Past Newsletters
We are delighted to share with you PJA's Newsletters in a digital format in order to be as flexible and cost-efficient as possible.
If you have any alumni updates to share with us, please contact Lisa Katon at lkaton@pjaproud.org. You may also fill out this alumni survey here.
Past Newsletters
- Summer Newsletter 2022
- Winter Newsletter 2022
- Summer Newsletter 2021
- Winter Newsletter 2021
- Summer Newsletter 2020
Summer Newsletter 2022
Summer 2022 Newsletter
PJA’s Class of 2022 was the first class to make it to Israel since 2019.
Shehecheyanu, v’kiyemanu, v’higiyanu lazman hazeh. We are blessed to reach this sacred and important milestone.
On a picture-perfect evening on the last day of May, PJA grandparents gathered at the home of Tony and Priscilla Kostiner...
We recently had the pleasure of catching up with PJA alum, Nayantara Arora...
As one school year ends and another begins it is always bittersweet as we say l’hitraot—farewell and see you soon—to some, and welcome others.
Our Kehillah committee was busy this year.
The 2021-22 school year was our third admission year disrupted by the pandemic.
The last day of school at PJA is always filled with fun!
For two weeks in May, six 8th graders who opted not to travel to Israel were treated to some fun activities and field trips across Portland.
Show your PJA spirit this summer by wearing one of our PJA tee shirts!
PJA is honored to nominate Danelle Romain as this year’s Song of Miriam awardee.
Mazal tov to the PJA Class of 2018 alumni who just graduated from high school and are heading off to new adventures in the coming weeks!
Lexie Quandt, PJA’s new Early Childhood Registrar and Administrative Assistant, has been working in childcare settings for the past ten years.
Photographer Paul Rich captures sweet photos from PJA's Early Childhood program.
This year our 8th grade students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in an interdisciplinary Science/ Humanities unit.
Our 6th graders were lucky enough to get to experience Outdoor School, albeit with some modifications due to the pandemic.
There are three newer holidays in our tradition that all happen in the spring.
When it comes to Capstone Service Projects, PJA 8th graders have always demonstrated compassion and commitment.
Enjoy some photographs from this year's Purim festivities at PJA!
Summer is a wonderful opportunity to review online safety with your children.
We are grateful to the following donors who made recent grants in support of PJA!
Shopping with gift cards purchased through RaiseRight is a simple way to support PJA!
Winter Newsletter 2022
PJA’s 2021 Auction, celebrating the school’s 60th anniversary, was indeed a smashing success!
Each year, students in kindergarten, first, and second grade look forward to partnering up with a middle school buddy.
The Caldecott Club has been reading the best picture books of the year during voluntary lunchtime sessions
We recently had the opportunity to catch up with PJA alum, Sarit Cahana.
Enrollment is up at non-Orthodox Jewish day schools across the continent.
PJA eighth grader, Jake Chisholm, is getting a lot of press these days, and with good reason.
Since 2015, the Schnitzer Family Campus has been fortunate to receive funding for upgrades to campus security...
Monthly Donation Drives have been a PJA tradition for over a decade.
This year, for Hanukkah, we wanted to shine a light on our Early Childhood community.
This fall, PJA was delighted to offer cross country to our middle school students.
The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here - the Makerspace is open and ready for Makers!
At PJA, students, faculty and families have always looked forward to Kabbalat Shabbat.
At the start of the pandemic, twin sisters, and PJA Class of 2020 graduates, Liana and Sylvie Kressel, started baking.
Molly discusses how to broaden your worldview with books.
We are grateful to the following donors who made recent grants in support of PJA:
Five PJA alumni talked about the transition from Portland Jewish Academy to high school in front of a Zoom audience...
We are Life & Legacy donors because we want a PJA education to be available for our grandchild and our grandchild’s children.
Way back in 2018, this year’s eighth grade class was in fifth grade!
This fall, the PJA Garden was awarded a $3,000 Whole Kids Garden Grant.
Summer Newsletter 2021
What a celebratory ending to the school year our 8th graders had. After many months of being at home and not being able to have the milestone year our 8th graders usually do...
This year, PJA launched an initiative to examine Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA).
In the fall of 2020, Jonathan Glass approached Merrill Hendin, the Principal of Portland Jewish
Academy (PJA), with an idea...
We are thrilled to announce our new Director of Afterschool Programs, Sean Bartlett.
On March 16, 2021, PJA Grandparents gathered via Zoom for a program called From the Mouths of Babes...
Choosing a meaningful and doable capstone service project under the best of circumstances can be a challenge, but throw in a pandemic, and it can seem impossible.
Check out updates from our class of 2017. See and download the full article with images here.
It has been pretty much non-stop business in the admission office since November of 2019.
One of our favorite things to do at PJA is to celebrate Jewish holidays as a kehillah (community)
PJA and MJCC have been focused on enhanced sustainability for a number of years...
Longtime early childhood educator, Kim Krikorian, has accepted the position of PJA’s Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education.
We want to welcome our new faculty and staff who will be joining PJA this coming year.
As part of the CARES Act that became law in 2020, the government provided the universal charitable tax deduction.
Summer Discovery is open to everyone ages 4-15, weekly through July 16!
We are Life & Legacy donors because we want a PJA education to be available for our grandchild and our grandchild’s children.
Winter Newsletter 2021
For the past few years, PJA has undertaken the important work of defining and better understanding diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-bias education and anti-racism.
Since mid-March of 2020, Portland Jewish Academy has been delivering our teaching and instruction online due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Jacob Glass and Evan Horwitz, PJA alumni from the Class of 2019, recently joined the Student Advisory Board of the OJMCHE.
Although we have not been able to give the PJA garden as much love as usual, we have been lucky to have a few opportunities to gather together...
During these dark times, it’s important for us to find opportunities to focus on the light and the blessings we have before us each day.
For the third year in a row, PJA students have received the Harold Schnitzer Spirit of Unity Award from the Wholistic Peace Institute.
This year’s production of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins marks the first time Kindergarten has not performed a Hanukkah play live.
We were delighted to catch up recently with PJA alumna, Emma Rosenthal, Class of 2012.
The MJCC is thrilled to offer fun, safe social interaction for children, and a break for families this winter.
In a first for PJA, the 2020 Annual Auction was held entirely virtually on Sunday, December 6th
If you have come to the Schnitzer Family Campus lately, you may have noticed that the sukkah in the MJCC courtyard is still up.
How do you celebrate Chanukah in a pandemic? At PJA, the magic, joy and light of Chanukah was as bright as ever.
PJA has always made health and safety a number one priority for its students, families, staff and the broader community.
Please remember PJA in your will, trust, retirement plan or life insurance policy.
Learn about 529 plans (tax-advantaged plans for paying educational expenses) from expert, Eric J. Kodesch.
We are grateful to the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and Jewish Federation of Greater Portland for an emergency grant...
Our 2020-21 Board of Directors:
Jason Zidell | President
Rich Barker | Vice-President
Barry Benson
Amy Blauer | Secretary
John Emshwiller
Joyce Evans
Marni Glick | Treasurer
Larry Gloth
Michelle Kashinsky
Steven Klein | Immediate Past-President
Gail Mandel
Carol Ray Richmond
Erik Richmond
Danelle Romain | Vice-President
Tamar Wyte-Lake
Jonathan Singer
Ahuva Zaslavsky
To learn more about our board, visit this page and click on the Board Members tab.
Thank you to the following people who contributed to this newsletter:
Steve Albert
Blair Borax
Elana Cohn-Rozansky
Jenny Crego
Shahar Eden
Becky Ewer
Jacob Glass
Sarah Glass
Merrill Hendin
Allison Hernandez
Anna Hixon
Evan Horwitz
Michael Hyde
Lisa Katon
Amy Katz
Eric J. Kodesch
Saul Korin
Celinda Llanez
Emma Rosenthal
Erika Saiers
Summer Newsletter 2020
- Student Life
Bidding Farewell to PJA’s Class of 2020
- Alumni
We were delighted to catch up recently with PJA alumna, Rikki Horowitz Conners.
- Jewish Life
Yom Ha’atzmaut is always one of our favorite days at PJA and thanks to the creativity and dedication of our staff, this year we were able to celebrate Israel’s 72nd birthday pandemic style!
- All-School
In its fourth year, the PJA Family Giving Circle overcame obstacles and physical distance to fund important projects for the future of PJA.
- Alumni
PJA alumnus Boaz Frankel (5th Grade Class of 1993) and his wife Brooke Barker have been finding creative ways to pass the time during quarantine.
- All-School
On May 26, 2020 PJA Grandparents met over Zoom to get an update on PJA.
- Student Life
Anyone who is familiar with PJA knows the importance that is placed on Kehillah or community.
- All-School
Looking for in-person Day Camps for your children this summer? Our campus partner, the MJCC, has options...
- Student Life
Over the winter, two 8th grade students approached Harriet Wingard about putting together a journal of writing and art by PJA middle school students.
- All-School
The pandemic has tested us in ways we never thought possible.
- All-School
During the 2019-20 school year, the Noam Stampfer Gemilut Chasadim committee awarded two grants.
- All-School
The end of the year for PJA artists typically means a chance to show off student art with grade-level exhibits in the Learning Commons.
- All-School
Over the past few months, the eyes looking at the teaching profession have been open wide in wonder and gratitude.
- All-School
In May, PJA received the good news that our project was selected for a 2019-20 CenturyLink Teachers and Technology Grant.
- All-School
When a call went out to PJA’s early childhood, day school, and afterschool care families...
- Student Life
Every April, PJA Middle School celebrates National Poetry Month.
You may or may not remember that fateful day -- Friday, March 13, 2020 -- when schools in Oregon officially closed.
- Student Life
From mid-March through the end of the school year, Pre-K teacher, Adrianne Sharrock, made over 30 videos
“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.”
- Alumni
We recognize what a strange and unsatisfying end to high school this was for our alumni from the PJA Class of 2016.
- All-School
Covid-19 has touched all of our lives and daily activities and Teacher Appreciation Week was no different.
- Student Life
When schools were closed in mid-March, we were just about to bring our Middle School Mainstage Drama production of Peter Pan to the stage.
- Student Life
Covid-19 was NOT going to stop our 3rd grade Portland Production from taking place this year.
- Student Life
This year the PJA Science Expo went digital!
- All-School
“The day is short, the work is great. You are not expected to finish the work, nor are you free to desist.” (Pirkei Avot 2:20-21)
- Jewish Life
While the timing and format of this year’s Middle School Yom HaShoah commemoration was different than previous years, the heartfelt commitment to remembering the Holocaust remained a constant.