Schools

Independent School Moves Into Former YWCA Building

Japhet School, the award-winning independent school in Madison Heights, is excited to announce that it will celebrate 40 years of academic excellence, character education, and leadership development in September 2013. What's more, Japhet will begin this hallmark year in a new building! The school is moving from Madison Heights to 839 S. Crooks in Clawson ― at the northeast corner of Crooks and Normandy roads, former home of the YWCA.

“Japhet has always been so much more than the walls that surround us,” says Cathy Mohan, Head of School. “We are taking the essence of Japhet with us on this journey. We are taking our joy. We are taking our courage. We are taking our industry, and we are taking our gratitude. We will begin the 2013/2014 school year in a new space, but we will be coming home.”

Japhet School serves students in preschool through eighth grade. Students reside in the tricounty area, and they are ethnically and culturally diverse. Families come to Japhet for many reasons. Some are drawn to its emphasis on character education and its peaceful environment. Others are looking for an affordable private school without the teaching of a specific faith. All of Japhet’s families benefit from teachers' ability to see the unlimited potential in every student.

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As an independent school, Japhet is governed by a board of trustees and has a rolling enrollment, which means it accepts new students throughout the year. The admissions process begins with a parent inquiry and school tour, followed by a student visit. Families then are invited to apply for enrollment and submit a deposit. Merit scholarships as well as financial aid are available. To inquire about enrollment, parents may contact Admissions Director Robin Pospisil at 248 585-9150 or visit the school website, www.japhetschool.org.

“Our students are excited about starting next year in a new space,” Mohan says. When students learned of the upcoming move, right away Mrs. Mohan received offers of birthday money and box-packing help from students. “I have been so inspired by our families' commitment to make this journey with us and their offers of support.” The school's parent-run Recycling Committee, for example, instituted a “Cans for Plants” drive, which turned returnables into funds for a grounds beautification project at the new location.

Find out what's happening in Clawsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The building, undergoing interior renovations right now, will open this September with brand new classrooms, a reading room, kitchen, full-size gym, a new server room with technology infrastructure, fenced playground, and a beautiful courtyard that will be used for play, quiet reading and writing, science classes, and community gardening.

Japhet leased its Madison Heights facility from Lamphere Public Schools for 35 years, but it has always been part of the school's vision to one day purchase its own facility.

With support from the Japhet School community, that vision became a reality in June. capital campaign is being launched this month to support the purchase and ongoing facility upgrades.

Forty years after its doors first opened, Japhet School will welcome returning and brand-new students to its new Clawson home in September. Watch for news about an Open House in late summer or early fall!

Source: Japhet School


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