Our Stories

Reflections by Our Recent Graduates

June 20, 2017 by Class of 2017 (Students)

Each member of the JPDS-NC Class of 2017 chose an artifact from their time at school to represent and reflect on what JPDS-NC has meant to them. The graduates shared their reflections in English and Hebrew at their Graduation Ceremony on June 16. Please enjoy their heartfelt thoughts and words. Read more >


Have Courage, Faith, Chutzpah and Humility – and the World will be Yours!

June 16, 2017 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff)

Today, I had the honor of presiding over the graduation of the Class of 2017. We are sending them off prepared academically, socially, and spiritually – and primed for their next adventure. We know they will do great things in middle school, high school, and beyond – and have a real impact on the world. […]


Welcome to Milton

June 8, 2017 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff)

This week, parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the school gathered to celebrate the school’s renaming and to break ground for a significant renovation and expansion of the Kay and Robert Schattner Center North Campus. With much excitement, we announced that JPDS-NC is now the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital. We […]


In the News: The Kohelet Foundation Interviews Prize-Winning Teacher Vas Pournaras

May 4, 2017 by Vas Pournaras (Faculty and Staff)

The Kohelet Foundation interviewed JPDS-NC teacher Vas Pournaras about his work on the prizewinning Kindergarten Community Library Project, along with two other JPDS-NC teachers. The Kindergarten Community Library Project won the Kohelet Prize for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking. Read the interview here >


In the News: The Kohelet Foundation Interviews Prize-Winning Teacher Lisa Davis

May 4, 2017 by Lisa Davis (Faculty and Staff)

The Kohelet Foundation interviewed JPDS-NC teacher Lisa Davis about her work on the prizewinning Kindergarten Community Library Project, along with two other JPDS-NC teachers. The Kindergarten Community Library Project won the Kohelet Prize for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking. Read the interview here >


In the News: The Kohelet Foundation Interviews Prize-Winning Teacher Xani Pollakoff

May 4, 2017 by Xani Pollakoff (Faculty and Staff)

The Kohelet Foundation interviewed JPDS-NC teacher Xani Pollakoff about her work on the prizewinning Kindergarten Community Library Project, along with two other JPDS-NC teachers. The Kindergarten Community Library Project won the Kohelet Prize for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking. Read the interview here >


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 […]


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 […]


South Campus Celebrates Chanukah!

December 22, 2016 by Gili Bitton (Faculty and Staff) Hannah Seidel (Faculty and Staff) Vered Goldstein (Faculty and Staff)

JPDS-NC is celebrating Chanukah! Watch our holiday video and see first graders discuss the story of Chanukah – all in Hebrew! – and hear Kindergartners and first graders sing Chanukah songs! We wish everyone a chag sameach (happy holiday)!


Introducing the New JPDS-NC Siddur: Siddur Am Echad

December 1, 2016 by Naomi Reem (Faculty and Staff) Sharon Freundel (Community)

We are delighted to introduce the fourth edition of the JPDS-NC siddur (prayerbook). Nine years ago, we embarked on our quest for a multi-denominational, kid-friendly siddur. Unable to find such a thing, we created our own and have been successfully using it for the past six years. With this newest edition, we have renamed it Siddur Am Echad, literally, […]