September is a month of beginnings at Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central), and one of the highlights of the early semester is Back to School Night. This year’s event, which took place on Monday, September 15, gave parents the opportunity to step into their daughters’ shoes and walk through a full day of classes. Another sign of the new year was Club Fair, which took place on Thursday, September 18. From performing arts clubs to academic teams and everything in between, the event gave students the chance to recruit club members – and gave new and existing YUHSG students a chance to branch out and try something new.
Alongside the excitement of Back to School Night, Wildcats are diving into new academic offerings this fall. Among the most notable additions is a new collaboration between Judaic Studies and General Studies. Mrs. Amy Katz’s Global History course will collaborate with Mrs. Yael Blum’s Jewish History class to add a Jewish perspective to these freshman-year staples. “The goal is for students to learn that the same skills are used in both secular and Jewish subjects,” Mrs. Katz said. “We’re so excited the ninth graders will have the chance to experience the connection between the Jewish world and the greater global community.” Mrs. Blum agreed: “This framework ensures that these students will arrive at their junior and senior classes with a strong knowledge base,” she said. “With Global History, students learn about important empires and movements, and demonstrating that Jewish history is entwined with this global history is impactful.” The students are embracing the new cross-disciplinary offering. “They’re seeing it as something personal,” Mrs. Blum continued. “We’re not just reading a textbook. We’re talking about our heritage and culture.”
For seniors, the year brings an advanced opportunity in STEM: a Principles of Biology course that allows students to earn eight college credits at Stern College for Women of Yeshiva University. Rigorous by design, the course rewards effort with the chance to graduate having completed significant college-level coursework. “It’s a foundational course,” said Science Department Chair and Science Institute Director Mrs. Ruth Fried. “It goes beyond AP Biology content to encompass a full Principles course, incorporating plant life, body organ systems, and, most critically, sophisticated labs.” The new offering reflects the legacy of YUHSG’s Science Institute, a long-running program that has nurtured countless aspiring doctors, engineers, and researchers. “For our students, completing this course gives them a sense of gravitas and backbone as they apply for Early Assurance,” Mrs. Fried continued. “They can tell themselves, ‘I have credits; I can go directly into Organic Chemistry.’ It really streamlines their coursework.” The class also strengthens the school’s relationship with Yeshiva University, making clear the advantage available to YUHSG students. Together, Wildcats are putting the year’s theme – Full Hearts, Full Souls – into action. And the fall semester is just getting underway. Among major upcoming events is the annual YUHSG Community Challah Bake, featuring guest speaker Adriana Fernandez, on Monday, September 29.