Dear MJDS Friends,

In the winter of 1984 my late husband Sandy and I were looking for a school for Adam. He was ready for K-4 but Mequon-Thiensville School District did not offer kindergarten until K-5. We toured MJDS which was located at Temple Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun. I recall asking principal Geveret Shneidman if the school had computers. She smiled and said, "of course we do!" This was important to us because Sandy's specialty at his accounting firm was technology, and Adam loved his "computer time." We also learned about the Hebrew and Judaica program. This sounded perfect for him as he seemed to have an ear for language. I promised myself that my children would learn Hebrew and Judaica during the school day versus the Hebrew school programs that Sandy and I participated in two evenings a week. We decided to enroll Adam at MJDS. Evan and Noah were enrolled two years later.

MJDS was the perfect place for our family. The small class size allowed for individualization and the ability to teach to different types of learners. Shabbat sings, folk fairs, science fairs, basketball games and class field trips were events that we all looked forward to and participated in. Sandy and I became active in the Fruit and Nut campaign, building the computer lab, PTO and many other committees. This allowed us to meet and work with MJDS parents, many who are friends to this day. Sandy became President of the Board of Directors and gave an address at Evan and Noah's graduation, a day I will never forget.

I will always remember MJDS as a warm hearted, child centered school and community. The staff was comprised of helpful, understanding people who tried their best to help when a problem arose. The education our children received was excellent and they had no difficulties transitioning to high school from MJDS. Adam pursued his love of computers and technology, and he is currently a programmer for a company in St. Louis. Evan loved soccer and sports (he played basketball for MJDS on the Rockets team) and currently works in sports management. He lives in Atlanta with his fiancée Danielle and dog Rueben. Noah became active in MJDS theater after being in "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" and continued to study and work in theater throughout high school and college. Today he is based in L.A. and is a lighting designer for television shows.

As you can see I am so happy we chose MJDS for our children. It has helped shape them into the wonderful adults they are today. I want to thank every administrator, teacher, assistant and staff member that helped my sons succeed. Here's to another great 36 years!

Lynda Mitz

In celebration of the 36th anniversary of MJDS, we are excited to present MJDS Stories, a series of narratives told in first person by different voices of our MJDS community. Parents, teachers, alumni, alumni-parents, students and friends share how MJDS has made an impact on their children, their Jewish identity and their lives. MJDS Stories deepens the meaning of our mission and amplifies the excitement of our 36 milestone.