AJA News
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A Day in the Life of an AJA Fifth Grader
From the classroom to the garden, our fifth graders are growing in every way—academically, emotionally, and as members of a thriving community. Whether they’re crafting art with meaning,…
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Third Grade Milestone: Chumash Ceremony at AJA
Each year, our third graders reach an important milestone in their Jewish learning journey—one that blends deep learning, personal growth, and joyful celebration. This year’s Chumash Ceremony was…
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How Austin Jewish Academy Weaves Jewish Studies, Hebrew, and Israel into Everyday Learning
At Austin Jewish Academy, from the very first day of kindergarten, students are introduced to Jewish holidays, Torah portions, and basic Hebrew vocabulary. As they progress through each…
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First Grade: Shema Chagiga Milestone Ceremony
This morning our first graders gathered with family and friends in the MPR to celebrate a significant milestone in their Jewish learning—the Shema Chagiga. This special ceremony marked…
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Purim Celebration at AJA: A Half-Day of Festive Fun!
This past Friday, our school was filled with joy, laughter, and the spirit of Purim as students celebrated this special holiday with a half-day packed with exciting activities.…
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Second Grade Milestone: Shabbat Dinner Ceremony
Our 2nd grade students recently celebrated aheartwarming and memorable milestone with their Shabbat Dinner Ceremony. The evening began with the students beautifully singing traditional Shabbat songs, setting the…
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AJA Featured in The Jewish Outlook (Twice!)
We are excited to announce that AJA had two articles in the February issue of The Jewish Outlook. You can read the articles below. The first one discusses…
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AJA Basketball Teams Shine in an Unforgettable Season
This basketball season was nothing short of historic for AJA’s basketball program, with our Varsity and JV teams leaving it all on the court. From thrilling comebacks to…
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Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Woskow
Meet Jessica, a driven pre-med student at UC Berkeley pursuing a double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Nutritional Sciences. From leading pro-Israel activism on campus to…
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Crepes, Cookies & Chocolate Balls: Market Day 2025
The AJA Market Day & Cultural Fair was an incredible success, bringing our community together for an exciting and vibrant celebration! Over 40 tables were set up in…
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A Joyful AJA Tu B’Shevat Celebration
This year’s Tu B’Shevat Seder at our school was a day filled with meaningful connections, delicious fruits, and thoughtful discussions. The celebration began with a memorable skit performed…
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Alumni Spotlight: Eddie Vane
Eddie is a third-year aerospace engineering student at Purdue University and has an upcoming internship at SpaceX. On campus, he’s an active member of AEPi and part of…
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Prizmah Report: The Impact of a Jewish Day School Education
“The research that Prizmah is now publishing on Jewish day school alumni on campus shows in numbers just what a difference attending Jewish day school makes in the lives…
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Alumni Spotlight: Nir Miller
From his early days at AJA to his current studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Nir Miller has pursued his passion for the sciences with curiosity…
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AJA Market Day & Cultural Fair
AJA is excited to announce our upcoming Market Day & Cultural Fair, a fun and educational event that will take place on February 7th from 2:00 PM to…
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Fourth Grade Milestone Ceremony: Havdalah
We are excited to share the highlights of our recent milestone events for our 4th graders, held onFebruary 1st. It was a special time of growth, learning, and…
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Alumni Spotlight: Roy Ram Klein
Meet Roy Ram Klein, a 2017 AJA graduate and current junior at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. On the pre-med track, Roy is studying biomedical engineering with…
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Bright Minds, Big Discoveries: AJA Middle Schoolers Shine at Annual Science Fair
Yesterday, our AJA MPR was buzzing with excitement as our middle school students showcased their creativity, critical thinking, and scientific curiosity at the annual AJA Science Fair. Thirteen…
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Middle Schoolers Debate Reconstruction: 8th Graders Shine in Historical Showdown
On a recent morning at Austin Jewish Academy, Mrs. Hidalgo’s 8th grade students took center stage for a powerful display of their critical thinking and debating skills, culminating…
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Middle School Debate Meets the Courtroom: 8th Graders Learn Persuasion from a Pro
When Karen Hidalgo’s 8th graders started prepping for their Reconstruction Era debate, they got a crash course in persuasion from a seasoned family law attorney. With over 20…
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Teacher Spotlight: Q&A with Aileen Duncan, Kindergarten Teacher Extraordinaire
For 25 years, Mrs. Aileen Duncan has been a cherished and influential member of the Austin Jewish Academy community. She joined AJA in 2000 after nine years of…
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Alumni Spotlight: Kir Kraus
Meet Kir Kraus, a dynamic and accomplished student currently pursuing mathematics at Cornell University with minors in philosophy and jazz studies. From uncovering new patterns in Pascal’s Triangle…
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Alumni Spotlight: Brooke Silverstein
From AJA to Duke University and now the National Institutes of Health, Brooke Silverstein has embraced curiosity and innovation at every step of her journey. With a degree…
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Alumni Mom’s Perspective on Portfolio Day
Many people ask Renee Lafair about her secret to child-rearing. Her three kids, now adults, attended Stanford, Northeastern, and Johns Hopkins University. In their spare time, they’ve worked…
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A Day in the Life of an AJA Middle Schooler
Step into the vibrant halls of Austin Jewish Academy’s middle school, where every corner hums with energy, curiosity, and learning. Walking down the hallway today, let’s peek into…
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Parent Education: Salient Speech and Language Challenges
On Friday, November 15, Zahava Merlis, seasoned speech-language pathologist and owner of Firefly Friends Speech Therapy, PLLC, presented to AJA parents on “Salient Speech and Language Challenges,” the…
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Developing a Growth Mindset at AJA
One of the things we try to foster here at AJA is a Growth Mindset in our students, as articulated by Carol S. Dweck in her book, “Mindset.”…
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How This Torah Went from An Attic to the AJA
The students at AJA get to experience a real Torah service multiple times a week, but how did the 1948 Torah get here? It was the generous gift…
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Making of the AJA Mural
Years ago, an AJA teacher and students created a fun mural on the large, blank wall of our MPR (multi-purpose room). But after hundreds of gatherings in that…
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Science Fair
Science fairs play a crucial role in the education and development of students, offering a range of benefits that contribute to their intellectual, academic, and personal growth. Some…
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The Power of Field Trips
Field trips are more than just a break from the classroom routine; they are valuable educational experiences that play a crucial role in a child’s development. Beyond the…
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All about Project Based Learning
What is project-based learning? 3rd-grade teacher Kelly Hill explains what project-based learning (PBL) means. Imagine a classroom where students are learning about the world and actively changing it.…