(Courtesy of New England Jewish Academy) The New England Jewish Academy, a prek through 12th-grade Orthodox Jewish day school in West Hartford, Connecticut, held a groundbreaking for its new addition on February 15. Local rabbis, community leaders and parents were among those who attended the event.

The new addition, which has been three years in development, will add 7,000 square feet to the existing school building. It will accommodate a growing student body with six new classrooms, and will feature: three state-of-the-art Reggio Emilia early childhood classrooms, a fabulous new playground for younger students, a secure outdoor learning center, a resource room and a beautiful library designed for young readers.

The groundbreaking was held at the school’s campus, 300 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford.

The school’s enrollment is growing with ECC and elementary school growth leading the way. This state-of-the-art new wing will meet the capacity needs of the school’s lower division for years to come.

In addition, the school will hold its Fifth Annual Fundraising Dinner on Wednesday, March 1, at 6 p.m. at Beth El Temple in West Hartford. Cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m., followed by entertainment. Go to https://www.neja.org/rsvp2023/ to RSVP to the event.

In 2019, the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford and the Hebrew High School of New England merged to create a vibrant, cornerstone preschool-grade 12 Orthodox Jewish day school in West Hartford. The New England Jewish Academy serves students in the West Hartford, Greater New Haven and Greater Springfield, Massachusetts communities.

The school is generously supported by the following: Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Jewish Family Services and the Pava Tuition Initiative.