Back to School guide 2011: The Nassau schools

The Jewish Star proudly presents its Back to School guide for 2011. Below is a selection of Nassau County day schools which submitted information to this newspaper.

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
Plainview Elementary School
25 Country Drive
Plainview, NY 11803
516-681-5922
www.hanc.org
Grades K-6

HANC Plainview partners with Oorah to offer substantial tuition discounts including $2,500 off tuition for new students and up to $3,000 for families that are new to day school education. The student-run community food pantry will continue for a second year; the student-run hair drive to raise money for charity will also be repeated. Students will visit residents of the Atria and Sommerset assisted living centers and performs the school’s annual play before an audience at the Gurwin Jewish nursing and rehab centre. HANC will also be hosting “New Parents” club for expecting families.
HANC will continue to offer Hebrew and basic Judaism classes for parents and the larger community. The school spent the last two years developing standardized assessments and workbooks for Chumash skills with the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools and will utilize the program this year to ensure that students are developing the skills necessary for a life of Jewish learning. This September, HANC will have its first school wide Shabbaton to bring families in the community together.

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County
Elementary School
609 Hempstead Avenue
West Hempstead, NY 11552
Tel. 516-485-7786
www.hanc.org
Grades K-6

This year’s school theme is Hodaah; thankfulness/praise, dedicating this year to the positive: in literature, art, music and most important of all in our daily interactions with each other, our families and our students. The Torah curriculum will highlight and explicate tefilot of thanksgiving with a particular emphasis on Hallel, Modim, and the mealtime blessings. School wide programs, siddur play, chumash program and zimriyah will all include songs of praise derived from tehillim.
For the past several years, the “HANC 609” building has been undergoing a building upgrade that has benefitted students and faculty. This summer, the back yard has been given a new face with basketball and softball courts and equipment installed on a brand new surface.
On the academic front, all classrooms are equipped with SMART boards and there are plans for touch screen computers to be installed in the two resource rooms, general and religious studies. The HANC Prep program reviews and assists in promoting important math skills. HANC is piloting the school wide testing MAP-NWEA program in grades 3 and 7 in partnership with Nassau BOCES. This testing program allows teachers to track and monitor student growth and progress all year long.
The school wide Professional Development Workshop on Sept. 6 will feature YU President Richard Joel, who will be addressing HANC faculty from all four campuses, lay and professional leadership on the topic of HANC: ONE School, OUR School.

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns & Rockaway
33 Washington Avenue
Lawrence, NY 11559
Tel. 516-569-3043
http://www.haftr.org
Grades K-12

The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway welcomes more than 40 new families this year. To accommodate the new students, HAFTR’s Early Childhood Program is opening an additional four-year nursery class. HAFTR is excited to open the doors of its newly renovated Lower School library, as well as the Middle School Science Lab and Beit Midrash. HAFTR has increased the selection of extracurricular and after school activities in both the Early Childhood Program and the Lower School, offering a variety of classes including soccer, yoga, Spanish and comic book illustration. Our Lower School has expanded its Tal Am Hebrew Language Program, while the High School introduces a Hasmadah Enrichment Program geared towards students looking for an unique learning opportunity.

Long Island Hebrew Academy
122 Cutter Mill Road
Great Neck, NY 11021
Tel. 516-466-3656
www.lihagn.org
Grades T-5

The 155-student elementary school provides a quality education with numerous scholarships to assist parents, with funds provided by UJA, OORAH, SHAI, Nechanas Yisroel, and others to help out in these tough economic times. The school offers a variety of co-curricular activities as well as an after school homework center and both Hebrew and English resource room services. Last year, the school participated in Newsday’s Futurecorps and Kidsday programs as well as those of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation. The school takes pride in its ability to score high on state exams, while providing small classes and a warm caring environment.

Silverstein Hebrew Academy
Elementary School
117 Cutter Mill Road
Great Neck, NY 11021
Tel. 516-466-8522
www.silversteinhebrewacademy.com
Grades K-5

This 175-student school serves the North Shore community, and is currently undergoing construction on its $8 million campus on the shore of Long Island Sound in Kings Point, expected for completion in the spring of 2012. With a mixed Sephardi and Ashkenazi student body, this Chabad-run school teaches students about each other’s respective traditions with a sense of inclusion that counts numerous students from intermarried and nonobservant backgrounds. The secular subjects begin in kindergarten with whole language programs, a full mathematics approach, and writing, aimed at success in state standardized tests. Average tuition ranges between $8,000 and $10,000, which various scholarships and payment plan options. Last year, the massive Facebook support effort resulted in 144,000 “likes,” and a grant of $500,000 from Kohl’s department store.
With a new Middle School for grades 6 through 8 opening up this fall on the temple Beth El campus at 5 Old Mill Road, there will be more space for the elementary school in classrooms and low class size.

Editor’s note: In order to prevent misunderstandings, we note that the following local schools have not provided us with information, including: Torah Academy for Girls, Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, Yeshiva of South Shore, Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Hewbrew Academy of West Queens, and Shevach High School.

If you are a school administrator, there is still time. Our deadline for part two is this coming Tuesday morning, Aug. 22. For maximum effect, we welcome advertising. Contact our Account Executive Helene Parsons at 516-569-4000 ext. 290.