New building of the Contra Costa Jewish Day School Photo Andy Scheck
Ten years of vision came to fruition when the Contra Costa Jewish Day School (CCJDS) opened the doors of its new school building to students for this school year. CCJDS celebrated with a grand opening ceremony on Sunday, December 6th in Lafayette.
The new CCJDS school building is part of a $9 million "Phase 1" capital campaign that was launched nearly three years ago. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the many generous supporters who have collectively pledged nearly $8.3 million to provide CCJDS with this state-of-the-art facility. Even in these uncertain economic times, CCJDS has raised over 90% of its goal.
Until this year, CCJDS was the only Jewish day school in the entire Bay Area without a permanent home. CCJDS had previously leased classrooms from Temple Isaiah. But with enrollment growing from 21 students in 2001 to 127 today, CCJDS was literally bursting at the seams. The new facility increases the capacity for enrollment to 180 students.
"Our entire community has banded together to create the first Jewish Day School in Central Contra Costa County, thereby ensuring a strong Jewish future as we educate the future leaders of synagogues, federations, and many other Jewish organizations," says Karla Smith, one of the CCJDS founders and Campaign Chair. "We are close to completing our funding goal for 'Phase 1' and then we hope to continue our master-plan of a children's play area and gymnasium."
CCJDS is fortunate to have had support from around the entire Bay Area, including from San Francisco, Marin and the Peninsula.
The new CCJDS school building is part of a $9 million "Phase 1" capital campaign that was launched nearly three years ago. The ceremony was an opportunity to honor the many generous supporters who have collectively pledged nearly $8.3 million to provide CCJDS with this state-of-the-art facility. Even in these uncertain economic times, CCJDS has raised over 90% of its goal.
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA