Our Story

In Fall 2025, Middle School moved to the newly renovated Mozart building, a space designed to support collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Students enjoy:

• Rothner Family Student Union
• Walder Innovation Lab
• Food Lab
• Beit Midrash Katan
• A state-of-the-art science lab
• Gymnasium
• Modern classrooms with breakout areas
• Dedicated student support spaces
• Third-floor multi-purpose area with additional classrooms
• Middle School offices and security reception
• Newly renovated locker rooms and bathrooms

• CJDS has a new tagline: "Educationally Extraordinary. Joyfully Jewish."
• Significant renovations are underway on campus:
  • A new turf field was added to Shelby's Field of Dreams for student activities.
  • In March, demolition started on the Mozart building for Phase Two of renovations.
  • The remodel will accommodate a growing student body and relocate the Middle School to the Mozart building for a dedicated space. 

• On October 7, Simchat Torah turned from a joyous day to one of mourning due to attacks in Israel by Hamas terrorists.
  • CJDS welcomed families temporarily relocating to Chicago from Israel.
  • We sent regular messages of support to Israeli citizens and soldiers.
  • Our curriculum included age-appropriate lessons to help students process the situation.
  • We were one of very few Jewish day schools to send a Grade 8 class to Israel, with a parent accompanying each student. The trip received coverage from the JTA and various other publications.

CJDS celebrates 20 years as a school, marking the momentous year by:

• Honoring 20 faculty and staff members with over 10 years of service
• Graduating our largest class yet, with 28 students heading to top high schools in Chicago and the suburbs
• The CJDS community is revitalized after pandemic-related event adjustments

• The year's 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.”  After two long years of the pandemic, our community felt joy at the renewed opportunities for in-person learning and gathering.

• The Middle School revived the longstanding tradition of the CJDS Musical by bringing back "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the first musical performed at CJDS a decade earlier! 

• In response to COVID-19, we seamlessly transitioned to an eLearning platform while supporting students' social-emotional needs.

• Opened the brand-new Dr. Carol Fuchs Kaufman Playground, featuring a natural playscape, garden beds, an outdoor stage, a climbing zone, saucer swings, a rain garden, a messy materials play area, a pergola, and more.  
• Reaccredited by ISACS for best practices and commitment to educational philosophy.  
• Dedicated baseball field as "Shelby's Field of Dreams" in honor of Shelby Lerner, z"l.  
• Dedicated a corner of the Learning Commons as "Arlene's Bookmark" in memory of Arlene Segal, z"l.  

• 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 on April 9, 2018, for Phase I (renovated the California building, Grade 5 pavilion, and partially renovated the gym and two classrooms in the Mozart building)
• Celebrated our New Campus Celebration on June 3, 2018, with over 500 people in our CJDS community.

• Launched the new CJDS website
• Completed demolition at the new CJDS Campus 
• First alumni class begins their first year at college
• Graduated our largest class to date of 22 students.

• Over 200 students are enrolled
• In support of Chicago Jewish Day School’s Capital Campaign, the Crown Family provided a $5 million leadership gift, plus up to $5 million in matching funds to match contributions to the Capital Campaign
• Middle School students performed our fifth musical production

• Launched CJDS Bus Transportation with three buses offering multiple stops, spanning from Downtown Chicago to Skokie
• Identified CJDS's future home in the neighborhood of Irving Park
• Launched the first CJDS Grade 8 extension trip alongside the Ta’am Yisrael trip.

• Expanded our campus onto a third site, CJDS Darom (St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church), to accommodate Middle School students
• Judy Finkelstein-Taff, Head of School, receives the 2013 Covenant Award
• First CJDS Basketball, Volleyball and Cross Country teams are formed

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

• Awarded ISACS Accreditation
• Campus expanded to the Bayit (Blue House)
• First CJDS Middle School Musical
• First Grade Eight Graduation

• Grade 7 is added, totaling 139 enrolled students 
• CJDS received its first Torah in a special dedication ceremony

• 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

• 103 students are enrolled, with the addition of Grade 5
• Parent Committee formalizes its goals and objectives
• Morah Penina Berdugo is awarded the 2008 Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award of Excellence in Jewish Education

• Founders at Five event and school-wide Aladdin event are held at Emerald City to celebrate five years
• Parent Committee sponsors first annual honey sale 
• CJDS website goes live

• Grade Three is added, bringing the student body to 51
• Rabbi Joe Black holds a concert featuring CJDS students

• Campus moves to Emanuel Congregation
• First Tashlich is held on the beach of Lake Michigan

• 20 students are enrolled, with the addition of Junior Kindergarten and Grade One
• A Passover seder is held at St. Alphonsus
• The first fundraising event, "Wicked," is held

• First day of school at St. Alphonsus
• Kindergarten opens with seven students

• A feasibility study is conducted for a multi-denominational Jewish day school in the city of Chicago
• The CJDS Board and its committees are formed 
• First CJDS Open House held at Temple Sholom
• Staff and educational consultants are hired
• The CJDS logo and branding are developed
• Parlor meetings are held throughout Chicago and Evanston