Admissions FAQ

Toronto is fortunate to have a wide array of public and private schools, each offering something special and unique. Our stand out integrated curriculum, strength in cultural diversity, approach to differentiated learning, highly involved and inclusive community, and exceptional attention to the academic, social and emotional well-being of each child distinguish us. Our downtown Toronto location is reflected in our approach to curriculum integration, community inclusiveness and social action. A strong and frequent assertion from many of our school families is that if not for this school, they would not have chosen a Jewish Day School.

Our approach to instruction through integrated units allows us to provide meaningful learning experiences while ensuring children develop essential skills. We are able to offer our students a broad foundation of knowledge, leading to an understanding of relationships amongst concepts. Resources go beyond textbooks, to include a wide range of books, films, media sources, speakers, and community connections; student groupings are flexible and dynamic; thematic units are developed around “big picture” essential questions.

Our integrated units bridge concepts between Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Judaic Studies. An integrated curriculum classroom is a place where meaningful, interdisciplinary connections are made and experiential learning is encouraged. As students delve more deeply into a unit, students become aware of links to other areas of the curriculum, as well as connections to their own lives.

Beginning in JK, between 1 ¼ and 1 ½ hours of our school day are devoted to Hebrew language study. Hebrew instruction happens daily and takes different instructional forms. The children learn to read, write and speak in Hebrew. Please read our Hebrew language learning statement, Lamah Ivrit (Why Hebrew?).

We readily accommodate students who enter the school at grades beyond JK and/or have differing levels of Hebrew proficiency. Small-group instruction is part of the instructional norms and thus facilitates introductory level Hebrew instruction beyond entry level grades.

We are a non-affiliated pluralistic, Egalitarian Jewish day school, welcoming students and their families from a spectrum of Jewish affiliation and observance. We believe that a positive Jewish identity emerges from a deep knowledge of self, tradition, values and history, as well as from questioning and self-reflection. By integrating Jewish content into all aspects of our students’ learning experience, we foster in them an appreciation of their heritage and the rich fabric of Jewish life. We engender a love, knowledge and appreciation of prayer, striving to create meaningful and personal connections for our students. We enjoy celebrating all Jewish holidays throughout the year, including Shabbat each Friday and a monthly Rosh Chodesh assembly.

Israel is one of the 7 values of Paul Penna DJDS. Guided by our Israel Education vision statement and accompanying standards and benchmarks, we aim to teach Israel as an evolving country of diverse narrative. We also believe that the Jewish people have always had, and will always have, a relationship to Israel. We provide opportunities for our students to explore connections to Israel through intellectual, emotional, spiritual and personal engagement.

Classes have up to 25 students. We are focused on a robust single grade cohort model.

We have coordinated our security procedures with MNjcc, JSN, CIJA, and the Toronto Police Services. We are in constant contact with these partners. We continue to consult with these various experts about security and update our procedures accordingly.

We encourage parents to become involved in their child’s education by helping their child with homework, attending school functions and communicating with the teachers. Above and beyond this, many of our parents volunteer in the school. From chaperoning field trips to volunteering on a committee, there are many ways parents can be involved in the school and we welcome this. The Board of Directors and Parents Association are the formally organized vehicles for parental involvement in more significant elements of school life. Some of our parents have said that when they enrolled their children in our school, little did they know that they were becoming part of a community. Parent involvement is a defining aspect of the school community.