Alumni

"I probably think about PJA several times each week, always with fondness and delight. I spent nine years there, from pre-K through 8th grade, and felt like I was a member of a family there throughout my childhood."

"PJA played an instrumental role in developing my sense of identity, multiculturalism, and academic integrity."

“PJA gave me the educational and Jewish background that strongly influenced the person I am today. PJA is where the core values of community and inclusion were instilled in me."

"I can definitely say that my 8 years at PJA helped shape the person I am today. The small class sizes allowed me to form close relationships with my teachers who were supportive of my goals both inside and outside of the classroom."

"PJA really instilled in me a strong love of learning, taught me how to be respectful, encouraged responsibility, and I developed a sense of community and appreciation for the world around me."

“I really enjoyed the small classes and the ability to make close connections and relationships with teachers and students. I am still in touch with a number of my PJA friends.”

"Not only does PJA provide a nurturing environment that is supportive of all its students as individuals, it also offers one of the best secular educations available while teaching students Hebrew and allowing them to explore their Jewish identities and Jewish traditions."

"I very much appreciate the Jewish knowledge I gained at PJA."

Even though I've graduated from college now, I have held onto the lessons that PJA gave me about community and family. PJA helped me develop a worldview beyond the classroom and instilled a sense of personal responsibility to others.

"I attended PJA from 1st through 8th grade. There are so many wonderful memories from my time at PJA!"

"PJA helped me become more caring, curious, thoughtful, and creative. It also gave me a sense of pride in my Jewish identity, and a feeling of family with the Jewish community in Portland."

Joseph Warton, PJA Class of 2012, was announced in 2017 as a member of the corps de ballet of the San Francisco Ballet.

"I think the small class sizes, project-based learning, and excellent teachers at PJA all helped me to be successful in the many different academic environments I’ve inhabited since then."

“PJA teachers taught me to hold my own ideas in high esteem, that my voice had value, and (this is thanks to Harriet Wingard especially) that anything worth learning is worth writing about - and creatively at that.”