This artwork is one of the many pieces produced during the May Artists' Festival. Students in each grade explored the life and art of a famous artist, and then created their own work after the style of the artist.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The school’s First Annual Winter Silent Auction, held December 15, 2009 in Jacobs' Lounge at the MNjcc, was lively, well-attended and very successful!
The generosity of donors and support of our community enabled us to raise over $10,000 toward the purchase of a Portable Technology Laboratory for our students. The lab will enable strong technology instruction in a limited space. It lab includes 24 lap top computers equipped to travel easily on a trolley.
We are excited to announce that our 2010 Tribute Gala Honouree is Dr. S. Lawrence Librach, Director of The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr Librach’s credentials are vast and impressive, and his contributions to our city and abroad are poignant. He is also the proud grandfather of Ella in Grade 2 and Jesse in SK.
On October 13th, 2009, Middle School students, along with their peers at the Islamic Foundation School, received the annual Discover Diversity Award from the Canadian Centre for Diversity. This marks the first time that the award has been given to two schools at once.
The honour is in recognition of a cultural exchange initiative, spearheaded by Paul Penna DJDS teacher Seth Goldsweig, which sprang from a recent school tikkun olam theme of Building Bridges and Breaking Down Barriers.
The Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School is unique. There is an air of creativity and experimentation in this school that is fresh and invigorating. All of us could benefit from some time in the halls and classes of the school to remedy the complacency that sometimes ails us.
Seymour Epstein, Ed.D, Director, UJA Federation, Board of Jewish Education
