Schools

This has been an exciting final week of what has been the most fascinating, innovative, exhilarating, and often challenging school year for the Yeshiva of Central Queens in their “Virtual Learning Environment.” Students joined with their teachers for Zoom “baking parties” and virtual trips to Disneyland. Second graders participated in a virtual talent show, and third graders went on a “Happiness Scavenger Hunt.” Many teachers visited the students at home, dropping off gifts, and some classes came for a “socially distant” or “drive-thru” milk-and-cookies party in the yard to say their goodbyes to teachers and classmates.

One of the highlights of Shevach High School is the weekly address on Friday morning from local rabbanim to the Shevach student body. On Erev Shabbos, the 28^th of Iyar, the Shevach students were privileged to be addressed by Rabbi Yonoson Hirtz, noted rav, m’chaneich, and historian on the topic of Yom Yerushalayim. Rabbi Hirtz began by quoting Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, who explains that the Mishkan was the unifying factor for B’nei Yisrael in the Midbar, which is why only after the Mishkan was dedicated, was there a mitzvah to create the flags for each Sheivet, as the flags symbolized individuality and uniqueness. Without the Mishkan as the center of the nation to solidify everyone, their distinctiveness would ultimately be a detriment to the unity of am Yisrael. Rabbi Hirtz pointed out that just as the Mishkan was the unifying factor in the Midbar, so, too, Yerushalayim was not divided amongst the Sh’vatim and was the place that unified klal Yisrael.

MTA welcomed the Class of 2024 with surprise visits to each talmid and an exciting grade-wide orientation. “We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2024 to the MTA family,” said Freshman Grade Dean Rabbi Eli Cohn. “Visiting each boy personally was a really special opportunity. It was great to spend time with every boy individually, and we truly enjoyed getting to know them better. Our Freshman experience is not only tailored to the needs of the grade as a whole, but also to the needs of each talmid. This was the perfect way for our incoming talmidim to meet our Freshman team, one on one, and start building what will become lifelong relationships.”

MTA finished the 2019-2020 school year strong, with a jam-packed week of exciting MTA@Home events and activities, many of which were coordinated by student leaders. The Arista National Honor Society hosted another successful Study Night, where teachers volunteered their time to help talmidim prepare for final exams, and Arista members offered free peer-to-peer review, where talmidim were able to get extra one-on-one help with any subject.

As everyone adjusted to the new normal of remote learning this spring, it became clear that the absence of physical classrooms or typical schedules would not stop the dedication and creativity of Shevach teachers or students. Under the guidance of Shevach Principal Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz, and Associate Principal for General Studies Mrs. Nechama Mirsky, the staff reworked extracurricular events to meet the changing realities. Classes were dynamic, collaborative experiences, and in place of several traditional assessments, teachers designed fabulous projects that enabled students to learn through heartfelt writing, high-tech science, and solid teamwork.

HALB Middle School’s culminating event of Names, Not Numbers©, a Holocaust education program developed by Tova Fish-Rosenberg and coordinated at HALB by Mrs. Rina Korman and overseen by Mrs. Marjorie Wein, took place virtually on Wednesday evening, June 10. Names, Not Numbers© is a copyrighted oral history film project and curriculum in which students learn about the Holocaust. It is project-based learning at its finest, with the goal of producing a movie based on the research of the students.