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 […]
March 29, 2016 by
Founding Middle School Director and current Sixth Grade teacher Lisa Schopf recently authored an article that was published in ASCD Express, an educational leadership publication that features academic articles highlighting innovative solutions and best practices among professional educators. In her article, “Habits of Mind for Now and Later,” Lisa discusses how she introduced her Sixth Grade students to the […]
March 28, 2016 by
After the dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the ordination of the cohanim (priests), two of Aharon’s sons bring a strange fire before God and are consumed by fire; God then instructs Moshe and Aharon regarding which animals, fish, and birds may be eaten by the Bnei Yisrael. An interesting point appears in chapter 11, […]
March 24, 2016 by
Two JPDS-NC sixth grade students and two alumni students were awarded first-place ribbons and special prizes at the DC STEM Fair. The DC STEM Fair is the premier science event for students in grades 6 to 12 who attend independent and public schools in the nation’s capital. Sixth graders Gabriel B. and Yael N. earned […]
March 22, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem tells Moshe to describe to the cohanim (priests) the rituals for some of the offerings; the cohanim then undergo the process of ordination. As part of the process of ordination, Moshe commands Aharon and his sons as follows (8:33): “You shall not go out from the door of the tent of […]
March 16, 2016 by
In this parasha, God commands Moshe regarding various types of korbanot (animal and vegetative offerings): under what circumstances they should be offered, and what they should consist of. An interesting verse appears in Chapter 2, which may shed some light on a popular tradition [verse 13]: “And every meal-offering of yours, you should season with […]
March 10, 2016
When I first watched the JPDS-NC Admissions video back in 2013, I found myself welling up. What was going on? Then I realized, I was feeling our school’s neshuma. I knew immediately that JPDS-NC was a special school where our girls would thrive. The following year, I volunteered to work on the school’s new Admission video […]
March 10, 2016
When we walked through the doors of JPDS-NC for our prospective parent tour over 6 years ago, I felt like I was entering a warm, lively home. I saw kids singing, dancing and laughing in their classrooms, and older kids (who looked so big!) reading to younger ones sitting on the floor in the hallway. […]
March 9, 2016 by
In this final parasha in the book of Shemot (Exodus), the work of constructing the Mishkan (Tabernacle) is completed; Moshe receives the command to anoint its vessels and to anoint Aharon and the cohanim (priests). The author or Author of the Torah did not divide the text into parashot or into chapters; those divisions were made much later. The […]
March 8, 2016 by
I am thrilled and honored to join such a dynamic, warm, and creative group of learners, teachers, and families as the Elementary School Director this July. Each time I have visited JPDS-NC, I observed children and faculty who are excited to be at the school and engaged in meaningful work in a host of disciplines. The […]
March 8, 2016 by
It is with great pleasure that I welcome Arielle Derby as our Elementary School Director, effective July 1, 2016. Arielle is a master educator, curriculum developer, and administrator who has served Jewish day schools in multiple capacities. She spent most of her career to this point at the Lerner Jewish Community Day School in Durham, […]
