What a joy this year has been!!
Yesterday was a Celebration of Learning here at school – and what a celebration it was! When other schools are partying their last few days, we are going full steam ahead. The learning just never stops. On the contrary, it intensifies. Elementary school classes displayed examples of their work over the course of the entire year. Students stood proudly in front of their projects as parents and visitors delightedly meandered among the tables. Visitors were invited to lunch with the students after viewing the displays. On display was every type of project – computer driven presentations, scale models of the Mishkan, posterboards of cities in Israel and states in America, research papers on varieties of topics, Agam-inspired art projects. It was nothing short of wonderful.
Right after lunch the first grade parents were invited to a brief song and dance show performed with enthusiasm by their children. But, the crowning achievement of it all was being in the presence of the first graders for davening, following their brief performance. I was so emotionally wrapped up in their beautiful young voices praying with such fervent kavanah, that I just forgot to even snap a picture. Each child conscientiously pointed to every word in each prayer. If only we all shared their joy. If we could bottle and sell the enthusiasm, we would be set financially for life.
But these last few days have only been the icing on the cake. The month of May has been filled with special programs and learning,
a. from Yom Ha Shoah, to Yom Yerushalayim;
b. from Yom Hazikaron to learning programs over Shavuot;
c. from the third grade siyyum on two parshiyot to Yom Ha’atzmaut;
d. from the high school girls’ play ( an original adaptation written and directed by Guyla Wanderman) to the sports banquet.
e. Now that basketball season has ended, students have been actively involved in softball and golf.
f. Kindergarteners have written their own books and 3rd and 4th graders have been competing in sumdog math.
g. Forty-five AP exams in ten different subject areas were taken by thirty different high school students, among them ten were sophomores.
h. Fourth and seventh graders shared their state fair and worlds fair projects with the community.
i. Sarah Broniscer, Noga Finkelstein , and Shani Braverman placed first, second, and third place respectively in the Federation Holocaust essay contest.
j. Under Rabbi Baruch Harris’s direction we received a lucrative grant from the Legacy Heritage Foundation.
k. Under Mrs. Talya Tsuna’s able leadership, we have been recognized as a partner school with Facing History and Ourselves in their Jewish Day School division.
l. We have been selected to participate in a CASJE survey of excellence in leadership in Jewish Day Schools.
m. Fifth and sixth graders participated in Junior Achievement’s Biztown, while high school students ran a teach-in at Central High School.
n. Eighth graders have advanced and the 17 seniors are already on their summer vacations preparing for college, Yeshiva, or seminary in Israel.
o. We have taken communication to a whole new level with our Facebook pages and Alumni Newsletter.
On May 10, the day of our alumni Basketball game, 23 members of the 8th grade class of 1975 celebrated a 40th year reunion brunch in the lunchroom, their former kindergarten room.
There is so much to be proud of, so much to share with others. Thank you MHA, for a fabulous year.
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