The Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor: A Brief History

In 1974, a small group of dedicated Ann Arbor Jewish community members gathered to discuss the possible establishment of a Jewish day school in Ann Arbor. They had an ambitious vision to create an elementary school that would provide an outstanding general studies education and a vibrant Jewish cultural and educational experience. Among them was Jehuda Reinharz, then Professor of Jewish History at the University of Michigan and now President of Brandeis University, who remarked: "There was a wonderful esprit de corps among those who had made a decision"� that such a school would be "a major contribution to the life of the Jewish community." The group's dream became reality when the Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor opened in the fall of 1975 with a class of 12 "gansters" (kindergartners).

The school was initially housed in the old B'nai Brith Hillel building on Hill Street. Parents, teachers and founders threw their hearts into the project, and the children responded wonderfully to this new Jewish educational opportunity. Everyone knew that their hard work would have a lasting impact on the Ann Arbor Jewish community. The School added a grade each year, and by 1977 it had outgrown its facility and moved to the Bethlehem United Church of Christ. In 1979, the school relocated to Beth Israel Congregation's new synagogue building on Washtenaw Avenue. By 1987, the school was expanding rapidly and had reached its capacity at Beth Israel. A final move to the new Jewish Community Center [JCC] building on Birch Hollow Drive allowed student enrollment to almost double in a few short years. This successful expansion led to the need for additional classroom space that was provided by the acquisition of portable classrooms. These were replaced by new classrooms after the JCC's expansion project in 1997.

Under the leadership of Marlene Gitelman, the school became well known as offering a superior secular academic elementary education together with an excellent Judaics curriculum. In 1995, HDS began a Hebrew immersion program, which has become a model for day schools nationwide. HDS students in Grades 1 through 5 spend half the school day learning Judaic subjects in classes conducted entirely in Hebrew. Starting in 2003 the school added a half-time Hebrew teacher in the Gan who converses with the kindergartners solely in Hebrew. As a result, by graduation, HDS students are able to converse easily in Hebrew as well as write and read the language.

Over the years, the school has grown into a dynamic institution that has nurtured hundreds of youngsters. Under the leadership of Head of School Dina Shtull, HDS continues to flourish, successfully balancing traditions and goals established by the school's early leadership with new ideas and programs.  The school image has professionalized with the addition of the hdsaa.org common email address. Positions have been added for Recruitment and Development, playground supervision, library staffing, mentoring new teachers, and full-time Gan Hebrew.  Examples of new programs include the Klez Kids Band, Grandparents' Day, the Student Talent Show, and the Giborei HaChodesh program which combines character education with Jewish history.  Computers in the lab have been replaced to remain state-of-the-art, and a SMART Board was added to the fifth grade classroom.  The school is committed to teaching 21st century skills, using media as a tool for developing skills for life and career and for learning and innovation. The school is recognized nationally for its standard of excellence. Overall standardized test scores (Iowa) for 3rd-5th grades put the school in the 98^th or 99^th percentile of all elementary schools nationwide in every tested academic subject.  Designated time for teacher collaboration has been added to the monthly calendar.  The curriculum for both General Studies, Hebrew language, and Judaic Studies have been well documented, and in 2011-2012 the school began a process of adopting the new Common Core State Standards. The school has achieved unprecedented fundraising results in both its 30th and 36th anniversary fundraising campaigns, as well as from outside grants, including three grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  Publication of formal Annual Reports have become a norm, with alumni updates included in the publicity.

The Hebrew Day School's founders and subsequent leaders had a vision. Their dedication and hard work along with that of countless volunteers, faculty, staff, and parents guided the school from an experimental program to an established and highly valued part of the Ann Arbor and larger Jewish community. Now the challenge is to further raise awareness in the community of the importance of raising literate Jewish children who have the knowledge and skills to become our future leaders. We look forward to seeing the current generation of students flourish in those roles.