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Strategic grouping facilitates teamwork and success. Students can brainstorm, collaborate, and communicate to achieve a common goal. Once new academic skills are taught, the best way to ensure that they are embedded, and students are comfortable and confident using them is through differentiated stations. This creates an environment that builds stamina and endurance, stepping away from the frontal piece and putting the spotlight on the mini-scholar.

This past Monday, the Hishtadel L’hiyos Ish Middos Program began at BYQ with an introductory assembly for grades 1-8. The very talented Moros presented an exceptional musical play entitled Miri Pops In. There was not a sound in the room as the lessons of midos tovos came to life in a clear, entertaining, and humorous way. The four midos presented that we will be focusing on this year are Lashon Tov – Positive Speech, Vatranus – Giving In, Dan L’kaf Zechus – Judging Favorably, and Kavod Habriyos – Respecting Others.

Last week, the parent body from HALB, Lev Chana, SKA, and DRS, joined together to create a HALB Shuk, chaired by Hanna Berry, Stephanie Sokol, and Katie Weisz. Birch Events donated their time and resources to transform the backyard into a beautiful shuk filled with items for sale from 47 local vendors who all donated their items for free.  Every dollar spent at the shuk went to Eretz Hemda, an organization that provides the IDF with Tashmishei Kedushah such as tzitzit. kippot, sidurim, and more.  Additionally, a table was set up for children to draw pictures for chayalim and for Tehillim.  The outpouring of support by local vendors, store owners, and community members was beautiful and brought a lot of strength and hope for Israel and the Jewish people. The HALB Shuk raised $35,000 for Eretz Hemda!

The Chesed Cheshvan program at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe is off to a very strong start! Our talmidim have clearly internalized the message of bein adam l’chaveiro, and the intentionality and focus to pursue kindness is really shining through.

On October 27, commemorating the yahrzeit of Rachel Imeinu, high school girls gathered with their morot for an inspirational learning program on the topic of “Connecting to Tefillah Through the Morning Brachot.” The program opened with a wonderful and impactful multimedia presentation followed by Morah Batsheva Fink’s explanation of the meaningful midrash about Rachel’s selflessness and devotion to Klal Yisrael. The Girls’ Chorus, led by seniors Rachel Levian and Rebecca Lalo, performed a beautiful version of “Kol Berama” and “Mama Rachel.”

Teachers at Bnos Malka Academy came together for a timely professional development day this past Sunday. Mrs. Rachel Figurasmith led the session and described how to recognize and deal with the stress and trauma, not only for students but for the teacher themselves. In light of the terrible matzav in Eretz Yisrael, teachers were eager to learn effective ways to support their students. Mrs. Figurasmith pointed out that before they are able to help others, teachers first needed to identify their own stresses and triggers. The workshop identified different techniques to help them cope with the stressors. Teachers then discussed the stressors they have been hearing from students, and then they brainstormed useful strategies.