Schools

Students in the Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens experienced an incredible two-week chesed program entitled CAMP iCARE. The program combined daily lessons on chesed together with fun and meaningful activities and contests. The school building was transformed into a sleepaway camp, and it really felt like summer, birds chirping and all! The entranceway featured a camp bunkhouse surrounded by sky, trees, flowers, butterflies, and a virtual campfire, roasting marshmallows. Bunkhouse, canteen, and swimming pool banners with meaningful messages and p’sukim were just some of the other decorations throughout the school.

On Tuesday, February 7, the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach held its seventh annual HALB History Day as part of the larger National History Day Competition. The National History Day competition is an event in which more than a half a million students participate each year. The projects examine an event in history and how it relates to a national theme. For the past five months, under the guidance of their social studies teacher, Ms. Kristen Waterman, the eighth grade students researched various events in history related to this year’s theme, Turning Points in History.

The spring semester is officially in full swing at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central). And while Central’s robust extracurricular life often takes center stage, there is always a story unfolding in any YUHSG classroom. In Ms. Chevi Friedman’s freshman English class, that story is, quite literally, a recent unit on storytelling and how humans learn from narrative. Students put the unit into practice by telling stories about themselves, crafting their own identity poems after reading the long-time classroom favorite “Where I’m From” by poet George Ella Lyon.

This past Motza’ei Shabbos, MTA held its annual MTA Family Melaveh Malkah, featuring Eitan Katz! This event is always a special time for families to come together to sing, dance, eat a delicious melaveh malkah, and enjoy time together. The gym was packed with talmidim and families who had an incredible time.

Over 750 guests attended YCQ’s annual dinner. It was a night of achdus, of “k’ish echad b’lev echad,” YCQ at its finest. The 83^rd Anniversary Scholarship Dinner took place on Sunday, February 25, at Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation. Zishy and Esther Rachel Barth were the esteemed Guests of Honor, Efrahem and Vered Basalel were honored as Parents of the Year, and Rabbi Ophie Nat received the Distinguished Educator Award.

The notion that “Olam Chesed Yibaneh – This World is Built on Kindness” resonated deeply with the eighth-grade girls, who didn’t just understand it intellectually but wholeheartedly embraced it in their actions. Their commitment to providing acts of kindness for those in need was nothing short of remarkable. From eagerly opening boxes and efficiently stacking shelves to meticulously setting up produce and cheerfully checking out clients, their dedication knew no bounds.