The next step in Jewish education has begun for the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) Grade 8 students. YCQ Grade 8 parents attended YCQ Junior High School (JHS) High School Night on Wednesday, October 27, to learn about the process of applying to Jewish high schools in the area. After opening remarks from Rabbi Landsman, YCQ Principal, parents attended in-classroom sessions with several high schools. The evening was directed by Mrs. Alyssa Schussheim, YCQ High School Admissions Coordinator.

Last Monday evening, Ezra Academy unveiled a new parent engagement program. The goal of the program is to invite the parent body multiple times throughout the year to come to enjoy the same exciting blend of Torah classes and extra-curricular activities that their children receive on a daily basis. The program debuted as a mother-daughter event in commemoration with Rachel Imeinu’s yahrzeit (yashvo).

As a religious Zionist school, the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls has always made the State of Israel a primary focus. SKA’s student initiative, the Israel Awareness Committee, has been very active in the school over the years, organizing workshops to teach students how to stand up for Israel on college campuses, showcasing speakers from the IDF and those who are victims of terrorists, and conducting fundraisers for Israelis’ needs. Annual AIPAC visits, lobbying trips to Washington, and letter-writing campaigns to advocate for Israel are some of the missions of SKA’s IAC.

Central celebrated “Positively Pink Week” last week for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The week was kicked off on Monday by Junior Gabi Lefkowitz of West Hempstead and Senior Talia Hazan of Flushing, where they spoke about Sharsheret and showed a video of how the organization supports women with breast cancer and their families.

The students of IVDU LI enjoyed baking challah in honor of Parshas Chayei Sarah. Mrs. Tehilla Freud spearheaded the initiative, teaching our students not only about challah, but about healthful eating, as well. She took the time to show the students how we could incorporate healthful ingredients in the foods that we enjoy eating. Mrs. Freud explained how whole wheat and honey are healthier options over white flour and sugar.

This week, Rabbi Alon’s second grade class at Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion learned about self-regulation. Self-regulation is the ability to identify, respond, and effectively manage emotional experiences. It’s important to teach children that “bad” emotions don’t exist. Instead, we want to give them the ability to judge whether their emotional response is appropriate to the given situation.