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.
2023-2024
Year Twenty-One
On October 7, one of the happiest days of the Jewish calendar, Simchat Torah, became a day of mourning with the devastating news of attacks in Israel. Hamas terrorists waged the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust and CJDS did not stand idly by:
We welcomed into our school community families who temporarily relocated to Chicago from Israel.
Throughout the school year we mailed frequent messages of support to Israeli citizens and soldiers.
Our curriculum and programming often incorporated meaningful, age-appropriate teaching points to help students understand and process the situation.
We were one of few Jewish day schools to send a Grade 8 class to Israel and the only school to send a parent along with each student. The trip was covered by the JTA and picked up by domestic and global publications.
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.
In response to COVID-19, we 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!
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
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 Shlichim — “Messengers” who are ambassadors from the State of Israel sent to interact and spread Israeli culture and Hebrew as a living language.
