Excerpts from Patrons Meeting Address, July 20, 2014

Sometimes we are too close to a situation to be able to view the entire picture objectively.  To many of us, the grass always seems greener in someone else’s yard.  As MHA/FYOS stakeholders, you have much in which to take pride.   For a community our size we continue to accomplish at levels beyond reasonable expectations.  This can be seen most clearly in the comments that accompanied our SAIS accreditation.  The accreditation team was indeed impressed with what we are doing academically, through professional development, and with technology.   One of the evaluators was himself a day school administrator from a larger, wealthier school whom we still managed to impress.  Many thanks go to Rabbi and Mrs. Perl and Sandra Gersten, who all coordinated the effort, and to the full faculty for gathering all of the documentation needed for the accreditation.

Below are some of our major accomplishments and achievements of the past school year.

1.        This year we were privileged to receive a significant donation to our science department that allowed us to purchase the latest electronic and digital equipment to upgrade our entire upper school science program.

2.       The boys in the top Gemara shiur this year had a real yeshiva style learning program beginning each morning with a havruta  in preparation for a shiur given by Rabbi Maimon, the Torah Metzion Rosh Kollel.

3.       The boys in the upper school were offered the opportunity to participate in the masmidim program, designed to encourage learning for the sake of learning - no tests involved. The boys gave impressive d’vrei Torah, and the program was a huge success.

4.        Nine students, under the continuous tutelage of Shimshon Soleman qualified for the national level of the Chidon haTanach program.  Although we have participated in this program over the years, we have never had this level of success, nor so many interested participants.  Many kudos go to Morah Shimshon and the students.

5.       The elementary school has adopted the Lehavin U’Lehaskel program for this year in Chumash to supplement the Tel Am program which will still be in place.  Students during the last quarter of school began working in the new workbooks in preparation for the upcoming year.  Mrs. Gersten and the Torah studies teachers participated in a webinar on implementing the program.

6.       Maintaining our tradition of sending students to the best colleges, yeshivot, and seminaries, all of our students got into the schools of their choice. Seventeen of our twenty graduating seniors will be heading to Israel in the fall.  We have students attending Barnard, Washington University, and two who will be in joint programs with Columbia.  Many of the graduates qualified for the honors programs at Yeshiva University, Touro College, and the University of Maryland.

7.       To substantiate why our students can get into the best schools, we can look at their success in AP courses.  Nine AP courses were offered this year.  Twenty-nine students, 56% of the 10 - 12th graders, took those courses.  One 12^th grader took 5 AP exams, achieving 2 4s and 2 5s ( 5 being the highest score).  Two 11^th graders took 4 AP exams.  One of those students received a 5 in each exam.  The other student received a 5 in 3 exams and a 4 in one exam.  Three 10^th graders took AP  Psychology exams and each received a 5. All of these scores will be recognized by colleges for college credit.  Several of our students will be able to enter as sophomores in college, by the time they complete their high school education.  Most of these 29 students will be recognized for high honors by the College Board for their achievements. 

8.       The girls high school and boys high school publish newspapers weekly, and the junior high publishes monthly.  The level of journalism in all three of these publications is quite remarkable.  The lead articles are of interest to everyone, not just the students and faculty of the school.  The students have tackled controversial and critical issues, have presented more than one point of view, and have demonstrated significant research in writing these articles. Many students deserve credit for their hard work , as do Ashley Brown and Talya Tsuna for advising the students. 

9.  Under the very able direction of Rabbi Noam Stein, the community service programs in the upper school have been greatly enhanced.  One of the more meaningful projects implemented by the boys was to help a Mississippi farmer clear the debris from his land after a recent tornado - a project which exemplified not only tikun olam, but was a real kiddush hashem.

10.       The Early Childhood division has embarked upon a highly successful project approach to learning,   which has the students and teachers excited.

       11.  Additionally the Early Childhood division has revitalized the EPAC committee, a parent advisory                  committee who meet to advise and assist with programs. 

       12. The Early childhood division also introduced three new clubs this year – ballet, science, and sports                which were enthusiastically attended by the students.

        13.We received a lucrative grant from the Kohellet Foundation to update and replace the computers in              the school.  Many of our computers have the Windows XP operating system which Microsoft is no              longer supporting.  Instead of spending significant funds to upgrade our computers, we will be able               to purchase new ones and continue to supplement our ipad initiative in 4th – 6^th grades as well as to             have additional ones available for pre-k – 3^rd grade. 

          14.  WiFi access has also been greatly improved this year thanks to the new donated access points                      from Ubiqiti Networks and Robert Pera, the owner of the Grizzlies.

         15.  Flag football and golf have been added to our sports program and Coach Nokes was able to get                   a fully-funded baseball stadium constructed on our campus,. 

        16.  We have been asked to partner with Facing History and Ourselves to be one of their select group                  of Jewish Day Schools who will promote a special version of the program geared to North                           American Jewish Day Schools