At the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central), the first weeks of September bring new opportunities and excitement – and for the class of 2028, that excitement is happening on the water and in the air! This year’s Freshman Fun Day took Central’s newest Wildcats to Manhattan, where they spent the day kayaking on the Hudson River and experiencing the Beast, a speedboat that takes passengers on a scenic thrill ride around New York City. It was a day of fun to kick off the new semester and life at a new school. Freshman Meira Husarsky spoke to the chances for bonding provided by trips like this one: “It was a great opportunity to get to know and spend time with the kids in my grade,” she said.
Another exciting rite of passage for the month of September: Central’s annual Club Fair! The day gave freshmen, as well as returning students, a chance to get involved in Wildcat life outside the classroom. Competitive clubs such as College Bowl and Torah Bowl took the period to scout for new members while performing arts opportunities, like upcoming auditions for this year’s production of Frozen, offered students the chance to discover new talents.
Among the performing arts teams at the fair was Central’s award-winning Envision Shakespeare troupe, which placed third overall at last year’s city-wide festival with their interpretation of a scene from The Merchant of Venice. This year’s troupe director, senior Neima Bronstein, emphasized the importance of the organization. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be directing for Central’s Envision Shakespeare team,” she said. “The environment is a perfect blend of warm and intellectually stimulating – it allows you to grow as a performer and as a reader, as well as develop deep camaraderie and friendship with other club members.”
Neima also pointed out the significance of welcoming new Central students into the troupe. “I’m beyond excited to welcome new members this year,” she continued. “In fact, there’s been so much interest and enthusiasm that we had to plan brand-new programming to meet the demand, starting in October with three drama workshops for members and nonmembers alike.”
In addition to academic clubs and teams, over ten chesed clubs were on offer for Wildcats aiming to serve their communities. A wide range of “fun clubs,” run completely by students, were also on the roster – students could sign up for NCSY 4G, Cooking Club, and more.
And when a student interest does not have a club to call home, Central students do the work to form the club on their own. One of this year’s newest additions to the club roster was the Track Club. The club’s faculty advisor: Central’s Physical Education instructor, Ms. Naida Gonzalez, whose nickname among her students is the apt “Ms. Go.” “The students took the initiative and formed their own club,” she said. “It’s so exciting – we have a lot of great athletes who are interested.”
Get ready, everyone: The Central Wildcats are gearing up for a great year!
