By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent
In its first year, eight children enrolled at the Seattle Jewish Community School, which was located in the basement of Congregation Beth Shalom. Six of those students are now preparing to graduate from high school at the end of the school year and enter college.
Thirteen years later, more than 100 students attend SJCS, with 20 students in the first-grade class alone. Demand for entry is now so high that more children apply than are spaces available. This year, the school will also be applying for accreditation by the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.
Seattle Jewish Community School in Seattle’s Wedgewood neighborhood celebrates 13 years of existence with a Bar-Bat Mitzvah Dinner and Auction at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel and Towers at 5 p.m. on Feb. 22. Q13 FOX’s Peter Alexander will be the master of ceremonies and Mardi Newman will serve as the auctioneer.
“Our goal is to raise about $80,000 in our effort to bridge the gap between tuition and the true cost of educating our children,” says SJCS Development Director Julie Klein.
The program includes a ceremony, in which 13 people who have been instrumental in the creation and the continued success of SJCS, will light candles. Some invited guests include Rabbi Rob Toren from the Samis Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle President Rob Spitzer, Debbie Butler, SJCS’ first principal, and Elaine Sachter, the school board’s first president.
“We’re just really excited to be celebrating this milestone,” says Klein.
Many items on auction will include travel getaways as close as Whidbey Island and Manzanita, Ore. and as far away as New York for a week and an African safari. Other auction items will include massages, housewares, handmade jewelry, Judaic art and meals at restaurants.
“This is definitely our largest fundraising event,” Klein says.
Tickets are still available. Cost for the event is $85 for individuals or $160 to be a sponsor. This event is open to everyone. For more information, call 206-522-5212.