Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School
Encyclopedia
Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School is a small Jewish day school in Chicago's
Hyde Park
neighborhood. It is the only Jewish school on Chicago's South Side and attracts a wide range of students from across the Chicago metropolitan area.
movement, Solomon Schechter South Side School (founded in 1965). Since the merger, Akiba-Schechter has been run under the auspices of both the Associated Talmud Torahs (Orthodox
), the Board of Jewish Education (Community), and now the Jewish United Fund of Chicago. Since 1988, Akiba-Schechter has been under the leadership of Mrs. Miriam Schiller, its sixth principal. Under Principal Schiller's leadership, the school has seen growth in numerous ways, both physically to the campus and in its student body.
winner in 2000. Akiba-Schechter's Pre-School and Kindergarten is a NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited program.
building designed by architect
John Ronan. Ronan has received numerous prestigious awards for the new building, including an award from the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
During the summer of 2007, a major renovation of the original 1965 building was undertaken, including upgrades of the heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems, and installation of modern exterior windows. The second phase of the renovation is planned and will include interior finishes, a renovated administrative office suite that features a new Teacher Resource Library and the renovation and expansion of the Pre-School playground.
(1983), Israeli-American journalist
Miriam Kass (2008 to present) Winner of the Steinhart award for Excellent Teaching
Akiba Schechter has also been honored to send several of its students to national competitions including the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., the National Chidon Bible competition in New York and the regional science fair in Champaign-Urbana.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Hyde Park
Hyde Park, Chicago
Hyde Park, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, in Cook County, Illinois, United States and seven miles south of the Chicago Loop, is a Chicago neighborhood and one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is home to the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center, the Museum of Science...
neighborhood. It is the only Jewish school on Chicago's South Side and attracts a wide range of students from across the Chicago metropolitan area.
History
The school came into existence in 1972 through the merger of an Orthodox-affiliated school, Akiba South Side Jewish Day School (founded in 1949), and a school affiliated with the ConservativeConservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
movement, Solomon Schechter South Side School (founded in 1965). Since the merger, Akiba-Schechter has been run under the auspices of both the Associated Talmud Torahs (Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
), the Board of Jewish Education (Community), and now the Jewish United Fund of Chicago. Since 1988, Akiba-Schechter has been under the leadership of Mrs. Miriam Schiller, its sixth principal. Under Principal Schiller's leadership, the school has seen growth in numerous ways, both physically to the campus and in its student body.
Pre-School
The Pre-school was founded in 1982, and has since become a highly renowned pre-school and continues to grow. Barbara Simon, the pre-school's first director, continues to teach, although the pre-school has been under the leadership of Carla Goldberg, a Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching AwardKohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards
The Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards honors five outstanding Chicago area early childhood educators each year. The selection process begins each fall with an open call for nominees. Each nominee must be a full time Chicago early childhood teacher with at least five years experience...
winner in 2000. Akiba-Schechter's Pre-School and Kindergarten is a NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited program.
Recent changes
In 1998, the School purchased from Congregation Rodfei Zedek two buildings in which it had operated since 1972 - Hoffman House (home to the elementary school) and a 1965 building, used for the pre-school. In 2005, Hoffman House was replaced by a new elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
building designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
John Ronan. Ronan has received numerous prestigious awards for the new building, including an award from the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
During the summer of 2007, a major renovation of the original 1965 building was undertaken, including upgrades of the heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems, and installation of modern exterior windows. The second phase of the renovation is planned and will include interior finishes, a renovated administrative office suite that features a new Teacher Resource Library and the renovation and expansion of the Pre-School playground.
Notable alumni
Caroline GlickCaroline Glick
Caroline Glick is an American-Israeli journalist for Makor Rishon and is the deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post. She is also the Senior Fellow for Middle East Affairs of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Security Policy.-Life:...
(1983), Israeli-American journalist
Miriam Kass (2008 to present) Winner of the Steinhart award for Excellent Teaching
Akiba Schechter has also been honored to send several of its students to national competitions including the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., the National Chidon Bible competition in New York and the regional science fair in Champaign-Urbana.