Austin Jewish Academy

Our National Junior Honor Society students recently partnered with Shalom Austin Jewish Family Service (JFS) to create and decorate Shabbat boxes for hospital patients and members of the broader community. Before beginning the project, students reflected on the meaning of bracha (blessing) and how acts of kindness can become blessings in themselves. Through creativity, compassion, and service, our students brought warmth, connection, and the spirit of Shabbat to others in a truly meaningful way. We are so proud of the way they continue to live out the values of service, character, and tikkun olam.

AJA’s Kindergarten students recently celebrated a beautiful milestone as they proudly received their very first Siddur during a special ceremony at Temple Beth Shalom. The celebration marked the culmination of a year spent learning about tefillah, exploring the meaning of prayer, and deepening their connection to Jewish tradition.

Throughout the year, students reflected on why Jewish people pray, shared their favorite prayers, and even imagined prayers they would add to their own Siddurim. During the ceremony, the Kindergarteners confidently led their families in prayer using their new Siddurim, showcasing not only what they had learned, but the joy and connection they have developed along the way.

A special thank you to Rabbi Hall for helping make this meaningful experience so memorable. We are so proud of our Kindergarten students for reaching this important and heartwarming milestone in their Jewish learning journey.

Read our Q&A with beloved former AJA science teacher, Kathleen Rosenmann, who is returning to teach next year: https://austinjewishacademy.org/qa-with-kathleen-rosenmann-on-ms-science/

We are excited to welcome back Kathleen Rosemann. She brings with her decades of experience spanning kindergarten through middle school, along with a deep passion for hands-on, project-based learning. As she steps into her role as Project Lead The Way coordinator for grades 1–8 and helps reimagine AJA’s middle school program, Kathleen is eager to cultivate a generation of thoughtful innovators, leaders, and changemakers.