Our Stories

In the News: Prizmah Interviews Middle School Director Lisa Schopf

May 3, 2017 by Lisa Schopf (Faculty and Staff)

Last year, Middle School Director and Sixth Grade teacher Lisa Schopf participated in Prizmah’s YOU Lead program, an eight-month leadership development program for Jewish day school professionals that focuses on mentorship and peer support. Recently Lisa sat down with Shira Loewenstein, the Director of YOU Lead, to talk about her experience in the program and […]


In the News: Prizewinning JPDS-NC Voters’ Guide featured in Local Newspaper

March 24, 2017 by Kol HaBirah (Press)

Writing about JPDS-NC’s prizewinning schoolwide election project, the reporter observed: “The wealth of information, lessons learned, and skills developed were evident… the students indeed demonstrated a unique ability to discuss and respectfully provide nuanced perspectives on the issues. Perhaps even more impressive, they admitted on numerous occasions that the issues were very complex and that there […]


In the News: The Northwest Current Covers Kohelet Prize Wins

March 16, 2017 by Northwest Current (Press)

Local newspaper The Northwest Current published an article last week about the two JPDS-NC faculty teams that recently won Kohelet Prizes for “extraordinary accomplishment” in Jewish education. Congratulations to the winners! Read the article here >


In the News: Kindergarten Community Library Project featured in Local Newspaper

March 2, 2017 by Kol HaBirah (Press)

“Impressive, collaborative, strategic, caring, and dedicated are some of the adjectives that come to mind after talking with Jewish Primary Day School’s (JPDS) Kindergarten General Studies team, comprised of Lisa Davis, Xani Pollakoff, and Vas Pournaras. Despite teaching separate classes, these educational leaders work closely together, planning their sessions on a weekly basis, discussing their […]


In the News: the Northwest Current Highlights our Election Project

November 21, 2016 by Northwest Current (Press)

The Northwest Current, a local newspaper serving Northwest Washington, DC, recently highlighted the JPDS-NC election project in their “Spotlight on Schools” section! Check it out here >


In the News: Students Study Issues as Election Approaches

November 3, 2016 by Washington Jewish Week (Press)

JPDS-NC students are in the news discussing our schoolwide election project, and sharing their learning on political campaigning, trade, public land use, D.C. statehood and more. Enjoy the Washington Jewish Week article about the JPDS-NC Election Project: Kid’s Voices Count.


Sharon Freundel, Director of Jewish Life, Named to Elite Innovation Design Team of Jewish Educators by the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge

October 20, 2016 by Ronit Greenstein (Faculty and Staff)

Sharon Freundel, JPDS-NC’s Director of Jewish Life, has been named one of only 10 Jewish educators in the world who will serve on HaKaveret, an innovation design team focused on improving Jewish education. The team of elite Jewish educators will spend the next year learning with and from each other as well as external experts, […]


In the News: Washington Jewish Week covers 10th Anniversary Rabin Lecture

June 23, 2016 by Washington Jewish Week (Press)

At the 10th Anniversary Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Lecture, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro spoke with Washington Post Editorial Writer Charles Lane about Rabin’s legacy and the current political situation in Israel. The community also heard personal remarks by Yuval Rabin, son of the late Prime Minister. Read the Washington Jewish Week article about the event […]


In the News: Students Learn Family Stories, Tell About them in Hebrew

June 9, 2016 by Washington Jewish Week (Press)

Sixth Grade students recently made documentary films – in Hebrew – exploring their family’s history, roots, and journey to America. After seeing some of the films, the Washington Jewish Week visited our school to speak with us about our Hebrew program and integrated curriculum, and with the students about their learning, their creative process and […]


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.