Beth Hillel Elementary School

Beth Hillel Elementary is one of the best kept secrets in the San Fernando Valley. We pride ourselves on providing a boutique experience, in which every child is on a clearly defined and differentiated personal path to success. Social-emotional learning is equally important to academic learning. Our children and teachers all know one another’s names, which creates an atmosphere where children can feel safe, confident and truly supported. We focus on character strengths such as, optimism, empathy, self-control, and motivation, as well as strong academic programming.

It can feel like a startling statistic to know that as many as 65% of current elementary children will end-up in careers that have not yet been invented. But conversely, it is empowering to know that there are four skills or habits we can teach that will be vital to our children’s prosperity in the 21st century: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical Thinking (the 4Cs). With this in mind, our program is designed to focus on these skills. As you learn more about our curriculum, which includes Reading/Writing Workshop, Singapore Math, Engineering, FOSS Science, Lego Mindstorms Robotics, Project-Based Social Studies and Jewish Studies, Hebrew, Choral and Instrumental Music, Art, Library, Physical Education, and a Strengths-Based Leadership Course, I encourage you to look at the ways our school addresses the 4 Cs of 21st century learning. This is something you should look for as you consider any school.

Beth Hillel Elementary proudly received national recognition as one of the top three school last year for STEAM, integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. The award we received was not because we presented a year’s worth of picture-perfect projects, but rather because we were able to show the process behind what we do. Our dedicated award-winning teaching staff spend hours together each week planning projects that essentially tear down the walls between math class, social studies, language arts, music, Hebrew, and so on. In the year ahead, our students and staff are excited to begin specially designed STEAM weeks that will happen in the fall and spring. While STEAM integrated learning takes place all year long, these are exciting school-wide opportunities to delve deep into multi-age, multi-disciplinary learning. A staff of incredibly passionate, dedicated teachers and administrators have earned this distinction of being a STEAM school. I hope you will take the time to come tour our school and see STEAM in action. And, coming in early 2015, we will be opening our newly renovated Maker-Space (library, research center and 3D Printing-Innovation Lab).

In our classrooms, every child is challenged academically and has the opportunity to become a leader. I consistently get the same feedback from the middle schools our 6th grade graduates attend: “You can always tell which children came from Beth Hillel; they are poised, self-confident and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge.” As students graduate and go on to the finest public and private schools in Los Angeles, they take with them a set of tools that allow them to live in the world with meaning, purpose and confidence.

I welcome you to the Beth Hillel Day School website. While these pages capture much about our school’s culture, education and spirit, I invite you to visit us to fully experience what makes BHDS unique. I look forward to showing you around Beth Hillel and getting to know your family.

Seth Pozzi
spozzi@tbhla.org
Elementary Principal