Hebrew Academy Community School has new look
A new era began at Hebrew Academy Community School in Margate when its school year opened a couple of months ago with its new renovations.
This Jewish school’s recent renovations include a new paint job, new LED lighting in every room, new doors funded by the Department of Homeland Security grant, all new air conditioning and a new roof.
“We’re talking about a real facelift that the teachers have here, the students have here and the parents can see when they drop off their student,” said Rabbi Shloime Denburg, the school’s director of development. “Everyone gets a fresh look, and that’s made a big difference, and that’s just the paint job. As far as the lighting in the rooms, it is not only energy efficient, but it is actually easier on the eyes, especially with students sitting from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon, so the LED lighting of today is a much cleaner light, and much more natural. As far as the new doors, it just gives us in administration a peace of mind in always trying to secure the building.”
Denburg noted that these renovations are part of a major campaign the school has begun. Approximately 4,000 square feet has been done for this year, and the school plans to continue the campaign over the summer by working on the back half of the campus, which includes the new playground.
“Although we just started kicking it off his past summer, we’re undergoing a multi-phased building campaign,” Denburg said. “The first phase was really some of the necessities that have to get done. The real big phase is going to be starting with the complete upgrade of the playground in addition to the 4,000 square feet that we did this summer.”
Denburg continued, “We just started this multi-year, multi-phase campaign with a soft launch, and we’re heading for more heavy duty for the upcoming summer.”
When asked what he feels these new renovations will mean for the school, Denburg said, “The education is first and foremost what we offer to our students, but just like everything, it has to come in a wrapper and with packaging, I think a beautiful new looking building with beautiful packaging obviously makes a difference on the students’ ability to learn and the teachers’ ability to teach ,and those are things that are clearly important and beneficial.”
“In addition, are moving to families that this area in South Florida that are looking for a Jewish school can come take a look and check us out. Everyone is looking for a school where the Jewish community and Jewish education are very important and they want to see their options, so coming to a beautiful new building is a good feeling to parents that are relocating to the area.”
Rabbi Mordechai Lichy, admissions director for the school, noted that the new renovations have been a very welcome addition.
”Our school has never been about the aesthetics of the school. Now we have a school where the aesthetics have been improved, but it’s always had the warmth and the connection that we’ve had with the children for already generations,” Lichy said. “Now, the improved aesthetics makes that warmth much better.”
The school will host a “Mommy & Me” event for children ages three months to three years with singing, playing and snacks on Nov. 1 from 8:30-9:15 a.m. in Room 10. The event is free of charge but RSVP is required at cgutnick@hebrewacademy.org.
The school is located at 1500 North State Road 7 in Margate. Visit hebrewacademy.org or call 954-978-6341 for more information.