News and Notes

At this year's Gala on Saturday, April 12, board President, Scott Cohen, announced to some 200 parents, grandparents and community supporters that the School had attracted a landmark $1M gift. The gift was made by Phoenix philanthropist Jean Grossman from the Harold and Jean Philanthropic Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Jewish Community Foundation. It is the School's first million-dollar contribution and was made as a challenge to spur further giving. It has done just that, and to date, the School has already raised nearly $600,000 towards the match, primarily from board members.

The Sanctuary will be named to honor Mrs. Grossman and her husband Harold, deceased since 2005. The Grossmans have, individually and together, been outstanding benefactors to the Phoenix Jewish community and the community at large since arriving in Phoenix from Minneapolis in 1981. They have long been supporters of Jewish education in the Jewish community and at ASU.

Cohen says, "The gift is a cornerstone contribution for a capital campaign we are soon to undertake. The campaign is to pay off the $6M debt for the campus, which the School acquired in 2006. The campaign, still in the planning stage, will also raise funding for capital improvements and for an endowment for the future. "

For more on the campaign click on giving.

A group of Pardes Students joined with students from other Valley Day Schools to perform at the Israel 60 celebration at the JCC. Students sang with singer/songwriter Todd Herzog, who worked with the children on a weekly basis, teaching them some of his songs and creating one of their own. [PHOTOS]

Congratulations to our First Graders, who not only earned money for supplies for the Vista Colina Homeless Shelter, but shopped for and delivered the much-needed items. Way to go, First Graders! [DETAILS & PHOTOS]

On Friday, March 21st, Pardes students and staff enjoyed a fun morning of celebration with a costume parade, music presented by our own Pardes rock band, and a Megillah reading by Cantor Ruth Berman-Harris. Following these activities, Middle School students went to the Lower School classrooms to lead study sessions and do special holiday activities. Of course, everyone enjoyed hamantaschen to complete the celebration. [PHOTOS]

Congratulations to the PJDS Middle School for their outstanding performance of Ulysses!

Special thanks to Rina Kenton for her incredible directing skills, to Deborah Weiner and Adam Zweiback for their creative assistance, and to all the staff members and parents who contributed their time and energy to make this production a huge success!

We are so proud of all of you! [PHOTOS]

Pardes Middle School students, under the direction of teacher Rina Kenton, will present ULYSSES on March 4th at 1:00, and on March 5th and 6th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the Pardes office.

In a ceremony led by Rabbi Erica Burech, Second Grade students, wearing t-shirts emblazoned with their Hebrew names, shared the history of their names with their families today. [MORE]

Pardes students watched as grade-level champs from 3rd - 8th grade participated in the annual school Spelling Bee. [MORE]

Thanks to the generosity of PJDS grandparent Susan Aberbach and PJDS parents Anne Aberbach and Steve Lee, students returned to school after winter break to find a brand new sport court and a fabulous new athletic field on its way to completion. [MORE]