CJA Admissions Lookbook

The Calgary
Jewish Academy
‫בית הספר‬
‫היהודי בקלגרי‬
Admissions Viewbook

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The CJA is
made up of
families just
like yours.

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START HERE

Students at the Calgary Jewish Academy (CJA), find community
and are engaged in purposeful learning. Here is where you build
a strong foundation for your children’s education, and encourage
them to achieve their full potential while instilling a sense of
appreciation for education and Judaic studies. From Nursery to
Grade Nine, the CJA provides a safe, supportive and challenging
environment to learn and grow.
Students are prepared to pursue and realize their potential in
a rapidly changing world. The importance of this is, maintaining
through education, understanding the values that have always
served the Jewish community. This is the foundation. It is important
for students to leave the CJA with a strong and established sense
of their Jewish identity.

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OUR EDUCATIONAL
PHILOSOPHY

Every child matters. All students are Critical thinking and depth of
unique. At the CJA, programs are understanding is a common thread
developed that address the different that runs through the CJA’s rigorous
learning needs of children through the Dual Curriculum. An enriched Alberta
various stages of their academic career. Curriculum is provided for students from
Preschool students will find that their Kindergarten through Grade Nine. There
natural curiosity of the world around is a strong emphasis placed on Jewish
them is addressed as well as the need Values, Traditions and Identity. From
to be physically active. Elementary and Language Arts, Math and Sciences, Jewish
Junior High students are provided with texts to the Arts, the CJA curriculum is
the intellectual challenges, opportunity for guided by engaging, empowering and
leadership and to think critically. educating students.

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GAIN

(Gifted & Identified Needs)

Academic support and enrichment invaluable resource to help
are essential elements of the students to be successful in their
CJA’s educational approach in learning.
both the Alberta curriculum and
Judaic studies. For students who Students with specific learning
struggle with some aspect of the needs are given both support
curriculum additional support is in their classroom and/or
provided, and for those students remediation outside. Students
who are achieving at higher levels, understand the expectations,
the Gifted and Identified Needs they will know where they stand
Program (GAIN) provides support and where they need to go. The
and opportunities for individual ultimate goal is to help each
students to excel at their own level child find ways to be successful.
and strengths. Under the GAIN Program, the
English Language Learners
The GAIN department partners Program (ELL) offers specialized
with teachers, students and instruction, homework, extra
parents in order to nurture support, modifications and
conditions for success. As a accommodations, helping the
team, support and strategies are student to integrate into the
provided in areas of academic classroom, become comfortable
remediation, enriched learning, in their learning environment and
counselling and advocacy. An meet with their success.

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THE CJA COMMUNITY

Partnerships with parents play an Our community extends beyond the
important role in the education of Parents to the Grandparents. Children
each child, and parent involvement is of all ages benefit from Grandparent
encouraged. Whether participating in a involvement. Intergenerational events like
special school program, chaperoning a Grandparents & Grandpals Day create a
field trip, volunteering for school events community that remembers its history as
or serving on a committee, parents join it builds its future.
the faculty and staff in creating a caring
community that surrounds our children.

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HISTORY

Established in 1987 the Calgary Jewish For over 105 years, the Calgary Jewish
Academy was created as a result of the Academy and its predecessors has served
amalgamation of Calgary’s first Jewish Day generations of students in Calgary.
schools: The Calgary Hebrew School and Graduates share the foundation that has
the I.L. Peretz School. The school can trace inspired them to evolve into ethical and
its earliest beginnings to 1910, when there engaged global citizens. Our alumni can be
were only but some one hundred Jewish found all over the world, with successful
families in the City of Calgary, though the careers in a variety of fields. The Calgary
year 1913 marks the true opening of the Jewish Academy has strong roots in the
school when it moved to its first home in Jewish community and has a long history
on 4th Avenue. of educational achievement.

NURTURING
OUR YOUNGEST
STUDENTS

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NURSERY (3 YEARS OLD), JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN
(4 YEARS OLD), KINDERGARTEN (5 YEARS OLD)

Be introduced to the joys of learning Your child will be part of a wonderful
and experience an innovative program community where learning will be personal
that instills a life-long love of learning. and social, musical and artistic, spiritual
Preschool is a place filled with happiness and addresses intellectual curiosity. The
where children grow, learn, make friends curriculum allows children to progress
and flourish. Here students are inspired to year by year, building a foundation that
learn about religion, heritage and culture prepares them for the more structured
in order to strengthen spirituality. learning in Elementary School.

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ELEMENTARY

Take the skills and concepts learned in for reading and writing in both English and
Nursery through Kindergarten to the next Hebrew, build number sense and problem
level. You are given the tools to develop solving skills in mathematics and engage
identity within a Jewish environment, and in discovery and the world around us
understand Jewish holidays, traditions and through prayer.
values. Your child will learn the foundation

The CJA ranks in the top 5% in the
province academically

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JUNIOR HIGH

By the time students are in Grade Nine The CJA has accreditation to offer High
they have developed time management, School programming. Throughout Junior
critical thinking and organizational skills High, our students are provided with the
through focused study habits. Students opportunity to accelerate their courses in
are encouraged to ask profound questions Mathematics and Judaic Studies. Students
to hone their understanding of the world. also engage in Judaic electives and Alberta
We take seriously our responsibility to Career & Technology Studies Options.
help our students to become respectful
and contributing members of the school
family as well as the larger Jewish and
global communities.

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MODERN
FACILITIES
FOR FUTURE
SUCCESS

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SCHOLAR’S LEARNING EXPLORING
COMMONS THE ARTS

A range of services is provided in a central Arts is an integral part of the development
location. Responsible use of information of children. Creative activities are the
is learned by teaching how the tools of building blocks of this development.
Information Technology can be used to Music, performing arts, drawing, painting,
develop critical thought. The Scholar’s whether in practice or theory, have been
Learning Commons is the heart of the part of any well rounded curriculum.
school where students gather to work,
utilizing information technology and Student’s creativity is evident throughout
digital resources to aid in the development the school. Art work adorns the halls and
of Information Literacy. Students are music rings out. The process of creating
encouraged to go from simple information art is viewed as another avenue for self-
assignments to complex knowledge expression. Art is an important way of
construction. It is a network of global helping students to develop problem-
learning that allows students to think solving skills and to make distinctions
critically and creatively. that are critical to observation and clear
thinking. Children are creative by nature
ROBOTICS CENTRE OF and by allowing children a creative outlet,
EXCELLENCE they will flourish and grow.

We are living in a technology rich During their years at the Calgary
world. Science and Technology are Jewish Academy, students will have the
popular with learners today. Students opportunity to take part in the annual
from Kindergarten to Grade Nine, are student theatre production. Each year
given the opportunity to discover and students from Grade One to Nine take part
design in an inquiry based approach in Fine and Performing Arts Day. Students
where they learn to collaborate and be learn photography, dance, drumming,
creative in solving robotics problems. theatrical stage fighting, ceramics, painting
The robotics program is a new and sketching as they explore their artistic
program to the CJA that incorporates passions.
STEM learning (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics). By building
theories, students can strengthen their
understanding of STEM.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION ATHLETICS

Physical education enhances cognitive Athletic opportunities for junior high
function and teaches valuable lessons students at the Calgary Jewish Academy
about fitness, nutrition and a healthy include both individual and team sports.
lifestyle. Starting with Grade One, daily School spirit is alive at the CJA as our
physical activity with a knowledgeable students demonstrate a high level of
physical education department is critical participation in our teams.
in making the CJA a healthy place to learn.
Children who establish healthy lifestyle • Volleyball
patterns at a young age will carry them • Track & Field • Badminton
and their benefits forward for the rest of • Basketball
their lives. • Cross Country • Flag Football

Students are offered non-traditional sports The youngest members of the student
oriented field trips. Visits to climbing body are given access to a safe playground
facilities, curling rinks, squash courts, for free play and outside activities. Our
golf courses, ski hills etc. contribute to well-equipped gymnasium, offers a wide
the overall experience and exposure to range of opportunities for vigorous activity
various physical activities. in all weather. We ensure that competitive
games are friendly and age appropriate.

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GOING BEYOND
THE CLASSROOM

Learning goes far beyond the classroom at SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
the CJA. Extracurricular activities provide
new experiences that allow students to Educational Field Trips offer students excitement and offer a welcome
apply their knowledge and effort. break in the routine for both students and teachers. Both informative
and fun, they also offer a wonderful opportunity for children to bond
SCHOOL LIFE with each other and their teachers and guides.

Students at the CJA are actively engaged School trips are another extension to share communication, build
in clubs, leadership and volunteering. confidence, show lead- ership, and demonstrate respect for self and
Student Council brings awareness to IDF others in the greater community and abroad.
and Miriam’s Well. Student lead events are
also in support of Jewish Federation giving Trips abroad are a way that students can enhance their cultural identities
the opportunity of involvement across all and demonstrate leadership.
grade levels.

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KAMP KIWANIS WASHINGTON D.C.

Grade Five students are given the On this human rights focused trip, Grade
opportunity to participate in an overnight Eight students are given the opportunity
trip to this outdoor school. Environmental to travel to Washington D.C. to visit
literacy. awareness and action are the The United States Holocaust Memorial
focus. Museum.

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ISRAEL
OF ALBERTA
Every year since 1999, Grade Nine
As part of the Grade Six Social Studies students complete their Jewish education
program, students are offered an with a three week trip to Israel. Students
overnight trip to Edmonton to visit the will visit Judaism’s most important and
provincial legislature. significant places. They will experience the
dynamic culture of the State of Israel.
SALT SPRING ISLANDS,
BRITISH COLUMBIA Financial assistance for trips is available
through the CJA.
Grade Seven students are given the
opportunity visit Salt Spring Island to
learn about and experience Indigenous
Canadian culture.

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VALUES AND
TRADITIONS
T’FILAH AND
CHAGIM

Students build their identity and sense of belonging through the rhythms
of Jewish life. The day begins at the Calgary Jewish Academy with the
singing of Hatikvah. The highlight of the week is the Kabbalat Shabbat
celebration allowing students and faculty members to have time to
reflect and unwind. During their time at the CJA, students are exposed to
a variety of prayers. Whether it be a weekday morning prayer, Shabbat,
or special holiday prayers, students learn to daven in a respectful and
pluralistic environment.

Jewish values and traditions are at the heart of the CJA. From apples
and honey at Rosh HaShannah, to visiting a Sukkah and shaking the
Lulav and Etrog during Sukkot. The annual Latke Lunch for Hanukkah is
a very special event where Alumni and distinguished guests join the CJA
Community to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Purim is celebrated with
a costume parade and followed by our Megillah reading and ending off
with a Purim carnival. The highlight of the year is the Passover Seder,
when family and friends are gathered to join Grade Nine students leading
the Seder as the final step in their years at the CJA.

The learning of spoken and written Hebrew connects our students to the
Land of Israel as well our Jewish community and the wider world. Our
Alumni go into the world confident in their abilities, secure in their faith
and eager to take on the role of informed and active Jewish citizens.

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APPLYING TO
THE CALGARY
JEWISH ACADEMY

ADMISSION PROCESS ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Please call the CJA at (403) 253- 3992 to
discuss admission or arrange a school Elementary and Junior High students are
tour. You can also visit our website at accepted at any grade.
www.cja.ab.ca for more information
located under the Admissions section. BEFORE AND AFTER
SCHOOL CARE
NURSERY
The CJA offers Before and After School
Nursery accepts children who are 3 years Childcare programs for students 3 to 12
of age or will be turning 3 in the academic years of age.
calendar year in the province of Alberta.
FINANCIAL AID
JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN
The Calgary Jewish Academy believes that
Junior Kindergarten accepts children at 4 no member of the Jewish Community
and 5 years of age. be denied access to a Jewish education
because of cost. Through the Calgary
KINDERGARTEN Jewish Federation the Integrated Bursary
Program (IBP) is offered. The IBP
Kindergarten accepts children who are application deadline is March 31st.
5 years of age or will be turning 5 in the
academic calendar year in the province of MISSION AND VALUES
Alberta.
The CJA fosters: Community, character and
confidence Jewish values, identity and traditions
Academic excellence and innovation.

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6700 Kootenay Street SW
Calgary, AB T2V 1P7

[email protected] | www.cja.ab.ca

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