“It’s okay, Sadie. Your mom will be back to get you soon.”
That was the refrain every morning in the “two’s” classroom at the Early Childhood Center when Isabelle Rome would try to comfort her friend, Sadie Margolis, just after parent drop-off.
The girls would always be by each other’s side through 3 years of classes at the ECC, Act Out activities, swim lessons in the JCC pool with their dads and various JCC camps. When Sadie became involved with the JCC Youth Theater Program, Isabelle was always in the front row and greeted Sadie with flowers to congratulate her on her stellar performances.
Isabelle and Sadie would go on to be by each other’s sides through Bugbee Elementary School, enjoying many birthday parties, play dates and classes together. During a holiday break, they even got together at Sadie’s grandparents’ house in Los Angeles, and the families became long-time friends.
The girls would find themselves still together for high school at Kingswood-Oxford School. This time, they were there to comfort each other once again-through the college application process and finally at the close of high school at graduation. While they were once by each other’s side wearing their pull-up diapers, they were now by each other’s sides wearing sparkly gowns and posing for senior prom photos.
While Sadie and Isabelle will be attending college many miles apart, Sadie celebrated Isabelle’s 18th birthday with a gift of a “long distance friendship lamp” which connects the two girls and signals that they are thinking of one another. This way they can still remain by each other’s sides.
There are countless stories of friends and families meeting at the Mandell JCC’s ECC and becoming lifelong friends. “Our teachers often refer to their classes as a ‘school family’ and that could not be more accurate. In addition to lifelong friendships forged amongst the children, the same can be said for the faculty. After spending the better part of my life at the ECC, I’ve got my crew of ‘J girls,’ including both past and present staff members, and we continue to plan annual holiday brunches every December. They have been there for me at every major milestone, even standing beside me at my wedding.” says ECC Co-Director Andrea Rosenfeld.
ECC Co-Director Gen Delay Pasternak adds, “In addition to being an ECC administrator, I have also been fortunate to have had all 3 of my own children attend our school. They developed close friendships, some with children they have known since they were born. They now look forward to catching up with preschool friends each summer at camp. The ECC is a true community the extends beyond the walls of our school, and our family is so thankful to be part of it!”
Former ECC co-director, Rhonda Wirth, who also witnessed these bonds of friendship throughout her years at the school, shared, “My son, Josh, is an ECC alum whose group of friends we refer to as the ‘JCC buddies.’ Now in their early 30’s, they have attended each other’s weddings and stood side by side as groomsmen.”
“ECC friends are forever friends.”
