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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.

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.

“It was an amazing event, it really was.” These are the words of Dr. David Kanani, the Director of US ORT Operations and President of Bramson ORT, after a recent Jewish Day High School STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) competition, the culmination of a year’s worth of dedication and hard work from ninth and tenth grade STEM students at the Queens-based Ezra Academy and Yeshiva Tiferet Tzion (YTT).

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 JHS classes came to an end and we head into the final week of the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) Digital Learning Environment, the students and staff begin to prepare for graduation and ending what was a “unique” and “interesting” school year. As parents begin their frantic search to make summer plans in a world very different from what we are used to, teachers and moros at YCQ have been spending the time personally delivering packages to their students, bringing smiles and a sense of normalcy to the end of the year. Virtual classes and activities have continued with a Healthy and Wise scavenger hunt; Class 2-207 learning shapes through building, using spaghetti and marshmallows; a banana bread baking competition in 2-205 and 2-206; and some first graders even received a special letter from their teachers in the mail.