Your child is at the heart of our work at Amos and Celia Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School. Through a developmental approach to education, we work closely with each family to ensure that their child receives a strong academic foundation upon which to build success in school and in life.
Small class sizes and flexible student groupings allow us to tailor lessons to diverse learning styles and abilities. We provide creative enrichment opportunities in each subject to keep students engaged and challenged. All students receive the attention they need to thrive academically as well as socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Judaism is thoughtfully woven into the curriculum and into the fabric of the school community. Even our youngest students learn to apply a Jewish lens to their math, science, social studies, literature, and art. School life nurtures spiritual life as children grow to respect and cherish Jewish texts, rituals, prayers, and values in age-appropriate ways. The vibrant Judaic studies program, led by Robert Portnoe, Judaic Studies Director, and Rabbi-in-Residence, Rabbi David Wirtschafter, empowers students to explore their faith and Jewish identity, acquire religious literacy, and nurture a connection with Israel.
It is, of course, the teachers who bring our rich, integrated curriculum to life. The Day School attracts and retains a talented, creative faculty dedicated to implementing best practice teaching techniques, working on grade level and department teams, and partnering with parents through frequent communication. Led by Helen Siegel, Lower School Director, and Harry Adler, Upper School Director, our faculty is individually and collectively committed to lifelong learning,. Each Day School teacher offers the critical human dimension and makes certain that every child feels connected and valued.
Our school’s curriculum is dynamic. It is a work in progress focused on creating continuity between grades and preparing students for high school and beyond. Our curriculum changes with the needs and interests of individual students as well as with current research and national best practice.
Day School alumni report that they are solidly prepared for high school and college, especially in the areas of math, science, writing, and public speaking. Our graduates have a well-defined sense of what being Jewish means to them personally, setting them on a path for a lifelong engagement with their religious and cultural heritage.
National research indicates that day school graduates have a greater sense of responsibility toward addressing the needs of the larger society—by influencing social values, helping those in need, volunteering their time, and choosing careers that enable them to be of service to their community—than their public and private school peers.
In an ongoing effort to provide a strong academic program, the Day School values its Accreditations / Affiliations with many highly regarded educational, Jewish, and cultural organizations.
