Taking It to the Next Level

There are some very interesting people at Boulder Jewish Day School.  I recently interviewed David Brode and wanted to share some of his comments.  Although David’s own kids are too old to attend BJDS, he became interested in BJDS because his little cousin, Hannah Seigal, attended the school. Her father, Brian, the current President of the Board, asked David to help out.  As the current Treasurer of the Board, David’s major function is to understand the economic drivers of the school and to make sure BJDS has the right resources to survive, thrive, and fund new programs.

I asked David what inspired him about BJDS, and he replied, “These kids are getting a rich experience of Judaism that should lock in their Jewish identity for life.  Judaism isn’t a theoretical thing for them; it’s a living part of their everyday life.”  When asked about what role he saw BJDS playing in the Boulder community, David elaborated that the school is a “cross-shul connector:

It is cool having kids ranging from Orthodox to secular in the classroom, as well as a means of bringing their parents together.  BJDS is both an anchor for bringing more observant families to Boulder, and a way of creating strong Jewish leaders from the range of kids in Boulder, affiliated and unaffiliated.”

In his assessment of the value of Jewish day school education, David focused on the multi-lingual and multi-cultural aspects, as well as the ability to provide Jewish kids with the ability to feel comfortable in any Jewish setting, to “hang with the tribe.”  David’s final message to the community:  “Check out the preschool at BJDS!  It is a fantastic program for kids, with aftercare designed to support busy parents.”

Boulder Jewish Day School needs more people like David.  This is the Boulder Jewish community’s school.  Please get involved!

Please feel free to post comments and feedback on this site, or email me directly at r.amaru@comcast.net.

Boulder Jewish Day School (BJDS) is an independent accredited community day school serving Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont and the North Metro Denver area. The school offers an Early Childhood Program (2.5 to 5 years) as well as an Elementary program – Kindergarten though Fifth Grade –and after-school programs too. BJDS provides a strong academic curriculum, bilingual programs, Judaic studies, art, music and physical education. BJDS features a low-student to teacher ratio, an active parent volunteer community, and a warm pluralistic environment that welcomes students and families from all backgrounds. BJDS is dedicated to growing the next generation of community leaders. Financial aid is available.  For more information about BJDS or to schedule a tour, please contact us at 303.449.5569 or bjds@qwestoffice.net.