The Corner of Spadina and Bloor: Exploring Paul Penna DJDS

This week on the podcast, we’re proud to share a special episode dedicated to our graduating class. Host Jay Rosenthal is joined by a number of wonderful guests. Students Ma’ayan and Sheelo reflect on their time at PPDJDS and the experiences that shaped them and brought their class closer together. Morah Danna and Morah Ali offer a thoughtful look at the Grade 8 year and how we prepare students academically and socially for high school while nurturing the values that will guide them beyond. We also hear from Jessamyn, parent of graduating student Dahlia, who shares what it’s been like to join the school community in later years and what it means to reach this milestone. 

On today’s episode of The Corner of Bloor and Spadina, we’re diving into the world of the Middle School Musical! First, we chat with students Maya, Eytan, and Evan about their roles in this year's production of High School Musical Jr.. Then, we’re joined by Moreh Mark, Moreh Jeremy, and playwright Julie Tepperman for an exclusive look at what it takes to bring the show to life. 

This week, our host Jay Rosenthal is joined by Principal Amy and Ryla Braemer, school parent and Executive Director of the Miles Nadal JCC. Their conversation focuses on the growth of early years programs at Paul Penna DJDS and the MNjcc.

You'll hear from Amy about the decision to open a JK class in September 2025 and how families interested in joining PPDJDS can connect to the school.

You’ll also hear from Ryla about the growing interest in community engagement within the Jewish community, as well as the incredible programs that the MNjcc offers year-round.

The Paul Penna DJDS Podcast is back and better than ever! In this first episode of the year, our host, school parent Jay Rosenthal dives into the heart of our incredible athletics program. 

First, you'll hear from Principal Amy and athletics coordinator, Moreh Avee, about the importance of athletics and this Wednesday's special visit from Basketball Star, Tamir Goodman. 

Then, three of our talented PPDJDS students join the conversation, reflecting on how their experiences on school sports teams have impacted them both on and off the court. 

Morah Rena, our Vice Principal and Rabbi Marc Wolf recount their participation in Prizmah’s Israel Educators Mission, in which 23 school leaders and Israel educators were brought together to consider the question “What has changed and what stays the same in Israel Education after October 7th?”

This year's ShinShiniot, Shelley and Raz share their experience as part of UJA's ShinShinim Israel engagement program. They are joined by Principal Amy, our Vice Principal, Morah Rena, and Jess Weiss, a ShinShinim host family.

In our final episode during the 2022-23 school year, we recount the many events and celebrations that have taken place over the last month, and look ahead to next year. A big thank you to everyone who helped make these events possible, and who celebrated out 25th anniversary with us.

Leora Schaefer, the Executive Director at Facing History and Ourselves, Michelle Sadowski, an Educator for the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program at the Azrieli Foundation, Jaime Saltz, the Grade 5 Core Teacher, and Principal Amy engage in conversation on the week of Yom HaShoah about the best practices surrounding the introduction of Holocaust education, and how our students observe such an impactful event in history. We also hear from Shira Wolch and various students across all Toronto Jewish Day Schools at the Yom Hashoah V’hagvurah 2023 Community Commemoration.

In this bonus episode, Middle School students detail their experiences during our school's first ever Tikkun Olam Day, a day dedicated to promoting social action within our community. Students volunteered their time  with Makers Making Change to create switch adapted toys for kids with disabilities, building and painting ramps at StopGap to make our city more accessible, prepping meals for The Breton Food Cupboard, and sorting clothing donations at Transforming Style. 

Our Middle School recently had their inaugural Tikkun Olam Day, and what a success it was! Shira, a Middle School teacher and Tikkun Olam Day leader, Jason, a Middle School student teacher, Kate, our Director of Core Curriculum, and Principal Amy discuss our school’s value of social justice, and share more about this special day, how it was structured, and what our students got up to.

As we transition back to school from our mid-winter break, our faculty gathered for 2 days of Professional Development. Principal Amy and Samantha Florence, one of our middle school teachers, discuss the value of PD, as well as their main takeaways and teachings from this dedicated time. 

Our annual Day of Giving campaign is taking place on March 1. David Koffman, Co-Chair of our Institutional Advancement Committee, Jay Rosenthal, a board member and matching donor, Principal Amy and Elana Paice Lidsky, our Director of Institutional Advancement, shed light on the importance of this special day and highlight the many ways to give.

Our science curriculum is more creative and innovative than ever before. Kate, our Director of Core Curriculum, and Jeremy, the Middle School science and math teacher discuss updates to our science program, standout student experiments, and highschool readiness.

Our first episode of 2023 is international! Principal Amy, Morah Elana, and Dan Held, the chief program officer at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, share their experience and takeaways from the Prizmah Conference in Denver, Colorado, where they are joined by over 1000 North American Jewish Day School professionals.

We made it to the winter break! Francine, our School Counsellor shares her best self-care tips to ensure students and parents make the most out of their break, and come back to school in the New Year feeling refreshed.

As we approach the winter season, we’re looking forward to our annual Chanukah concert and are starting to get our Middle School musical off the ground! Director of Middle School, Eric, and music teacher, Moreh Mark, join hosts  Dr. Amy Platt and Blair Rotstein to talk about how our students will be taking to the stage!

Let’s go Panthers! Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Blair Rotstein are joined by Vice Principal Rena, Head Coach Moreh Avee, and student athletes Aiden and Yael as we celebrate this year’s success of our athletics program.

SK Core Teacher, Adeena Zeldin, and SK Hebrew Teacher, Michelle Bernstein, join hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal as they discuss our exceptional SK program and share what they love most about working with our youngest learners.

Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal are joined by our Director of Core Curriculum, Kate Sable, and Paul Penna DJDS parent and board member, Sarah Flicker, as they share the many ways our students are marking National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through meaningful age-appropriate learning and initiatives, including the making of our very own orange t-shirt. 

Middle School teacher, Shira Wolch, and students Adam, Sheelo and Lev reflect on their recent middle school trip to Camp Ramah for a wonderful community building overnight.

As we enter our 25th year as an institution, the faculty had the opportunity to tell the Epic Tale of Paul Penna DJDS. Using our different experiences to guide us and our years of service to group us, we present the story of our special school from its earliest moments as a vision of our founder, to this current day K-8 downtown Jewish day school.

Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal close out our first season of the podcast by sharing their favourite moments from the 2021/2022 school year, and looking ahead to the 25th year of Paul Penna DJDS.

Alumni parent, Jodi Tanenbaum, and Paul Penna DJDS Institutional Advancement Coordinator, Janice Feldman, join hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal for a look back on the history of the school and a discussion on alumni connection as we prepare to celebrate our 25th year.

Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal speak with Paul Penna DJDS music teacher, Mark Feldman, about the upcoming Middle School production of Fiddler on the Roof, and how after many years in the making, our unique take on this classic musical is sure to be a must-see!

Ahead of Yom Ha’atzmaut, our Shinshinim, Yahav Gross and Erel Suissa, take us through their experience working at Paul Penna DJDS and living in Toronto’s downtown Jewish community, and along with insight from Hebrew teacher, Danna Matthews, share how we strive to infuse Israel into our classrooms.

Dara Solomon, Executive Director at Ontario Jewish Archives and Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, Jaime Saltz, Grade 5 Teacher, and Rena Markus, our Vice Principal, join hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal to share their philosophies, educational approaches, and experiences surrounding Holocaust Education at Paul Penna DJDS.

Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal are joined by new Paul Penna DJDS Middle School students, Joah Bowie and Lotus Lampert, as they share their experience joining our school community this year.

Curious as to what our faculty gets up to during our professional development days? Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Blair Rotstein speak to some of our outstanding teachers about their PD learning and the impact it will have on their teaching and our students.

Four parents join hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal to share why they have chosen the Paul Penna DJDS Middle School for their child. From our integrated academics, to the skilled faculty members, to the warm student community, and our unique environment, we explore the benefits of the Paul Penna DJDS Middle School, and how this new program makes for a seamless transition into the next stages of a child's education.

13 schools, 1 mission: Sustain Jewish education. On March 9, 2022, 13 Jewish schools in the GTA are coming together for Day of Giving, an annual online fundraising campaign, allowing the greater Jewish community to celebrate and invest in the incredible organizations that nurture the next generation. Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal are joined by Paul Penna DJDS Board Member and parent, Mitchell Marcus, and our Director of Institutional Advancement, Elana Paice Lidsky, to discuss this year’s Day of Giving campaign, the impact of our campaigns in years past, and how the community can get involved during this special day. For more information, please email elana@djds.ca.

What does “Advisory” mean and how is it put into practice? Shira Wolch, a Middle School Advisory teacher, and Lindsay Springer, our Director of Student Services, joins hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal to explain how they are preparing our Middle School students for the next chapter of their lives through focusing on executive function, mental health in young adolescents, and natural life transitions.

Nurse Molly Suckling joins hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal to break down what we know so far ahead of Ontario’s return to in-person learning, along with our specific school protocols such as masking, screening, eating at school, and distance learning.

Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal are joined by Middle School Math & Science teacher Jeremy, and students Robert and Izzy, as they share the learning behind the Grade 6 Smartie Party. When it comes to Smarties, we’ve been told to eat the “red ones last”, but why? Our Grade 6 class set out to find out during their data management math unit, where they have been focusing on the distribution of data. With the help of our community, students sorted through almost 2500 Smarties, and graphed their findings.

Director of Middle School, Eric Cohen, joins hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal to discuss how Paul Penna DJDS infuses fresh judiac life into the Middle School curriculum through celebrating coming-of-age milestones in the B’nai Mitzvah program, and the inclusiveness of the Hebrew language study, accessible from beginners all the way to fluent Hebrew speakers.

Hosts Dr. Amy Platt and Jay Rosenthal are joined by Middle School Math & Science teacher Jeremy Powell. Together they take listeners through the steps they have set up to ensure our Middle School students are confident learners, ready for high school, and are able to make a positive impact on their local and global community.