July 30, 2019 by
We were delighted to welcome new Director of Jewish Life Etan Weiss and his family to the Milton community this summer. Etan is joined by his wife Amy, who recently accepted a position at OLAM as the Director of Jewish Engagement and Learning, and their daughters, Nava (6) and Ya’ara (9) who will be entering […]
May 22, 2019 by
Seventh grade students built a mini-Mishkan as part of our learning the end of Sefer Shemot. First, we were assigned partners and objects to research and build. Next, we looked through the last two parashiot in Shemot, Vayakhel and Pekudei, to find out how our objects looked and the ways they were built. To ensure […]
April 15, 2019 by
MILTON launched an FAA-approved Space Camp for summer 2019. Space Camp Director Melinda Viteri is a MILTON educator, NASA educator and FAA licensed pilot and educator. For one extraordinary week, campers will immerse in an exciting, and unforgettable STEM-based program with access to industry experts, get behind the scenes and specialized tours, and hands-on learning […]
April 15, 2019 by
Sixth grade students made board books for their teacher’s baby based on their learning in her Judaic Studies class. The students had learned about Masechet Rosh Hashana, a practice during the Mishna time period of witnesses seeing the new moon and being examined by the Jewish Court to decide when to start each Hebrew month. […]
March 7, 2019 by
We are thrilled to announce that MILTON Educator Jill Stepak has been awarded the Kohelet Prize for Excellence in Jewish Education. The MILTON Art Specialist was recognized for her work in the category of Differentiated Learning and is to receive the $36,000 Kohelet Prize. The Kohelet Foundation selected Stepak’s entry of Teaching for Artistic Behavior […]
January 16, 2019 by
Milton was awarded a 2019 Ignition Grant from the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) to support its recently launched Scholars Forum in the middle school. JEIC Ignition Grants jump-start new or developing out-of-the-box programs that improve Jewish education in day schools. The Scholars Forum is a signature program of the Moses Family Middle School. The […]
February 28, 2017 by
In this parasha, Hashem instructs Moshe to collect gifts from Bnei Yisrael in order to build a Mishkan (Tabernacle) so that Hashem can dwell among the people; Hashem describes to Moshe the vessels and structures that comprise the Mishkan. An oft-quoted verse appears in Chapter 25:8: “They will make for Me a sanctuary, and I […]
February 22, 2017 by
JPDS-NC’s faculty teams were awarded two of the six 2017 Kohelet Prizes for Excellence in Jewish Education. The Kindergarten General Studies team – comprised of Lisa Davis, Xani Pollakoff, and Vas Pournaras – won the “Award for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking” category for the Community Library Project from the 2015-2016 school year. A cross-grade, multi-disciplinary […]
February 21, 2017 by
In this week’s parasha, Moshe informs the people of numerous ethical and ritual laws and seals the brit (covenant) between the Bnei Yisrael and Hashem. One of the numerous laws in the parasha states (22:20): “Do not wrong a stranger nor oppress him for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Hermann Cohen (1842-1919), […]
February 16, 2017 by
Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, suggests a system for establishing lower courts to settle disputes; Hashem articulates the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) to the Bnei Yisrael amidst fire, smoke, and sounds of the shofar. We often translate Aseret HaDibrot, as I did above, as “The Ten Commandments.” However, they are not really Ten Commandments, because Dibrot means […]
February 7, 2017 by
After the Bnei Yisrael cross the Reed sea in safety while Paro’s army drowns, they sing praises to Hashem; in response to their complaints about a lack of food and water, Hashem gives them manna; they are then attacked by Amalek. The TaNaKH contains ten songs. When we look at each song, without even reading […]
February 3, 2017 by
It is with great sadness that we recognize the passing of our longtime friend and supporter, Dr. Robert Schattner. From the school’s return to Washington, DC, to its expansion to two campuses, Dr. Schattner’s extraordinary generosity ensured the school’s growth and success through the years. His warmth and charm, often on full display at Veterans […]
February 2, 2017 by
In the fall, as part of the exploration of communities and cultures around the world, the Fourth Graders began learning about people seeking political asylum. This unit of study provides our children with some insight into regimes and governments around the world. One of its goals is to create empathy for and an understanding of […]
February 2, 2017 by
Last week, First Graders exhibited their expertise and creativity at their first Bayit Patuach (Open House) of the year, showcasing models of historic structures built from recycled materials, curated writing portfolios, multimedia representations of animal habitats, and clay sculptures of various plant species. Throughout the first semester, First Grade students explored the theme “Encounters with […]
February 1, 2017 by
This week’s parasha tells the story of the last three plagues, the preparations that the Bnei Yisrael needed to make in order to leave Mitzrayim, and the actual exodus itself. The first mitzvah mentioned in Sefer Shmot, and in fact, the first mitzvah given to the nation, appears in this parasha [12:2]: “This month shall […]
January 25, 2017 by
Fourth Graders delved into their study of Biblical characters using biblical exegesis, character analysis, mixed media art, and poetry. At JPDS-NC, Third and Fourth graders study Torah with a focus on the Avot (Patriarchs) and Imahot (Matriarchs) as the founders of the Jewish people. Fourth Graders spent the first semester focusing on the characters of […]
