PJA's Middle School program is ideally suited to the intellectual and emotional needs of students
from 6th through 8th grade. A positive peer group, rich and robust academics and time for
exploratories combine to create a well-rounded student. The Jewish studies program supports and
develops critical thinking skills and provides opportunities for in-depth discussion and analysis.
Specialists in music, art, physical education, dance, technology, library and an
artist-in-residence program round out our program.
Classes are large enough to provide the
social opportunities that are critical at this age, while small enough to permit individual
attention. PJA teachers are highly skilled in differentiating instruction to meet the needs of
all students in class.
PJA middle school's academics are without parallel. Our science and math program is exceptionally
strong and our humanities teaching uses best practices in English, social studies, history and
civics to create a well-rounded curriculum.
PJA's middle school faculty includes many teaching specialists:
The Arts: Maintaining a full range of art enrichment has long been a priority at PJA.
Art is woven into the curriculum at PJA. In addition, our art teacher offers classes in various
media. An artist-in-residence program has brought in artists who have worked with students
in a variety of media, including sculpture, textile, drawing, painting, music, rhythm and writing.
Students attend theatre performances at local theatres, as well as performances by their peers.
Additional art offerings appear in the list of exploratories below.
Physical education All students take physical education. Our facility is unusually well
equipped and includes basketball courts, an indoor soccer field, gymnastics, rock-climbing and
other facilities. Middle school students can take advantage of our playing field and other
outdoor areas as well.
Health and fitness Health is part of the curriculum at every grade level.
Exploratories PJA middle school students can choose from a variety of exploratories that
allow them to try out new skills and explore a subject for a quarter or a semester. Here is a
sampling of exploratories that have been offered in the past:
Calligraphy
Healthy Cooking
MathCounts
Cartooning
Printmaking
Fix it
Field trips Students of all ages take a variety of day field trips that enrich the
curriculum. Overnight field trips include a four-day trip to Outdoor School for 6th grade
students, a three-day trip to Ashland for 7th grade students (who study Shakespeare) and a
culminating 8th grade trip. The destination of the 8th grade trips varies; in the past, students
have visited Israel, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. and New York City.
Foreign languages All students study Hebrew. (No prior Hebrew or Jewish studies experience
is necessary.) Spanish is also available starting in 7th grade.
Jewish studies and values All students take Jewish studies. As a community day school,
PJA teaches respect and reverence for all streams of Judaism. We welcome families of diverse
backgrounds, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Our approach is text-based. Students discuss and learn
about values and ethics.
Community Service At PJA, our students live out important values as well. Community
service is critical at every grade level. Whether it's singing for residents of an assisted
living facility, or sending care packages to soldiers, PJA students are deeply committed to
and involved with our community. Recently, students raised money to buy backpacks for homeless
children and raised money and awareness for the Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital Canine
Blood Donor program.
Afterschool activities PJA shares a facility with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center,
which has extensive athletic facilities. Our families
have an unusually wide range of activities from which to choose. Some are PJA-sponsored and others
are run by the MJCC. For a modest fee, students can attend the Teen Center, where they can
engage in socializing and supervised activities until 6 p.m.
