A special "in house" screening of Paper Clips, Rosh Chodesh Shevat presentations, 11th grade Chesed trip, publication of The Looking Glass, West Hempstead Parlor Meeting, In-Service Faculty Workshop Day, Dr. Meier in Israel visiting our graduates and their yeshivot, Tsunami Relief Fund efforts, and Debating Team trophies. Just a normal prelude to the end of the first half of our school year!

Yes, we are in the midst of Midterms and it is impressive to see our students so focused and motivated to succeed. Thanks to our G.O., whose "Midterm Survival Kits" added just the right touch as we approached Study Day and the daunting week of Midterms. Reducing the number of midterms seemed to be appreciated by all!

Last Shabbos, we were reading the Jewish Week and lo and behold, three of our sophomores had thoughtful and well written entries published in the Fresh Ink section. Kol Hakavod to Atara Aeder, Smadar Sapir, and Daniella Lent! We have included links to their articles and you too can read their pieces focusing on Bikur Cholim, High School Relationships, and the Debate regarding Young Children being brought to Shul.

In just a few days, we will all begin our much awaited Intersession Vacation. I look forward to bringing my family to Eretz Yisrael in honor of my son Eli and his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. On Motzai Shabbat, I will be hosting an Alumnae Reunion for our many graduates studying in Yerushalayim and the Gush. I am excited that a host of teachers including Mrs. Feinberg, Mrs. Hirtz, Mrs. Menchel, Mrs. Rotenstein, and Mrs. Yudin will be joining us at what I am sure will be a unique Melave Malka. Special thanks to Dani Hirsch and Jordana Wertheimer for preparing an entertaining Video for the event!

Our family will also be traveling to Emunah's Bet Elazraki Children's Home in Netanya. We will be hosting a Seudat Bar Mitzva for five boys and, thanks to our 11th grade, we will be distributing gifts and letters to an additional 128 children. Our juniors were creative, sensitive, and goal oriented when we took them on their quick shopping spree and the SKA gifts they prepared reflect their individuality and deep sense of chesed. Special Hakarat Hatov to 11th graders Judy Grossman and Yael Herring for all of their devotion and hard work in organizing the project and actually packing four duffel bags of gifts. Toda Rabba to Morah Antman and Morah Rotenstein for coordinating the letter writing campaign with their Lashon classes. Our students wrote personal letters to each and every child, in Ivrit, of course! We will take loads of pictures at the Seuda and share them with you all upon our return!

Hatzlacha Rabba to all of you on the successful completion of your exams. We know you can do it!

We wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a restful, invigorating, and relaxing vacation. Wherever you are, I know you will live up to your potential and feel proud of what you can accomplish, even when you are not in the halls of SKA.

Have a great vacation!

On Tuesday, January 11th, Rosh Chodesh Shevat, the Rosh Chodesh Committee decided to do something special in honor of Tu B'Shevat. The members of the committee went around to their respective grades with a barrel full of anything a person needs for gardening, such as a watering can, gloves, a small shovel and small plants. Then the representatives explained to the class the symbolism of soil, water, air, and sunlight and the relationship that they have with us as Jews. Each class had the opportunity to adopt their plant, name it, and take care of it. Hopefully, this Tu B'Shevat will have more meaning for all of us!

On Monday, January 10th, the Juniors went on a chesed trip to buy presents for the children in Bet Elazraki in Israel. Half of the grade headed to Amazing Savings while the other half went to National Wholesale Liquidators, where the juniors bought age appropriate gifts for all of the children residing in the home. Mrs. Spirn will be taking duffel bags packed by our juniors, filled with gifts and personalized letters in Ivrit, on her trip to Israel next week. We hope that the children enjoy all of our matanot and warm wishes.

On Wednesday, January 12th, while students were home studying for midterms, SKA teachers were in school for a refreshing professional development day. The day consisted of three independent workshops followed by a fourth optional session.

The morning session featured Dr. David Rube, a noted psychiatrist and professor, who led an interactive workshop on "The Parent Teacher Conference." His analysis of the different situations that arise in such conferences and his suggested interventions were both thought provoking and refreshing. Thanks to those teachers who graciously volunteered to take part in the role-playing.

In the second session, the faculty was introduced to ANGEL, a web-based management system designed for the classroom. Presented by Mr. Shmulie Spero, consultant for the Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools, the teachers were in awe of how this technology could help augment and enrich their classroom environment. The presentation was such a success that eight teachers attended the voluntary afternoon session and enrolled in the program. Rabbi Rothman's 10th grade Hilchot Shabbat class has been using ANGEL from the beginning of the year and we are hopeful that approximately six more classes in the various grades will be implementing ANGEL after winter intersession.

Following a lunch meeting, some teachers experienced an interactive workshop in Cooperative Learning, presented by Mrs. Molly Pollack. We were honored to host Rabbi Mordechai Willig, Shlita, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel of RIETS, as our keynote speaker. Rabbi Willig's inspiring shiur featured his hashkafic views on education and was a perfect ending to a meaningful day!

"How will I ever be able to study for all my midterm exams?" That is a question that our ninth graders have been bemoaning. The freshman English teacher, Mrs. Shenker, has come to the rescue with a two part program. First, she distributed and reviewed a pamphlet she developed about test-taking strategies, including hints for answering objective and essay questions, cue words in directions, and listening signals. The second part of the program involved time management techniques. Mrs. Shenker first worked on a model with the class. Then each girl prepared her own individual study plan in which she estimated the number of hours she needed to prepare adequately for each exam and then allocated the number of hours needed to her available time slots. The visual representation of each girl's schedule allowed her to recognize that she had more than adequate hours for midterm preparation. The girls were absolutely delighted with their newly acquired skills!

Dr. Meier was in Israel this week visiting many of the schools, talking with their administrators, and meeting individually with many SKA graduates.

We know she will have much news to share with our seniors as they receive their many Israel acceptances, and will assist them in their decision making process.

SKA ALUMNAE ISRAEL REUNION       Motzai Shabbat, January 21st, 8:00PM at Michlala   Mrs. Spirn Mrs. Feinberg Mrs. Hirtz Mrs. Menchel Mrs. Rotenstein Mrs. Yudin   Spread the word! We can't wait to see you!