|
Local News
|
|
Written by Rochelle Maruch Miller
|
|
Wednesday, 23 March 2011 21:58 |
Local day schools only have until April 1 to benefit from up to $25,000 in technology provided by a unique foundation that many people have never heard of: the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE). CIJE is pouring millions of dollars into technology, science, teacher training, and curricula nationwide to allow U.S. Jewish day schools to compete with the nation’s foremost public and private day schools. In order to dramatically improve the academic quality of Jewish day schools, CIJE has invested more than $15 million into 115 schools across the nation.
Universally, Jewish leaders agree that the only way to ensure a vibrant Jewish future is to give children a Jewish education; the most impactful being a day school education. In the last five years, however, Jewish day school enrollment has stagnated and begun to decline. Three years ago CIJE was created to address this crisis head-on and hands-on. This nonprofit is on a noble mission—to provide as many Jewish day schools as possible with Smart Boards, reading- and math-focused technology, learning labs, elementary school science labs, Tal Am Cal Hebrew language curricula, and high school science and engineering programs. In addition, CIJE aims to educate the schools on how best to utilize these programs to enhance the quality of Jewish education and make the Jewish day schools attractive to Jewish families.
In today’s fast-paced, technology driven world, Jewish parents demand to provide their children a quality education. We expect our children to excel in math and science, reading and writing, and thinking and reasoning so they are prepared to be accepted to the best universities and tackle tomorrow’s challenges. Many parents will consider Jewish day schools only if they are academically competitive. CIJE is the only organization addressing this heads-on.
“We knew Jewish education throughout the United States needed a technology and academic makeover,†says Jason Cury, president of CIJE. “We believe every Jewish day school graduate should be prepared to succeed in our ever-changing global society. To that end, CIJE is investing in technology and academic programs for Jewish day schools and yeshivot so that the education these schools provide is world-class.â€
Headquartered in New York, CIJE is a nonprofit organization that is not only known for the technology and innovative programs it grants to Jewish day schools, but uniquely for the high level of hands-on support they give. CIJE personnel regularly visit with and communicate with schools they visit and offer extensive teacher training and support to ensure that Jewish day school faculty understand how to best utilize the programs they have received from CIJE.
CIJE partners in fundraising for its schools. CIJE has launched a Technology for Schools contest that runs through April 1 to challenge schools to engage their respective board of directors to support CIJE. The top three schools will win up to $25,000 towards new technology or programs at their school.
Through the contest, CIJE will be awarding grant prizes to three schools. The top grant prize of $25,000 will go to the beneficiary school that raises the most money for CIJE in conjunction with the contest. The second grant prize of $18,000 and the third grant prize of $10,000 will go to the schools that generate the highest number of eligible donors for CIJE, regardless of the dollar amount raised. The winning schools can use the grant prizes to select from the eligible CIJE programs for direct student benefit, including Smart Boards and tables, science labs, educational software, and the hands-on support to utilize the new programs.
April 1 is fast approaching and time is of the essence! To help your child’s school become a grant prize winner, visit https://www.thecije.org/donate/tech4schools/. Every donation counts and is an investment in our children’s future.
|
5TJT RSS Feed