Article by Joanna Rom and Sherry Schwartz
First Sixth Grade Graduation at Jewish Primary Day School of Adas Israel
Special to the Washington Jewish Week
The Jewish Primary Day School of Adas Israel (JPDS) is celebrating its
first sixth grade
graduation on June 18. The ceremony will mark both the maturation
of a group of committed
sixth grade students and the coming of age of a thriving young school.
For the parents and
students, it is a time of great excitement, as they prepare to advance
to middle school. For the
founders and leaders of JPDS it is a time of excitement, as well as
a time of reflection on the
achievements and growth of the school and its future plans.
Part of Adas Israel Congregation at Connecticut Avenue and Quebec Street
in Northwest
Washington, D.C., JPDS has grown steadily. Founded in 1988 with
eighteen students, it has
over 150 students enrolled for the 1997-98 school year. An expanded
library and science lab are
the recent fruits of supportive parents and enthusiastic fundraising.
A technology committee
assures that classrooms are dotted with computers, even in kindergarten.
JPDS students
participate in frequent curriculum-related field trips that reinforce
secular, religious, and cultural
themes. Because of its location, JPDS’s program has been able
to utilize the myriad of
opportunities offered in our nation's capital. The school's small
class size and nurturing
environment have enabled students and teachers to establish strong
bonds and sparked motivation to achieve.
The graduating students began their education in the JPDS kindergarten
in 1990. The Director of
JPDS, Mrs. Susan Koss, was immediately beloved by this class, as she
also served as
kindergarten Judaics teacher during the initial years of the school.
To this day, Mrs. Koss
continues her tradition of baking challah with the kindergarten classes
on Fridays.
These students are confirmation of our educational philosophy.
They have blossomed and
thrived and are secure students as well as wonderful individuals.
Even though their class is
small, they interact with other students and time and again show us
how responsible they are; we
of course are exceedingly proud of them. Having upper grade students
has been a tremendous
boost for JPDS; they offer a new dimension to the program and
help everyone appreciate the
value of a JPDS education,” said Susan Koss, JPDS Director.
Not only is Mrs. Koss proud of the school's innovative, hands-on curriculum
and the academic
achievements of the students, but she is also pleased that JPDS's emphasis
on ethics, and
interpersonal relationships has had such a positive impact on their
lives.
Students represent the diversity of the Jewish community. Children
from Orthodox,
Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and non-affiliated families
participate side-by-side in an
atmosphere that teaches universal values and traditions of Judaism.
By limiting class section
sizes, JPDS is able to give the needed individualized attention to
each child, which has helped the
school earn its reputation for excellence.
The initial graduating class of five students – Sam Balto, Asya Lior,
Joshua Nash, Ami Newman-
Paul, and Andrew Schwartz, have demonstrated excellence in academics,
both in their secular
English and Hebrew/Judaic programs.
When asked what he found special about JPDS, sixth grade student Josh
Nash, replied “everyone
gets individual attention and individual encouragement. I've
been at JPDS for four years. In
those four years I've learned to speak Hebrew, write good essays, and
even not to lose my
kippah.
“It has been my joy to watch these students grow, investigating the
intricacies of Chumash,
developing their critical thinking skills while exploring the Mishnah,
communicating in Hebrew,
and, all the while, deepening their understanding of, and commitment
to, Jewish life and learning.
It has been the joy on their faces, the enthusiasm and the glow of
satisfaction. And, of course,
it's been that quietly murmured word...”Cool!” said Judaics teacher
Mrs. Marilyn Fine.
“Adas Israel rejoices with these graduating students and their families
because JPDS’s
accomplishments in these relatively few years give us all a great measure
of nachas and a
wonderful sense of achievement. The Jewish foundation that the
students received here enriches
them, the congregation, and the community,” said Rabbi Jeffrey Wohlberg
of Adas Israel
Congregation.
Parents and students of the JPDS sixth grade graduating class have expressed
their thanks and
appreciation to the educators, administrators, trustees and founders
of the school for their
foresight and perseverance in creating a Jewish primary institution
for students in the District of
Columbia. We view our beloved school as an “undiscovered jewel”
in our nation's capital!
Joanna Rom and Sherry Schwartz are parents of JPDS students.