Dinner guests enjoyed a musical performance by the BCDS choir, joined by the school’s eighth-graders. Newly returned from their month-long Israel Experience, the eighth-graders brought with them spirit of the Jewish state.

Close to 450 guests filled the ballroom of the Hilton Stamford Hotel on Sunday, May 6, to pay tribute to Linda and Len Russ of Stamford, and several other Jewish community leaders, for their commitment to Jewish education and their dedication to community service at the Bi-Cultural Day School (BCDS) Celebration Dinner. Among those in attendance was U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who presented each honoree with a certificate of commendation.

An annual event, the theme of this year’s Celebration Dinner was “Blue Ribbon,” in recognition of the school’s recent designation as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition to the evening’s Guests of Honor, Linda and Leonard Russ, the school presented awards to Larry Rezak (Community Service Award), Craig L. Price (Young Leadership Award), and Dr. Pamela Schaffer Singer (Alumni Award). Pia Walker, the school’s longtime administrative secretary, received the Jane Shoztic Memorial Award, presented annually to an outstanding member of staff.

CAP: At the BCDS Celebration Dinner were (l to r): Rabbi Tzvi Bernstein, BCDS dean; Head of School Jackie Herman; honorees, Dr. Pamela Schaffer Singer, Larry Rezak, Len and Linda Russ, Pia Walker, and Craig L. Price; and BCDS President David Pitkoff.