These last two weeks have been busy with many programs and team competitions, but have certainly been dominated by interviews and Production.

Rabbi Zak and I have had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing many 8th grade applicants from Queens, West Hempstead, Brooklyn, Great Neck, Far Rockaway and throughout the Five Towns. Our current students have made sure to show them around and ease their nervousness. We hope that they and their families have been able to "feel the warmth of SKA."

Our Seniors have been preoccupied with their Israel interviews and it seems that each day is marked by the arrival of yet another school's representative(s) or by an entrance exam. We wish our Seniors much mazal and know they will be matzliach in this process. Before you know it, girls, those acceptance letters will be on their way, G-d willing!

Production fever has certainly hit SKA and we can all feel the excitement and anticipation in the air! Production rehearsals have become more frequent and will be nightly during this last week preceding Production. Focusing on the theme of Mah Rabu Ma'asecha Hashem, this year's three performances will feature Band, Choir, Dance, Drama and Sign Language ensembles highlighting the amazing talents and unique creativity of more than 150 students, both on and off the stage. Special Hakarat Hatov to Production Director Mrs. Terry Wagner who puts so much of herself into each Production and performance. It's hard to believe that this will be our 10th Producton and we wish Mazal Tov to Mrs. Wagner on this achievement and accomplishment. Special thanks to Art Director, Mrs. Suzy Libin, for her artistic direction and creative input and to Mrs. Sima Gefen for her assistance with our dances.

Our Motzai Shabbat performance is already sold out but there are still tickets available for our Sunday matinee and evening performances. If you are interested in reserving tickets, please call Rabbi Zak or our School Office.

I look forward to welcoming more than 800 women and children to this year's shows. I can't wait to see the tapestry of talent displayed by our girls, iy"h.

Rabbi Rothman has just completed our Midterm Schedule, thanks to the assistance and input of Class Representatives from each grade. Once again, this year, we have limited the number of midterms for most students to five. The schedules will be available for distribution early this week.

A special Mazal Tov to our Torah Bowl and Debate Teams who won first place in this week's competitions!

Here's to a wonderful week!!

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations Resolution creating the Jewish State of Palestine became a reality. As part of the Irving and Toni Rosen Israel Studies and Programs, the students participated in a special workshop to commemorate “Chaf Tet b’November.” Mrs. Leah Feinberg, the Program Director, coordinated a beautiful program to help students truly understand the importance of the existence of a Jewish State.

Students broke up into small groups to role play interviews with the many different people who so desperately needed refuge in the late 1940’s. After gaining an understanding of the mindset of the Jews at the time, the students watched a video recording of the actual UN vote. The day’s sessions left students with a real comprehension of just how happy Jews were at the time and offered a new perspective on how important a Jewish homeland is at any time.

On December 6th, the 10th grade girls of SKA were very enthusiastic as they headed in to the auditorium for yet another inspirational program of Tzemach on the topic of “Emet,” truth, led by Mrs. Haber. Some of the 10th graders put on a skit to demonstrate different situations which one may encounter, where a person’s honesty is put to the test. Following the wonderful skits, the girls were split up into three groups to learn with teachers regarding obstacles and actions one may need to take in order to avoid lying and preserve truthfulness. To end off this meaningful program, the girls united to watch a short video about a child who realized he had not been honest, and so, he raised himself from his pressuring peers, and acted as a role model to make sure he would not cheat again. Our 9th graders experienced the identical program the very next day!

The freshmen and sophomore girls learned so much from this program which they hope to use in their everyday lives to enhance the spirituality in the halls of SKA and in the world. Thank you, Mrs. Haber!

Wednesday’s trip to a kosher Soup Kitchen in Manhattan was a very meaningful experience for all who attended. In the week preceding the trip, each volunteer signed up to bring specific foods that would help supply a nutritious and delicious lunch to those who might otherwise have gone hungry. When they arrived at Emunat Israel, the SKA girls got busy in the kitchen preparing hot dogs, warming baked beans and cutting cake. As they served lunch, the students walked around and kept people company, trying to create a generally friendly atmosphere that all would enjoy.

The Chai Lifeline Toy Drive was a success! Signs were hung, announcements were made and the word got out that we were collecting for a very important cause. In response, the bowling alley was soon filled with a wide variety of toys and games. We can already picture the smiles they will create on the faces of the sick children who will receive them. Pick- up is scheduled for Monday, and any last minute donations will be accepted until then.

Preparations for SKA’s bi-annual Blood Drive are in full swing. Caroline Cesaro, a representative from Long Island Blood Services, met with the student volunteers and described all that needs to be done to make the Blood Drive a success. The Chesed Heads have divided these responsibilities and are already preparing the scheduling, sign-ups and volunteer schedule timetable for the December 21st drive. Any parent who would like to donate blood should please call the school to make an appointment.

The SKA Torah Bowl Team participated in the first meet of 2005-2006. A competition that tests knowledge of Pshat and Rashi, success at the competition depends both on a solid understanding of the assigned Parshiyot and good reflexes on the buzzer. We are proud to announce that, not only did SKA win first place, but our girls scored better than each of the other four teams in the division by almost 20 points! Yasher Koach! Special thanks to Torah Bowl Coach, Mrs. Menchel.

SKA’s AP Government classes, under the leadership of their teacher Mrs. Lavner, have joined the Student Government Affairs Program, a nonprofit non-partisan student participation program. The program is an interactive teaching aid that complements classroom instruction of government, civics, and social studies. It involves students in the organization and practices of federal government, informs them about current legislative issues, encourages discussion of these issues, and motivates them to express their thoughts to their elected officials in Washington. The end result is a reduction of apathy in America’s students and the knowledge that responsible citizenship involves active participation. We believe the best way to ensure students will be politically active throughout their lives is to get them involved and to spark their interest now.

Every month, the students receive “Forum,” a newsletter which presents two issues of concern with viewpoints pro and con. The issues discussed this month are, should congressional budget-cutting target social programs like Medicaid and should Congress cut taxes when there is a massive deficit? The students vote and comment on the issues, and the results appear in the next issue of “Forum.” If a student’s comments are noteworthy, she may even see her words in print!

Last week, Rabbi Mechanic of the Aish HaTorah Discovery Program visited SKA. With sharp humor and a commanding presence, Rabbi Mechanic spoke to the 11th grade about the basic principles of Judaism, demonstrating that our religion is not only logical, but also irrefutable. The points he presented renewed our sense of pride as Jews, and granted every girl an opportunity for introspection and the examination of the beliefs that drive her Judaism. The extent to which the Juniors were impressed and intrigued by Rabbi Mechanic’s words were clear during the forty minute question and answer session that ensued after the lecture ended. The girls are eager for Discovery Part II which our Seniors were privileged to attend that same day.

After a review of last year’s program, the Seniors were excited to hear Rabbi Mechanic’s session on Torah SheBe’al Peh, the Oral Law. As always, Rabbi Mechanic was entertaining and inspiring, and he helped our students concretize for themselves some of the fundamentals of Judaism.

The PSAT results are in!

The scores and test booklets were distributed to the students on Wednesday, December 7th. The tenth and eleventh grade classes met with Dr. Meier, Mrs. Elsant and Mrs. Pomerantz to understand further the scores they received.

The PSAT exam serves as preparation for the SAT which Juniors will take later this year. For Sophomores, the exam serves to highlight strengths and weakness of the students. They then have the opportunity to address weaknesses and build on strengths before the SAT exam a year later.

Many Juniors have already started to prepare for the actual SATs and will soon begin scheduling their first college meetings with Mrs. Elsant.

Here we go!!

Please remember: February 6, 2006:

Sophomore Parent Curriculum Orientation
Junior Parent College Orientation

Every other day, you can find Seniors in the halls of SKA nervously, but eagerly awaiting their turns to meet the representative of that special Israel school. Michlalah, Midreshet Moriah, Machon Gold, Midreshet Tehillah, Tiferet and Baer Miriam/Maayanot have already met with the girls and many more schools will be conducting interviews in the days ahead.

Interested students have also already taken the Michlalah and MMY exams. Thankfully, everyone is still smiling.

We know the girls are going to do wonderfully through the whole tense and exciting process, and we wish them all much hatzlacha!!

SKA is pleased to announce that it is entering its fifth year as a recipient of an AVI CHAI Bookshelf Grant. The AVI CHAI Foundation, a New York-based private foundation dedicated to supporting and encouraging the growing Jewish day school movement, developed AVI CHAI Bookshelf in an effort to enhance libraries at Jewish high schools in the United States and Canada.

The program provides participating schools with the opportunity to purchase print and non-print materials for their library collection. “We are delighted to have been selected for the AVI CHAI Bookshelf Grant. Through this grant, our library will be better equipped to serve both our teachers and students effectively, helping to enrich the classroom curriculum and develop the research skills our students will need for seminary and college,” said Mrs. Barbara Martin, SKA Librarian. According to the guidelines of the grant, at least half of the money must be used toward Judaic materials. SKA is one of 110 high schools participating in the 2005-2006 program.

Save the Date!

Motzai Shabbat, December 24th:
• Melave Malke for the 9th Grade with Mrs. Gross and Mrs. Leibtag!
• Melave Malke for the 10th Grade with Mrs. Haber and Mrs. Rudolph

REMINDER:
• Report Card Distribution: Monday, December 12th
• Parent Teacher Conferences: Wednesday evening, December 21st