Our Stories

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: 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 […]


JPDS-NC Faculty Teams Awarded Two of Six Kohelet Prizes for Excellence in Jewish Education

February 22, 2017 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff)

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 […]


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 >


JPDS-NC Students Create Voter’s Guide

November 3, 2016 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff)

The students at the Jewish Primary Day School of the Nation’s Capital invite you to read their Voter’s Guide: Kids’ Voices Count. Students created the Guide in order to share kids’ perspectives on key election issues, addressing such topics as foreign policy, healthcare, immigration, globalization and trade, public land use, D.C. statehood, and more. For […]


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.


The Importance of Voice and D.C. Statehood: A Second Grade Election Project Update

October 27, 2016 by Janet Collier (Faculty and Staff)

One of the highlights of Second Grade at JPDS-NC is their study of Washington, D.C., so the issue of D.C. statehood was chosen for the Second Graders to grapple with in our Election Project. The journey they took to arrive at a place where that question held relevance was impressive indeed. The Second Grade teachers […]


Perspectives on Globalization: A Fourth Grade Election Project Update

October 20, 2016 by Janet Collier (Faculty and Staff)

As part of the school-wide Election Project, Fourth Graders are exploring one of the most challenging issues of our day, globalization. The topic was selected because it interconnects with the students’ year-long study of world geography and culture. Fourth Grade students have had the opportunity to engage with experts in the field who are highlighting […]


Exploring Public Land Use: A Third Grade Election Project Update

October 13, 2016 by Janet Collier (Faculty and Staff)

Third Graders are focusing on public lands as an important issue for the upcoming election. Their study includes defining what public lands are, exploring how they should be used, and determining whose role it is to take care of them. The topic of public land use dovetails with the Third Grade curriculum which includes learning […]


Kids Delve into the Issues – An Election Project Update

October 6, 2016 by Janet Collier (Faculty and Staff)

As the JPDS-NC Election Project 2016 continues, students in all grades have been conducting research on their grade’s assigned topic and engaging in deep conversations with guest speakers, with students in other grades and at other schools, and with each other. Sixth Grade – Political Messaging: Sixth Grade students produced videos summarizing the positions of the major […]