What’s new in school?

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov

There are many new and exciting changes at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov this year. Rabbi Yossi Bennet has joined the administration as the new Assistant Menahel and assistant principal. Rabbi Bennet will help strengthen the educational experience for all of the talmidim under his tutelage. Rabbi Yehuda Orlansky is the new 12th grade Rebbi and also a co-Israel advisor. Rabbi Orlansky has joined MAY from the staff of the Yeshiva Gedolah at Ateres Yaakov where his wisdom and insight made him a very sought after rebbi. The Mesivta is also pleased to welcome Rabbi Noach Haller as the new director of development and Mr. Richard Miller as the new executive director.

The Yeshiva Gedolah has also undergone a major change this year and they are very grateful to have Rabbi Meir Braunstein, shlit”a, formerly senior magid shiur at Yeshiva Aderes HaTorah. Rabbi Braunstein learned in the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and received his Smicha from Rabbi Moshe Shternbach, shlit”a. Designed for bochurim returning from study in Eretz Yisrael, the Yeshiva Gedolah provides a serious yet warm environment for Bnei Torah aspiring to continue their growth and development in Torah and Yiras Shomayim. Yeshiva Gedolah also has a night seder that is open to members of the community, offering them an experience of a lifetime, to once again learn in a yeshiva environment with outstanding chevrusas.

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov is in the process of building a new state of the art science laboratory funded by a generous grant from the Gruss foundation. The students who take the new A.P. chemistry course and A.P. biology course will make maximum use of this lab. The Mesivta also offers many other A.P courses, including history and calculus. Once again Mesivta Ateres Yaakov is proud to highlight their CIJE program. The goal of CIJETech is to give students an appreciation of how science and technology affects their lives on a personal and global level. This will be done largely through involving the students in hands-on projects and project contests. The course will provide a basic understanding of electrical engineering as well as mechanical engineering through discussions of the physics involved.

The staff at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov is very happy about all of the new changes and believes that this year will be their most exciting and successful year ever. For more information contact Rabbi Yaffe, Menahel of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, at 516 374-6465.

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls

Even with the largest enrollment in its history, engaging and supporting all SKA students in learning remains the goal for 2012-2013. The collaboration between SKA’s administrators, faculty members, and auxiliary staff, mark workshops geared to each student on educational, technological, and spiritual levels. Beginning with the Freshmen Shabbaton, to be held this weekend upstate in Camp Kaylie, and continuing with an innovative new program for college guidance, SKA focuses on the needs of every student in the school.

One of the innovative efforts this year at SKA includes a New Teacher Induction Program, where new faculty members receive a mentor for the school year, helping new teachers become familiar with, and transition into, the school. Other programs include a 100% Hebrew Reading Program and a schoolwide Tefila Initiative. Holocaust Studies, Biotechnology, given in conjunction with the CIJE (Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education), and AP World History are new courses offered to students.

The Parent Learning Institute has expanded Torah classes and growth opportunities with SKA faculty and staff. Lilmod Ule’lamed shiurim, Parsha with Rabbi Eisenbach, and Sefer Shmuel with Mrs. Kaminetsky, are available along with several alumnae shiurim.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Helen Spirn, Head of School, at hspirn@skahalb.org or 516-374-7195, ext. 2.

HAFTR High School

HAFTR High School has done significant construction and reorganization in their building, and students, parents and teachers will now be able to access any and all of the yeshiva’s student support services in the new Center for Student Services. Ms. Naomi Lippman, principal of General Studies, noted that the school is deeply committed to facilitating the academic, social, emotional and religious growth of every student, and the aesthetically beautiful and efficient Center for Student Services reflects this commitment. The Center for Student Services will house the HAFTR High School Achievement Center offices and classroom; the school’s Resource Room; the Test Accommodations Center; and the offices of all of the personnel who work with students to provide academic, social or other types of support. The offices of HAFTR High School’s director of Student Services, Achievement Center director, Achievement Center teacher, school psychologist and social workers are all now located in the Center for Student Services. The Center will enable all of the Student Services professionals to be more effective and accessible to students, parents and colleagues.

HAFTR High School is partnering with the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education to introduce a new elective in Scientific Technology to qualified students in the incoming freshman class. The class, beginning this September, will offer students a comprehensive introduction to scientific engineering. Students will engage in hands-on projects to facilitate the learning of principles of physical and electrical engineering, computer programming and robotics. The curriculum for the course has been developed by the Israel Sci-Tech Schools Network, which includes over 180 science and technology institutes in Israel. The Sci-Tech course reflects HAFTR’s commitment to STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—and is geared to those students who are interested in enrichment and practical experience in these fields.

HAFTR High School has partnered with SAGE, a division of NCSY’s Judaic Scholars Institute, to offer an intensive college accredited course in Chumash (Biblical Literature) to boys and girls in 11th and 12th grade. Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen, principal of Judaic Studies, explained that juniors and seniors in the Honors Chumash classes will be participating in the SAGE course during their regularly scheduled Chumash period. The course, Biblical Literature 201, “In the Beginning, Genesis Unveiled,” will cover the first twelve perakim of Sefer Bereshit. The classes will be conducted through a hybrid platform of Rabbi Dovid Fohrman’s video course presentations, coupled with the subject mastery and guidance of HAFTR High School Judaic studies teachers. Students who take the class and choose to enroll for the university credit option for a fee will receive three college credits. This course is currently accredited by the NCCRS, a division of the University of the State of New York. Among those institutions accepting credit are Binghamton University, Queens College, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Touro and Yeshiva University.

Two illustrious graduates of HAFTR High School will be joining the Judaic Studies faculty of HAFTR High School this fall. Rabbi Avi Miller and Rabbi Avi Weber are returning to their alma mater to teach Talmud and Chumash. The yeshiva is thrilled to welcome these two wonderful rebbeim, who will be outstanding role models for HAFTR students.

Hebrew Academy of Nassau County

HANC welcomes Rabbi Shlomo Adelman as he assumes the position of Menahel/Principal of the HANC Brookdale Campus High School. A transplanted New Yorker, Rabbi Adelman comes to HANC from Houston, Texas where he served as Head of Upper School at the Emery/Weiner School. Rabbi Adelman’s impeccable credentials, significant and broad experience in Jewish high school education, commitment to academic excellence, collaborative style and passion for nurturing each student’s potential is certain to benefit all of HANC’s students and staff members.