Our Stories

Torah Talk for Parashat Vayikra

March 16, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

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 […]


Meet the Middle School Marketing Committee: Co-Chair Abigail Sharon

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 […]


Meet the Middle School Marketing Committee: Co-Chair Marci Klugman

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. […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Pekudei

March 9, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

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 […]


A Letter from Elementary School Director Arielle Derby

March 8, 2016 by Arielle Derby (Faculty and Staff)

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 […]


JPDS-NC Announces Elementary School Director

March 8, 2016 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff)

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, […]


Picture This: Envisioning Our Middle School

March 3, 2016 by Lisa Schopf (Faculty and Staff)

What an exciting moment this is to be on the cusp, at that moment of possibility and potential. As we look ahead to our Middle School, we can embrace the opportunity to apply what we have learned, to enrich what we have achieved, and to realize what we imagine. This is the time to come […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Vayakhel

March 1, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, the Bnei Yisrael bring so many materials for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that Moshe tells them to stop; Betzalel and Oholiav, gifted craftspeople, construct the elements of the Mishkan. The backgrounds of these craftspeople elucidate some important principles. Betzalel is introduced in Chapter 35, verse 30 as “Betzalel, the son of […]


Meet the 2016 Purim Ball Honorees

February 25, 2016 by Vered Asta (Faculty and Staff)

On March 20th, the JPDS-NC community will gather at the National Press Club for the event of the year! Together, we will celebrate JPDS-NC’s success, show our support for the school, and recognize eight outstanding parents for their years of service and dedication to the community. Take a read below to learn more about this year’s […]


In the News: District Day School Names Middle School Director

February 25, 2016 by Washington Jewish Week (Press)

Read the Washington Jewish Week article about the appointment of JPDS-NC’s founding Middle School Director.