January 31, 2025 by
Across the grades, the STEM department incorporates engineering design into its curriculum, often in order to tackle real world problems. Below, we feature examples:
January 29, 2025 by
On Friday, January 17, family members of our Pre-K class gathered to celebrate their children’s learning. Throughout the morning, students shared what they had learned and done from August through January, from Hebrew and Judaics to general studies. This Chagigat Halomedim, or celebration of learning, largely featured the students’ year-long study of identity. As Pre-K […]
September 8, 2016 by
Last Friday, sixth graders at JPDS-NC were visited by Leora Klapper, an economist at the World Bank and a parent at our school. Ms. Klapper spoke to our class about how to set a budget and manage money so that we can play a role in financing our class trip to New York City this […]
September 7, 2016 by
I had the opportunity to visit some classrooms during Shabbat Lunch last Friday, as the first week of school was wrapping up. It was heart-warming to see our students, new and returning, engaged in learning and conversation with each other! As the academic year starts to unfold, I am proud to share with you the highlights […]
September 6, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe reviews the justice system for the Bnei Yisrael. Moshe talks about the limits future kings should have on their possessions and explains that the Kohanim [priests] and Levi’im [Levites] should not be paid and should survive on donations from the people. Finally, Moshe explains the laws of warfare. The system of […]
September 1, 2016 by
Every August, I find myself counting the days until the start of the academic year when the building fills with the sound of children’s greetings, laughter, and excitement, and the school begins to hum with the energy and whirring minds of the teachers. As in years past, we began preparing for your children not by […]
August 31, 2016 by
Welcome to the new school year! We were so happy to see our friends and teachers at Meet the Teachers Day and on the First Day of School. Watch our “First Days of School” video to see the smiling faces filling our hallways and classrooms. We look forward to a great 2016-17 school year!
August 30, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe instructs Bnei Yisrael (the Israelites) regarding idolatry, false prophets, pure and impure foods, tithes, freeing slaves, and pilgrimage festivals. The section about false prophets (13:2-6) raises questions in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 90a): Is there such a thing as a human being who is able to cause miracles to happen? And, […]
August 25, 2016 by
Experience and research show that engaging students to follow their curiosity, to experience the joy in learning, and to enjoy the satisfaction of mastery ignites innate motivation and drives intellectual growth. Across the educational spectrum, this observation is often presented as a dichotomy: educators who emphasize joy and curiosity as the vehicles for driving enduring […]
August 24, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe continues his speech to the Bnei Yisrael, reminding them to keep Hashem’s commandments when they enter the land of Israel. Chapter 8, verses 3-10 describe a literal or metaphorical partnership between Hashem and the Jewish people and the dichotomy between our physical and spiritual existences. These verses open with the principle, […]
August 17, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe stresses to the Bnei Yisrael the importance of keeping Hashem’s commandments when they enter the land of Israel; Moshe repeats the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) and utters the Sh’ma and V’ahavta passages. Two poignant stories, one from the ancient world and one from the last century, revolve around the recitation of […]
August 10, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe recounts to the Bnei Yisrael different episodes from the 40 years in the wilderness; he gives them encouragement as they look ahead to their upcoming conquest of the land of Cana’an. One of the episodes Moshe recounts is the defeat of Og, King of the Bashan. The original story occurs in […]
