MALKA
Two new teachers enhance music, Hebrew at PJA
By Amy R. Kaufman
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In September Ronnie Malka will return to Portland Jewish Academy to teach Hebrew to preschoolers, and Kim Palumbis will join the staff as a music teacher for transitional kindergarten through second grade, according to Patricia Schwartz, head of school.
Malka will infuse the preschool program with a Hebrew mini-immersion program, in which Hebrew language is taught in Hebrew, said Schwartz. The program will prepare young students for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, where Hebrew language is also taught through immersion.
Malka earned her first bachelor of science degree at Tel Aviv University and her second bachelor of science in developmental psychology at Portland State University. She taught Judaic studies in the early childhood program at Portland Jewish Academy from 2003 to 2006.
Malka created an environment for children to learn through a variety of media during her three years as head teacher of the Early Childhood Learning Center at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. She also taught preschool at the ABC Children’s Center.
“She has great ideas and is very creative in the classroom,” said Schwartz. “We are ecstatic to have her back. She strengthens the Hebrew program, and we all know that learning a language is easier when you’re younger.”
Palumbis holds a master’s degree in education from Portland State University and taught fifth grade for eight years in the Tigard-Tualatin School District.
She is currently an early childhood Jewish music educator at the Little Garden Preschool and the Neveh Shalom Foundation School. She also teaches Jewish music in the religious school programs at Congregations Neveh Shalom and Shaarie Torah.
A pianist, singer and songwriter, Palumbis performed with her sisters, Lisa and Stephanie Schneiderman, on the “Oy Baby” and “That Baby” CDs. She teaches the “Oy Baby” class at the MJCC, where she brings the joy of Jewish music to parents and their toddlers and infants.
“She has a great background in Jewish music and working with young kids,” said Schwartz, “and she brings a variety of songs and instruments into the classroom. Kids will be singing and moving to music.”
PJA is a community day school serving students in preschool through eighth grade. PJA was the only school in Oregon to receive the Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Dept. of Education in 2005. It is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools and the National Association of Schools and Colleges.
PJA is a candidate school to become an International Baccalaureate school in the primary and middle school.
PJA is located on the campus of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center at 6651 SW Capitol Highway. For more information, call 503-244-0126.