High School News

Jewish Community High School of Gratz College Expands Within Chester County

Beginning operation in 1997, the Chester County branch of the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College (JCHS). By 1999, there were 19 students; today there are almost 70. Under the able leadership of Jennifer Groen, the Chester County branch has grown 350% and she has facilitated the receipt of two very generous grants from the Lasko Family Foundation for that branch.

In 2002, the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College (JCHS) was awarded a grant by the Lasko Family Foundation; the purpose was to expand and improve both quality and quantity, increasing the number of students as well as enhancing the quality of the program at the Chester County branch. Subsequently, the branch began to rotate by trimester between the synagogues (Kesher Israel, in West Chester, B’nai Jacob in Phoenixville, and Or Shalom in Berwyn,) and continued a pattern or steady growth. In 2002, a program was introduced for 11 and 12th graders, including a certificate option for youth leadership and college credit courses.

Recently, the Chester Country branch was awarded an additional grant by the Lasko Foundation to take the program to the next level. The community has been so supportive that, beginning in 2006-07, JCHS will have two permanent sites in Chester County, at Kesher Israel and Or Shalom, with the projected number of students numbering 90 between both sites.

Ari Goldberg, Director of the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College, says. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised that many of our currently enrolled students, as well as the ones being currently recruited, are interested in attending JCHS two nights a week within Chester County. This allows them to earn their JCHS Diploma, as well as other certificates, and also increase their opportunities for socialization with other Jewish teens.”

Julie James, a member of B’nai Jacob in Phoenixville, is a student currently participating in the program. At age 15, Julie is going into 10th grade at Great Valley High School, and has attended JCHS since 8th grade. “At first, I didn’t really want to go to Gratz, but once I started, I really enjoyed it. There aren’t very many Jewish kids at my school, so it was good to have an opportunity to connect with them at JCHS.” Julie continues, “Now, I tend to hang out with them on the weekends.”

Helen Anderson, a member of Or Shalom in Berwyn, is also 15 and a student at Great Valley. She says, ”I have some Jewish friends in public school, but I like seeing my friends at JCHS. Hebrew school was fun, and I never really thought it could be. it is just a different approach, I guess I never thought it could be.” Helen continues, “I encourage people not to stop after their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, because Jewish learning never stops. It’s kind of hard to make the transition from regular Hebrew school, but it is worth it in the end. At Gratz, there is a different approach in the classroom and you are treated differently by the teachers: they value your opinion and don’t always just teach by the book.”

Jennifer Groen is pleased that the message is getting across to the students. “We have an amazing faculty which is passionate about teaching teens. They love teens, they love Judaism and they really care about enriching the future of our people.”

Ms. Groen continues, “These kids really feel marginalized in their public schools with regards to their Judaism. They are definitely a minority. The JCHS program provides an opportunity for them to meet other Jewish teens from Chester County and to learn about their heritage. The Chester County branch attracts students from eight local synagogues in Chester and Delaware County, and has experienced unprecedented growth and community support. We even have a waiting list of teachers.”

Dr. Sidney Clearfield, of ACAJE (Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education) evaluated the Chester County branch of JCHS at the request of the Lasko Foundation. “It seems to me, in evaluating JCHS over the last three years, that both the young people and their parents seem very satisfied with the direction of the program. It is the right balance of courses and social activity, with an excellent faculty, under Jennifer Groen’s direction.”

For additional information about the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College’s Chester County Branch, or any of its other 12 branches, please contact 215-635-7300, extension 5.