Jewish School Plans Conejo Valley Branch

Responding to the requests of Jewish families in the Conejo Valley, a Northridge-based Jewish school will open a branch to serve the Thousand Oaks area next fall.

The founder of the Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School announced plans Monday to hold classes for kindergarten and first-grade students beginning in the fall.

Eventually the school will serve students from kindergarten through ninth grade, said Shirley Levine, the 22-year-old school’s principal and founder.

“We had parents approach us from the Conejo Valley area saying they wanted to send their children to our school in Northridge, but we were too far away,” Levine said. “With their help, we went about setting up a school in that area.”

Levine said school officials view the Conejo Valley as a place where the Jewish community is expanding. She could not predict how many students would ultimately enroll in the new school but said the Northridge school serves 500 students.

The purpose of the school, which is not affiliated with any temple and will serve all branches of Judaism, is to offer Jewish children a general education that includes classes that would otherwise be found in a temple after school.

“The philosophy of the school is to teach a love of learning, enhance self-esteem and offer the children a positive Jewish identification,” Levine said.

The school will be located in Agoura Hills but expects to serve families in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Camarillo.

For information about Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School West, call (818) 725-2915.