We were thrilled with our record attendance at this year's Open House. The numbers were stupendous! We accommodated more than 500 people and chairs were constantly being added for our standing room only crowd. Baruch Hashem, approximately 160 eighth graders attended the program with their parents. More than 100 faculty members, parents and students arrived to conduct Parent Workshops, Faculty Roundtables, Student and Parent Tours, and a Student Activity Fair, to serve as hostesses and to answer the many questions posed by prospective students and parents alike.

Many elementary schools were represented here on Sunday including Bais Yaacov of Queens, Bnos Bais Yaacov, Bnos Malka, HAFTR, HALB, HANC, North Shore Hebrew Academy, Shulamith, YCQ, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Yeshiva Har Torah, and Yeshiva Ohr Haiim. We look forward to welcoming so many of these eighth graders when they come for their personal interviews.

It was exciting to travel to Har Torah and YCQ for their High School Nights and to speak to the students at HALB. Many thanks to current students Sara Gross, Yael Herring, Megan Leifer and Naomi Perry, alumnae of these schools, who joined Dr. Meier, Rabbi Zak and me in these visits. Their insights, impressions, and level of enthusiasm were helpful to parents and students alike.

We wish all of our eighth grade applicants much hatzlacha in the months ahead and we look forward to meeting with each of you personally, as we all get to know more about each other.

Shabbaton fever is definitely in the air and we have not yet even begun formal class preparation time. One could feel it in the air at our Chaim Dovid concert, in the buzz about Talent Show, and in the excitement during this week's chesed projects evolving from the yahrzeit program we had for Rachel Imeinu. The freshmen generated tremendous enthusiasm when packing their kits for soldiers guarding Kever Rochel; the sophomores created a wedding shtick gemach for our SKA alumnae. The juniors returned from their Cemetery Restoration Trip yesterday feeling inspired and satisfied that their hard work was a true chesed shel emet. Our seniors will be presenting a program at our Shabbaton and their sense of anticipation and excitement are tangible!

I look forward to spending Shabbat next week at the Swan Lake Hotel with our students, faculty and alumnae advisors, iy"h.

My personal thanks to the extended SKA/HALB family for your support, understanding and sensitivity expressed during my husband's Shiva for his beloved father, alav hashalom. May we all continue to share smachot together.

Shabbat Shalom!

16 Marcheshvan 5765: Bright and early Sunday morning, approximately 160 8th graders, together with their parents, entered the halls of SKA for our annual Open House. As Mrs. Spirn noted, this constituted a terrific turnout, one that would soon witness the myriad of available opportunities that the school provides for its student body. The potential freshmen were welcomed warmly by the administration, faculty, and students and heard a basic overview of the school from Mrs. Spirn followed by some words from Rabbi Zak and Dr. Meier. Mrs. Kaminetsky then outlined the religious growth opportunities at SKA and acquainted the girls and parents with our internal structure to ensure that every child receives the personal attention she deserves. Becky Steinmetz, the President of the GO, also graced the participants with an insightful Dvar Torah. Following these presentations, the girls and parents split up, the girls heading toward the gym and the parents toward various classrooms. The girls had some refreshments, heard about the interviewing process, and watched a brief slideshow. After this, they were split into different tour groups where SKA students led them around the building, pointing out key locations. The 8th graders heard about many different subjects from the teachers who teach them. They were introduced to the concept of "grade level advisor," "foreign language curriculum," "science research program," and "SKA Art Academy" among others. Excited voices were heard as they saw our "state-of-the-art" computer lab. Then, they all sat in circles at our Student Activities Fair, while SKA students walked around describing the various clubs, publications, chessed jobs, sports teams and more in which they participate. Finally, they had the privilege of witnessing some of Mrs. Isseroff's famous chemistry "magic tricks," like candle eating and disappearing orangeade. While this was going on, the parents had the chance to ask extemporaneous questions to SKA students from different grades, providing them with the opportunity to hear about the school first-hand and participate in parent workshops conducted by faculty members in different disciplines. As the girls reunited with their parents, smiling faces could be seen all around. We look forward to having these students from HALB, HANC, Har Torah, BYQ, HAFTR, Shulamith, Bnos Malka, TAG, BBY, North Shore, Flatbush, Ohr Haiim, and YCQ join together for SKA's class of 2009!

On Tuesday, October 26th, the freshman class, along with their grade lever advisors, took their annual trip to Ring Homestead. When they arrived, the girls were split up into a few groups. Once in groups, the girls were taught how to make their own harnesses. Securely harnessed, the girls headed to the various parts of Ring Homestead and began climbing. The girls enjoyed the challenge of the zip line, trapeze, rock climbing, as well as many other activities. As the girls in each group waited for their turn, they cheered on their friends as they worked to overcome the given obstacle. Looking on from below, the girls tried to advise each other of the best way to complete the given challenge. Between activities, the ninth graders had the opportunity to befriend girls who they don't normally see as much during the day. By the end of the trip, the freshmen felt accomplished with their days' achievements. The girls enjoyed "chilling out" with old friends and making some new ones. Everyone appreciated the break from the normal school day.
Thank you to Grade Advisors, Mrs. Gross and Mrs. Leibtag, for coordinating this great day!

This year's first monthly Intergenerational Lunch was a huge success. As the senior citizens arrived from the Woodmere Rehabilitation Center, they were greeted warmly by a bunch of SKA seniors who escorted them to Room 110, where many freshmen and sophomores were eagerly waiting. After several minutes of mingling, it was time to start the project the girls had so wonderfully prepared. Together, they decorated bingo boards with tissue paper in a variety of autumn colors. When the boards were sufficiently adorned, it was time to put them to good use. Several exciting rounds of bingo followed and a very enjoyable time was had by all. Thank you so much to Tara Fried, Tali Friedman, Judy Grossman, and Esther Phillips for all their help in preparing this event.

As part of a school-wide Kever Rachel project in honor of the yartzheit of Rachel Imeinu, the 9th grade was very busy this week preparing packages for the soldiers that are guarding Kever Rachel. They certainly gained an appreciation for what those soldiers are doing for all of us, as well as an understanding of the importance of saying thank you in an appropriate way. All week, bags of winter necessities, toiletries and food items were brought into school. On Wednesday, the entire grade gathered to pack the items and decorate the packages with ribbons and pictures, as well as Hebrew words of thanks and encouragement.

The 11th grade had a very meaningful trip to the Silver Lake Cemetery on Thursday. After proper preparation by a member of the Hebrew Free Burial Association and a shiur by Rabbi Dovid Weinberger, the girls were ready to perform this Chesed Shel Emet. It was hard work removing the fallen leaves, pulling out weeds that had grown over graves and wading through the dirt. But, it was truly a unique and moving experience and one that will remain with them for a long time.

The months of October and November are filled with visits from Colleges and Israel Yeshivot.

In the past weeks, Columbia, Barnard, NYU , and Cooper Union representatives met with our seniors to offer them insights, advice and information about the application process to their institutions. The Dean of Lander College for Women, Dean Devorah Erlich, and the Dean of Admissions, Dean Steve Toplan, spent time with the students one afternoon and discussed the differences between Touro in Brooklyn and in the City. Finally, Dean Karen Bacon, Dean of Stern College for Women, and Mrs. Chana Mayevsky, a SKA graduate working in the YU Admissions office, spent an afternoon at SKA apprising the seniors of the changes and challenges that await them at Stern College.

On November 2, 2004, we hosted our annual Israel Night. Representatives from seventeen Israeli Programs for Girls attended. Parents and students were able to attend 3 sessions during which time they heard about the strengths and unique qualities of each school. Our students, having already met with their Grade Level Advisors for Israel Guidance, were well equipped to decide which sessions to visit.

Representatives of Israeli Yeshivot are now returning to meet the students once again in order to present their institutions in greater depth. Interviews begin at the end of November. Please see the link to our latest College Update for more information. We wish our seniors much hatzlacha during this decision period. We know that you will make the right choices!!

Thirty SKA Juniors and Seniors were inducted into the Reut Honor Society, on Wednesday evening, October 27th, 2004. Mrs. Lavner, Faculty Advisor for the Reut Honor Society, coordinated the program and introduced the girls. The students, who achieved over a 90 average in their academic work and who have been exemplary in their chesed responsibilities, presented a program on Heroes in which they highlighted the lives of eight Jewish personalities. Dr. Karen Bacon, Dean of Stern College for Women, presented the keynote address and spoke about understanding the Nature /Nurture controversy in light of Bechira Chofsheet, free choice.

Mazal Tov to the young women and their families on such a wonderful achievement:

11th Grade: Alana Beckoff, Jennifer Deluty, Atara Feinberg, Rachel Genuth, Kayli Gerson, Judy Grossman, Miriam Herschman, Batya Herzberg, Judith Kaplan, Gittel Klein, Giti Klinger, Daniella Morad, Shoshana Naiman, Ayelet Nussbaum, Naomi Perry, Carrie Rabinowitz, Aviva Schiffmiller, Avital Shenker, Shani Siegel, Rebecca Simon, Leora Sperber, Nava Zinberg,

12th Grade: Yael Eisenberg, Daniella D. Friedman, Tara Friedman, Talia Grushko, Elana Maslow, Tamar Riegel, Naava Stern, Shira Thalheim

"How can I increase my kavanah in tefilla?"
"What is it okay to ask for when I daven?"
These are some of the questions addressed at the "Tefilla Awareness Program," the first of a series of growth-oriented events known as TZEMACH (Tzedaka-Midot-Chesed), designed for and involving the participation of 9th and 10th graders.

Skits featuring the talented Freshman and Sophomore actresses, each sporting a different "davening-disorder" (e.g. talking, spacing out, etc.) help students identify their own personal "problem-areas." A moving video and three workshops focusing on different practical aspects of tefilla completed the program. Each girl left with her own "siddur-workbook" containing inspiring stories, notes taken during the workshops, and suggestions for further reading.

Hakarat HaTov to Mrs. Haber for coordinating our first TZEMACH program this year; we look forward to many more!.

Please be informed that the dates of this year's Production have changed and are now finalized. The 1st Performance will take place Thursday night December 23rd, followed by two performances on Sunday, December 26th.