Dr. Juli Kramer, principal, helps nurture students to be both Torah-observant role models and 21st century leaders.
When traffic is good, the 39-mile drive from the Boulder Jewish Community Center to Temple Sinai in Denver takes about 50 minutes. In bad weather, or when roads are congested, a 90-minute one-way commute is not unusual.
Yet the argument for schlepping from Boulder to Denver each day to send your children to a quality modern-orthodox Jewish day school is growing stronger, as Denver Academy of Torah (DAT) begins its 21st academic year and marks two unique milestones.
Beginning next week, DAT will add a high school senior class, marking the first full K-12 enrollment in the school’s history. The second milestone is the relocation of DAT’s entire high school from a small annex in the Lowry neighborhood to a full-fledged school facility – located on the second-floor of the Temple Sinai preschool building at 3509 S. Glencoe Street • Denver, CO • 80237.
Originally founded by a group of local Jewish parents looking for a balance between religiosity and modernity, Denver Academy of Torah was, for many years, a very successful neighborhood K-8 school. Parents in Boulder, although few in number, have registered their children at DAT and undertaken the daily commute.
In 2010, seeking to expand its horizons and continue providing educational services to its alumni, DAT launched its high school in a converted residential home located just blocks from its Glassman Education Campus at 6825 E. Alameda Avenue • Denver, CO • 80224.
With enrollment now burgeoning, the DAT High School has moved to Temple Sinai, a vibrant reform congregation under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Rick Rheins and Cantor Bryan Zive. Temple Sinai has, since 1967, served as the religious home to hundreds of area families seeking a warm, spiritual, family-friendly environment.
“We are very excited [about the move to Temple Sinai],” Naomi Lev, assistant principal, wrote in a recent email to parents. “We will have an entire floor of bright, sunny, large classrooms and a library for ourselves…. It’s going to be fabulous.”
The DAT High School is under the leadership of Dr. Juli Kramer, principal, and Mrs. Lev, who also serves as the director of post secondary guidance. DAT’s lower school is headed by longtime principal and educational innovator Dr. Peggy Kasloff. Rabbi Daniel Alter oversees both divisions as Head of School.
The Denver Academy of Torah now boasts about 150 students. Its many communal and extra-curricular activities includes a seniors visiting program, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, a chess club, a track team, and an-award winning Math Counts team.
The school aims to nurture its students to be both Torah-observant role models and 21st century leaders. The school is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools.
Those interested in scheduling a visit can phone 720-859-6806 or email acaplan@datcampus.org.