Back to school — Part 1

Issue of August 22, 2008

Davis Renov Stahler High School for Boys

By Dov Winston

The Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys will welcome its largest freshman class this fall, as 88 incoming students will enjoy the school’s inaugural “Freshman Retreat” in Camp Bai Kayta, formerly Camp Raleigh, in Livingston Manor, NY. With several new additions to the faculty and curriculum, in both Judaic studies and secular classes, DRS is gearing up for a productive year.

DRS has hired Rabbi Shmuel Marcus as Rosh Kollel to head the Yeshiva University/DRS Kollel program. This year, the Kollel is expanding to include eight YU Kollel fellows who learn with students on Friday mornings and two evenings a week. The school has also hired a new assistant rebbe, Rabbi Dovid Weinberg, who moonlights as a guitar player for the Omek Hadavar band.

Further emphasizing the importance of Torah learning, the school has implemented a new Navi curriculum, designed by Rabbi Allen Schwartz of Congregation Ohab Zedek, as well as a separate class designed to encourage additional learning.

“We have instituted a class that will study with the Yeshiva University Bekius incentive program, that allows students to win prizes for extra learning they do at DRS,” explained Menahel Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky.

In the realm of secular studies, DRS will introduce several new Advanced Placement classes, in addition to the 10 already offered, including physics, world history, statistics and creative writing. Several new teachers have been hired in the different academic departments to accommodate the record enrollment. To help support the growing student body, the school has also installed more SMART Boards in the classroom.

DRS students can also look forward to a number of new extra curricular activities. In addition to the existing orchestral music program, the school plans to add a band class to coordinate all the diverse instruments being taught. Also, for the Intel and Siemens-Westinghouse research program, DRS has hired a “highly qualified mentor” to instruct the students, according to Principal Harvey Feldman, enabling students in all four grades to conduct research in science and social science.

SKA High School for Girls

By Yaffi Spodek

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls will be unveiling a new science program called E2K (Excellence Two Thousand) for its ninth and 10th graders this year.

SKA is among a select few high schools who will use E2K, a 16-week pilot program in science enrichment, where “interested students use research methodology to learn about DNA,” explained the school’s principal, Mrs. Helen Spirn.

To further enhance the science department, SKA has also renovated all of its labs over the summer, adding SMART Boards and updated equipment.

One course which has been added to the 10th grade curriculum is “History of Modern Israel,” which will focus on Zionist history and ideas, enabling students to become familiar with Israeli names and personalities, before they take the mandatory 12th grade course offered on the same topic.

“There is so much that they need to know in the world to be able to advocate for Israel,” said Mrs. Spirn.

SKA is also introducing a hockey team this year, which will compete in the yeshiva high school league.

Another new initiative to begin this fall is a teacher training and internship program for young women looking to enter the field of Jewish education. The program’s supervisor is Mrs. Leah Feinberg, a Judaic studies teacher who has been appointed chairperson of the school’s Tanach department.

“The participants will each teach one class, will have the opportunity to observe other teachers and will be involved in other aspects of the school reflecting their own individual strengths,” explained Mrs. Spirn.

This year, SKA will also undergo a second evaluation by the Middle States Association, to ensure the renewal of its accreditation by the prestigious organization, which was originally granted 10 years ago.

“The team of educators coming here and working with us will involve self-reflection in the school’s plan of action and will make the school even stronger,” noted Mrs. Spirn.

Having attended the Harvard University Principals Summer Institute, Mrs. Spirn also looks forward to implementing “new ideas to enhance the SKA experience for our students.”

Yeshiva of South Shore

By Yaffi Spodek

The Yeshiva of South Shore is proud to welcome Rabbi Mair Wolofsky and Rabbi Gershon Greenberg as the newest members of its administration.

Rabbi Wolofsky has been appointed as the new principal for general studies, succeeding Rabbi Shmuel Schwebel.

“Rabbi Wolofsky has instituted many programs at Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Brooklyn, where he was the principal of general studies,” said Rabbi Dovid Kramer, the executive director of South Shore. “He has done a lot of innovative and successful projects and implemented many ideas over the years.”

One new initiative that Rabbi Wolofsky will be working on at South Shore is a writing workshop, where students improve their writing skills through journal entries.

Rabbi Greenberg, formerly of Yeshiva RJJ in Staten Island, will be the assistant menahel for Judaic studies, a new position.

“As his primary concern, he will be coordinating the Hebrew curriculum of the yeshiva, ensuring that we have a standardized set of studies throughout the grades,” said Rabbi Kramer, explaining Rabbi Greenberg’s role at the school.

In addition to its academic enhancements, South Shore is also in the middle of a renovation project, a parent-based initiative costing over $200,000.

“The parents take care of all angles of the renovation, from deciding what changes should take place, which physical parts of the building should be upgraded and researching vendors and contractors,” Rabbi Kramer explained.

Some of the physical improvements being implemented are replacements of all entry boards in the building, new desks and the installation of several new SMART Boards in the classrooms. Renovations of the art room and library have already been completed.

These physical enhancements come at a time when “there is a demand for the yeshiva’s education,” added Rabbi Kramer. He also noted the school’s growth with the addition of a third kindergarten class this year, “due to increased demand, a good sign of where the yeshiva’s heading.”

Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island

By Yaffi Spodek

Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island’s new school building will be completed in time for the first day of school, at the beginning of September, says the school’s executive director, Rabbi Shalom Siegfried.

The building, located at 321 Doughty Boulevard in Inwood, occupies 45,000 square feet on two acres of land.

“Provision has been made for growth in student population and the building has a capacity of 400 students,” said Rabbi Siegfried.

In addition to all the classrooms and offices, the facility has a separate pre-school wing, a beis medrash and a large cafeteria. The building also has state-of-the-art science labs, and SMART Boards have been installed in the classrooms. For recreational purposes, there is a full size gym, an outdoor play area for the pre-school children and sports courts for students of all grades.

Yeshiva Ketana needed to build the new facility as a permanent home for the school, which has been renting space in two separate locations for the last several years. Its new location in Inwood will serve as a hub for the expanding Jewish community there.

“The location [Inwood] is also centrally located to service students and families from the Five Towns and Far Rockaway,” explained Rabbi Siegfried. “YKLI anticipates usage of the facilities for community events, as well.”

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County High School

By Yaffi Spodek

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County High School is excited to welcome Sari Bacon, an experienced educator and administrator, as new associate principal.

“Mrs. Bacon has been charged with continuing the processes of upgrading our general studies program and bringing it to the next level,” said Rabbi Moshe Stavsky, HANC’s principal.

To help achieve that goal, the school is hiring several new teachers for its science department, and is hoping to get more students involved in science and math competitions.

“I have also appointed academic advisors who will guide each student in their course selections and monitor their academic progress throughout their high school years,” said Rabbi Stavsky. “This will be in addition to the grade-wide mechanchim who provide extracurricular programming as well as enriching social and inspirational events for our students.”

HANC will be expanding its course offerings to include Advanced Placement Graphic Arts and World History, as well as an elective in Studio Art.

The theme of the school year will be “HANC, the school that builds character,” with the ultimate goal being to “institutionalize and internalize” the positive values which HANC students embody, Rabbi Stavsky explained. “Throughout the year, the school will be running programs and events focusing on integrity, honesty and building values.”

Students will also have the opportunity to meet with and speak to leaders of the community to see how those values affect the lives they will lead.

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School

By Dov Winston

“Things are buzzing at North Shore and I am very excited,” said Headmaster Dr. Daniel J. Vitow.

This year, North Shore will welcome 110 new students from 9 different schools into their freshman class, bringing the total enrollment to over 400.

A new assistant principal for Judaic studies, Rabbi Eric Levy of Toronto, has been hired. “He is an exciting new addition to our staff,” said Dr. Vitow.

Also joining the faculty will be Dr. Marilyn Maxwell in the English department and Mrs. Phyllis Serfaty, who will run an expanded science research program for ninth and 10th graders.

The high school will be instituting several new classes, including a course in money and banking, a fourth year Italian class, and a creative writing class.

One new initiative being launched is a weather station as part of a weather program. Another new program will be organized in conjunction with Yad Vashem as part of North Shore’s expanded Holocaust course.

Incredibly, the school also plans to dedicate 12 Sifrei Torah this year.

North Shore’s athletics program will expand to include a total of 27 teams and will welcome a new coach who has worked for the NBA.