Mastering Mathematics at Paul Penna DJDS
Whether through the thrill of unraveling complex patterns, the satisfaction of mastering math facts, or the curiosity…
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Latest News
School news, updates and reflections from Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School — including our 2026 Strategic Update and the archive of our Principal’s Blog by Dr. Amy Platt (2017–2020).
Living Our Values This Sukkot: Tikkun Olam In Action
As we step into the joyous holiday of Sukkot, our school is filled with warmth, song, and a deep sense of purpose. Su…
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Head of School Search Update: September 15, 2026
Dear Paul Penna DJDS Families, Welcome back to a new school year. As we settle into the fall routine at Paul Penna…
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Leadership Transition at Paul Penna DJDS
Dear Paul Penna DJDS Community, I am writing to share news that is both a source of pride and a genuine loss for ou…
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Strategic Update 2026
Strategic Impact: A Philanthropic Update on Our 2024–2028 Strategic Plan Passover arrives at the precipice of S…
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Inclusivity and Empathy
The past week has been filled with anguish for our community as we have watched protests and riots unfold in cities t…
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The Lockdown Challah
Do you remember March? I mean the part of March before we went into lockdown. It seems so long ago. Tonight will mark…
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Sharing Our Light at Chanukah Groove
An additional mitzvah to that of lighting the Chanukah candles is pirsum hanes – publicly proclaiming the mirac…
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Perpetual Offering
This Rosh Hashana provided for interesting learning and reflection. At synagogue, while listening to Rabbi Rothschild…
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Leading the Way on the Sensory Path
Early in my teacher training, I learned that what is necessary for some is good for most. The new Sensory Pathway on…
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Senior Kindergarten Literacy - Balanced, Customized, Strong
With Shavuot beginning at the end of Shabbat, we invited our incoming class of SK students into their new classroom f…
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Grade 6 Leadership
Yesterday our school had a blast both on the field and in the gym. Led by the Grade Six class, our students participa…
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Putting Books in Children's Hands
Our little library, the academic heart of this sweet and special school, was transformed into a beautiful bookstore t…
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The Power of Moments
Last week I finished The Power of Moments by Chip Heath. I was mesmerized by this book from the first chapter and ama…
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Ring of Peace
November 4, 2018 was a Shabbat I cannot forget. As I approached my shul that rainy morning, I was greeted by a number…
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Fixing the Light
We are approaching the Winter Solstice, our shortest day of the year. Both mornings and evenings are dark and it just…
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The Power of Education to Change the World
Nelson Mandela, the first elected democratic president of South Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, said that educ…
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Focus on Strength and Solidarity
The events on Saturday in Pittsburgh leave our collective Jewish lives shaken. Here at Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day…
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Focus on Math Curriculum at Paul Penna DJDS
One of Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School’s current Strategic Priority Areas and Goals is to improve the edu…
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Sukkot Symbolism and Connections
Sukkot has three main symbols: the sukkah, the harvest and the lulav and etrog. Our students spend time over Sukkot l…
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Summer Learning in a Few Hours
One of the most remarkable aspects of my summertime is that I have more time that is less rushed. I have more time in…
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Addressing Sexual Education
Yesterday, the new Provincial Education Minister, Lisa Thompson, announced that the Government would be repealing the…
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Completing the Cycle, Continuing the Journey
After today I will have no more predictable “firsts” at Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School. My first y…
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Reflection and the Graduate
The Oxford Dictionary defines a graduate as a person who has completed a course of study or training. As we approach…
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Counting Up
Today is the 41st day of the Omer. In daily morning prayers from the second day of Passover until the start of Shavuo…
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Passover Generations
The sound of the Purim gregger is a wake up call that Passover is around the corner. As soon as the last hamantaschen…
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Student Voice and Rocking the School Library
I have been thinking a lot lately about student voice. When to listen? What to ask? How to hear it? Our students are…
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Coding is a Gender-Neutral Language
An Interview With Dr. Amy Platt, Written and compiled by Stefan Palios, guest writer. Dr. Amy Platt began her career…
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Teacher Excellence
In a landmark study on student achievement, John Hattie, a very well respected educational authority from New Zealand…
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Grit
Today’s message is a second reflection from my recent mission to Israel. The context of my trip was a UJA spons…
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Hand In Hand
This afternoon I visited an amazing school in Jerusalem: The Hand in Hand Centre for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel.…
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The Sacred Nature of Time and Calendar
Parshat Bo, this week’s Torah portion, contains part of the Passover story with which we have become so familia…
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Where Everyone is Needed
We are a complicated puzzle of people. I went to the funeral today for a colleague from my previous school who was ta…
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Reading Resolutions for Ourselves and Our Students
2018 is upon us. I have never been one for big New Year resolutions. I am most reflective around the High Holidays in…
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Library Roots
This past week, the last set of Chromebooks were delivered to classes. There are now 85 Chromebooks and 24 tablets in…
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Shining Bright
On Tuesday evening, December 12, Jews around the globe will light the first Chanukah candle. Amongst the latkes, drei…
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I Can Do Hard and Scary Things
Last weekend, my family spent 24 hours at an indoor waterpark in Niagara. My son, not surprising for my offspring, de…
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The Strategic Camel Test
In Parshat Chayei Sarah, we learned about Eliezer’s task to find a wife for Isaac and his strategic camel test.…
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Small by Design
This article is the second in a two part series. As I wrote this article, I was on the airplane travelling back from…
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Stirring a Storm of Emotion in the Soul
There is a Chasidic tale about a rabbi and his disciples who were stuck aboard ship just prior to Rosh Hashanah. Ther…
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Welcome to the New School Year!
It is my pleasure to be writing the first of many Kesher notes. I want to take this opportunity to welcome each of yo…
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