Our Stories

Fifth Grader Reflects on their Class Shabbaton

March 11, 2015 by Jennifer N (’16) (Students)

On Friday, February 27, the forty-four students of the 5th grade class went to Kemp Mill for the annual Shabbaton to experience an Orthodox Shabbat. Several very nice families hosted three to six kids in their homes, which were within a half-mile radius of each other. My host family was very nice and welcoming, especially […]


Second Graders Transform their Classroom into the Human Body for the Art & Science Expo

March 1, 2015 by Class of 2021 (Students)

The Art and Science Expo is a special night at JPDS-NC, when children and parents come to learn in a fun and exciting way! In second grade, we focus on systems within us and around us. One of the systems we learned about is the human body. For the Expo, we decided to transform our […]


First Graders Conduct Research and Present their Oceans Studies

February 25, 2015 by Class of 2022 (Students)

We came up with “big ideas” that we wanted to learn about: the human body, technology, recycling and the ocean. We took a vote to see what we should focus on, and the ocean won.  We read books and decided to research ocean animals. We chose to focus on sharks, dolphins, fish, jellyfish, silver gulls, […]


Ecologist Dr. Reuven Walder Explains his Work with Birds in Alaska to Third Graders

February 18, 2015 by Ari P (’20) (Students) Avital P (’20) (Students) Benny H (’20) (Students)

In science, we studied ecology.  We were studying living and non-living things.  Our friend’s father, Dr. Reuven Walder, came to talk about birds to us.  He is an ecologist.  He spent time in the Aleutian Islands which are in Alaska.  He went to an island that had thousands of different species of birds, but the […]


The Role of Parents in the Learning Process

February 12, 2015 by Laura Cohen (Faculty and Staff) Melissa Davis (Faculty and Staff) Yael Uhr (Faculty and Staff)

Twice a year we invite our families to join us on South Campus to actively participate in our learning process. To make the learning visible, teachers and students transform the Kikar or Ulam (our shared spaces) into environments that showcase their projects. Over the past two months, the batim p’tuchim (open houses) provided an opportunity […]


First Graders Script and Perform a Play about Endangered Gorillas

February 11, 2015 by Class of 2022 (Students)

We started learning about endangered animals. We decided to learn about mountain gorillas. There are only 700 mountain gorillas left in the whole world because of the wars surrounding where they live and poachers. We wanted to make a play that showed our feelings about mountain gorillas and other endangered species. We voted about doing […]


AIMS Accreditation

February 5, 2015 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff)

In keeping with our mission and values as an institution that is reflective and forward-looking, JPDS-NC is embarking on the AIMS re-accreditation process, a process that occurs in a 10-year cycle. We have been accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools since 2007 and it is now time to start the cycle […]


Volunteer Spotlight: Vanessa May

January 29, 2015 by Sharon Samber (Community)

JPDS-NC’s strength is due, in part, to the dedication of a cadre of talented and energetic parent volunteers. To learn first-hand about what motivates and inspires our volunteers, read the interview with parent Vanessa May. What is your volunteer role? Vanessa: I currently co-chair People of the Book. I have co-chaired Share the Nachas Day. I’ve also […]


JPDS-NC Students Cover School Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

January 28, 2015 by Hannah D (’16) (Students) Jennifer N (’16) (Students) Johanna L (’16) (Students) Naomi M (’16) (Students) Rachel Z (’16) (Students) Rebecca S (’16) (Students) Robert Z (’16) (Students) Rochelle B (’16) (Students) Sammy R (’16) (Students) Yael N (’16) (Students)

JPDS-NC’s students put on a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” We performed twice, once for the whole school, and once for families and the community. We had 42 performers ranging from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade in the show, and a student stage crew that helped make amazing sets and props. We had […]


A Visit to the Opal Public Charter School in Portland, Oregon

January 22, 2015 by David Zimand (Faculty and Staff)

For all professionals – including educators and educational administrators – opportunities to step outside immediate day-to-day routines and to encounter “how others do it” can provide valuable openings for thinking meaningfully about “what is” now and “what could be” next. Two inter-twined factors combined to create just such an opening for me, in tandem with […]