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April 4, 2003
RJDS celebrates No. 10
The school has grown 300 per cent since it opened.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
The reward for all their efforts surrounded them as the founders
of the Richmond Jewish Day School (RJDS) gathered with more than
200 of their friends to celebrate the school's 10th anniversary.
The gymnasium in the school's five-year-old facility was decorated
by pictures, candles and other memorabilia that showcased 10 years
of considerable growth as the RJDS choir kicked off the evening.
After a brief introduction from co-presidents Sheryl Morris and
Jonathan Kallner, the school's first president, Shael Wilder, who
travelled from California to attend the celebration, recalled the
institution's first days.
"I remember driving home from the inaugural board meeting held
in September 1991, thinking to myself how we all feel strongly that
the Richmond Jewish community needs a local day school but we have
no experience establishing a school, we have no land or building,
no teachers or students, and no money," he said. "But
our group of eight pioneers had energy and enthusiasm, determination,
commitment and hope. So we found ourselves asking the Richmond Jewish
community to get behind what essentially was a dream."
The pioneers Wilder was referring to were members of the first RJDS
board, which included Faye Elias, Bev Davis, Marilyn Jordan, Cindy
Rosen, Rabbi Martin and Joan Cohen and Marilyn Berger.
He also acknowledged the school's first employee, Bev
Immerman, who is still involved with the school as a Grade 2 teacher.
Opening its classrooms in 1992 with 55 students, the Richmond Jewish
Day School was originally located in a portable building on the
back lot of Beth Tikvah Synagogue. Today, with more than 150 students,
the school is thriving at its location on No. 5 Road.
The 10th anniversary evening also featured speeches and presentations
by RJDS alumni, a Powerpoint presentation and a birthday candlelighting
and cake-cutting ceremony.
Dignitaries at the event included Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie,
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV) executive director
Mark Gurvis, JFGV director of community planning David Berson, Fred
Hurst, the head of the Federation of Independent Schools Association,
and RCMP constable Micky Mansoor, the liaison officer for RJDS.
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