Educating our children in the richness of their past,
the diversity of their present and the possibilities for their future.

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Our Story

Educating our children in the richness of their past, the diversity of their present, and the possibilities for their future.

Chicago Jewish Day School is a multi-denominational Jewish day school that provides a standard of excellence in both Judaic and General Studies through an integrated, multi-sensory curriculum that is attentive to students' individual needs.

2022-2023

Year Twenty

  • CJDS celebrates 20 years as a school! We chose to mark this momentous year by honoring the 20(!) members of our faculty and staff who have dedicated 10+ years to CJDS.
  • Our largest class to date - 28 students - graduates to go on to a variety of outstanding public and private high schools in the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
  • The warm and welcoming CJDS Community resurges after years of reinvented community events due to pandemic restrictions. Todah rabah to our Parent Committee for planning and executing  wonderful events!

2021-2022

Year Nineteen

  • School theme: “Hinei ma-tov u-ma nayim shevet achim gam yachad  — Behold how good and how pleasant it is for people to sit together in unity.” Indeed, after two long years of the pandemic, our community missed being together and felt joy at the renewed opportunities for in-person gathering.
  • Our Middle School revived the longstanding tradition of the CJDS Musical, bringing back "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," which was the first musical performed at CJDS a decade earlier! 

2020-2021

Year Eighteen

  • 237 students 
  • CJDS opened safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a medical task force made up of CJDS parents, who are medical professionals on the front lines of COVID-19. 
  • Students and teachers quickly adapted to the many protocols put in place to keep our community healthy and safe.
  • Over 300 CJDS community members gathered on Zoom for our 18th Anniversary to celebrate our past, present, and future.

elearning photo

2019-2020

Year Seventeen

  • 227 students
  • New CJDS Video
  • In response to COVID-19, seamlessly transitioned to an eLearning platform while supporting the social-emotional needs of students

2018-2019

Year Sixteen

  • 217 students
  • Opened the state-of-the-art brand new natural playscape! The Dr. Carol Fuchs Kaufman Playground, integrated with the Perlow Family Sports Court, includes garden beds, an outdoor stage, climbing zone, saucer swings, rain garden, messy materials play area, a pergola and much more! 
  • Reaccredited by ISACS as a school that demonstrates best practices, adheres to ISACS standards, and illustrates a commitment to its mission and vision and educational philosophy
  • Dedicated our baseball field as "Shelby's Field of Dreams" in honor of the life of Shelby Lerner, z"l
  • Dedicated a corner of the Learning Commons as "Arlene's Bookmark" in memory of Arlene Segal, z"l 

2017-2018

Year Fifteen

  • 223 students
  • Celebrated our New Campus Construction on September 7, 2017 with over 200 people in our CJDS community, including Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, Michael Zaransky, JUF lay leadership and staff, Alderman Deb Mell of the 33rd Ward, Illinois State Representative Jaime Andrade, Jr. of the 40th District, our supporters and many more!
  • Moved to our New Campus--April 9, 2018 for Phase I! (renovated the California building, Grade 5 pavilion and partially renovated the gym and 2 classrooms in Mozart building)
  • Celebrated our New Campus Celebration on June 3, 2018 with over 500 people in our CJDS community! In honor of our milestone, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City of Chicago announced that June 3, 2018 would be Chicago Jewish Day School Day!

2016-2017

Year Fourteen

  • 212 students
  • Launched New CJDS Website
  • New CJDS Video
  • Demolition at our New CJDS Campus completed
  • First alumnae class begins first year at college: University of Southern California, Indiana University, Northeastern University and Oberlin College
  • Construction at the New CJDS Campus began in early June 2017 
  • Graduated our largest class to date of 22 students. Check out where they are going to high school!

2015-2016

Year Thirteen

  • Over 200 students
  • In support of Chicago Jewish Day School’s Capital Campaign, the Crown Family will provide up to $10 Million in the form of two gifts: a $5 Million leadership gift, plus up to $5 Million in matching funds to match contributions to the capital campaign.
  • Middle School students performed fifth musical production in their arts specialty.

2014-2015

Year Twelve

  • Over 200 students with over 50 students in our Middle School 
    Bus transportation for CJDS students
  • Launched CJDS Bus Transportation with three buses offering multiple stops, spanning from Downtown Chicago to Skokie
  • Identified CJDS’s new future home! A 2.6 acre campus complete with multiple state-of-the-art buildings, on-site gymnasium, field, ample outdoor space for play and learning and parking, all on a tree-lined street accessible from major thoroughfares.
  • First CJDS Grade 8 Israel Extension Trip in addition to the CFJE Ta’am Yisrael trip

2013-2014

Year Eleven


2012-2013

Year Ten

  • 181 students
  • 10th Anniversary
  • Raised over $1.2 million through our first community-wide fundraising event
  • Created the CJDS Mascot: Rams

 


2011-2012

Year Nine


2010-2011

Year Eight

  • 139 students — Added Grade Seven
  • CJDS video wins PEJE recognition
  • Torah Dedication — CJDS received its first Torah

 


2009-2010

Year Seven

  • 118 students — Added Grade Six
  • Middle School opened
  • Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) Provisional Accreditation issued to CJDS
  • City Park opened with the partnership of CJDS
  • Created first CJDS Video

2008-2009

Year Six

  • 103 students — Added Grade Five
  • Parent Committee formalizes its goals and objectives
  • Morah Penina Berdugo is awarded the 2008 Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award of Excellence in Jewish Education

 


2007-2008

Year Five

  • 76 students — Added Grade Four
  • Founders at Five event and school-wide Aladdin event at Emerald City to celebrate five years
  • Parent Committee First Annual Honey Sale
  • Website goes live

 


2006-2007

Year Four

 


2005-2006

Year Three

  • 35 students — Added Grade Two
  • Moved to Emanuel Congregation
  • First Tashlich on the beach of Lake Michigan

 


2004-2005

Year Two

  • 20 students – Added Junior Kindergarten and Grade One
  • Passover seder at St. Alphonsus
  • Wicked — First Fundraising Event

 


2003-2004

Year One

  • First day of school at St. Alphonsus
  • Seven students — Opened Kindergarten
  • First Culmination — many, many, many more to follow
  • First Rabbis’ Round Table hosted by our Kindergartners

 


2002-2003

Early Meetings

  • First office housed at Temple Sholom
  • First CJDS Open House held at Temple Sholom
  • First staff and educational consultants hired
  • CJDS logo and branding developed to best reflect the mission
  • Parlor meetings held throughout Chicago and Evanston

2001-2002

Early Meetings

  • Feasibility Study for a multi-denominational Jewish day school in the city of Chicago
  • Partner for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) Assessment and First Grant Application
  • Vision Workshop
  • Formation of the Board and its committees
  • Apply for PEJE Grant and receive three year grant