**Anniversaries prompt us to think about what has been done.**

For children’s enrichment center, is it the number of lessons given? music pieces learned? artworks created? school grades improved? students who made music and art their profession? children whose lives have been enriched over years?

2021 added another criteria to the list: survival. Maybe it was a proximity of the round date that among other factors helped me to keep it running in 2020.

Thank you for staying with us over the turmoil of the last 20 months.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Teacher Spotlight

Natalia Smirnova

Out of all the teachers who work at the Do-Re-Mi today, Natalia joined us the first. She called me back in the fall 2002 and said that she only agreed to leave Riga (where she was awarded “Teacher of the Year 2000” award) if she would continue working as a teacher, so she’s determined to start immediately.
Russian reading and writing, literature, theater, Russian as a second language - her teaching repertoire is huge, her love for children and for teaching is immense, and her lessons are not only filled with “learning materials,” but with fun, energy, artistry and true inspiration.

Wishing Natalia to stay in great shape and share her love to Russian language, literature and culture with more and more children!

From 2012 to 2020, Natalia was the Do-Re-Mi Russian Theater director.

In September 2021, Natalia’s Advanced Theater group production “Dragon” (2020) received a Diploma “Sapphire Duke”. The show was nominated in the category of “Development of creative abilities of children and youth.”

Welcome New Students!

Aadya R. - Chess; Aarav J. - Chess; Abigail B. - Music for the Young; Abigaile L. - Russian; Adam S. - Chess; Adam S. - Math; Aleksandr S. - Russian; Alexander M. - Piano; Alexander R. - Russian; Alexey B. - Piano; Alexey S. - Russian; Alisa V. - Russian, Art; Andrej M. - Piano; Andrew R.- Math; Angela L. - Piano; Anna B. - Music for the Young; Anna K. - Piano; Asher C. - Chess; Ava K. - Piano; Avery C. - Chess; Avi A. - Piano; Avishi K. - Piano; Ben D. - Chess; Benjamin D. - Chess; Benjamin V. - Chess; Brayden W. - Chess; Brendan A. - Piano; Brett K. - Piano; Caitlin M. - Piano; Celia W. - Piano; Christina V. - Russian, Art; Clare L. - Art; Constantine P. -Russian; Daniel J. - Russian, Art; Daniel L. - Chess; Dasha P. - Russian, Art; David S. - Art; David V. - Chess; Dean L. - Math; Dhilan D. - Piano; Edgar M. - Piano; Eitan L. - Math; Elias L. - Piano, Russian, Chess; Elizaveta K. - Piano, Singing; Ella N. - Art; Emma M. - Piano; Emma P. - Math; Gabriel M. - Piano; George P. - Chess; Gia M. - Art; Gianluca H. - Piano; Hannah V. - Piano; Hazel H. - Music for the Young; Ivan B. - Piano; Jaden W. - Chess; Jerrick C. - Chess; John L. - Math; Jonathan G. - Math; Julia A. - Russian; Julia J. - Piano; Kayla G. - Piano; Kiaan H. - Piano; Leela P. - Piano; Leeza G. - Piano; Leo L. - Math; Leo Z. - Art; Leslie W. - Piano; Leyla D. - Art; Lili S. - Art; Logan E. - Chess; Luka N. - Math, Russian; Maksym C. - Art; Malcolm M. - Piano; Mannya S. - Piano; Maria K. - Piano; Marie S.- Piano; Mateo A. - Russian; Matteo P. - Music for the Young; Matthew Z. - Russian, Music for the Young; Matvey Y. - Russian; Max B. - Piano; Megan H. - Russian; Mia D. - Piano; Michael B. - Music for the Young; Michael P. - Math; Nandaj S. - Piano; Nathan H. - Russian; Naveen P. - Piano; Neha P. - Piano; Noah S. - Chess; Olivia B. - Math, Piano; Olivia R. - Russian; Petra N. - Piano, Russian, Art; Reese B. - Math; Riddhi C. - Piano; Rihaan S. - Piano; Sanaath B. - Art, Piano; Savva P. - Russian, Art; Sevastian P. - Russian; Sricharan B. - Art, Piano; Surbhi C. - Chess; Tate S. - Piano; Theodore W. - Chess; Troy S. - Piano; Udanah S. - Piano; Vanessa M. - Piano; Vera S. - Piano; Victor G. - Russian; Vigyaant J. - Chess; Vihaan C. - Chess; Vlad R. - Chess; Wesley M. - Piano; Willa H. - Music for the Young; Xinyang Z. - Piano; Yoana Z. - Ukulele, Chess; Yoni L. - Math; Yoona L. - Art; Yvicka A. - Violin; Zachary C. - Chess; Zakhar W. - Russian; Zander V. - Chess; Zara P. - Math, Piano; Zoe A. - Russian

Thank you for helping us help others!

For several years, we donate $20 for each new student or $30 for each new family to various charities.
This time, we split our funds between Community Food Bank of NJ and Musicians foundation.

**Community Food Bank of NJ**

This organization not only collect monetary donations, but also provides Food service training program and works as “food rescuer”. Last year, the **Community FoodBank of New Jersey** rescued more than 9 million pounds of nutritious food that would otherwise have been wasted from grocers to help feed struggling families. A large part of food is distributed among children.
https://cfbnj.org/

Another receiver is **Musicians Foundation** - organization providing aid that enables performers, educators, composers, and arrangers to continue pursuing their artistic process and vision.
**Musicians Foundation** is dedicated to assisting musicians, and their families, in times of emergency, crisis, or transition.

https://www.musiciansfoundation.org

Mini Art Camp

On Columbus Day and one of the NJ Teachers’ Convention days, when schools were closed, we had amazing mini day-camps.
Kids not only created artwork, but also enjoyed games and outdoor time.
The project on the photos: “Flying people” and “Animals”.