REVIEW OF The Calgary Jewish Academy BY parent, Lee Liberman

(5) Student Experience

Our son recently joined CJA, and our experience so far has been incredibly positive. Our child was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and before coming to this school, we were trying to understand how to best support him. Since starting at CJA, we have seen a very meaningful change. What he seems to appreciate the most is how understood and supported he feels at school. The Kindergarten teaching team has been incredibly patient, thoughtful, and attentive. They truly took the time to get to know him as a person, recognize his strengths, and support him in the ways he needs. As parents, we deeply appreciate the care and professionalism they bring every day. It also feels like there is a real team around the children. The teachers and staff clearly work together and genuinely care about each student’s well-being. Our son feels comfortable here, he feels understood, and he genuinely enjoys coming to school. Seeing him happier and more confident has meant a lot to us as parents.

Why The Calgary Jewish Academy?

We chose CJA because we were looking for a school that offers both strong education and a warm, supportive environment. It was important for us to find a place where our child could learn about Jewish values and heritage while also being in a smaller, more intimate school setting. We felt that CJA provides a strong sense of community and truly sees each child as an individual, which made it feel like the right place for our family.

Expectations vs. Reality

CJA has aligned very well with our expectations. We were hoping to find a school with a strong sense of community, a caring environment, and a place where Jewish values and heritage are part of everyday learning. CJA has truly delivered on that. What has stood out even more than we expected is the level of attention and care given to each child. The teachers and staff clearly make an effort to understand every child as an individual and support their different needs and strengths. For us as parents, it has been very meaningful to see how our child is supported, encouraged, and helped to grow in confidence. Knowing that our child is in an environment where he feels understood and valued has made a big difference for our family. So far, our experience has been very positive, and we feel grateful to be part of the CJA community.

Your Advice

If you are considering CJA, my advice would be to look not only at the academic program but also at the community and the environment the school creates for children. The school offers a warm, supportive, and more intimate setting where teachers truly take the time to know each child as an individual. Even at a young age, we have been impressed by the academic level and the way learning is encouraged. We can already see how much our child is growing and developing since starting at CJA. For us, the combination of strong academics, caring teachers, and a close-knit community has made a very meaningful difference in our child’s experience.

(5) School Leadership

In our experience, the school leadership and staff create a very positive and supportive environment for both students and parents. Communication with parents has been very strong, which we really appreciate. Our child’s teacher keeps us updated on his progress several times a week, which helps us feel involved and understand how he is doing both academically and socially. Whenever we have a question or concern, we feel that there is always someone we can reach out to and that our concerns are taken seriously. That level of communication and openness makes a meaningful difference for us as parents and helps create a strong sense of trust in the school.

(5) Teaching

One thing that really stands out in the teaching at CJA is the respectful way the teachers interact with the children. They speak to them calmly, patiently, and with genuine respect. Even when guiding behaviour or helping a child correct something, the tone always feels supportive rather than critical. The teachers seem to understand that children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and comfortable expressing themselves. The classroom environment feels thoughtful and inclusive, and it is clear that the teachers are attentive to the different personalities and needs of the children. We appreciate that learning is taken seriously while still being appropriate for the children’s age. It feels like the teachers are not only focused on academic learning but also on helping the children develop confidence, independence, and positive social skills.

(5) Academics

We have been very impressed with the academic approach at CJA. Even at a young age, there is a clear emphasis on building strong foundations for learning while still keeping the experience engaging and age-appropriate. The program feels thoughtfully structured and encourages curiosity, problem-solving, and a genuine love of learning. Academic concepts are introduced in a way that motivates children and helps them develop confidence as learners. We also appreciate that Jewish heritage and traditions are integrated into the learning experience. It gives the children a meaningful connection to their culture and identity while being part of their everyday education. Overall, the academic environment feels balanced and supportive. Even at this early stage, we can already see our child developing academically and becoming more engaged and interested in learning.

(5) Extracurriculars

We appreciate that CJA gives children opportunities to experience a variety of activities beyond the classroom. Our child is exposed to different kinds of experiences and learning opportunities that we would not necessarily be able to provide at home. It’s wonderful to see him try new things, explore different interests, and enjoy learning in different ways. These experiences help create a well-rounded and engaging school environment.

(5) Students

One thing that stands out to us about the student environment at CJA is the strong emphasis on teaching children how to treat one another with respect. It feels like the school places real importance on helping students learn how to behave toward each other in a thoughtful and considerate way. The children are guided to respect personal space, listen to one another, and understand that everyone may be different. These kinds of social skills are clearly practiced and reinforced throughout the school day. From what we have observed, this creates a very positive dynamic between the students. The children seem comfortable with one another and are learning how to build friendships in a respectful and supportive environment. For us as parents, it is very meaningful to see our child learning these values alongside his education.

(5) School Life

Our child truly enjoys going to CJA. On school holidays, he is sometimes genuinely disappointed that there is no school, which says a lot about how positive his experience has been. He really enjoys the daily activities, the learning challenges, and the new things he is exposed to each day. It is clear that the school creates an environment where learning feels engaging and meaningful for the children. He also has a very strong connection with the staff, especially his main teacher, and speaks about them with a lot of warmth and excitement. That relationship seems to play an important role in making school feel like a safe and enjoyable place for him. We also appreciate that he is learning about Jewish traditions and heritage as part of his experience. It adds another meaningful dimension to his school life.

(5) Community

One thing we really appreciate about the community at CJA is how much the school involves parents in school life. There are many opportunities throughout the year for parents to come and watch the children or take part in special events. The school organizes celebrations and activities around Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover, where families are invited to participate or see what the children have been learning and preparing. In addition to the larger celebrations, there are also smaller events where parents can come and watch the children present different projects or activities. There are also opportunities for parents to volunteer and help the school or the students in different ways, whether by assisting with preparations or contributing to school activities. We really enjoy this aspect of the school, as it helps create a warm and connected community for both the children and their families.

(5) School Location

The school is located in a quiet neighbourhood, which creates a calm and safe environment for the children. Security is clearly taken seriously, which gives us peace of mind as parents. The school also has playground areas for both younger and older children. The students spend time outside playing and releasing energy, which is very important at this age. It feels like the environment supports both learning and healthy physical activity.

(5) Admissions

Our experience with the admissions process at CJA was very positive. The process itself was not complicated and felt clear and well-organized. What stood out to us was the personal communication with the school staff throughout the process. Whenever we had questions or needed clarification, there was always someone available to help. If any difficulty came up during the application process, the staff were responsive and worked with us to find solutions. It felt like they genuinely wanted to help families through the process and make sure the school would be a good fit for the child and the family.