PJDS BLOG 2007/08

Welcome to the PJDS blog!

2008-08-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

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"Faces of the Future" Gala Was a Huge Success!

2008-04-16T18:43:00.029-07:00

Our thanks go out to everyone whose hard work made this year's Gala such a wonderful event and to everyone who came and enjoyed a great night!

Head of School, Jill Kessler, with Gala Co-Chairs Diane Wolin, Melissa Gulinson, and Melissa Hasson

Everyone enjoyed fabulous appetizers as they socialized and checked out
the huge assortment of terrific Silent Auction items.

Partnership Rabbis Alan Rabishaw, Jordan Goldson, Maynard Bell,
Martin Scharf, and Erica Burechjoined with Cantor Ruth Berman Harris in celebrating Havdalah.

Gala Co-Chairs shared a few words with Gala guests.

Pardes staff members enjoyed the evening along with parents and friends of Pardes.

Director of Development, Miriam Nickerson, with Board President Scott Cohen

Thanks to Rabbi Martin Scharf for being an outstanding auctioneer!

Pardes Receives Awards at PEJE Conference

2008-04-16T18:22:00.006-07:00

Pictured at the PEJE conference receiving two marketing awards are Miriam Nickerson, Director of Development, Jill Kessler, Head of School, Tobee Waxenberg, Assistant Head of School, and Allan Rosen-Ducat, incoming co-chair of the Pardes Jewish Day School.

The Pardes representatives joined other Phoenix Day School Educators and Federation staff at a recent PEJE (Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education) conference in Boston.

Front row: Allan Rosen Ducat,incoming co-chair of Pardes Jewish Day School, Tobee Waxenberg, Assistant Head of School of PJDS, Sheila Schwartz, Janice Johnson Head of School at Jess Schwartz College Prep, Jill Kessler Head of School at PJDS, Miriam Nickerson Director of Development at PJDS and Nammie Ichilov, in-comming Head of School at King David.

Back row: Fred Zeidman, Assistant Executive Director of Federation, Rabbi Harris Cooperman, Development Director of Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Robert Kessler, board chair of King David, Amy Laff, Student Recruitment Director of Jess Schwartz College Prep, Lori Pollock, Financial Systems Analyst of Jess Schwartz College Prep, and Ari Haddad, Director of Admissions at the King David School.

Pardes Students at Israel 60

2008-04-12T21:23:00.004-07:00

Pardes Students joined with students from other Valley Day Schools to perform at the Israel 60 celebration at the JCC. Students sang with singer/songwriter Todd Herzog, who worked with the children on a weekly basis, teaching them some of his songs and creating one of their own. To read about the experience in Todd's words, go to his website, www.toddherzog.com.

Todd is a graduate of New England Conservatory of Music and is an established composer and arranger with hundreds of vocal and instrumental arrangements to his credit.

First Grade Mitzvah Project

2008-04-04T21:12:00.019-07:00

First Grade just finished a fabulous mitzvah project. The children created jobs at home to earn money for the Vista Colina Homeless Shelter in Phoenix. Each week, the classes tallied and graphed all of the money brought in. Both classes collected close to $600.00. Then, they went to Safeway at 64th and Greenway to purchase items that the homeless shelter was in need of. While at Safeway, they were treated to a store tour, cookies from the bakery, pizza, and Starbuck samples. Next, they drove to Vista Colina Homeless Shelter and delivered the items that they purchased. The director of the shelter showed them around the 30 apartment faciility which provides emergency shelter for families. The children saw what an apartment was like and looked at the on-site daycare center. It was a wonderful, moving experience for everyone.

Pardes Purim Celebration

2008-03-22T12:32:00.026-07:00

The Pardes Purim celebration began with Kindergarten classes picking up all of the Lower School classes and leading them to the field for a Pardes Purim Parade.

When students arrived at the field, they were treated to Purim music presented by Mr. Zweiback and Mr. Tams and a rock band made up of several Pardes Middle School students. Following the reading of a short version of Megillat Esther by Cantor Ruth Berman-Harris, older students went to younger students' classrooms to lead a text study and do a special holiday activity. Of course, hamentaschen were enjoyed by everyone as part of the celebration.

Ulysses Was a HUGE Success!

2008-03-07T00:54:00.017-07:00

Congratulations to the PJDS Middle School for their outstanding performance of Ulysses!

Special thanks to Rina Kenton for her incredible directing skills, to Deborah Weiner and Adam Zweiback for their creative assistance, and to all the staff members and parents who contributed their time and energy to make this production a huge success!

We are so proud of all of you!

Second Grade Naming

2008-01-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

In a ceremony led by Rabbi Erica Burech, Second Grade students, wearing t-shirts emblazoned with their Hebrew names, shared the history of their names with their families today.

After Judaic Studies teacher Lauren Mishlove spoke briefly about this special project, the students, with great pride, told about who they were named after and what their names mean.

After receiving certificates, students received a special blessing from Rabbi Erica.

A delicious oneg followed.

PJDS Spelling Bee 2008

2008-01-25T22:29:00.001-07:00

Pardes students watched as grade-level champs from 3rd - 8th grade
participated in the annual school Spelling Bee.

Finalists Jonathan and Jacob competed to the last word.
Congratulations to Jonathan who will represent Pardes at the regional Spelling Bee and to Jacob, our first runner-up.

Pardes is proud of all our champion spellers!

New Sport Court and Playing Field on Campus

2008-01-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of PJDS grandparent Susan Aberbach and PJDS parents Anne Aberbach and Steve Lee, students returned to school after winter break to find a brand new sport court and a fabulous new athletic field on its way to completion. The gift was made in memory of Susan's son and Anne's brother, David Aberbach. Anne said, "My brother David was an amazing athlete who excelled at every sport he played. He also loved children dearly. He would have been honored to have the Pardes Jewish Day School sport court and field named in his memory--The David Aberbach Memorial Field. It is our family's greatest hope that the facilities will be enjoyed by Pardes students and student-athletes for years to come."

The entire Pardes family extends its thanks to the Aberbach and Lee family for their generosity; to Allan Rosen-Ducat, chair of our Board Facilities/Security Committee, for his tireless efforts in overseeing the project; and to Athletic Director Ryan Johnson for his vision and enthusiasm.

PJDS Students Raised Funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

2008-01-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

This November, students at Pardes Jewish Day School helped raise money for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by participating in the St. Jude MATH-A-THON program. As a result of their efforts, on Thursday, December 20th, students presented Heather Weber, Associate Director of the Phoenix office of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with a check for $11, 115.05!

Pardes students received pledges for the MATH-A-THON and, after completing approximately 250 math problems, they collected money from their sponsors. The average amount of money St. Jude Hospital receives from a school is $1,500, so the student's donation was truly outstanding.

Founded by actor Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital provides treatment for children with life-threatening diseases. St. Jude's Hospital covers all of the costs not covered by insurance companies. The MATH-A-THON is a significant fundraiser for the hospital.

Together, we made a difference!

Special Persons Day

2007-11-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving each student had the opportunity to invite a special person to participate in our annual pre-holiday Special Persons Day activities on campus. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, parents, and special friends attended Tefillah, did art or other holiday projects in the classrooms, and enjoyed delicious snacks with their hosts.

Head of School, Jill Kessler, enjoyed greeting our guests and spending time visiting the busy classrooms.

Thanks to Maura and Sandy for setting up the refreshments for our special guests!

3rd Grade TaNaCH Service

2007-11-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today our 3rd grade students showed parents and guests what they have recently learned in their study of TaNaCH (the Bible). During a service led by Rabbi Erica Burech, time was taken to allow the students to teach and discuss the story of Cain and Abel.

Shema in sign language

Sharing Our Knowledge

Celebrating Our Accomplishments

Open House - Nov. 4th

2007-11-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

The Pardes Leadership Team and Staff welcomed perspective families during a 2-hour Open House on November 4th. While parents listened to PJDS staff members and former students tell about Pardes, children participated in a variety of supervised activities on the campus.

Director of Admissions, Laurence Harris addresses guests.

Head of School, Jill Kessler, welcomes guests.

Former PJDS students who are currently attending local high schools
spoke about the importance of Pardes in their lives.

Pardes Board President, Scott Cohen, addressed guests.

Guests listen to welcoming remarks.

Jill Kessler addresses Kindgergarten parents

Kindergarten Teacher, Gayle Feldman, tells perspective Kindergarten parents about the Kindergarten literacy program.

While their children participated in lots of fun activities, parents met with teachers.
Second Grade teacher Marilyn Reinherz answers parent questions.

Art Teacher, Orit Feinberg discusses her art program.

Hebrew Teachers, Shifra Trifon and Yehudit Gottleib discuss the Hebrew program.