The Official Blog of Denver Jewish Day School

"I love this team," said Senior and team captain, Gavin Foonberg. "We wanted to show Colorado what Denver Jewish Day School basketball is all about. While a district championship was one of our goals this season, we're just getting started. We're a mishpacha, and we're still hungry."

Garrett feels there is a strong connection between his Denver JDS education and his life in college and beyond. “Denver JDS taught me to consider how we give back to the community and the broader world. Today I work in renewable energy as part of my commitment to make the world a better place.”

"One key practice that I’ve embraced is meditation, which helps me live more in the present. I strive to sit in stillness for 20-30 minutes each day. To be present. To breathe. At first, I couldn’t help but instantly start to become anxious about what I should be doing other than, seemingly, nothing. However, I soon came to realize that mindfulness is about growing empathy and patience for yourself. Soon enough, I found myself understanding these anxieties, acknowledging them, accepting them with more compassion, and learning to appreciate the experience of watching them shrink.

After starting this practice I was more motivated to be the best tennis player that I could be."

"To do this...we must show our children that we trust the adults and that the adults are on the same page to keep them safe and to help them navigate the hard together. I will end with the same message that I give to our kids on an almost daily basis. We do not have to be best friends. We do not have to agree. But, we do need to treat each other with respect, curiosity, kindness, and integrity."

Jared believes that the school’s small class size helped him get comfortable with public speaking and leadership, things he might not have embraced so easily at a larger school. “Entrepreneurial spirit comes from the opportunities you get,” he said. “I was class president senior year, which probably wouldn’t have happened at a big public school. It taught me to advocate and lead, and I believe if you can lead a small group you can lead a bigger one.”

" My senior year was extra special, the entire GW Varsity Boys Golf Team came from DJDS. The four varsity spots were me, Avi Cohn (Senior), Levi Engbar (Junior), and Soren Goldberg-Butler (Freshman), and we had so much fun on and off the course. When one of us played badly, we were always there to lift each other up. We never turned our backs on each other, and for me and Avi, it almost felt like a passing of the torch as we mentored Soren during his Freshman year. It means a lot to me knowing that the DJDS ties to the GW Varsity Golf team will keep going after I graduate. All four of us took great pride in representing DJDS this season, and I have made memories that will last a lifetime during my high school career."

"I am learning how to balance giving myself a break when I need it and pushing myself when I know I can do better. Something I’ve learned to come to terms with is that there is no right or wrong time to start a new cycle within your life, you just need to start, and luckily, our very own religion acknowledges that, and even goes so far as to give us a date to start. Although it may be hard to begin a new chapter of our lives, Rosh Hashana is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge your growth and look ahead to your future goals, so take advantage of it, I know I will."

“One part of this commission that is very similar to the Denver Jewish community is that it opens so many doors and opportunities for your future”, said Kiki. “I would have never started working with Meredith Levy (Parks and Recreation Advisory Board), or learned about various additional avenues for change if it wasn’t for the Denver Mayor’s Youth Commission, and because of that I am forever grateful.”