It’s not hard to tell that the month of Adar has arrived – just walk around the hallways at SKA! Rosh Chodesh Adar Alef was welcomed in true SKA style on Tuesday, February 1, when the Power 36 period, dedicated to extracurricular activities, was filled with vibrant Jewish music, dynamic dancing, and delicious cupcakes and hamantaschen. Purim was definitely in the air!

On Friday, January 7, MTA’s Model UN team met with Ms. Sneha Dubey, First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, for a virtual session. This is part of the team’s preparation to represent India at the Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN), to be held later this year. Ms. Dubey briefed the team on India’s proud history as one of the founding countries of the UN and on its continued leadership in much of the UN’s important work.

Presenting Jewish students with their first siddurim is a momentous occasion, filled with anticipation, celebration, and ceremony. At the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ), siddurim are presented as gifts to Grade 1 students with much fanfare. On January 9 and 16, Grade 1 classes performed songs and skits for their families, rebbeim, and moros. Rabbi Mark Landsman, YCQ Principal, led each class in davening from their own personalized siddurim. Rabbi Landsman and Rabbi Michael Ribalt (Elementary School Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies) took pictures with each student to mark the special occasion.