We have had an incredible two weeks that have captured the multi-faceted strengths of our students!

It began with Parent Teacher Conferences last Monday night and the delight our parents experienced both before and during the evening. It wasn't just the overwhelmingly positive reports they heard about their daughters. It was the ease they experienced in scheduling the evening through our new software program, the convenience in meeting with who they wanted and when, and the absence of long, frustrating lines. Parent feedback included remarks like "What a fantastic program!" "It was quick, easy, and complete." "Thank you for the tremendous convenience"

Our Torah Bowl Team took our breath away, once again, in their "clean sweep" performance at their second competition. This year's Blood Drive reflected the efforts of many and provided opportunities to perform an important mitzvah. Our countless Kulanu shadows operated on a rotating schedule, allowing many Kulanu children to enjoy classes in our Lev Chana Pre-School Program. Way to go, girls!

It was Production, however, that captured our souls and our senses. The talents showcased in this year's Production, Yisrael Betach Ba'Hashem, amazed us all! Our three sell out performances represented approximately 900 guests, yet ticket requests kept coming. The unique tapestry featured our melodious choir, a musical skit, five student-choreographed dances, a comedy skit, a sign language presentation, beautiful backdrops, a backstage and lighting crew, usherettes and a Baybill magazine. These efforts represented more than half of our student body! The audiences of moms, bubbies, aunts, sisters, students, 8th grade applicants, and friends were thrilled to join us and share in the amazing talent Hashem has bestowed on our girls! We were proud of their performances, their endless rehearsals and the "Bitachon" reflected on their faces! Special Hakarat Hatov to Mrs. Wagner, Mrs. Libin, Mrs. Bowe, and the many student heads who imprinted on this year's Production.

Rabbi Zak and I are excited that we have completed our interview process for the 2005-2006 freshman class. This year's applicants include a cross sampling of impressive and fine young women from Bais Yaakov of Queens, Bnos Bais Yaacov, HAFTR, HALB, HANC, North Shore Hebrew Academy, Ohr Haaim, Shulamis, TAG, Yeshiva of Flatbush and Yeshiva Har Torah. On Tuesday night, January 4th, we will be conducting a parlor meeting for parents of our West Hempstead applicants, at the home of Shulamis and Abraham Bell (and 10th grader Rivky!) We look forward to schmoozing and sharing the excitement of SKA with more West Hempstead families!

We will be hosting a special screening of Paper Clips and a private Question and Answer period with the producer at SKA this Monday afternoon! We can't wait!

Midterms are around the corner and we have reduced the actual number of exams and days in all grades! For more information and a detailed schedule of exams and dismissals, please click onto our Midterm Link. We wish our students much mazel as they conclude this first half of the year and prepare for their exams.

The tragedy of the tsunami and the enormous loss of life have been sobering. We continue to encourage Tefila and acts of chesed and tzedaka as we search for religious meaning.

May you have a meaningful, restful and reflective Shabbos!

Since the first day of school, Production fever has taken over the school. The hallways of SKA, both during and after school hours, have been full of excitement. Girls stayed until all hours of the night practicing, dancing, singing, signing, and acting. We can all now testify that all their hard work really paid off.

Production 2004 was a smashing success with three sold out performances ( 1st time in SKA history!) This year's theme was, "Yisrael B'tach BaHashem." The night began with the theme song, Chazak. The choir sang beautifully and everyone enjoyed the opening. The show continued with the first of five beautifully choreographed dances followed by a fantastic musical drama. The drama depicted the Bitachon of Nachshon ben Aminadav at Krait Yam Suf. The Sign Language department displayed their talent by signing to the song, "Teardrop." The second half of the show was highlighted with the comedy drama. The skit was a compilation of flashback and reflections of different experiences that give us Emunah. The audience enjoyed immensely, as reflected by the loud laughs and applause. Thank you to Mrs. Wagner for all her dedication and "Emunah" in us. Production 2004 is one that no one will forget. Thank you to all cast and crew on a job well done!!

CD's and Videos of Production 2004 will be on sale next week!

CD - $10 Video - $20

SKA Blood Drive 2004 was a huge success! Much time was spent in preparation for this event - getting donors, scheduling time slots, and collecting food from local stores such as Gotta Getta Bagel, Supersol and Brachs. Following weeks of preparation, the big day had finally arrived. On Thursday, the equipment was wheeled in to the SKA gym and the nurses and volunteers filled the room.

Thanks to the hard work of Esther Phillips, Shani Noy, Evie Smulevitz, Alyse Stein and Merissa Goldstein, SKA students and parents donated over 30 pints of blood to Long Island Blood Services. We are very proud of all our girls who donated, some of whom were pretty nervous and for many of whom this was their first time. But, recognizing the severity of the need particularly at this time of year, they certainly stepped up and showed a real sense of communal responsibility.

Where is everyone going?!? People wanted to know as they watched SKA students, all week, running through the parking lot to and from the pre-school. To volunteer as Kulanu shadows was the excited answer they received.

Each year during the vacation week of the schools in which these special needs children are enrolled, Kulanu provides a service to them, and their parents, by placing them in HALB's pre-school. But, the program would not be able to run without the SKA girls there to serve as shadows that enable the children to acclimate into their new environment. A big thank you to Arielle Kaish who coordinated the over 75 girls who volunteered and to everyone who helped out!

There is no question that the interest in the new poignant documentary Paper Clips is sparked by that fact that the residents of Whitwell, Tennessee had never met a single Jew prior to this event. The story focuses on a middle school project which is undertaken to understand tolerance by studying the Holocaust. While it is discouraging to realize that there are many communities in our great country that still know nothing about the Shoah, it is at the same time heartening to see that these people are interested in learning what happened during those dark days and are ready to teach their children about Europe during the 1940's. There is tremendous power to the fact that the idea of one person, the principal of the school, is adopted by several school personnel and in turn is embraced by different groups of students. Over five years, successive classes sustain the challenges and rewards of the project. When they reach an impasse, rather than abandoning the assignment, they search for ways to enlarge their circle of impact. In some ways, the project seems to have a life of its own, almost becoming a "mission," no one ever anticipated at the outset of the project what the final result would be. That one small plan, collecting paper clips to comprehend the number "six million", ultimately results in a memorial is tremendous. It is stirring to see the responses that these children receive from around the world. Paper clips sent from all over with notes attached.

it is obvious that this project touched the hearts and minds of millions of people who were themselves looking for a way to voice their connectedness to the Holocaust or their disdain for bigotry and murder.

The film presents beautiful pictures of rural America. There is sharpness to the presentation which is appealing. While at times the film seems slow, especially at the outset, the tempo increases as the project takes on speed. The viewer is constantly surprised that there is always the "next step" to the project and as the project builds, so does the viewer's anticipation of what will happen. Of course, one of most heartrending parts is the testimony of survivors, guests of Whitwell, Tennessee, who display emotions that can never be erased from their memories. And ultimately, the fact that this small town becomes the focal point of Holocaust education for the surrounding area, leaves one breathless at the possibilities of the human endeavor and the human spirit. If you have already seen this film, I am sure that it has left you with ideas to ponder. And if you have not yet seen it, make sure that you do!

On Monday, December 20, the Torah Bowl team went to HANC to compete. After a quick lunch and some last minute studying, the SKA team played HAFTR, HANC, North Shore, and then HAFTR again. The SKA team was well prepared and won all four matches. We wish them good luck on their next match. Thank you, Mrs. Menchel!

The horrific effects of the tsunamis in South Asia were on everyone's mind this week. It was a topic of discussion in many science and social studies classes. Our limudei kodesh staff has begun speaking about the religious perspective to such a disaster and the need for us to respond to the tragedies, with teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah. We are so proud of our students who have quickly formed the SKA Tsunami Relief Fund. They have kicked off an intense tzedakah campaign , over the course of the next week, and our hearts and tefilot are with all of the victims. Contributions will be given to the Joint Distribution Committee and Chabad of Thailand.