ABOUT THE KRIEGER SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL

Name: Krieger Schechter Day School
Item: Krieger Schechter Day School
Author: Danielle Schollaert

Krieger Schechter Day School (KSDS) is a coeducational, K – 8, independent Jewish day school offering exceptional academics and a dual-language curriculum. We create confident leaders and critical thinkers within a welcoming, vibrant community. Our AIMS-accredited program is recognized by top Baltimore-area high schools and, later, by highly-regarded colleges and universities.

Educational Philosophy

The KSDS learning environment is designed to ignite students’ curiosity, intellect, and creativity. Every classroom exudes a love of learning and passion for Jewish values and our teachers inspire students to work collaboratively, think critically and solve problems creatively. At KSDS we believe in educating the whole child; academic excellence is paramount but we also foster social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development. We prepare students to participate in their community and live their lives with purpose and meaning. We encourage students to self-reflect and cultivate curiosity, fostering a strong sense of identity.

Unique School Characteristics

Academic Excellence: Our integrated general and Judaic studies curriculum reflects excellence in every subject area and integrates beyond-the-book experiences to enhance student learning. Our AIMS-accredited program is recognized by top high schools and, later, by highly-regarded colleges.

Customized Learning: Our teachers know each and every student. We know our students’ families, friendships and what they need to succeed. Our dedicated faculty members know how to enrich the learning experience and tailor their teaching to meet individual student needs.

Student Empowerment: KSDS focuses on the foundational years of K – 8 education. Our age-appropriate, nurturing environment offers accelerated leadership opportunities for students in all grades, which helps to develop increased confidence and everlasting empowerment.

Language Immersion: Our dual-language curriculum teaches students conversational Hebrew starting in Kindergarten. To culminate the language learning, our 8th graders perform a Broadway musical entirely in Hebrew – one of three schools in the country that offer this opportunity.

Jewish Values: Jewish learning, living, and values are woven through our curriculum and community giving students a strong sense of Jewish identity. As part of our egalitarian approach, boys and girls learn together, side-by-side, and participate equally in Jewish study and practice.

Welcoming Community: KSDS has a vibrant, warm, welcoming community and an energetic environment. Our pluralistic, diverse school welcomes all levels of Jewish observance and offers multiple ways for parents and grandparents to become engaged.

Community Engagement: KSDS places an emphasis on community service which helps students to develop social responsibility and strong character. Students from all grades participate in many community service programs throughout the year as well as individual service projects.

Public Speaking: Public speaking is an integral part of the KSDS curriculum and helps to develop students’ confidence and poise. Each grade, including Kindergarten, completes a performance for a full room of peers and parents.

School Traditions

Day of Service: KSDS celebrates Thanksgiving with a school-wide Day of Service where each grade participates in a different community service activity. Lower School students create crafts in school for local charities and Middle School students volunteer on-site at local organizations.

8th Grade Play: Each year, 8th Grade students perform a Broadway musical entirely in Hebrew, culminating years of Hebrew study. The intense preparation that goes into the show also cements the ties that students make over many years at KSDS, creating a unique bonding experience. The annual performance holds a special place in the hearts of the students, faculty, alumni, and families who pack the auditorium.

8th Grade Israel Trip – The 8th Grade year culminates in a two-week trip to Israel. This capstone experience brings together years of Hebrew and Judaic study as it opens students to the living reality of the State of Israel. Students participate in an archaeological dig a pray at the Western Wall. Students return from this rich experience with deeper bonds to their heritage and classmates.

Middle School Learning Festival: Every February, students and faculty step away from the formal curriculum and spend three full days exploring a special theme. Guest presenters, field trips, hands-on activities, and multimedia projects are all part of this popular educational event.

Middle School Coffee House: The Arts Coffee House is run entirely by our students; they prepare everything from decorating and cooking to creating menus and advertisements. Students also provide the entertainment, which can range from monologues to live music. It’s a major showcase of students’ hard work and artistic talent.

Shabbat Share: Shabbat Share connects KSDS families for a home-based Shabbat meal. Families choose to be a guest or a host and are then matched up with families with similar-age children to enjoy a delicious, catered Shabbat dinner. This biannual event is a long-standing tradition for families.

Grade-wide Performances: Each grade participates in a performance on stage for their parents and peers. These popular programs are eagerly anticipated each year: Kindergarten Closing Program, 1st Grade Hagiggat HaSiddur Program and World’s Fair, 2nd Grade Fractured Fairy Tales Play, 3rd Grade Humash Program and Immigration Play, 4th Grade American History Play, 5th Grade MLK Program, 6th Grade Fruit Debate, 7th Grade Purim Shpiels, and the 8th Grade Hebrew Broadway Musical.

Class Trips: Each grade has a signature trip that students look forward to each year. 1st Grade World’s Fair; 2nd Grade visits the Museum of Industry, 3rd grade participates in an Oregon Trail simulation, 4th Grade visits St. Mary’s City and Living Classrooms, 5th Grade goes to Genessee Valley and Philadelphia, 6th Grade has a four-day overnight adventure at Pearlstone Retreat Center, 7th Grades spends three days in NYC, and the 8th Grade spends two weeks in Israel.

Campus and Facilities

KSDS has a robust campus that features a state-of-the-art MakerSpace, innovative science lab, a woodshop room, art room, and gym as well as regulation soccer, lacrosse and baseball fields. KSDS shares space with Chizuk Amuno Congregation which provides additional space for our programming.

Class Offerings

KSDS offers an integrated dual-language curriculum where two-thirds of the day are General Studies (Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science/ MakerSpace) and one-third of the day is Judaics Studies, including Hebrew language instruction.

Through our dual-language program, students are able to immerse themselves and develop fluency. A dual-language education not only helps children achieve at higher levels than their single-language peers but also strengthens executive function skills, which helps to prepare students for high school, college and beyond.

In addition to General and Judaic Studies, Kindergarten – 5th Grade students have weekly specials, including a science lab, makerspace, physical education, music, and art while 6th – 8th Grade students choose from the following electives:

Journalism: The 6th and 7th grade Journalism course is an elective that meets twice a week. Students begin the trimester by welcoming Mrs. Linda Esterson, JMore writer and JMore Juniors editor, who teaches to the students about the work and responsibility of journalists. Students then plan and brainstorm their own articles, which are published in JMore’s online magazine. Assignments are delegated and students work independently on their pieces by interviewing subjects, researching topics, writing drafts, proofreading, and editing their articles in preparation for the publishing process.

Music Ensemble: The 6th-grade music ensemble learns the techniques and demands of playing with other musicians, including eye contact, careful listening and adjusting, and blending of sound. Students practice these skills by preparing several different songs that are played throughout the year.

Art: Students receive a basic understanding of drawing techniques and tools. They experiment with pencils and learn about the different marks that are made depending on the hardness/softness of the lead and the pressure that was applied by making a shaded drawing that reverses from dark to light and light to dark. They explore value, color, and form as well as pattern, movement, and unity – the principles of design. They also experiment with pen and ink and other mediums.

STEAM: The STEAM elective is a project-based learning class where students incorporate concepts of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics into group activities. Students work at their own pace to make discoveries, conquer challenges and foster innovation. An example project is designing a 3D model of the students’ names or initials using TinkerCAD software with positive and negative space to add and subtract solids to their project until the project represents two different images from two different viewing perspectives. A 3D-printer is then used to create a keychain, necklace or desk ornament.

Woodshop: 6th and 7th Grade students in the woodshop elective are introduced to workshop procedures including safety, tool instruction, clean up and respect for others in the class. The goal of the class is to help students find their comfort level with tools and explore their creative side while introducing the students to a subject that may be out of their comfort zone.

Drama: In Drama, 6th and 7th Grade students learn basic concepts of theater arts by using various creative drama techniques to build confidence and trust, stimulate imagination, movement, and role-play with an emphasis on believability and sensory awareness. Students use observation and emotional memory to reveal thoughts and feelings and to build believable characters, skits and situations. Assessment for this elective is based on effort and class participation in solo, partner, and group activities.

Cooking/Sewing: In our cooking class, students have opportunities to participate in every part of the cooking process by reading the recipes, washing and chopping, measuring and mixing, using the stovetop and oven, and cleaning up. The recipes are carefully chosen for the duration of class which includes preparation time and cooking/baking time. In sewing, students complete various projects that allow them to develop and improve hand-sewing skills. They learn to transfer and cut from a pattern, follow directions to assemble the cut fabric, and pin and sew with a sewing machine.

Extracurriculars

Athletics: Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Lacrosse (Girls), Track & Field

Lower School and Middle School Choirs

Leadership Council in Lower School and Middle School Word Masters 3th and 4th Vocabulary Competition Club

Green Club

Community Service: Bunches of Lunches, Weekend Backpacks, Better Together, Reading Buddies, Schechter Goldsmith Buddies, Adopt a Classroom

Friend-to-Friend Mentor Program

After-school Enrichment (Lower School): Chess, Drama, Lego Robotics, SCRATCH Coding, Yoga, Hip-Hop, Jewelry Art, Girls on the Move, Club SciKidz!, Krav Maga, JCC Sports and Games, Maestro Musicians Academy, Irvine Nature Center Eco-Explorers Club, and A.S.P.I.R.E.(Literacy and Math Practice, Instruction, and Review)

What would prospective parents and students be surprised to know about your school?

KSDS offers everything you’ll find at an independent school – excellent academics, arts, athletics, STEM, special programs, fantastic field trips and a low student-teacher ratio. What’s unique about KSDS is that all of this happens in the context of Jewish values. Our students learn the principles of derekh eretz and kavod, principles that guide ethical behavior, and the values of mitzvot and tikkun olam, service to others and to the world. This helps empower students to become confident, successful and valued members of society.

ADMISSIONS INFO

How can families find out more about your school?

KSDS has several scheduled admissions events – an evening Open House and morning Drop In Days. Event dates are listed on our website at www.ksds.edu/visit. You can also schedule a personal tour with our Director of Admissions, Nissa Weinberg: 410-824-2066 or nweinberg@ksds.edu

Admissions Process

The details of our application process can be found on our website at: https://www.ksds.edu/admissions/apply/

Admissions Assessment

Lower School Testing for students applying to Kindergarten through 4th Grade: date scheduled once application is received.
K-Day (informal group observation) for students applying to Kindergarten and 1st Grade: December 8, 2019 and January 26, 2020.
Classroom visits for students applying to Grade 2 through Grade 8: dates scheduled once application is received

Important Dates

KSDS has rolling admissions with a recommended deadline of December 20th, 2019
Financial Aid Applications Due to KSDS: January 31, 2020
Admissions Committee Decisions Mailed to Parents: February 20, 2020
Contracts due back to KSDS: March 6, 2020

CONTACT INFORMATION

Nissa Weinberg, Director of Admissions
410-824-2066
nweinberg@ksds.edu

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Rachael Abrams

I wanted my childrens’ home away from home to be a place where they receive a stellar education, from committed and engaged teachers, who not only provide them with necessary skills but also the values that shape great people. My parents gave me the gift of a KSDS experience, an unparalleled education in a nurturing environment and I wanted to provide the same for my own children.

Rachael Abrams

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Krieger Schechter Day School

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