Parent of Gabi ’17, Ethan ’20, Mia ’24
Ellen Finestone has been fully immersed in Jewish education since she moved to the Bay Area from Cincinnati with her family eleven years ago. She currently sits on the JCHS Governance Committee & is part of the the Jewish Community Federation Day School Culture of Belonging Cohort. Ellen was the JCHS Parent Association Chair for 5 years. Ellen also served on the Brandeis Hillel Day School Board of Trustees where she sat on the Committee on Trustees and was part of the Marin Working Group that established Brandeis Marin as an independent school. She recently ended her board service to Brandeis Marin where she sat on the Advancement and various other committees. Ellen is on the board of Camp Young Judaea Midwest where she chairs the Alumni Committee and is involved in Achim L’Chaim (Brothers for Life) and Cycle For Survival. Ellen received her B.A. from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) and is the proud mom of Gabrielle ’17, Ethan ’20, and Mia ’24. Ellen and her husband Barry love to take long walks, Peloton, go the the farmer’s market, travel, eat delicious food and, most importantly, spend time with family and friends.
Jewish Community High School of the Bay
1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415.345.9777
The Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS) is a unique college preparatory high school committed to integrating deep learning, universal wisdom, and Jewish values. We empower each student to embrace their Jewish identity, generate empathy and compassion, delight in lifelong education, and improve the world.
JCHS is Title IX compliant. Find out more here.
JCHS is grateful for generous operational, programmatic, and financial support from:
This calendar is subject to change.
Please refer to the JCHS website calendar for the most up-to-date information
Tuesday, August 23 | Freshman Welcome Retreat |
Wednesday, August 24 | Transfer Orientation |
Thursday, August 25 | First Day of Classes |
Monday, September 5 | No Classes – Labor Day |
Thursday, September 8 | Back to School Night/New Parent Orientation |
Friday – Sunday, September 23-25 | All-School Shabbaton |
Monday – Tuesday, September 26-27 . | No Classes – Rosh Hashanah |
Wednesday, September 28 | No Classes – Professional Development Day |
Tuesday, October 4 | Virtual Day – 2:20 Early Release – Erev Yom Kippur |
Wednesday, October 5 | No Classes – Yom Kippur |
Monday – Tuesday, October 10-11 | No Classes – Sukkot |
Monday – Tuesday, October 17-18 | No Classes – Shemini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah |
Thursday, November 10 | No Classes – Faculty Meeting Day /Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences (Evening) |
Friday, November 11 | No Classes – Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences |
Monday, November 21 | Virtual Day – 3:20 Release – Thanksgiving Week |
Tuesday, November 22 | Virtual Day – 3:20 Release – Thanksgiving Week |
Wednesday – Friday, November 23–25 | No Classes – Thanksgiving Break |
Monday, December 19 – Monday, January 2 | No Classes – Winter Break |
Tuesday, January 3 | Classes Resume |
Monday, January 16 | No Classes – MLK Day |
Thursday, February 16 | Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences (Evening) |
Friday, February 17 | No Classes – Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences |
Monday, February 20 | No Classes – Presidents Day |
Sunday – Monday, March 5–20 | Journey (Grade 11) |
Sunday – Thursday, March 12-16 | Journey (Grades 9, 10 & 12) |
Friday, March 17 | No Classes for Grades 9, 10 & 12 – Journey Recovery Day |
Tuesday, March 21 | No Classes for Grade 11 – Journey Recovery Day |
Monday – Friday, April 3–14 | No Classes – Pesach Break |
Friday, May 26 | No Classes – Shavuot I |
Monday, May 29 | No Classes – Memorial Day |
Friday & Monday – Thursday, June 2 & 5-8 | Final Exams (Grades 9-11) |
Thursday, June 8 | Graduation |