After outgrowing two physical spaces, with an extensive waitlist growing each year and a growing demand for our program, a need for a larger, permanent new home arose. Thanks to the generosity of our Capital Campaign donors, we now have a beautiful new 12-story building on the Upper West Side that is not only larger, but also custom built with our students’ specific needs in mind, equipped with all the tools they need to thrive. Now, we can serve up to 350 students, while still providing individualized instruction, a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and the wide variety of services that support our students’ needs so they can flourish.
Our new classrooms are built to support our specialized learning program, our methods of social-emotional learning, organizational skill development, and discussion of developmentally relevant topics. With new state-of-the-art technology and the ability to divide classrooms into breakout rooms of small groups, our students can learn in ways they can understand and thrive.
For the first time ever, the Shefa School now has our very own Beit Midrash. This beautiful new space was intentionally designed to be the ideal place for our students to study, pray, and learn. It allows for interactive experiences, such as joyous morning tefillah, exploration of Shabbat and holidays, and the study of the Torah. It also doubles as a large auditorium for professional development workshops and lessons for our faculty and staff.
Sitting high above Columbus Circle at the very top of our new home is our Outdoor Playroof and Garden. This space allows our students to play and learn outside, in a safe and controlled environment that is all their own.
Our students now have the opportunity to take what they are learning inside the classroom and apply it outside, in real life, in our Rooftop Garden. They can also contribute to something together as a school community, and watch their hard work grow in real time.
Our students can also have recess and PE periods inside in our brand new Gym and Fitness Studio. Finally the perfect size, our Gym has all the facilities and equipment our students deserve.
The Shefa Center finally has an official home here at the Shefa School! The second floor is now the dedicated space of the Center, equipped with a conference room and workshop spaces to share our methods with other schools, teachers, and educators. With this new space, the Center can support many more organizations, in the Jewish community and beyond, helping them to better serve their students who learn differently.
