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HANC, SKA and DRS welcome their new students with country retreats

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The Hebrew Academy of Nassau County and HALB’s Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls and Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys welcomed their incoming freshmen with country retreats.

All beginnings are hard, but SKA’s ninth graders had the opportunity to start the new school year in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere at a freshman retreat on the beautiful grounds of Camp Kaylie in upstate Wurtsboro.

For HANCsters, their retreat began with a pit stop in a pizzeria in Monticello, enroute to their freshman retreat at Camp Lavi in Lakewood, Pennsylvania. The students participated in two days of activities, learning sessions, entertainment and “just getting to know one another.”

HANC freshmen took advantage of the beautiful summer weather to join together in such outdoor activities as swimming, dune buggying, and various sports and a ate night barbecue.

The boys of DRS participated in their school’s freshman shabbaton, at Camp Kaylie, last weekend.

“The goal of the Shabbaton is for everyone meet each other and create a sense of achdut within the grade in an enjoyable and fun way,” said DRS Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky.

Upon arrival, students unpacked late on Thursday, davened Maariv, and headed to the gym for Wacky Olympics in which they facedoff in shuir-v.-shuir competitions. Later, there was a late-night barbecue and basketball in the gym.

Friday events included shiurim with the freshmen rebbeim and students taking to the gridiron for flag football while bonding with new friends. 

DRS’ class of 2020 headed into Shabbos unified as one with tremendous energy. After davening and a festive seuda with zemirot and divrei Torah, the freshmen enjoyed a DRS-style tisch with Rabbi Kaminetsky and their rebbeim.

Following Mincha and Shalosh Seudos, students gathered for an inspirational and memorable  kumzitz, joining together to usher the Shabbos out with song, achdut and ruach.

SKA’s getaway was a wonderful way for the freshman girls to bond.

They built boats to get across the lake using only cardboard and duct tape and participated in a myriad of other activities. “Choose Happiness,” a session presented by Ms. Elana Flaumenhaft, SKA’s new associate principal who will be working directly with the freshmen, focused on recognizing the positive in all experiences and how to promote resiliency.