Our Mission
Westchester Day School, a Modern Orthodox, co-educational, dual curriculum Jewish day school, prepares students to live as mensches and lifelong learners and inspires them to impact the world around them by cultivating a commitment to Torah, midot, community and academic rigor.
דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה Menschliness before Godliness (Vayikra Rabba 9:3, ויקרא רבה ט:ג)
First and foremost, a WDS student is a mensch. Our students conduct themselves with dignity and respect for themselves and others. They have a strong sense of right and wrong and are guided to be ethical in their lives.
In addition, WDS students:
become lifelong, independent learners who grow from inquiry, discovery, and reflective trial and error. They are problem-solvers who are flexible and adapt to new situations.
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כי נפלתי קמתי (מיכה ז:ח)
Because I have fallen
I have risen (Micah 7:8) |
love God and find spirituality, fulfillment and joy in Jewish ritual, Torah-learning, and living a life of mitzvot. They understand that they are a link in a chain of tradition that has flourished for thousands of years.
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עבדו את ה בשמחה (תהילים ק:ב)
Worship God in joy
(Psalms 100:2) |
identify and respond to the needs of others with sympathy and empathy. They proactively lead by example with a keen sense of justice and obligation.
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הנני שלחני (ישעיהו ו:ח)
Here I am, send me
(Isaiah 6:8) |
appreciate and interact with the physical and intellectual world. They use their curiosity and pursuit of knowledge to develop a deep understanding of both secular and Jewish learning and the interplay between them.
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מה רבו מעשך ה (תהילים ק"ד:כ"ד)
How wondrous are
your creations (Psalms 104:24) |
are devoted to the State of Israel as key to the life of the Jewish people, and to Hebrew as our national spoken language and that of our foundational, sacred texts. They are also proud, grateful and contributing citizens of the United States of America.
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ליבי במזרח ואנוכי בסוף מערב
My heart is in the East though
my body is in the West (Yehudah Halevi) |
exhibit humility and understand the unique value of every individual. They have confidence, understand their strengths and challenges, and take time to learn about and appreciate others. They work collaboratively to create, build and strengthen the community.
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והצנע לכת עם אלקיך (מיכה ו:ח)
And walk humbly before God
(Micah 6:8)
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