News & Events
Mar 13, 2012
We are excited to launch a new drop-in activity for babies, toddlers and their caregivers! Join us 2:15-3:00PM every Wednesday from April 18 to June 20 in our new Bernard & Ethel Kliger Library and Multi-Media Centre! For further information please contact Sheri Rapp 416-928-3537 or sheri@djds.ca.
Jan 01, 2012
Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School is excited to have opened two SK and two Grade One classes for the 2012/2013 school year. We invite you to join our school community!
Jan 05, 2011
When Rosanne Bernard read The Lorax, the classic children's book by Dr. Seuss, to her son Evan, he realized that the Oncler, the book's villain, was an 'evil knitter' who cut down trees.
"There was a look of horror in my little boy's eyes when he became aware that Seuss' Oncler - a polluting scoundrel desecrating nature - was a knitter," said Bernard. "Evan looked at me and said, "Mum, you wouldn't do that to the Truffala trees, would you?" Yes, I had an environmentally tuned-in 5 year old, which was great, and, oh my, I had to redeem the knitters of the world in his eyes."
Rosanne resolved to turn the situation into a positive lesson about the environment and knitting. Building on a suggestion by teacher Moreh Seth for a school knitting initiative, Bernard developed The Lorax Project at Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School.
"Our Lorax Project was born out of our school's eco-minded sensibilities," said Bernard. Parents and students worked together, making 8" by 8" squares for a quilt during a weekly knitting club. Using both traditional and alternative environmentally friendly yarns, members of the Paul Penna DJDS community contributed knitted and crocheted pieces, with each artist choosing their own colours, yarn, patterning and textures. The quilt was then presented to school principal Janet Nish-Lapidus at the end of the year as a departing gift.
In keeping with The Lorax’s tree theme, the project linked with Jewish National Fund, with donors collecting more than $1,000 for the reforestation efforts of JNF.
"The project is about pluralism, inclusiveness and the mosaic that makes up our micro and macro communities," said Bernard. "It's what I love about our school, and the city and country in which we are fortunate to live."
Yasher Koach to all of the knitters and everyone who participated in raising funds for the trees.
Kol Hakavod to the following talented fibre artists for their many hours of enthusiastic creativity and labour:
Ali Aber, Debbi Arnold, Yafa Bale, Rosanne Bernard, Zoe Bernard, Cindy Bowman, Jennifer Cohen, Meredith Halpern, Tanya Kirsch, Liora Klein, Cydel Levine, Micah Maerov, Janet Nish-Lapidus, Aviva Penn, Jeremy Penn, Dena Perlmutar, Caren Rapp, Shira Rubinoff, Elana Segal, Rona Sherebrin, Jodi Tanenbaum and Osnat Yitzhak
Their efforts resulted in a rich and stunning collection that truly reflects our fabulously eclectic community.
Dec 13, 2010
Paul Penna DJDS TORONTO
Without doubt one of the most lively, creative and collaborative performances to hit the stage at our - or any - school - Chanukah concert, the Grades 7/8 "TORONTO" rap/video left the crowd cheering, beaming and proud!
The remarkably catchy piece, now being sung in the halls by students and staff alike, was playfully written and skillfully performed and filmed by the students. The range of instruments, visuals, and musical styles and influences all came from the creative minds and hearts of our Middle School students, under the guidance of their music teacher Simon Law.
Oct 13, 2010
October 7, 2010 - The Board of Directors of Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School announces with great excitement plans for the school’s imminent growth. The momentous decision – apt for the school’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah year - was recently made to expand Paul Penna DJDS in three key areas. Initial details of this expansion are:
1. Beginning in September 2011, Paul Penna DJDS will open a second Senior Kindergarten class. For many years now, there has been more demand for enrollment in the school than space could allow. In a passionate effort to include as many interested families as possible, the Board determined that an extra SK class must be opened as soon as feasible.
2. As of January 2011, Grade 6 will officially become part of the newly re-envisioned Middle School for the 21st Century. This exciting step formalizes a relationship among Grades 6, 7 and 8 students, enabling Grade 6 to benefit from all the expanding features of the Middle School, including the planned Science & Nutrition Lab and the Technology & Media Arts Studio, and “Downtown-Around Town” learning modules.
3. To house the expanding student body and provide Paul Penna DJDS students and families with increased services and facilities, as of September 2012, the Middle School for the 21st Century will acquire new space in close proximity to the current location. Central to the new location will be the above mentioned Science & Nutrition Lab and the Technology & Media Arts Studio. Creating new, flexible learning space and technologies at the Middle School site enables the school to simultaneously expand and enrich the current location, including development of a new Library & Media Centre.
As Paul Penna DJDS enters a year of celebration for their Bat/Bat Mitzvah year, the school is primed to truly take its place as a key player and energetic, impactful hub within Toronto’s recharged downtown Jewish community.
Jul 07, 2010
We are delighted to annonuce that Paul Penna DJDS has received official standing as a Silver Level Ontario EcoSchool. The successful EcoSchool bid was the result of a year long, school-wide effort to earn the designation. The certificate was presented to members of the school Green Team, comprised of students, staff and parents, at a year-end tikkun olam assembly.
Paul Penna DJDS' 2009-2010 tikkun olam theme was the environment. The school community determined that working within that theme to become an Ontario EcoSchool was a wonderful use of time and effort, as it enhanced the school's existing environmentally conscious attitudes and practices and also served to focus the year's tikkun olam activities.
Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education program for grades 1-12 that helps students develop ecological literacy while engaged in practices to become environmentally responsible citizens. Developed and run by school boards, Ontario EcoSchools also helps improve school building operations to reduce environmental impacts.
In addition to completing tasks required to receive the certification - such as conducting regular watse audits and reducing garbage as well as energy output - students, staff and parents incorporated eco-friendly meal time themes such as Waste Free days and Boomerang Lunches.
We are proud of our new designation and eager to continue our efforts and mindfulness toward preserving and healnig the environment!
Jun 02, 2010
We extend our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the family of Andrew Herzenberg. His contributions to our school have been profound, and his loss is felt deeply by everyone at Paul Penna DJDS.
Andrew’s dedication to his wife, Leanne Shafir, and children, Talia and Gabrielle, was always inspirational, and evident through his remarkable involvement with so many aspects of his family life and the school. Serving as a Board Member, member of the marketing committee, eager volunteer for many school initiatives, and wonderful advocate for our school as a whole, we know that much of our success and positive image has been due to Andrew’s invaluable efforts.
The Paul Penna DJDS community has been blessed to have had Andrew play such an active role as a parent and volunteer. We have been fortunate to know him in the context of his family and as a beloved friend – rollerblading down our school halls and joking with students, staff and other parents. His passion for athletics, his brilliant career at UHN as a renal pathologist, his bountiful and enduring friendships, his conviction toward Jewish education and values, and his priorities always with his family have set a phenomenal example for all of us.
We are deeply saddened by his tragic loss. We aspire to uphold his memory by conducting ourselves with the integrity, compassion and energy Andrew espoused in every area of his life. May his Memory be for a Blessing.
Donations in Andrew's memory can be made to the Andrew Herzenberg Fund at Paul Penna DJDS. Details of the fund are being determined and will be shared with the school community as soon as possible. If you wish to make a donation, please contact Judy Machtinger at 416-928-3537 ext. 135 or judy@djds.ca. You may also donate online.
May 18, 2010
Comedic stars Deb McGrath and Colin Mochrie led a captivated audience through a remarkable line-up of internationally acclaimed Canadian artists in support of a small but compelling downtown school. The celebrity couple and the stellar performers lent their talents as Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School paid tribute to Dr. Larry Librach.
Dr. Librach is Director of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital. He is an internationally recognized advocate for quality end-of-life patient care and for his professional commitment and achievement to the field of hospice palliative care. According to Board President Mike Harris, “Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School is privileged to have in Dr. Librach such a poignant example of leadership and conviction to bettering our world.”
The show took place Monday night at the Al Green Theatre in the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. It was the seventh annual tribute gala held by the school, whose impressive and multi-talented community contribute their time and creativity each year to raise much-needed funds for student subsidies.
The impressive array of performers included acclaimed world music group Jaffa Road, Grand Prize winner in the John Lennon Song Writing contest, Eleven-year-old piano prodigy Yike (Tony) Yang, first prize winner of the 2009 National Canadian Music Competition, comedian Linda Kash, well known as The Philadelphia Cream Cheese Angel, a surprise appearance by the group of women Kash is directing in the upcoming performance of PUSH...One Mother of a Show, and. the swinging harmonies of the Jazzabelles. A personal video message from Andy Barrie, who also attended the show, highlighted Dr. Librach’s exceptional contributions to his field of medicine. The show was brought to a stirring yet elating close by Jackie Richardson, one of Canada's foremost singers of gospel, blues and jazz. The diverse group of talent brought powerful and extremely well-received performances to the evening’s extraordinary slate.
Gala co-chairs Aviva Rajsky and Jodi Tanenbaum were delighted with the event’s success and by how well-received the gala was by the community.
As a non-profit organization, fundraising is critical to the on-going success of the school. Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School is unique not only in its downtown location but also in its pluralistic, egalitarian and multi-faceted approach to Jewish day school education. Through a rich academic and arts enhanced curriculum and active commitment to social justice, the SK to Grade 8 students are primed to make significant, meaningful contributions to the diverse Canadian community, today and in the future.
The annual Tribute Gala is made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of the production staff, most of whom are school parents, and through the generosity of the artists toward the school. The show was directed by Alisa Palmer, award-winning Canadian playwright and director, and co-produced by Danny Greenspoon, multi-platinum award winning record producer, Aviva Rajsky and Jodi Tanenbaum. Casting Directors are Sherry Dayton, partner in Dayton/Walters Casting, Diane Flacks, actor and writer, and Vivienne Kugler, PR manager.
Former Gala Honourees are Dr. Zane Cohen, Dr. Anne Golden, Dr. Lou Siminovitch, Jack Rabinovitch, David Green and Harold Nashman.
Media contact:
Sheri Rapp
email: sheri@djds.ca
Mar 24, 2010
Chai in Hebrew stands for Life as well as the number 18. It is, therefore, the pefect name for an invigorating initiative which aims to raise the equivalent of 18 full scholarships, or two scholarships for each of our nine grades (SK-8).
We are excited to report that the Chai School Scholarship program has been officially launched with a significant lead gift by the ShaRna Foundation.
Despite the school's rapid growth in its 12 years, there remains a vital need for student subsidies to ensure that no child will be left out. Currently, over 30% of our students benefit from subsidies. Our strong parent-driven fundraising efforts go far in enabling these subsidies, but we are still left with an annual shortfall of approximately $150,000.
A long time supporter of the school, the ShaRna Foundation is eager to set the tone for the program's success and enthusiastically encourages others to consider donating and helping Paul Penna DJDS fulfill one of its greatest missions: to give a Jewish education to a child who would otherwise miss out.
The mitzvah of donating to the Chai School Scholarship Program comes with a possible naming opportunity. Please contact Sheri Rapp at 416-928-3537 ext. 136 or sheri@djds.ca to see how you can make a diference.
