CESJDS Links Blog

As the saying goes in the business world, “Location, location, location!” CESJDS is so fortunate to find itself uniquely geographically positioned to be able to take advantage of nearby resources that enhance so many elements of our rich and rigorous curriculum. Elementary school students across the country study similar subjects, but living in the DMV, especially the greater Washington D.C area, offers our students in-person access to and deeper understanding of sites and stories that most other children are only able to read about in books. This experience is particularly true of our social studies units in grades 2-5, which focus increasingly on particular periods of American history as the children get older.

At CESJDS the Portrait of a Graduate is an aspirational document that we hope inspires and guides each of our students as they move through their CESJDS journey. In the Middle School we ask our students to reflect on the Portrait of a Graduate at the end of their 8th Grade Bridges Capstone Trip to the South. Similar to the reflections students do to prepare for Student Led Learning Conferences, it is a moment during which our students take stock of how far they have come on their educational journey before looking ahead to high school. Throughout their middle school journey, we aim to provide and engage our middle school students with numerous opportunities and experiences that inspire them, feel authentic, and are applicable to the real world.

Our Jewish value of k’hillah/community teaches us that connecting to one another in care and support is what we are meant to do each day. Our tradition reminds us that r’fu-ah shleimah refers to the need to heal our whole selves, the interconnected physical, mental, and spiritual. This year, guided by these values and our commitment to promote student wellness and connection, we launched the Center for Health and Wellness.  

In the second paragraph of the Aleinu prayer, which is found in the concluding section of each of Shaharit, Minhah, and Ma-ariv - our three daily prayer services, we are called במלכות ש-די לתקן עולם/to repair the world in partnership with the sovereignty of God. Going back as far as the Creation narrative, human beings have been charged and entrusted with the caretaking of the world and its creatures and Judaism has always placed a strong emphasis on this responsibility for each individual. In the spirit of our tradition, one of our core values at CESJDS is תקון עולם/repair of the world and we take seriously our educational responsibility not only to learn about it, but also to provide real life opportunities to perform it. I wanted to take this opportunity to share how we bring תקון עולם/repair of the world to life as a Lower School community for all of our students.

Our Jewish value of k’hillah/community teaches us that connecting to one another in care and support is what we are meant to do each day. Our tradition reminds us that r’fu-ah shleimah refers to the need to heal our whole selves, the interconnected physical, mental, and spiritual. This year, guided by these values and our commitment to promote student wellness and connection, we launched the Center for Health and Wellness.  

Class of 2023, you have reached this moment after witnessing exceptional times in history. 

You have been through a once-in-a-century pandemic, that brought great concern for the future with a great deal of uncertainty. 

Our fourth annual Innovation Minimester was exceptional. During this two week intersession our middle school students were challenged to take healthy learning risks that inspired them to step outside of their comfort zone and pursue, or perhaps even discover, a passion of their own. The building was abuzz with creativity, passion, and drive. Innovation Minimester was an intense period where innovation and inspiration flowed between our 30+ seminar leaders, students, and teachers.

CESJDS Alumni Speaker Amy Schilit Benarroch '07 shares how JDS guides her life today with the Class of 2023

Dean of Students Roz Landy's speech about the Class of 2023’s positivity, leadership, achievements, community service, and love for each other.

CESJDS High School Math Teacher and Jewish Life Chair Robbie Shorr's remarks to the Class of 2023 at the Dr. Stuart Lessans Siyyum.