Back to school part 2

Compiled by Elana Dure and Meira Davidowitz

Yeshiva Derech HaTorah High Schools for Boys (Brooklyn)

Rabbi Ben Zion Ungar is the new General Studies principal of Yeshiva Derech HaTorah, which joyfully celebrated its first graduating class in June. He plans to significantly enhance the General Studies program with new offerings including Advanced Placement courses in Psychology and US Government. The school has been invited back to the Cooper Basketball Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee where the Derech HaTorah basketball team was a divisional winner last year.

Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) High School (Cedarhurst)

HAFTR’s 9th grade class is the largest the school has welcomed in a number of years. New initiatives for the upcoming school year include an Achievement Center to provide academic support for entering freshmen. Three levels of Limudei Kodesh for boys are now being offered as well as HAFTR’s first Gemara L’Banot, contextual Gemara class for girls. New electives include two sections of Forensics for juniors and seniors, Halacha and Business ethics. HAFTR alumni from the past decade will present weekly Chaburot (learning groups) for the high school students. A senior internship program will begin in May; a new student and chessed lounge will be launched; additional Smart Boards are being purchased to supplement 36 purchased last year. By the end of the next school year HAFTR intends to have a Smart Board in every classroom in the institution. Beginning in December, HAFTR will be an ACT Sunday test center, and the school is “going green” for the college admissions process with Family Connection by Naviance, a new online communication program for college applications.

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School (Great Neck)

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School is celebrating its 10th anniversary with events throughout the year including alumni gatherings, school dinners and other programs. Enrollment is the highest so far, with the largest entering freshmen class in the history of the school. The music conservatory and art institute programs will be expanded with new faculty, supplementing the school’s 100 extracurricular activities and 27 sports teams. A new food court will offer students and faculty a choice of hot and cold foods. They will have a coffee and pastry bar as well. North Shore plans international trips this year to Europe, Poland and Israel, as well as the revival of the Tarbut program to enrich the cultural experiences of their students.

Torah Academy for Girls (TAG) High School (Far Rockaway)

A $70,000 investment in technology will be integrated into TAG this year - 24 new laptop computers and nine new Smart Boards, enough for one in every other classroom. Teachers have trained on an intensive, new writing program for ninth and tenth graders. Ninth graders will take a new course in financial and career education. It will address subjects including loan responsibility, the use of credit cards and choosing a career, and is expected to help students choose other elective classes in future years. Rabbi Shepard will teach a new elective for seniors called “The History of the Middle East.”

Shalhevet High School for Girls (North Woodmere)

Shalhevet welcomes a new menahelet, Esther Eisenman. “We are really excited to have Mrs. Eisenman joining Shalhevet. She’s a really amazing role model for the girls,” said Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Shalhevet’s Rosh Yeshiva. “She strikes the right balance between being warm and fuzzy and being very professional.”

Shalhevet is expanding its course offerings and faculty. Three Advanced Placement (AP) courses are now available: European History, Chemistry, and Calculus. New electives include Psychology. A new art course is available for the 10th and 11th grades, as well as a new Torah Sheh’Baal Peh class for all grades. They is an expanded science lab and new Mock Trial and Model UN teams.

A Homeland Security grant has enabled Shalhevet to install security cameras.

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls (Hewlett Bay Park)

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls is celebrating 18 years since the school’s establishment and yearlong special programs will reflect its accomplishments. Mrs. Helen Spirn, SKA’s founding principal, has been promoted to Head of School, while Rabbi Jeff Rothman and Dr. Tzipora Meier are newly appointed principals of grades 9-10 and 11-12, respectively.

A course in creative writing is now an elective for the 11th grade, while the John Collins Writing Across the Curriculum Program is being implemented school-wide. A new course on conducting scientific research and the ongoing program of social science research will help students focus on integrating career goals in all subject areas.

The well-attended Parent Institute, with Limudei Kodesh classes taught by the faculty, is being expanding with new shiurim and other growth opportunities for HALB moms and dads.

SKA continues its multifaceted approach to educating the whole student, academically and spiritually, and anticipates a successful year with new courses and innovative programs, “dynamic and dedicated staff, and creative, growth oriented young women.”

Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys (Woodmere)

The Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys welcomes new faculty members and offers a number of new programs for the 2010-11 school year. A new B’kiut program will provide incentives for students to complete the entire Masechet Sukkah, which the Yeshiva is learning this year. DRS teachers and administrators have trained on the Jewish New Teacher Program’s mentor training program to provide extensive mentoring services to young teachers.

DRS’s technology infrastructure was updated over the summer; the long-term technology plan calls for an interactive school operating system, new computers school-wide, and updated software and email systems. Two more Smart Boards were added, bringing the total to 12 in the building.

DRS is beginning a Community Service program focusing on the twelfth grade. Plans include extensive leadership training, a pre-Pesach Tomchei Pesach program, nursing home visits, cemetery cleanup, and an end-of-year dinner honoring students who have excelled at chesed and community service.

New faculty members include Rabbi Etan Tannenbaum as assistant rebbe. He was formerly a popular rebbe at Yesodai Yeshurun. Josh Fialkow, a graduate of Yale University and Columbia Graduate School has joined the History Department. Rabbi Dovid Weinberg has been promoted to full-time rebbe.

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov relocated from Hewlett to Lawrence and is now located in the former Temple Sinai. The building is under renovation; air conditioning is being installed in all rooms, including the 10 classrooms. Students can relax in a dedicated student lounge. There are offices for the student G.O. and for student publications. Future renovation plans include a hoped-for science lab, computer lab, woodshop and fitness center. The four-phase plan will ultimately end with a full gymnasium.

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov has a high-speed data network, numerous Smart Boards and security cameras in every room. An educational consultant will enhance the general studies program. Several AP courses are offered including Biology and Calculus. Seniors can take a new course in accounting and marketing; seminars in business ethics are being planned. A writing workshop enables students to receive feedback on essays. The school offers extra periods of math including math recitation and workshop. In the second semester, eligible seniors can go on early admissions to Touro’s Landers College. Four post-high school yeshiva students work one to one with small groups of boys during the morning shiurim; four others work in kollel with older talmidim.

“We never rest on past success,” said Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, the menahel, “we build on the future.”

Shevach High School for Girls (Queens)

Shevach students expect to continue their school’s extensive community chessed programs including Help-a-Mom, Bridges, JEP/JIL, hospital visits according to a student at the school. Everyone is looking forward to the annual school production, according to junior Esther Rimler. “Production is a great chance to become friends with people in other grades, be creative and have some fun,” she said.

The school office refused to provide additional information.

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County High School (Uniondale)

The HANC Student Senate will sponsor a Back to School barbecue for all students on the first day of school, with food, drinks and the opportunity to catch up with teachers and old friends, and to meet new friends.

HANC expects to focus energy and resources on the effort ton win freedom for Cpl. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli serviceman being held hostage by Hamas. On the first day of school, students will join other schools and organizations throughout the country in a campaign to send one million Rosh Hashana cards to Gilad Shalit, through the offices of the United Nations.

They look forward to a new group of students participating in the Gildor International Science Competition, learning independently and working collaboratively on an engineering problem.

Three HANC students, Lena Salzbank, Jacob Kahn and Ikey Goldenberg won first place in the MSG Varsity Summer Stars competition. HANC, as the home school of the contestants, came in second in a field of hundred of schools, winning a “Welcome Back to School” party with food and entertainment sponsored by MSG Varsity and Cablevision. The school anticipates one of the best Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan chagigot they have ever celebrated. Students will continue working with MSG Varsity this year, as reporters, videographers and media specialists.

HANC High School will welcome its incoming class with a two-day Freshman Retreat orientation in Nyack NY.

HANC welcomes to Mr. Nick Vlassis and Mrs. Janet Kalaydjian to the science & history departments, and Mrs. Laura Eisner to the general studies team.

HANC High School plans an open house for prospective students on Sunday, October 24, 2010

Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Queens)

With 69 incoming freshmen Central will have its highest enrollment numbers in nearly a decade. Several new programs are now available including a course in Arabic. A new interdisciplinary program, the Torah U’Madda Accelerated Scholars Circle (TASC), offers students the opportunity to explore enduring human questions as they are dealt with in Torah and secular sources.

The new Accelerated Honors Program will be an integrated community of students, rebbeim, teachers and school leaders committed to helping promising young women maximize their intellectual potential and become leaders in the Jewish community.

An enhanced art program will enable all students to take art throughout their high school years. Students will work in multiple media (ink, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, pencil, charcoal, polymer clay, photography, digital and mixed media) learning about art through the ages to current trends and careers in art today.

The new Learning Center will help students learn and teachers teach, particularly with regard to students with special needs.

Five new staff members include Mrs. Gloria Rabinowitz as Art Chairperson; Ms. Leah Kanner, joining the Math and Science Departments; Ms. Elana Riback joins the English Department; Mr. Mohamed Badr will teach Arabic and Mrs. Abigail Freundlich is the coordinator of the new Learning Center.

Mesivta Rambam

Mr. Hillel Golman, “young, energetic, dynamic, and creative,” is the new assistant principal of Rambam, said Rabbi Zev Friedman, the menahel. He will direct certain school activities in addition to facilitating running the school in general. Several new rabbeim are joining the faculty, as well. “Not only are they good teachers but they are also warm and will really be able to make a kesher (connection) with the boys,” Rabbi Friedman said.

Additional time for Torah study has been added to the program from Monday to Thursday; mentors and rebbeim will be available to help boys review what they have learned in class, or to take on new initiatives. At the request of alumni community shiurim will be scheduled. Additional evening father-son learning programs will be scheduled as well; all will concluded with a 9:30 p.m. minyan for Ma’ariv.

A Homeland Security grant has allowed for the upgrading of the security system, including cameras.

Additional Smart Boards have been purchased.

Rambam is now a Microsoft-certified school, allowing students access to training in Microsoft Seven. A new, advanced computer class will focus on programs such as Adobe Flash. The entrepreneurs club is expanding and a business class is being added.

Yeshiva University (New York City)

Newly-named as number 50 on the US News & World Report listing of universities, Yeshiva University welcomes 20 new faculty members. Four of the new professors will teach at both Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women.

Dr. Douglas Burgess joins the history department after positions as a postdoctoral fellow at Eugene Lang College at The New School for Social Research and New York Historical Society. He obtained his JD from Cornell University and PhD from Brown University.

Dr. Alessandro Citanna, joining the economics department, earned a PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. She brings experience as a visiting professor of economics and finance at Columbia University and as a professor of economics and finance at HEC Paris.

Drs. Andreas Hamel and Yuxi Zheng join the mathematics department. Hamel earned his PhD summa cum laude from Germany’s Martin Luther University. Zheng has served as professor and associate head of the mathematics department at Penn State University. He obtained a PhD in mathematics from the University of Berkely, California.

In Spring 2011, Stern College will offer a 2 credit hands-on laboratory course in neurobiology in conjunction with Rockefeller University. YU’s Institute for University-School Partnership, a division of the Azrieli Graduate School for Jewish Education and Administration, will offer a Hebrew Ulpan for teachers, graduate students and administrators to strengthen Hebrew instructional skills. The Sy Syms School of Business begins the second year of its Masters of Science in Accounting. Several professors at Wurzweiler School of Social Work have been named Fulbright Specialists. Applicants to YU’s Honors Program for early decision have increased threefold. RIETS has introduced the Huberfeld Family Semikha Leadership Initiative, a three-year fellowship at RIETS designed to mold future leaders of the American rabbinate.

Touro College

The Honors Program at the Lander College for Men-Beis Medrash L’Talmud offers superior students the opportunity to deepen and broaden their intellectual experience both in the College and in the Beis Medrash L’Talmud. Since its institutionally committed to excellence in Torah learning as well as academic studies, its Honors Program builds on that dual commitment by enhancing the curriculum of both. The goals of the Honors Program are to cultivate advanced and sophisticated analytic, research and writing skills in academic studies and in limmudei kodesh (the teaching of Jewish heritage in all its facets), and to broaden student exposure to halakha (Jewish law) and shas (oral law). In academic studies, those who complete the Honors Program will be better prepared for the rigors of graduate and professional education at the most elite levels, and will therefore be more attractive candidates when applying.

Students who are admitted to the Honors Program receive a minimum of $10,000 per annum scholarship, which currently covers over 2/3 the cost of academic tuition. Scholarships may increase from that minimum, depending upon a variety of factors, including higher SAT or ACT scores, high school average, and performance during the interview and oral exam.

Applicants to the program are expected to score a minimum of 1350 on the critical reading and mathematics sections of the SAT (or 30 composite scores on the ACT), earn a minimum 92 high school average in academic subjects and a 92 average in Jewish subjects, and demonstrate unusually strong skills on an oral bechina (which, for students studying in Israel, can replace a lower Jewish Studies high school average). All applicants must also be interviewed by a representative of the Office of the Dean.

Students who wish to apply for the Honors Program must complete the basic application to the Lander College for Men, as well as an application to the Honors Program.

Queens College

Once again, Queens College has been named one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review in its new annual college guide The Best 373 Colleges 2011. Queens College added 34 new professors to their faculty roster. This is the second year of operation for the popular 506-bed residence hall, the Summit, which is filled to capacity and has a waiting list. As part of a commitment to global education, the college will focus on a different nation each year. The series kicks off with the Year of China on October 5, featuring a full day of events including concerts by the Shanghai Quartet, Aaron Copland Music School professors and Visiting Distinguished Artist-in-Residence Bright Sheng, and a lecture by Distinguished Professor of History Morris Rossabi. The schedule continues through the fall and spring semesters with performances, workshops, art exhibitions, and more, including a retrospective of paintings and watercolors by Taiwanese-born artist Marlene Tseng Yu at the Godwin-Ternbach Museum and an exhibition of 6- to 7-foot porcelain sculptures by Chinese artist and QC ceramics professor Sin-ying Ho at the Art Center. The Asian-American Center at Queens College has developed a new curriculum in Asian American Pacific Islander Community Studies (AAPICS) with courses in various academic departments, internship opportunities in local communities and a dedicated resource center.