Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School
School performance rating
About
Languages spoken by school staff
English, Hebrew
Extra programming
Heilicher offers enrichment activities and athletics after school. Enrichment activities include chess, math club, varying art and theater classes, guitar, robotics, and more. Athletics includes league play for grades 5-8, and sports play and classes for K-5. Middle school league offerings by season are fall soccer, winter basketball, and spring ultimate frisbee. They also offer tennis, Girls on the Run, and sports introductions.
Extracurriculars Offered:
Music, STEM/STEAM Clubs, Sports, Theater, Visual Arts
Uniforms
Students who attend Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School are not required to wear uniforms.
How to enroll
To enroll, contact Deborah Getsug at dgetsug@hmjds.org or (952)-381-3523
Average student to teacher ratio
Academics
Academic programming
Heilicher nurtures intellectual curiosity, artistic expression, critical thinking, and social responsibility at all stages of learning. Students at Heilicher feel connected and valued.
They provide a strong academic foundation coupled with a vibrant Judaic studies program that empowers students to explore their faith and Jewish identity, acquire religious literacy, and nurture a connection with Israel. Their inquiry-based curriculum challenges students to be flexible and resilient learners nurturing their innate curiosity. Talented, accomplished faculty are dedicated to implementing best practice teaching techniques.
Academic Programs Offered:
Dual Curriculum Program: General and Judaic Studies
Special education programming
Heilicher’s Student and Teacher Resource Team provides coaching and support to teachers, while also helping clarify and execute whole-school priorities around education design to meet the diverse needs of students. The team focuses on identifying the social and academic needs of individual students, providing one-on-one support as well as tailored small groups.
If a child is struggling, the resource team observes that child in the classroom to better understand their needs and seeks feedback from teachers. The team then offers teachers — and even parents — suggestions to address the problems. Monitoring of the student follows, and they work to build trust between that child and our resource team, continuing to fine-tune the plan as the student’s needs change, grow, or recede. A deeper commitment to consistent communication is a hallmark of the program.
Those who qualify for Special Education through the local school district must go to the local public school, which will provide the support (Susan Lindgren Elementary School).
English language learner programming
Heilicher’s Student and Teacher Resource Team works with families on an individual basis to support ELL students.
Climate
School values
Heilicher is committed to academic excellence and the pursuit of learning as a lifelong venture. The school reflects and teaches respect for the diversity of Jewish life. They challenge their students to exemplify the values of Judaism and of American democratic principles.
Heilicher offers a values-based education, and their community is guided by ten core values that come to life as students study each one through coordinated and creative activities and everyday age-appropriate learning. See their values: hmjds.org/about/mission-values.
Discipline Policy
Every student has the right to learn in a setting that is safe, kind, and responsible. Heilicher expects all students to maintain an appropriate level of self-control to make this possible. Chronic misbehavior causes breakdowns in respect as well as a disruptive learning environment. When the school informs students or their families of misbehavior, immediate corrective action is expected. Severe student misconduct, particularly that endangers the physical or emotional safety of others, may result in immediate suspension or expulsion.
Heilicher strives for students to achieve self-discipline and self-regulation without constant threat of punishment. This philosophy accepts that students may mess up from time to time as part of the learning process. The school expects a child to acknowledge wrongdoing and work to remedy the harm done by their actions. Heilicher’s approach to discipline is more restorative than punitive.
Equity
Equity vision
The diversity of the Jewish people is one of its greatest strengths. Heilicher strives to support every family’s Jewish journey and encourages open conversation about what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century. Heilicher’s learning community is enriched by its BIPOC, interfaith, unaffiliated, single-parent, and LGBTQ families. Heilicher’s goal is an inclusive community in which all are welcomed, valued, respected, heard, and included.