Schools

YCQ’s Grade 7 Boys had a marvelous Bar Mitzvah Workshop Monday night, November 8. Rabbi Hamel, Assistant Principal of the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) Junior High School (JHS) reports, “When a child becomes a bar mitzvah, we make him a ceremony. This ceremony, even if made on a small scale, demonstrates to the child the significance of his new status in the Jewish nation. He is now privileged to be fully obligated in mitzvos and is entitled to reap the benefits of the Torah.”

Bnos Malka kicked off the first of many Chanukah plays and celebrations this year with its preschool Chanukah workshop. Parents were treated to an adorable production of songs and, then, working with their children, decorated Chanukah-themed picture frames. It was hard to tell who was enjoying more, the children or their parents.

The Volleyball and Basketball seasons began last week, kicked off with the “Central White-Out Day,” when students were encouraged to wear white in support of the Central Wildcats. There were wins for all of our teams: JV and Varsity Volleyball teams won their very first games of the season against North Shore, Varsity Basketball defeated North Shore, and JV Basketball was victorious over Flatbush on Wednesday!

The Central Open House on Sunday, November 7, was a smashing success! The crowd streamed into the building to the greetings of excited student ambassadors and faculty. The day began with breakfast and a chance to mingle with other prospective families, as well as teachers and administration. The main program began with a beautiful d’var Torah from our Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Joshua Goller, who then introduced his chavrusa, senior Aliza Beer of White Plains, New York.

On Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11, the faculty engaged in a day of learning, highlighted by an exploration of how space affects education. Each faculty member was tasked with the goal of identifying a space on campus that may impact students and the learning environment. One of the objects was to take a picture of that space and to create an initiative as to how to take the visual message of that space and incorporate it into formal and informal lessons.

Other initiatives included how to incorporate interdisciplinary studies into our teaching both in micro-moments as well as in full class or units.

The faculty enjoyed a day of inspiration and collaboration. A delicious luncheon by Sauly’s was enjoyed by the HANC Faculty.

It wouldn’t be sufficient to say that SKA’s SKAbbaton 2021 was a blast. During the Shabbos of November 5-6, SKA’s Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors were taken on the most spectacular Shabbaton they could imagine. (The Freshmen had their own retreat.)