General & Jewish Studies
A fully comprehensive dual curriculum — world-class general studies alongside in-depth Hebrew and Jewish learning.
IHDS Educational Overview
IHDS students experience learning with all their senses. Our dual focus for success sets high standards for both academic achievement and social emotional learning, preparing our students for the highest levels of college and career readiness.
The General Studies program includes a fully comprehensive and interdisciplinary language arts, mathematics, science, technology and social studies curriculum, taught alongside a Hebrew and Jewish Studies program designed to instill a deep connection with our heritage.
General Studies
Experiential Curriculum
IHDS students experience learning with all their senses, across a fully comprehensive and interdisciplinary language arts, mathematics, science, technology and social studies curriculum.
Inspiring Young Readers and Writers
Our Reading and Writing Workshop exposes students to authentic works of literature with increasing complexity, fostering a love of reading and writing as well as the self-assurance to set the highest standards for their own accomplishments.
Developing Positive Leadership Skills
Students actively engage in the democratic process through daily classroom meetings, and our social studies curriculum introduces courage, self-control, justice, heroism, leadership, deliberation and individual responsibility.
In-depth Investigation of Mathematical Concepts
Using the Singapore Mathematics curriculum, students develop innate problem-solving abilities — whether building a sukkah, starting a business, baking bread or creating inventions.
Nurturing a Love of Science, Engineering and Technology
The Full Option Science System (FOSS), developed at UC Berkeley, is a research-based curriculum built on inquiry-based and experiential learning, active investigation, research and data collection.
Fostering Social Emotional Learning
Grounded in core Jewish values, Positive Psychology and Jane Nelsen’s Positive Discipline, our culture empowers students with a sense of belonging and purpose while learning collaboration, critical thinking, self-regulation and perseverance.
Art
Our multi-modal arts program engages students in visual and performing arts, celebrating individual expression and using a variety of artistic media to convey Jewish texts, ideas and values.
Music
Students learn through Orff Schulwerk instruction in TK–1st grade, recorder in 2nd–3rd grades, and strings in 4th grade and up.
Inspiring Personal Growth Through Jewish Studies
The goal of our Hebrew and Jewish Studies program is to instill in our students a deep connection with our heritage, inspire a love of Torah and its study and practice, convey a sense of ownership and pride in our tradition, and impart the knowledge and skills necessary to become the future Jewish leaders, role models and teachers of the next generation.
Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Achieving Hebrew Fluency
Our Hebrew language (Ivrit) program aims for fluency in modern, spoken Hebrew. TK and K now use Hebrew Immersion, with both an English-speaking and Hebrew-speaking teacher in the classroom at all times, adding a new immersion grade each school year.
Starting the Day with Tefillah
During daily morning Tefillah, students become fluent in Jewish liturgy, learn the songs of the tefillah, and discuss appreciation, love, compassion, faith, heritage and forgiveness to bring meaning to the words they read in the siddur.
Meaningful In-depth Jewish Study
Students achieve spiritual growth through in-depth study, textual skill building and meaningful discussion, encouraged to question as they learn and bring real-life examples to the conversation.
A Love of Israel and the Jewish Calendar
Children learn the meaning, rituals and customs of each Jewish holiday, and we nurture a love of Israel with celebrations such as Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim.
See How We Bring Our Curriculum to Life
Visit a classroom during the school day and watch our dual curriculum in action.
Schedule a Tour1500 E. 17th St., Santa Ana, CA 92705