Thornhill's Leo Baeck Jewish Day School moves north
Changing demographic aided decision

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 11, 2016
Simone Joseph

Jewish day school Leo Baeck is moving north to the Lebovic Jewish Community Campus, in part to appeal to young families heading that way up the Bathurst Street corridor, says Leo Baeck’s Head of School Eric Petersiel.

The Leo Baeck Day School has decided to move the north campus from its current location on Atkinson Avenue in Thornhill (close to Centre and Bathurst streets)  to the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus (on Bathurst Street between Carville Road and Major Mackenzie Drive).

“We believe it is a chance to reinvigorate enrollment, especially younger families which has had a decline in the last little while,” Petersiel said.

In September 2017, Reform Jewish day school Leo Baeck will begin the school year in its new home within UJA Federation’s Kimel Family Education Centre at the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus, sharing the building with Jewish high school TanenbaumCHAT and other Jewish educational agencies.

The move has been in the works for about six months, Petersiel said.

Petersiel emphasized there would be many benefits to being so close to the Jewish high school TanenbaumCHAT, saying Leo Baeck’s new location could mean more opportunities for the high school students to tutor, mentor and coach the elementary school students.

“There’s value to both institutions. Our robotics club could be mentored by the high school rather than being on its own.”

Petersiel added that he expects the north campus to blossom over the coming years with the move to a location that’s closer for many families living near the Lebovic campus.

Leo Baeck students will have access to the Kimel Family Education Centre’s resources and facilities, including a gym and library, science labs and music rooms. A new, state-of-the-art playground is also being built for Leo Baeck students.

The Schwartz/Reisman Centre will run aftercare programming for Leo Baeck students, including aquatic programs, as well as sports, arts and other programs.

“This is a win-win for both schools,” said Rabbi Lee Buckman, head of school of TanenbaumCHAT. “It is a smart use of community resources and demonstrates the power of collaboration.”

This move is part of UJA Federation’s strategic plan to bolster the affordability of Jewish day school education, said Dr. Daniel Held, executive director of UJA Federation’s Julia and Henry Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Education.

“Sharing resources and seeking efficiencies is a key strategy to ensure the sustainability of day school education,” Held said.

SIDEBAR

Leo Baeck is hosting a tour of its new home. The school is holding an open house at the TanenbaumCHAT Kimel Family Education Centre on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

 For more information, go to the school’s “new north” website: tnnleobaeck.ca