Jewish day school

In 1979, the first class of Tehiyah Day School in El Cerrito was 15 students, with a mission to provide a proper education for children in a varied Jewish community. Now teaching over 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, Tehiyah’s mission of education and renewal still stands. Tehiyah may base its yearly calendar on Jewish holidays and culture, yet it also challenges its students academically. Students entering the middle school enjoy individual classes and extracurricular sports and programs, yet still have the comfort of their Tehiyah lower school years.

With two campuses in San Rafael and San Francisco and 600 students, Brandeis Hillel Day School, founded in 1963, boasts a long tradition of nurturing students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Close to 95 percent of students are accepted to their top choice of high school come graduation. Students are taught the value of hard work, kindness, and embracing a diverse Jewish community. “As a community Jewish day school, support from our community is especially meaningful to us. It brings us great joy and pride, and we’re glad that the poll reflects our pride,” says head of school Chaim Heller.

Although the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco was founded to provide its students with a rigorous Judaic studies curriculum, the school is a dynamic environment in all academic departments — and student life. BBQ club, digital media club and the literary magazine are just a few of the groups at JCHS that create a vibrant student culture — not to mention the students’ devotion to athletics and social justice. Bringing together Jewish students from all over the Bay Area, JCHS creates a close-knit community through all-school retreats, along with lunchtime programming.

Princeton, Harvard and Yale are just some of the places you can find recent alumni from Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto, the only community Jewish high school between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This year students will be welcoming a new neighbor — the Oshman Family JCC, where students will be given free gym memberships. “Students come to our school for our close community, excellent academics and almost unlimited access to teachers,” says admissions director Marily Lerner.

You will never find more than 20 students in a class at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto. Established in 1989, the K-8 school teaches around 400 students in its state-of-the-art facility on San Antonio Road. The study of Torah, tikkun olam and justice envelop the core values at the school, named after Gideon Hausner, who was the chief prosecutor at the Adolf Eichmann trial.

In second place were Oakland Hebrew Day School and South Peninsula Hebrew Day School in Sunnyvale.

First Place

San Francisco

Brandeis Hillel Day School

(415) 406-1035

www.bhds.org

Jewish Community High School of the Bay

(415) 345-9777

www.jchsofthebay.org

East Bay

Tehiyah Day School

El Cerrito

(510) 233-3013

www.tehiyah.org

South Bay/ Peninsula

Kehillah Jewish High School

Palo Alto

(650) 213-9600

www.kehillah.org

Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School

Palo Alto

(650) 494-8200

www.hausner.com

North Bay

Brandeis Hillel Day School

San Rafael

(415) 472-1833

www.bhds.org

Second Place

East Bay

Oakland Hebrew Day School

(510) 531-8600

www.ohds.org

South Bay/ Peninsula

South Peninsula Hebrew Day School

Sunnyvale

(408) 738-0237

www.sphds.org

 

College-prep high school

After eight years of elementary and middle school, the step up to high school can be scary. But these college-preparatory high schools in the Bay Area make learning fun — and help guide students into the four-year college of their choice.

Beyond the rigor of academics, the College Preparatory School in Oakland offers fine and visual arts, debate, community service and athletic programs to their students. “This past academic year, our students in our stagecraft/woodworking class had the opportunity to create a collection of wooden toys that were shipped to AIDS-affected preschoolers in Zimbabwe,” says communications director Jennifer Beeson. Encouraging community service and academic excellence has earned College Preparatory School a place among the Harvard Review’s 25 academically strongest independent schools in the country.

The Branson School’s extensive 17-acre campus in Ross resembles more of a college than a high school. Yet for the 320 students of Branson, the next four years here will be their gateway into adult life. Campus is made up of 12 buildings, including 31 classrooms, as well as music, art, and dance studios, library, two theaters and an athletic center. With a fiber optic wireless network, the campus stays connected.

Located on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco, Lick-Wilmerding High School coined the phrase “private school with a public purpose” after starting programs such as Aim High, which offers tutoring to middle school students during the summer. The school features a diverse and inclusive community, with students coming from almost every zip code in San Francisco, as well as from the East Bay, South Bay and Marin. “The ultimate measure of Lick-Wilmerding’s success is the extent to which our graduates leave us with the capacity, the confidence and the commitment to make the world a better place,” says communications director Mary Rose.

What do one sixth-grade chess champion, 12 national merit scholars, and a highly ranked Math Olympiad team have in common? Look no further than Crystal Springs Upland School in Hillsborough, which is home to 350 students in grades six through 12. “Students have a extensive selection of college-preparatory classes to choose from, including Advanced Placement,” says head of school Amy Richards.

In second place were the Drew School in San Francisco and Head-Royce School in Oakland.

First Place

San Francisco

Lick-Wilmerding High School

(415) 333-4021

www.lwhs.org

East Bay

The College Preparatory School

Oakland

(510) 652-0111

www.college-prep.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Crystal Springs Upland School

Hillsborough

(650) 342-4175

www.csus.com

North Bay

The Branson School

Ross

(415) 454-3612

www.branson.org

Second Place

San Francisco

Drew School

(415) 409-3739

www.drewschool.org

East Bay

Head-Royce School

Oakland

(510) 531-1300

www.headroyce.org

 

Early childhood education program

Dedicated to providing children with a warm introduction to the traditions of Judaism, Gan Israel Preschool in San Rafael instills children with a desire to learn and grow. “The children in our preschool are surrounded by a Jewish atmosphere of respect and loving appreciation for each person,” says director Gittel Rice. With small classes and low student-teacher ratios, children and parents are personally cared for in the best possible way. The school also provides plenty of scholarships to families in need.

Children at the Peninsula JCC Preschool in Foster City are welcomed to more than just a core curriculum — they have what director Judy Garb calls “an evolving ethical start.” Welcoming new families with music and after-school enrichment programs such as dancing and art, the school has a place for every child. “We are a warm nurturing community, with an amazing staff,” Garb says. “We never just take a child into the preschool, we take a whole family and support them in their parenting efforts.”

Temple Sinai Preschool in Oakland aims to make Judaism a part of everyday learning. This ranges from reciting a Hebrew blessing before snack to teaching broader Jewish themes such as tikkun olam. “It’s a lovely, warm community,” says director Michelle Green. “Everyone takes care of each other.” Green and her teachers aim to create an environment that nurtures “the social, emotional, physical, cognitive and creative development of each child,” she says.

Congregation Emanu-El Preschool in San Francisco is “a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities, including art, science, basic literary skills and building,” says early childhood education director David Worton. Jewish values are also an integral part of the preschool program, which includes making pillows for Passover and learning the story of Purim. As children mature and look ahead to kindergarten, Emanu-El helps families in finding the right program for their child. “We support families in finding the next step for their children,” Worton says.

Congregation Sherith Israel Preschool in San Francisco, Gan Mah Tov in Oakland, Addison-Penzak JCC Preschool in Los Gatos and Early Childhood Education at Osher Marin JCC came in second.

First Place

San Francisco

Congregation Emanu-El Preschool

(415) 751-2535

www.emanuelsf.org

East Bay

Temple Sinai Preschool

Oakland

(510) 451-2821

www.templesinaipreschool.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC Preschool

Foster City

(650) 212-PJCC

www.pjcc.org/family/ece/ece-index.html

North Bay

Gan Israel Preschool

San Rafael

(415) 507-0460

www.ganisraelsanrafael.com

Second Place

San Francisco

Congregation Sherith Israel Preschool

(415) 346-1720

www.sherithisrael.org

East Bay

Gan Mah Tov

Oakland

(510) 504-8073

www.thegan.net

South Bay/Peninsula

Addison-Penzak JCC Preschool

Los Gatos

(408) 357-7417

www.svjcc.org/preschool

North Bay

Early Childhood Education at Osher Marin JCC

San Rafael

(415) 444-8042

www.marinjcc.org/preschool.html

 

Jewish day camp

Camp Kee Tov wants to know: Have you got that ruach (spirit)? Our readers responded with a resounding “Yes!” for the Berkeley day camp, based at Congregation Beth El in Berkeley. “Ruach is the embodiment of our energy and community,” says director Adam Ganes. Shabbat celebrations, theme days, overnight trips, camper performances, and field trips are just some of the activities campers can look forward to at Kee Tov. Although most of its campers sign up for the 4-week sessions, Kee Tov also offers a 2-week program, focusing on local food and ecology. “It’s great because it offers some flexibility to busy families and is also a wonderful learning experience for the kids,” Ganes says.

Like many people in the Bay Area, Beth Goodman, executive director of the JCC, Sonoma County, recognizes the importance of Jewish summer camps.  “If you want to foster a strong Jewish identity in your child, there’s really no better place to do it than camp,” Goodman says. She could sing the praises of the JCC’s Camp Chai all day, but ultimately falls back on the activities offered: sports, games, singing, field trips, Shabbat celebrations and more. “Nearly every staff person who is hired has grown up with Camp Chai in their life,” Goodman says. “The staff is really committed to Camp Chai’s mission.”

Camp Kochav at the JCC of San Francisco offers popular summer programming for children entering grades from kindergarten through ninth grade. “Social justice is a really big part of all of our camps,” says camp and family programs manager Liz Bader-Natal. Service projects such as penny drives and beach clean-ups are woven into daily programming. “At the end of the day, it comes back to Jewish traditions,” Bader-Natal says. “Regardless of what program you’re in, we take time to welcome Shabbat on Friday.”

Campers at the Peninsula JCC summer camp may find themselves dressing up as Moses one day and serving lunch to the homeless the next. “We are starting a three-week-long social action project for our campers, instead of shorter term programs,” says general and teen camp director Jenny Mills. Campers work with local programs such as First Step for Families and My New Red Shoes while enjoying programming of their own, like an ancient Israel carnival.

In second place were the Summer Art Spark program at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, Camp Tzofim at the JCC of the East Bay in Oakland, J-Camp at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto and Camp Kehillah at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael.

 

First Place

San Francisco

Camp Kochav

JCC of San Francisco

(415) 292-1250

www.jccsf.org

East Bay

Camp Keetov

Congregation Beth El

Berkeley

(510) 848-2372

www.campkeetov.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC Summer Camps

Foster City

(650) 212-PJCC

www.pjcc.org/family/camps/camps-index.html

North Bay

Camp Chai

JCC, Sonoma County

Santa Rosa

(707) 528-4222

www.jccsoco.org/campchai.html

Second Place

San Francisco

Summer Art Spark Program

Contemporary Jewish Museum

(415) 344-8800

www.thecjm.org

East Bay

Camp Tzofim

JCC of the East Bay

Oakland

(510) 530-9222

www,jcceastbay.org

South Bay/Peninsula

J-Camp

Oshman Family JCC

Palo Alto

(650) 213-9316

www.paloaltojcc.org

North Bay

Camp Kehillah

Osher Marin JCC

San Rafael

(415) 444-8000

www.marinjcc.org

 

Favorite secular summer camp

At Camp Galileo, skits, scavenger hunts and art projects share the daily schedule with more unusual fare, such as designing a miniature golf course and playing “Capture the Rubber Chicken.” This broad range of programming keeps loyal Galileo campers returning each summer to one of the camp’s many locations around the Bay Area, spending anywhere between one week to an entire summer (“life campers,” as they’re called).

“We have so many things kids can do,” says Tajalli Horvat, vice president of field operations for the camp. Although days filled with activities like Star Wars dodgeball and go-karting attract campers, Horvat says Camp Galileo focuses on the areas of art, science and the outdoors since they “don’t get as much attention during the school year.” Now in its eighth season, Camp Galileo is starting to see former campers come back as interns and staff.

In second place was Mountain Camp in El Dorado National Forest.

First Place

Bay Area

Camp Galileo

(800) 854-3684

www.campgalileo.com

Second Place

Bay Area

Mountain Camp

(415) 351-2267

www.mountaincamp.com