Schools: HAFTR Highlights

HAFTR offers over 50 student clubs, sports teams and publications that help members develop interests in various fields that could serve as their future careers.

This week alone, HAFTR students participated in a debate at North Shore Hebrew Academy, in which Captain Hillel Friedman took home a Third Place Speaker Award. The participants in the debate, of which I am a member, learn valuable skills in public speaking and the ability to think on one’s feet. Students also participated in a Mock Trial event at Ezra Academy in Queens, and boys basketball Varsity and Junior Varsity against North Shore Hebrew Academy.

Currently, HAFTR students are preparing for future events including the Science Institute, lead by Mr. Stanley Blumenstein. Student members of the Science Institute are currently conducting research; the results of these experiments will eventually be presented at the Long Island Science Congress in March.

The College Bowl team, of which I am also a member, recently participated in a Yeshiva League meet at Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central). At the event, both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams did extremely well, winning two of three and three of three of their matches. The victories place both teams in great positions in their divisions. The College Bowl Team will participate in a Regional Quiz Bowl event on December 14. Another trivia team available to students at HAFTR, the Torah Bowl Team, recently participated in an event at Yeshiva of Flatbush.

Students can also participate in the newly created Business club, in which a professional with corporate experience will speak to members about the prospect of a business career. The first speaker, Gary Kaufman, discussed his process of securing career success. Students can also get involved in the Stock Market club, engaging in a simulated stock market. The club teaches students the “ins and outs” of investing by providing opportunities to invest in the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.

In today’s economic climate, it is necessary that students gain the skills needed to be successful. HAFTR’s extracurriculars provide the experience for future careers.