Community Day School Love the learning, Live the Values 

Portrait of a CDS Grad


The first day your 3-year-old climbs out of the car seat and toddles into Community Day School, it is difficult to imagine who your child will become 11 years later when walking across the school stage, diploma in hand, as a newly minted CDS alum.

Our faculty can see the future, though. That's because these passionate educators keep a mental list of the skills and qualities that we want all of our students have upon graduation as they work hard to ignite the spark of their limitless potential and develop their talents to the fullest.

Over nearly 50 years, we have had the privilege of knowing and nurturing more than 1,000 CDS graduates in our dynamic and vibrant learning community. They've made us proud of the meaningful, committed, and impactful lives they've chosen to live. 

Student learn stop motion animation during IGNITE
By the time our students graduate, they are:
 
  • Accomplished and inspired learners 
  • Critical thinkers
  • Creative and resilient problem-solvers
  • Compassionate upstanders
  • Empathic leaders
  • Effective communicators
  • Engaged global citizens
  • Confident and knowledgeable Jews

Here are CDS grads in action:

Eric Levine, '05

Head shot of alum Eric Levine

What are you doing now?
I live in San Francisco and work as a private equity associate at Hellman & Friedman. I analyze investment opportunities in companies with growth potential, with a focus on software and subscription businesses.

Favorite CDS memory:
Lag B’Omer (Field Day)—it was so fun to get outside on beautiful spring days and play. I can’t leave out the Israel trip after 8th Grade—what an amazing way to cap off our Jewish education, practice Hebrew, meet Israeli students in our sister-city Karmiel-Misgav, and bond as a class.

What is the biggest impact of your CDS education?
I had no idea at the time, but the values instilled at CDS are fundamental not only in the context of living a moral life, but also professionally. Based on what I observe in my mentors, integrity, honesty, and treating others with respect are critical ingredients to building productive relationships and succeeding in the long run.

Noah Jordan, '02

Head shot of alum Noah Jordan

What are you doing now?
Practicing labor and employment law at a Downtown law firm, Rothman Gordon.

Favorite CDS memory:
Basketball and soccer seasons playing for Coach Helfer, class trips to Oglebay, Washington, D.C., and New York City, forging lifelong friendships, and learning from some of the greatest teachers I've ever had in my life.

What is the biggest impact of your CDS education?
I credit my CDS education with putting me ahead of the curve at every stage of my academic and professional life. I have yet to face an intellectual challenge that I felt unprepared for thanks to the skills and work habits I developed during my time there. More importantly, I learned how to be a good person by following the example set for me by exceptional mentors.

Shiri Friedman, '93

Shiri Friedman headshot

What are you doing now?
Marketing and sales leadership at growth-stage software companies

Favorite CDS memory:
There are so many...learning about Custer's Last Stand with Mr. Walter, practicing for the Zimriah with Mrs. Baron, being introduced to Shakespeare in 6th Grade by Mrs. Solomonov, running the 6th Grade store & popcorn sales with Mrs. Mazer. The big trips to Israel, Washington, D.C., and Oglebay are of course memorable, but so, too, are the little day-to-day memories.

What is the biggest impact of your CDS education?
I spent Grades 5-8 at CDS and learned two major things about myself and the world. First, being Jewish is normal and OK and even, sometimes, cool. Embrace it. Second, there's no extra credit for doing things the hard way. Figure out who can help you, and then go ask for help. Whether it's a teacher or a classmate or a friend's parent, being proud of your community and using it when needed is a huge advantage. 

Bari Weiss, '98

Bari Weiss headshot

What are you doing now?
Writer and editor

What is the biggest impact of your CDS education?
CDS was fundamental for me in terms of my intellectual growth, and I had amazing teachers here that I really loved. But one thing that Community Day School teaches really well that not every school does...a lot of my best qualities in terms of being a mensch and doing the right thing are things I learned here at CDS. Not just getting the good grades and getting into the best high school and college, OK, but what is real success about? Real success is about being a mensch and really, that happened for me here, and so it was really foundational. Watch more
 

 

Alison Levine, '99

Ali Levine Headshot

What are you doing now?
I live in Boulder, Colorado with my husband and our two daughters and work as a a primary care pediatrician. I'm also involved with several service and advocacy projects relating to children's health.

Favorite CDS memory:
I have lots of memories of the “big” events at CDS—the Zimriah, 1st Grade Siddur ceremony, my 3rd Grade Hebrew play, collecting pop tabs, sukkah sleepover, and the 8th Grade Israel trip. But my favorite memories are the little moments that didn't seem memorable at the time. 

What is the biggest impact of your CDS education?
The best thing about my CDS education was being part of a school community that values good citizenship as much as academic success. Feeling supported and valued as a person allowed me to explore my interests and develop independence in a safe environment. Integrating Hebrew language and Jewish traditions as part of everyday life was key in forming my identity.

Adam Silverblatt, '98

Photo of Adam Silverblatt and family

What are you doing now?
Married to Michelle, with our daughter Kloe & dog Flynn (living in Chicago), and working as Head of Retail Client Partnerships for Oracle, a global provider of enterprise cloud computing

Favorite CDS memory:
Israel 8th Grade class trip, hands down

What is the biggest impact of your CDS education?
Surprisingly perhaps, embracing diversity. While it felt like a homogenized place for an outsider looking in, it taught me to embrace the differences—both in character and backgrounds—that we all collectively can bring to the table. I have found this to be especially influential in successfully working with, and managing, teams in the workplace.