A new year at Edmonton Talmud Torah School

By Natalie Soroka

(AJNews) – The 2021-22 school year at Edmonton Talmud Torah School looks different this year for several reasons. One exciting reason is two recent additions to our teaching staff – Sofie Novak and Marlee Soroka.

Sofie is new to Edmonton, having moved from Vancouver where she went to a private Yiddish school. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and is currently working on her Masters in Jewish Education with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Sofie is teaching Grade 4 Hebrew language arts, Judaic Studies, and art at Talmud Torah this year. She is looking forward to establishing roots in Edmonton and making it her home and is very excited to be a part of the Talmud Torah family!

Marlee is a Class of 2010 Grade 9 TT graduate and proud alumna. She has a BSc specialization in Psychology, and an after degree in elementary education, both from the University of Alberta. Marlee spent last year subbing at a variety of schools in Edmonton, including several stints at Talmud Torah. She even substitute taught in her former teacher Ari Sniderman’s Grade 3 class! This year Marlee is teaching all core subjects in Grade 2, taking over the remainder of Jessica Holtzman’s maternity leave. She is thrilled to be back at TT, seeing familiar students and former teachers, like Robin Marcus and Principal Sandra Marianicz. A full circle indeed!

Our students are excited to learn with these new teachers, of course, as well as the awesome and familiar faces of Jennifer Kovacs, Robin Marcus, Bianna Kuksin, Ari Sniderman, Ben Ragosin and Lindsey Campbell. Along with Educational Assistants, Elena Troskyi and Flor Aromin, the 2021-22 school year looks very bright.

Similar to last year, due to Edmonton Public School Board Covid restrictions, schools are restricted from serving food to students at the start of this school year. Talmud Torah Society has stepped up again to run the popular challah bun program, free of charge to its families.

Thanks to Bliss Baked Goods baking over 400 kosher, nut free challah buns at a time, the program can continue. Families pick up their challah packages from Natalie Soroka’s house every six weeks or so. The students often comment to Natalie at school that they can’t wait to come back again to get more challah buns!

The parents love that their children can continue to participate in Shabbat at school every Friday with their classmates, by bringing a challah bun from home.