It was a zechut for my family and me to spend Sukkot in Eretz Yisrael. This was the first time we had done so in ten years and, unlike other trips taken when my children were very young, this experience was memorable for everyone, except our toddler girl. Multiple trips to the Kotel, the Old City, a tiyul to Masada and Yam Hamelech, and just wandering around Yerushalayim were spiritually uplifting and invigorating. The pride we all feel when in Israel and our sense of belonging is a unique experience.

How special it was to host a reunion for the Class of 2005 and realize that due to the amazing turnout we couldn't all fit into our sukkah! We were thrilled to welcome some "crashers" from other graduating classes as well. The alumnae were absolutely thrilled to see one another and the staff members who were able to join us. For hours, we shmoozed, compared notes and realized how much we all missed the opportunity to see each other on a daily basis, the way we had done for four years of SKA.

Upon our return, we all focused on this past Sunday's Open House and welcoming our many 8th grade guests and their parents. We transitioned from dealing with graduates to preparing for prospective students and the results were incredible. So many of our current students, faculty and alumnae mentors joined us on Sunday and shared the many exciting facets of SKA with our visitors. We look forward to getting acquainted with our 8th grade applicants as we interview them over the weeks ahead.

Shabbaton fever is palpable as students continue to submit applications for a record turnout next weekend at the Swan Lake Hotel. Talent show tryouts have begun and committees have been set up as the excitement continues to grow. We are sure Shabbaton 2005 will be a winner!


What a zechut to have Rebbetzin Sarah Meisels address our community at our recent Rosh Chodesh Lecture! The standing room only crowd was thirsty for her words of inspiration and chizuk and appreciated her divrei Torah and insights into Amen and Brachot.

We look forward to running more programs for our students, their moms and the larger community! Stay tuned for more information!

Shabbat Shalom!

On Sunday, November 6th, SKA held its annual Open House for prospective students and their parents. SKA administration, faculty, parents and students joined together to create a phenomenal program that gave the 8th graders a wonderful sense of all that SKA has to offer. From the Student Activities Fair and Faculty Roundtables to Parent Workshops and tours of the building, the prospective students and parents were able to see and speak with our staff and our students to gain a true sense of SKA as a school and as a family.

We were proud that more than 100 SKA students dedicated their Sunday morning to working with the huge crowd of 8th graders and parents that attended. Special thanks to all of our faculty who shared their pride regarding their students' many accomplishments with our guests.

SKA was honored to host Rebbetzin Sarah Meisels on Thursday evening, November 2nd, Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, at the second lecture in SKA’s Community Wide Lecture Series for Women. More than 400 moms, alumnae, students and women in the community assembled in the auditorium where you could hear the proverbial pin drop as Mrs. Meisels, daughter of the late Bobover Rebbe zt”l, related how she came to initiate the “Amen Campaign,” which has brought her to so many different communities here and in Israel.

She spoke in a soft, yet strong voice, reflecting amazing bitachon, strength, tzniut and grace, quoting gemaras and ma’amarei chazal, about the power of the word “amen” and brachot in general. Mrs. Meisels highlighted the fact that “amen” is the “signature on the check;” it is that which brings the bracha to fruition and strengthens the way we make brachot. And when, at one point, she imparted to someone a bracha of refuah, the audience burst out in a loud and strong “amen,” having truly connected with her words.

The evening was sponsored by the Engelberg family in loving memeory of Chana Yetta bat Mordechai Hacohen.

Thank you to Mrs. Kaminetsky for arranging this very special event. We look forward to the next lecture on Thursday night, December 1, 2005, when SKA will host Ms. Ahuva Gray, giyoret and noted authoress. See the advertisement in the Coming Attractions below for more information on the event.

"Once an SKAer always an SKAer!" When all the graduates heard that Mrs. Spirn was coming to Eretz Yisroel for Sukkot, everyone got excited because that meant a reunion was about to happen. Cell phones were whipped out and phone calls were made. Everyone wanted to know if friends from other schools would be coming to the reunion at Michlalah on Motzei Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot.

As people arrived at Michlalah, excitement filled the air. Mrs. Spirn was there to greet everyone and direct them to the sukkah. To everyone's surprise, Mrs. Lavner, Mrs. Bindiger, Mrs. Martin and Miss Fragin came as well, really making it feel like SKA again. After everyone "hugged and shrieked because they had not seen each other for one whole week," pizza was served in Michlalah’s magnificent sukkah. Jaclyn Joszef gave a beautiful dvar Torah about Torah learning; do not allow the Torah that you learn to pass straight through you, but rather allow yourself to absorb it and incorporate it into your life.

Four hours passed and people were still talking and catching up with each other. Everyone was amazed to find just how much they all missed SKA. High school was an amazing experience; if only there was “SKA Seminary” in Israel! The girls cannot wait for the next teacher to arrive in Yerushalayim to host the next reunion!

The Class of 2005 thanks Mrs. Spirn for organizing a wonderful evening, and for making a foreign place feel more like home. It was a great idea that was greatly appreciated!

Special thanks to the Joszef family for sponsoring the event, and to Tali Grushko for coordinating reunion details and writing this article!

Soup Kitchen Trips...Homework Helping...Kulanu Mentoring... Hospital Visits... With the myriad of Chesed opportunities available at SKA, a new student could get confused about how to get involved and how to choose what’s best suited for her. In an effort to acclimate the 9th grade students to what they soon discover is an essential part of their high school experience, SKA’s annual Chesed Fair introduces them to the general importance of helping others and to the specific programs offered at SKA.

At this year’s Chesed Fair we were honored to hear from Mrs. Susan Thalheim, a true model of Chesed in our community. She inspired us with stories of how she and her husband created the Israel Emergency Fund and with her many illustrations of how one good deed causes another. We then watched an entertaining video that demonstrated how good it feels to perform random acts of kindness to others.

Finally, we were led from room to room and treated to brief presentations by the Seniors and Juniors who head the various Chesed Committees. They got us excited about their programs – Tzedaka Collection, Soup Kitchen, Yachad, Homework Helpers, Clothing Gamach, Kulanu, Israel Action, Intergenerational Programs and Project Smiles. And, they gave us all the information necessary to get involved. Thank you so much to Mrs. Thalheim for taking time out of her busy schedule, to Mrs. Yafa Storch, Chesed Coordinator, who organized an amazing evening and to all the Chesed Heads whose effort and creativity made the night such a success.

SKA is proud to announce that Batya Herzberg and Gittel Klein have been named Semi-Finalist Winners in the Siemens Westinghouse Science Competition. The two seniors spent the summer at the Stony Brook Garcia MRSEC Polymer Labs working on “Electrospinning of Polymer Nanocomposites.”

Their work looked at a method of utilizing nanosized polymer strands with enhanced mechanical properties to store hydrogen. The young women will continue their research to increase the durability of the polymer strands which would make their findings very important for energy efficiency.

On Friday, November 4th, our freshman classes participated in workshops on Time Management led by SKA’s Learning Specialist, Mrs. Sara Taib. The girls discussed the importance of long term planning and monthly calendars, as well as strategies for short term planning such as “To Do” lists and daily time schedules. The girls also talked about the need to prioritize based on one’s own goals and aspirations.

The sessions also addressed the issue of procrastination. Why do we procrastinate? What are some possible solutions for overcoming procrastination? The girls were very insightful in their discussion and shared many practical strategies with their peers. Everyone agreed that effective time management reduces stress in our lives, a benefit we can all appreciate.

All in all, the Freshman Time Management sessions were certainly time well spent!

The month of Mar Cheshvan, "the bitter month," was sweetened by SKA’s newest endeavor. With their Shlomo Carlebach nigunim and their Erev Shabbos potato kugel, SKA’s Rosh Chodesh Committee demonstrated some highlights of the month. Get ready, get set - this year's committee has lots more in store. Yehudit Aidelson, Maya Aminoff, Marci Bayer, Chava Grosberg, Naomi Kramer, Leora Lerman, Leora Naiman and Sima Sosnowik will no doubt infuse each month with tremendous excitement.

We were pleased to hang our first Torah Bowl Championship Banner in our Auditorium and share our victory with all those who visit SKA. Mrs. Menchel, Torah Bowl Advisor, has finalized this year's team and we would like to wish mazal tov to returning and new members, Captains Batya Herzberg and Emily Levine, Shira Bindiger, Mijal Bitton, Kayli Gerson, Michal Jager, Giti Klinger, Danielle Lent, Daniella Morad, Jennifer Moskowitz, Sheva Odzer, Tzipora Leah Shapiro, Daniella Stein, Michelle Zomber, Elisheva Zinberg

Mazel Tov to Aviva Schiffmiller who received an award from the National Council of Teachers of English for a piece of her writing which was submitted by Mrs. Mirsky, her 11th grade English teacher. She is one of 628 seniors nationwide who were awarded this honor. Her selection reflects the feelings of the judges that she is one of the "outstanding student writers in the country."

Mazel Tov to 11th grader Yardana Galler who was chosen to participate in the Write On Program of the Jewish Week, an Israel advocacy initiative. Yardana has won a free trip to Israel next summer, where she will participate in training seminars conducted by the Jewish Week and Israeli government.

Mazal Tov to Juniors Tzipora Leah Shapiro and Michelle Zomber on having their essays accepted for publication in this year's edition of Creative Communications.

Congratulations to 11th grader Smadar Sapir whose article appeared in the Fresh Ink section of the Jewish Week.

Everyone is excited for the SKA Shabbaton 2005 which will take place next weekend, November 18- 20th at the Swan Lake Hotel.

Stay tuned for the next issue of SKAppenings, where you'll find articles and pictures about:

- Shabbaton
- The 2nd Open Beit Midrash Program
- Sophomore Substance Abuse Program
- Intergenerational Program
- Israel Night
- Sports and Academic Team News