Mishenichnas Adar marbin b'simcha! It's wonderful to be back and see everyone refreshed, invigorated and relaxed, raring to go. May the simcha and excitement of Adar Aleph overflow and set the tone for this second half of the school year.

We are proud of our students' performance on their midterm exams and have just mailed home a progress report with all of their grades. Feel free to call if you have any questions.

A new Tzemach program for the Freshmen and Sophomores, Freshman Getaway to Boston, Rosh Chodesh Scavenger Hunts, Electives Meetings for the Sophomores and Juniors, a Mazel Tov Party for the Seniors, the upcoming Lobbying Trip for the Sophomores and Jewish Experience Trip for the Juniors; things are happening every day and the excitement continues to grow!

Mazel Tov to our seniors who have just completed their Israel Admissions and Decision Process. We are so proud of your success and your commitment to study in Eretz Yisrael.

It was a zchut to spend some time with the HALB trip in Israel and to see our son Eli put Tefilin on at the Kotel. Our trip was enhanced knowing that 8 duffel bags prepared by the SKA student body were delivered to Bet Elazraki Children's Home, Kever Rochel, Israeli solidiers and victims of terror. I personally saw how much the children in Netanya appreciated the individual gifts our juniors prepared and the hakarat hatov they felt when reading their personal letters.

On behalf of my entire family, I would like to thank the SKA-HALB community for their support and mazel tov wishes on the occasion of my son Eliyahu's Bar Mitzva this Shabbos. May we always be able to share in each other's smachot!

Shabbat Shalom!

On Rosh Chodesh Adar I, the ninth graders boarded two buses in the early morning as they went on the annual Freshman Getaway. Our first stop was Newport, Rhode Island, where we davened mincha and heard the history of the age-old Touro Synagogue. We then traveled onward to lavish mansions where actors portrayed the lives of the rich and famous of yesteryear. In the early evening, we arrived in Brookline, Massachusetts and dined on scrumptious Chinese food. Following dinner, we all had a blast dancing the night away as we traveled down the Charles River by boat. As a perfect end to the first fun-filled day, we went swimming at the luxurious Radisson Hotel.

On day two, we awoke with a fresh start, davened, and ate breakfast. We visited the Salem Witch Museum and learned about the false accusations placed on innocent townspeople in 1692. After browsing through the museum's gift shop, we went to the Good Times Emporium, an indoor arcade filled with games and rides. We then divided into two groups - while some of us visited Fenway Park, baseball's oldest stadium and home of the world champion Red Sox, others chose to go on the Odyssey Tour of Historic Boston. On the tour, actors boarded our bus and told us all about historic places in Boston. Both groups met up again at Quincy Market for some shopping, and then it was on to SKA!

Overall, the trip served as a great opportunity for our grade to be together b'achdut, and it was truly a memorable experience.

SKA Seniors took to the halls in a flurry of activity as the first Rosh Chodesh Adar Aleph SKAvenger hunt was announced. The girls raced around the building with great enthusiasm as they searched for clues hidden in the Purim story. Rabbi Zak's chair became a throne and the teachers' coat rack the royal cloakroom as the girls found new meaning in the clues. The tension of Israel seminary decision making dissolved into gales of laughter as the girls released their pent-up energy running through the halls in their attempt to be the first to finish. The lucky winners will be treated to a trip out to lunch with grade level advisors Mrs. Feinberg and Mrs. Yudin. After the hunt drew to a successful conclusion, all the seniors were treated to a Seudah in honor of Rosh Chodesh. Inspiring divrei Torah were shared by Naava Stern and Elisheva Ehrlich, with special thanks to Orit Wadler. Thanks to Arielle Kaish and Rebecca Koppel for the festive decorations. The fun continued Thursday night with a mishmar at the home of Mrs. Yudin, where the girls were treated to a special screening of the video, "From Outside the Camp." Stay tuned as the simcha of the month of Adar continues to spread among the seniors!

Meanwhile, the Rosh Chodesh girls were back in action. Representatives from all the grades went around to the classes dressed in "leap year" gear. They modeled as pregnant women, "meubarot," representing the theme of this year's being a shana "meuberet." The girls shared divrei Torah and facts about the month of Adar and everyone was treated to an "Uh Oh Oreo" cookie, in line with the month's theme of "V'nahafoch Hu."

Special thanks to our Rosh Chodesh girls: Nava Dworetsky, Orly English, Megan Leifer, Jaclyn Ramras, Yael Haar, and Tali Davis!

On Motzei Shabbos, January 22, SKA alumnae spending the year in Israel gathered at Michlalah to greet Mrs. Spirn and many of the SKA Faculty. The girls were excited to be together again and to catch up with one another as well as with their teachers. A glance around the room revealed many tete-a-tetes in all corners as the girls brought their former teachers up to date on their experiences and took advantage of the opportunity to get that special SKA brand of attention and advice from their mentors. Highlights of the evening included words of inspiration from Mrs. Spirn and a special video presentation containing special messages to the girls from faculty members who weren't vacationing in Israel. Special thanks to Rabbi Zak for coordinating the video. Of course, no SKA event would be complete without food, and thanks go to SKA alumna Ilana Rubinstein and Sara Lefkovits for making all the arrangements. We look forward to the continued success of our alumnae as the year progresses and to greeting them back at SKA when they return!

We thought we had seen all the movies, heard all the stories, and had all the lectures about Lashon Hara. That was until last week, when the 9th and 10th grades were blown away by the amazing performance of the girls of Bais Yaakov D'Rav Meir. The video, called "From outside the Camp," was especially moving for the sophomores who just learned the topic of Miriam's Lashon Hara in Chumash class.

The movie told the story of Adina, a teenager whose life was eventually destroyed by words. The catch was that it was Adina's best friend, Mimi, who inadvertently caused her friend harm and didn't even know it! It wasn't until much later in their lives that Mimi and Adina learned the horrifying truth. Although Mimi tried her hardest to fix her mistake, Adina's life was just never the same.

While the movie itself was very powerful, it was only afterward that we were truly stunned - we found out that it was based on a true story. We could no longer walk away from this experience saying, "Wow, that was a great play but it could never actually happen." It became so clear to us how far a little bit of gossip could go.

This video is definitely a must-see for everyone. we guarantee it will change the way you speak.

The Israel School acceptance process is finally over for the senior class of 2005! The application, interviews, and angst are behind us, the acceptances have been received and the seniors have finally made their choices.

They interviewed beautifully, did wonderfully on the various tests and in the end came across as a class of warm, spiritual young women interested in growing intelectually and personally.

Wow! More than 97% of the seniors will be going to Israel and more than 93% will be attending their first choice schools. That's a new SKA record!

We are so proud of all the girls and wish them hatzlacha in their post high school year whether it is spent in Israel or in the USA. Thank you to the Senior Grade Level Advisors, Mrs. Feinberg and Mrs. Yudin and to Mrs. Ellie Kaminetsky, Director of Religious Guidance, for the many, many hours they spent with the girls, listening to their concerns and helping them deeply understand which Israel school would be the best fit.

The 50th Annual Dinner will take place, IY"H, on Motzei Shabbat, March 12th at the Sands at Atlantic Beach at 8:45pm, where we will pay tribute to "50 Years of Our History." HALB will honor its past presidents who have worked tirelessly to make HALB what it is today. Rabbi Dr. Armin H. Friedman will be the recipient of a Distingushed Educator Award and HALB will also present a special Community Service Award to Mr. John Adam Kanas, President, Chairman, and CEO of North Fork Bank. To place an ad in our souvenir journal or to make dinner reservations, please call 516-791-8200 x107, fax 516-791-6261, e-mail dinner@halb.org, or visit our website www.halb.org.