The high number of cases in the Province this last November and the declaration of Code Red in Manitoba has exposed us to one positive case of COVID-19. The individual was at our main Early Learning Centre: The Kaufman Child Care Centre, located on the Asper Jewish Community Campus – 123 Doncaster Street. This individual was asymptomatic (for the full days of care) on Monday, November 30, Tuesday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2 but symptoms became prevalent the following day. The individual did not visit the Centre on December 3rd and was directed to get tested and notify the Director of the results. This individual was in contact with the infant/toddler cohort. The Rady was advised of a positive result for that individual in the late evening of Saturday, December 5th.
The Centre was closed on Monday, December 7th for a deep cleanse and disinfection while waiting for Public Health to advise on all steps required to follow in order to be able to reopen as soon as possible. The David and Ruth Asper Early Learning Centre remained open and care continued to be offered for all the children registered at that location. There have been no cases at this site or the possibility of cross contamination with the individual that tested positive.
The following steps were taken to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children, parents and educators as part of our COVID-19 response policy:
- Deep cleaning and sanitizing of the Centre including toys, furniture, equipment, and all frequently touched surface areas. Electrostatic fogging was also used in all areas including the front lobby, front washrooms and areas in/around the child care centre in the building.
- A COVID-19 incident report was sent to the Child Care Coordinator from Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care. The report was also sent to the Rady JCC’s Public Health Inspector.
- Health Links was contacted as soon as the positive case was reported. Public Health followed up with the individual that had tested positive for the purpose of contact tracing.
We continue to stress the importance of reducing the risk of COVID-19 through reinforcing the actions recommended by Health Canada and the provincial government to educators, children and parents that include washing your hands often, not touching your face, practicing safe social distancing, wearing a mask, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
The Centre was reopened on Tuesday, December 8th to all those that are registered with the exception of those children and educators that may have been in contact with the individual. Health Link advised the Rady Early Learning Centres Director to inform those individuals to self-isolate until Wednesday, December 16 . All educators were asked to get tested and each of them reported a Negative result.
The Kaufman Childcare Centre will be open to all our families (including the infant/toddler cohort) on Thursday, December 17th.
Warm regards,
Rob
PS 28 children (12 infants & 16 toddlers) compose the infant/toddler cohort at this location. The Centre provides service for 113 children in total.
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Local News
First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
