Testimonials

We get letters and emails from students, parents, and Jewish professionals.  Here is just a sampling of them.

OVERALL

• "I think New Jew is exceptional in preparing kids for high school, college and for life."   -Father of Sophomore

• "I am on the Board of Directors of a youth foundation where my daughter has volunteered so much time teaching children how to sail. Today, she testified before the California Coastal Commission in support of one of the foundation's projects. I was so proud of her - she spoke so eloquently, was so poised, and made such a positive impression in front of the Commissioners and hundreds of interested parties. She has really developed in so many ways since she came to NCJHS, and tells me all the time how happy she is there.
  
  What a contrast this is for me from my own high school years which were tortuous and continually filled with concern for my personal safety! Thank you for giving our family this wonderful opportunity. Keep up the good work!"-Father of a Junior

• "As the parent of a senior, a huge thank you goes to the college counselors.  The two of them truly present a team effort and create a plan of success for each child.  As this is our first college application experience, we were unfamiliar with the intricacies of this process.  The Counselor’s vast knowledge of college majors, environments, and requirements allowed us to select schools that would be the best fit for our son. The Counselor focused our list while widening our possibilities for schools.  My only regret in this process is the realization that our son is graduating this extraordinary school this year and we will miss all of the opportunities he has enjoyed, the fine educators from whom he has benefited, and the healthy, encouraging, and academic environment.  As parents, we could not have asked for more.  Again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts." -Mother of Sophomore and Senior (who is also an educator at another Jewish day school)

GRADUATION 2009

• "Thank you again for everything. I don't know if I had a chance to tell you but graduation was perfect. I have never been to such a beautiful ceremony. I am grateful that my son was a part of it and the beautiful memories will last a lifetime. From the tallit to the speeches to the warm embraces of the faculty, I am sure everybody was moved by the thought and care that was put into making this a special day for all the graduates.  Thank you." 
  –Mother of graduating senior

ISRAEL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

• "It is absolutely wonderful to see how the kids have all bonded and are all working together to provide an amazing time for their Israeli "sister or brother." I have never seen so much enthusiasm and camaraderie. I always knew this would be a wonderful experience for my daughter, but I had no idea how incredibly community-driven this would be.
  
  I want to express my sincere gratitude to the program director and coordinator for all of their countless hours of thought and effort into this program. I can honestly say my daughter, in just a few days with her Israeli sister, has practiced love, friendship, patience, and responsibility more than usual.  Besides introducing her buddy to the "Jewish-American" lifestyle at home, school, and around town, my daughter has been introduced to the real sense of "community" that is so prevalent in our heritage.  My daughter, just like biblical Sarah, has opened her "tent" of sharing her bedroom, her bathroom, her computer and Facebook time, her dinner table and conversation - qualities we all take for granted or forget to practice as adults.  
  
  Thank you so much for giving my daughter and all of the other teenagers the incredible lesson and gift of 'community.'"  -Mother of Sophomore 

• "I totally agree that my son is very happy.  I spoke with him this morning and he sounds wonderful.  I have to say that he is even really excited about the classes.  He loves the whole atmosphere of the school, and was even excited about the fact that in English class they discuss literature (just like in their Hebrew language class in Israel)!  And he was so proud when he told me that now he knows CPR.  Moreover, he actually told me he was grateful that he has the opportunity to have this experience.  I've never heard the word "grateful" from my son before.  That says a lot to me about how "right" this is for him."  -Mother of an Israeli Sophomore participating in the Extended Israel Exchange Program here for 3 months

TEACHERS

• "What a pleasure and delight it was to meet you and to listen to you speak in your classroom!  I was so touched and inspired by your love of your students and your approach to teaching.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate your phone message.  It was so uplifting, that I have listened to the message about 5 times!  My son had felt an extreme amount of pressure and stress at his prior school.  The kindness, praise and faith that you are showing in him is making an enormous impact in restoring his confidence in himself as a person and as a student. You are making a huge difference in his life and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you."  -Mother of Junior

• "My son absolutely LOVES your class!  You are a model to all faculty at NCJHS!  We are blessed to have you in his life – thank you for your ongoing cheering of his achievements!"  -Mother of Sophomore

 

ATHLETICS

• "Dear Coach, I just want to share with you what an impact you've had on my son.  This is the first time he has been willing to try a team sport.  The coaching he has received has truly been life changing.   The discipline has carried over to other areas of his life.  He now eats better, grooms better, has taken a sudden interest in his wardrobe and even comes home WANTING to study! 
  
  I don't know how you've done it.  I imagine the affiliation with a group of men has lifted his spirits and the fact that he is able to do things he didn't realize he could do has probably made him believe in himself too.  He really resonates to your style of coaching and the "pain" of it all.  Whatever it is, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You've been a hero, teacher and therapist, all in one.  You've been a catalyst for these boys and I am sure they will look back on this season fondly for many, many years.  I hope you can appreciate what a talented coach you are.  The work you are doing is critical for these boys' development as they travel into manhood.
  
  Thanks again for all of your dedication and expertise."  -Mother of Freshman

FROM JEWISH PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE NATION AND WORLD

• "I hope that your year is off to a great start.   Rabbi Brad Artson (VP, Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies AT American Jewish University) was up here in Vancouver and met with a number of us and was telling us how wonderful a school NCJHS really is from a parent perspective – quite the advertisement for the rest of the world to have such a powerful spokesperson – well done to all of you."  -Principal at Jewish high school in Canada

• Kol ha'kavod! "I just opened your New Year letter to “friends” and see that you have over 400 students.  You deserve to be proud!" -Senior Program Officer, Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, Boston

• "I must tell you that in recent years I have not had reason to think reflectively about my chosen career and all that it has come to mean in the larger scheme of Jewish existence.  I sat through your 2009 graduation and teared up during the first student speech; I did my best to keep myself composed during the program but I have been awash with emotion since that night... What you have managed to do in the Valley is to put together perhaps the most unique working model of Jewish schooling ever assembled; it is an inspiration for those of us in the field who dream about producing Jewishly coherent young people to be witness to the blooming institution that is the  New Community Jewish High School."  -BJE Administrator, Los Angeles