PORTLAND JEWISH ACADEMY Kindergatener Zoe Drozdowski works on an art project.

 

DEBORAH MOON/Jewish Review

PE, art, music, dance, still make the grade at Portland Jewish Academy

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2009-02-15T00:00:00

The national trend for schools to reduce budgets for non-academic offerings such as art and physical education has been accelerated by the current economic crisis, which is forcing both public and private schools to cut already strapped budgets.

But at Portland Jewish Academy, specialists continue to teach art, music, dance and physical education in all grades. A full-time librarian also remains on staff.

“The students get a well-rounded, excellent progressive education imbued with a valuable Jewish education in language practice, historical perspective and personal interpretation based on their developing critical thinking skills,” said PJA Admissions Director Inge Hoogerhuis.

“Kindergarten at PJA offers the strongest footing on which to base the rest of their years at PJA,” said Head of School Patricia Schwartz.

The 5-year-olds in PJA kindergarten classes learn writing, reading, math, science and social studies and incorporate learning Hebrew language and Jewish studies along with art, dance, music, library and PE in a full day that runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Empirical research reported by the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education shows that Jewish day schools provide young people with an extensive peer community that supports a positive and knowledgeable Jewish identity well into their college years.

To create students with the capacity also to be active and committed citizens within the broader community, Schwartz said the school has adopted the International Baccalaureate curriculum for students in Ganon (4-year-olds) through eighth grade.

PJA is the only school in Portland that is an International Baccalaureate World School candidate in both the primary years and middle years programs. This globally focused, action-oriented, inquiry-based curricular framework was a logical addition to the PJA curriculum, said Schwartz, noting the school already focused on global issues, cultural awareness and social action as well as traditional school subjects such as math, science, history and language.

PJA is now accepting applications for kindergarten and other grades. For more information or to schedule a tour, call Hoogerhuis at 503-535-3599; check the Web site at www.portlandjewishacademy.org; or drop in for the next PJA open house designed for adults to see the school while class is in session between 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 19.