As the 2005-2006 year has drawn to a close, I can't help reflecting on the personal and religious growth that has been experienced by so many of our students.

Girls, you have developed in so many ways this year. As students, you have learned, studied and soared. As individuals, you have been challenged by the fragility of life on numerous occasions and as a result, many of us have reviewed our priorities. Together, our school community has experienced joy and challenge and we have become closer and more deeply connected as a result. We are all one family and that relationship, that achdut, and that closeness became clearer and more meaningful as our school year progressed and then drew to a conclusion.

Mazel tov to all of you on the successful conclusion of Regents exams and SKA finals! You did it and the results were stupendous!

Mazel tov to our "Championship" Softball Team on your exciting win on Monday. What excitement and pride we all felt watching you all "do your thing" with achdut as you "stepped up to the plate" at the batter's box and the outfield. Hakarat hatov to coaches Esther Goldfeder and Sara Leifer and to the many parents who attended game after game after game.

Kasheh l'hipared! With deep affection, amazing memories and bittersweet feelings, I bid farewell to our 88 seniors that comprise the spirited and talented Class of 2006. We wish you mazel tov and remind you that we look forward to hearing from all of you next year, whether you are studying in Yerushalayim, the Gush, or the eastern seaboard. May Hashem always shine His countenance and favor upon you and may you always be zocheh to feel His presence.

Hakarat hatov to Rabbi Jeff Rothman for all of his efforts in making SKAPPENINGS an exciting part of SKA! We all loved seeing photos and reading about the latest events and developments at school. Special thanks to Tzippy Wiesenfeld who worked so hard to collect the articles for each edition.

My deepest thank you and gratitude to my fellow administrators: Dr. Tzipora Meier, Rabbi Yosef Zakutinsky, Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, Mrs. Sandi Pomerantz and Rabbi Jeff Rothman. You work so hard to make SKA the special place it is and behind the scenes you ensure that each of our students receives the care and concern that she needs! Hakarat hatov to our outstanding faculty and staff who educate, nurture and encourage in countless ways! You are all amazing and wonderful people!

I wish all members of our SKA family a relaxing and enjoyable summer! Stay healthy and safe! May you all continue to grow and become who you are meant to be! Don't forget....you will be receiving mail from us (with your handwriting) the week of July 20th.

See you in September! L'hitraot!

The SKA Softball Team won the championship for the second year in a row playing against the Frisch School . The game, which started out with a tight “one up” score, picked up pace as SKA earned runs to the cheers of admiring fans. We say farewell to members of the team who are graduating and wish the rest of the team hatzlacha as they look forward to future games. Many thanks to coaches Esther Goldfeder and Sara Leifer for a job well done!!

The Tenth Annual SKA Commencement Exercises were held on Sunday July 11, 2006 at the DRS Woodmere Campus. Mazal Tov to the two Valedictorians: Gittel Klein and Aviva Schiffmiller, the Salutatorian, Batya Hertzberg and the Keter Shem Tov, Devorah Mansdorf, who all spoke eloquently! And Mazal Tov to all the graduates of the Class of 2006!!

On May 26th, SKA celebrated the girls celebrated Yom Yerushalayim, the day on which the Jews recaptured the old city in the 1967 war, beginning with a few words spoken by Mrs. Feinberg followed by a moving slide-show presentation created by eleventh grader, Yardana Galler. The presentation included the thoughts of several SKA students and alumni about their own personal connection to Yerushalayim. Rabbi Dovid Friedman concluded the Yom Yerushalayim presentation with a stirring speech about his own love for Eretz Yisrael, and his personal experiences in Yerushalayim.

On May 25th, our students participated in a wonderful Open Beit Midrash program. It started with a great dinner catered by Central Perk. There was a moving video about Yerushalayim, afterwhich the grades split up to learn a beautifully compiled source book about Yerushalayim with their Madrichot. The night concluded with an inspiring speech by Rabbi Kaminetsky (the real one). It was an inspiring night and everyone who participated enjoyed it immensely.

The students practiced for a week for the SKA Ninth grade International Lunch, and it finally arrived. They went on two busses to K Roasters, off Central Avenue, to experience Spanish, Israeli, and American foods. There was a short program before lunch where the students said Tehillim, sang songs in three languages, and read poems. When the buffet tables were opened, the girls enjoyed many kinds of salads including Baba Ganoush, Chumus, Tehina, and Israeli salad. Tacos, arroz (rice), and fajitas were the Spanish cuisine. For dessert they had chocolate mousse, or flan de chocolate. The girls had a great experience tasting the foods of other cultures and seeing how other people of the world eat.

Special thanks to Morah Antman, Mrs. Leibtag, Mrs. Perlmutter, Mrs. Shenker, and Mrs. Rotenstein for coordinating such a tasty event!

Yom Chaveirut was soo much fun. The incoming freshmen were tons of fun and filled with excitement. The Class of 2010 met their future classmates as they played a game with concentric circles learning VERY random facts about each other, played balderdash learning new words to prepare for english at SKA, and had relay races just for fun. The girsl met new friends and left very excited about coming to SKA!!!

The 10th and 11th graders were privileged to hear Mrs. Gila Manolson, author of The Magic Touch and Outside Inside, on Monday, May 8th. She addressed the tenth grade on negiah, providing the girls with practical reasons to be shomer negiah, as well as achieving it. The eleventh grade heard about all the amazing aspects and benefits of dressing and acting in a modest way. Both groups learned a lot of applicable and important information that will help guide them on their respective spiritual paths.

This year's SKA Lag B'Omer celebration was a fun- filled, thrilling battle between..teachers and students! The formidable Bay Bears took on the impressive Little Raskals in a series of events which included jump rope, basketball, races and much more. The Little Raskals prevailed and the day's activities culminated in a scrumptious barbecue lunch.

The feelings of achdut that the day created and the ruach that permeated the gym were more than was ever imagined as faculty and students played, won, lost and laughed together.

SKA was fortunated to be addressed by Mrs. Shira Applebaum. The speech was very well attended – mothers and alumni were eager to hear her words of inspiration. She spoke about the importance of chesed during sefiras ha'omer, and she described an organization in Israel known as Zichron Menachem that provides services for children with cancer and for their families. Mrs. Applebaum, who is unfortunately known for the loss of her husband and daughter in a terrorist bombing, has a strong connection to the organization because her daughter, Nava, A”H was involved with it. Mrs. Applebaum truly helped us understand how wonderful Zichron Menchem is, and everyone left with a feeling that the organization is definitely a worthy cause. Many SKA girls have already helped Zichron Menachem by donating their hair to make wigs for children, and many more girls are now inspired to do this amazing chesed.

On Thursday, May 18th, twelve SKA freshmen participated in a special Shavous program with the HALB Lev Chana Preschool. The SKS girls read the book “Grow Flower Grow” by Lisa Bruce to the children. It is a story about a girl who learns what flowers need in order to grow. The SKA girls then had a unique opportunity to plant with the nursery children. The older girls used their leadership, teaching, and mentoring skills to work with nursery children in small groups as they decorated flower pots and planted flowers in each of the pots. The nursery children had an opportunity to interactook with the older girls and to make beautiful plants to bring home to their families for Shavuos. Thank you to Michal Ahranoff, Marci Bayer, Shira Blachman, Atara Blumenthal, Ayelet Krauss, Gabriella Lightman, Seffi Millstein, Jenny Moskowitz, Shira Muchnik, Julie Stahler, and Daniella Stein for participating . Thank you to Mrs. Debbie Rubel for coordinating the program.

On the evening of June 5, 2006, the SKA Senior class, parents, teachers and administrators gathered at the White Shul to honor each of the graduating students. We reminisced, were filled with emotion and sometimes even laughed as short reflections, sometimes serious and sometimes funny, were presented about each of the 88 (wow!) graduates. The evening ended as honors and awards were presented and the students, mothers, and faculty joined in heartfelt and spirited dancing .

Six Flags! Cape Cod! Martha’s Vineyard. Senior trip! 88 seniors took off for the senior trip and even the Nor’easter which hit Cape Cod the first night of the trip did not dampen spirits. The students were still able to go Dune Buggying (in the pouring rain), compete at Bowling, go Seal Watching (the sun even came out), find Starbucks coffee and spend an evening dancing with power and neshama in many concentric circles. Many thanks to the chaperones: Mrs Tzippy Antmann, Mrs Sarah Rotenstein, Mrs Sandi Pomerantz, Dr. Tzipora Meier and Madrichot Nava Hollander and Elisheva Davis.

June 4th was cloudy but that made the marching easier as thousands poured down Fifth Avenue honoring the State of Israel. The SKA students were a blaze of green and gold as they marched to the theme of “Reaching Higher Through Tzedaka” and as they enthusiastically cheered, waving their streamers, when they passed reviewing stands. Hakarat HaTov to Mrs Libin who directed all the parade preparations, Michelle Schechter who designed the T shirt and Rena Thalheim who designed the banner.

Leora Niderberg, who is spending this year in Israel and returning to SKA next year as a junior, was the first place winner in the senior division of the Kaplun Essay Contest. This is the second consecutive year that she has won this prize, last year in the junior division.

We can’t wait to see you Leora, as you rejoin your class in the fall and we can wish you Mazal Tov in person!

On May 30th, the Annual Year-End Assembly for the Tanach, Amalei Torah, Chesed and Midot awards took place at SKA. The Excellence in Tanach Award was presented to those who love Tanach, always contribute to the learning and excel in written classwork. Mazal Tov to 9th graders Rhonda Steinmetz, Yehudit Aidelson, Zahava Zimmermann, Elizabeth Frenkel, 10th Graders Michal Zlotnick, Elana Bindiger, Miriam Billet, Tova Hagler and 11th graders Danielle Lent, Leora Naiman, Elisheva Goldstein, and Batya Gartner.

The Amalei Torah awardees are those students who show a passion for Torah, participate and add to class discussions, and enhance learning. Mazal Tov to 9th graders Julie Stahler, Chana Rosa Petrikovsky, Ronit Shlagbaum, Melissa Kirschner, 10th graders Jordana Wittman, Henna Warman, Sara Glickman, Aleeza Kessler, and 11th graders Atara Aeder, Elana Stavsky, Nechama Winston, and Marlee Katz.

The Chesed Award, presented by Mrs. Storch, acknowledges those girls who go above and beyond the call of duty to perform chesed work whenever possible. Mazal Tov to 9th grader Seffi Millstein, 10th grader Alex Grossman and 11th grader Sheva Odzer.

The Midot Award is the only peer-elected honor. It recognizes one girl in each class who the students feel is a wonderful role model and exemplifies midot tovot on a regular basis. Mazal Tov to 9th graders Sarah Hirsch, Rhonda Steinmetz, Michal Aharonoff, Jenny Moskowitz, 10th graders Aliza Abittan, Avigayil Chesner, Rebecca Krauss and 11th graders Yardana Galler, Aliza Zombeck, Sheva Odzer, and Adina Seidenwar.

Congratulations to all the awardees!

While most of the seniors left the SKA grounds for their Work Study experience, several girls remained behind to participate in the Senior Beit Medrash Program. The students had the opportunity to have classes with many of their favorite teachers as well as spend time learning b'chavruta with their peers. Special thanks to Rabbi Eisenbach, Mrs. Feinberg, Miss Fragin, Mrs. Kaminetsky, Mrs. Kraft, Mrs. Menchel, Dr. Meier, Rabbi Muskat, Rabbi Rothman, Mrs. Yudin, Mrs. Weinberger, and Rabbi Weinberger who led the classes and inspired the girls.

Once again, the SKA “writers” have won contests and have had their works published.

Aviva Schiffmiller received an award from the National Council of Teachers of English for a piece submitted by Mrs. Mirsky, her 11th grade English teacher. Yardana Galler was chosen to participate in the Write On Program of the Jewish Week, an Israel advocacy initiative. Yardana Galler, Tzipora Leah Shapiro, Michelle Zomber, Marci Bayer, Bracha Feintuch, Adi Fried, Shira Haar, Allysa Jeret, and Shaindy Schiffmiller were published in Creative Communications. Michelle Zomber, Esther Halpern, and Alana Genuth were winners in the Yom Hashoah Poetry Contest sponsored by the Five Towns Community Yom Hashoah Commemoration and by the Five Towns Jewish Times. Mati Engel, Fraidy Streiter and Jenny Moskowitz were winners in the Glen Cove Holocaust Memorial Center Contest. Sara Meira Rosenberg was a winner in the Long Island Arts Council Contest, Jenny Moskowitz received a Certificate of Merit from the 2006 Nassau Reading Council- Young Authors’ Contest and Marci Bayer received honorable mention in the Jack London Contest

Kudos to the girls for their wonderful writing and special thanks to Mrs Caroline Shenker , the SKA Writing Coordinator, for encouraging the girls to write and participate in these competitions. We look forward to even more SKA “published authors” next year!!