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January 16, 2004/Tevet 22 5764, Vol. 56, No.17
Pardes moves to TBI
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Pardes Jewish Day School will be moving to the campus of Temple Beth Israel at the start of the 2004-2005 school year.
The elementary division of the school is currently housed at Temple Solel, where the school has been since its creation a decade ago as an extension of the Solel Preschool. The middle school division has been located at Temple Kol Ami since 2001.
Currently The King David School is located on the Temple Beth Israel campus, but the space will become available when King David moves to its own facility currently under construction at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale.
Jill Kessler, head of school at Pardes, is excited about the opportunities the move will provide.
"The ability to consolidate to one campus benefits all of the families, allows the faculty to work together and allows us to expand upon programs," Kessler said.
Kessler said Temple Beth Israel will provide the school with access to a 10,000-volume library, as well as increased field space for physical education classes. Additional enhancements will include the creation of a science lab and computer lab at Temple Beth Israel.
Kessler expects the school to remain at Temple Beth Israel for at least three to five years.
"Perhaps someday we'll have our own school," she said, "but right now we're thinking this is the next wonderful step for us."
Karen Goodman, board president of Pardes, has children at both the elementary and middle school campuses of the school.
"I think it's a great opportunity for the school. It's a chance for us to grow and all being together on one campus, which will make it more cohesive and will certainly make it easier for parents who have kids in both the middle school and elementary school, so they won't have to drive between the two campuses," Goodman said.
Pardes is a partnership of five Reform congregations in the Valley, Temple Solel, Temple Kol Ami, Temple Beth Israel, Temple Chai and Temple Emanuel.
Kessler said the partnership will remain despite the move: "We'll continue to work with the rabbis and cantors as they come and they teach our students."
Bonnie Morris, director of education and rabbinic intern at Solel and founding head of school at Pardes, is saddened to see the school go.
"I understand and respect the board's decision to move (Pardes) and yet, while being totally supportive of the school, there's still a certain amount of sadness at having them leave their home," she said.
The school's move, however, will free up space at Solel to be used for other purposes. Morris recently started programming for toddlers at Solel and plans to begin infant care in the fall. New programs will include classes for young children of all ages, in two tracts - one for children and their caregivers and the other for children who need child care.
"I want the community to know that my vision of the preschool is beyond that of a preschool, so that people will come to see Temple Solel as a wonderful place to grow - grow Jewishly and to grow up, as well," explained Morris.
Morris said additional plans include a children's library, a youth lounge and a teacher's lounge and resource center for both preschool and religious school teachers.
Temple Kol Ami plans to use the classrooms vacated by Pardes to expand the temple's preschool program, create a media room for the preschool and also leave room for future growth, according to Steve Weitzenkorn, Kol Ami board president.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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