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Inspiring & Challenging
Teenagers Since 1998
Parshat Beshalach
Friday, Feb. 6, 2009
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Does School Foster Creativity?
I spent last Shabbat at University of
Pennsylvania with our graduates. On
Friday, I had the
privilege of meeting with the Dean of
Admissions Eric Furda. I asked him what, in
addition to grades, scores, and the most
challenging courses, is Penn looking for in
an applicant.
"Who are you?" "Your voice" "How are you
unique?" Can you articulate who you are, what
is important to you, and (most importantly)
why. This was his unequivocal answer.
Creativity, personality and communication
skills have paradoxically become much
more, not less, important in the information
age. Anybody with Google can know everything.
What makes each student unique is how he/she
analyzes, internalizes, and presents his/her
views.
Does School Foster Creativity? Yes and
no. On one hand, we teach and assess the
memorization and understanding of
information. I agree with Educational
Philosopher E.D. Hirsch ("Everything Your 1st
Grader Needs To Know")- schools have a
responsibility to
produce "cultural literate" young adults who
are familiar with a certain core of knowledge.
WYHS goes to great
lengths to encourage individuality and
creativity This is the prime
goal of our student activities and
extracurriculars. The purpose of programs
like Color War, Model UN, Athletics, AIPAC,
Student Council,
Yearbook, etc. is to give
every student an opportunity to discover and
develop what makes them unique.
Creativity also is a goal in the
classroom. English and history essays
require students to express their own
opinion. The entire process of text study in
Judaic classes encourages students to analyze
and offer their own answers. A student's
individuality is expressed in projects in
electives such as Art, Business, Jewish
Philosophy, Public Speaking, Spanish and Web
Design.
Parents and teachers must encourage the
analysis and higher order thinking which
helps a student determine exactly who he or
she is, and encourage them to articulate
their unique voice.
Let me catch you up on two months of WYHS
smachot;
Engagements- Our 6th Couple- Meir
Weiss & Suri Orzechowitz ('07); Meli
Drachman ('06) & Zvi Naierman of Staten
Island; Sarah Dray ('05) & Adam Davis of
Toronto; Kayla Kowal ('06) & Gabi
Krauss of Woodmere; Chava Turk ('02)
& David Epstein of the Lower East Side
Weddings: Sarah Bensimon ('05)
to Eric
Kotowitz; Sam Cohen ('04) & Sara
Schlussel;
Arianna Halbstein ('05) & Koby Sabghir;
Amanda Schiff ('05) & Arie Blum
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
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What A Season!
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Come Out This Sat. Nite
Boys BB vs. Hillel NMB
8:00 & 9:30
@Boca
Prep
GVB Districts
8:00pm @ Boca Christian
YU Model UN
Sunday-Tuesday, Feb. 8-10
Girls Bball Tournament
Wednesday-Sunday, Feb. 11-15
Topsy Turvy Day
Rosh Chodesh Adar Chagiga
Tuesday, February 24
Girls' Fashion Show
February 25, 6:00pm
Open to Women of All Ages
Soph. & Junior Retreats
Sunday-Monday, March 1-2
Annual Purim
Chagiga
Monday, March 9th 7:30pm
For Present Families & Alumni
Click
here to RSVP
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Not So JUNIOR Anymore....
The 11th Grade Learns More About College!
Daniella Lieberman ('10)
When nearing the end of junior year, the
mention of the word "college" immediately
instills fear and anxiety in both the students
and the parents. In order to stop this
incredible college-phobia, Mrs. Roberts held
a meeting with juniors and their parents on
Tuesday night to rationally explain the
details of applying to colleges both near and
far. She ingeniously trained us in the
foreign art of college search and
applications, and students left feeling
confident in their skills at finding the
perfect college for them. For those of you
who thought that getting into college now is
the same as it was "back in the day," here
are a few examples of how getting into
college will be different this year:
- From the year 1940 to 2000, the percentage
of high school graduates going to college
tripled. This means much, much more
competition!
- Contrary to popular belief, SAT and ACT
scores do not matter the most to colleges.
Colleges understand that it is only one test and
that people can do poorly on them. Rather, it is
one's all-around high school performance
that colleges value most.
- If colleges see
amazing grades but no extra-curricular
activities on an application, they don't see
a well-rounded
applicant. So if you have the option to study
for the third day in a row for a quiz or to
build houses for Habitat for Humanity, go build
that house! You'll get into college and, more
importantly, do chesed!
Last but not least, don't stress about
college and certainly don't let it take over
your high
school experience. Keep your grades up, have
fun in extra-curricular activities, and most
importantly, visit Mrs. Roberts often (after
the seniors and juniors of course).
Click
Here to Comment
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In Memoriam
Mr. Jules Weiss z"l
By LeeLee Borzak ('10)
This week, WYHS commemorated the death of Mr.
Jules Weiss z"l, beloved former faculty
member and husband of math department chair,
Mrs. Beverly Weiss. Rabbi Tirschwell spoke
beautifully by quoting the eulogy Mr. Weiss's
son made at the funeral. Mr. Weiss survived
the Holocaust and truly had a lev tov,
a good heart. Known for his
intelligence, kindness, and warmth,
he was an all around nice man and will forever
remain a valued member of the WYHS family.
Mr. Weiss was a deeply committed and devoted
father and husband and will surely be missed.
To further connect students to the tragic
concept of death, Rabbi Ben Sugerman, WYHS
teacher and member of the Chevra Kadisha,
spoke to students about the the Jewish concept
of life and death and what goes on at the
Chevra Kadisha. When a person passes away,
Rabbi Sugerman explained, the neshama,
the soul, separates from the guf, the
physical body. The physical body still has
inherent holiness as it housed the neshama,
the most spiritual part of a human.
Thus, as is the work of the Chevra Kadisha,
the body is carefully taken care of. In the
wake of the tragic death of a mother of a
WYHS student, Rabbi Sugerman's speech helped
students actualize such a troubling concept.
Click
Here to Comment
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Spotted:Rav Binny Freedman
Founder of:Israelight
Speaking To: the 11th and 12th grade
students
Speaking About: the deeper meaning of
Shabbat, the fact that it is more than a "day
of rest," and reflections on his past in the
Israeli army
Click
Here to Comment
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New to the Lineup
With the winter sports season almost behind
us, WYHS is gearing up for its new spring
season: boys baseball and boys and girls
tennis! WYHS athletes are already trying out
for the teams and showing lots of effort.
Along with the new sports season, WYHS
welcomes the new coaches. Below, we asked
the new coaches a few
questions regarding the upcoming spring Storm
season.
How do you expect your WYHS experience to
differ from other schools?
Raphi: I think that WYHS must
be held to a higher
standard because of their link to Judaism. In
a time when people that seek to damage our
reputation are as loud and punitive as ever,
this is a true opportunity to make a Kidush
Hashem through hard work and determination.
This is an expectation that I wouldn't have
for other high schools.
Ken: I expect the students to
be more
respectful than some past experiences I had
working in the New York public school system.
What experience do you have with your sport?
Raphi: I was a baseball player
as a child until I
graduated high school. I then went the "old
man" route and started playing softball since
that time. I've been a hockey player just as
long (mostly ice hockey). Hockey and baseball
are my true passions.
Ken:I was a college and
tournament level
tennis player and am a USPTA certified
teaching professional.
What is your most embarrassing sports
moment?
Raphi: Easy. Two balks one inning.
Ken:Breaking my thumb while
playing catcher
in little league baseball; i forgot to put
my non-catching hand behind my back.
What do you want to accomplish this year with
your team?
Raphi: We seek to establish
discipline and an
understanding of the seriousness necessary to
win high school baseball games. That doesn't
mean we can't have fun doing it...
Ken:I want to win as many
matches as we can,
but more importantly I want an enjoyable
season and everyone to have fun playing
tennis.
What are you looking forward to most this
year?
Raphi: Teaching baseball and
getting the most from
each player on the team. I look forward to
seeing each player's character and
determination.
Ken: Improving the quality of
the tennis
program at WYHS.
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This
past
Sunday, WYHS
further welcomed
the future class of 2013 as
prospective girls
went to Mrs. Kanner's home in North Miami
Beach and prospective boys went to Rabbi
Tirschwell's home in Boca Raton. Current WYHS
students helped ease the 8th graders'
transition into the world of high
school, and
both had fun playing games, eating pizza and
sandwiches, and, of course, receiving WYHS
paraphernalia.
42 Number of
Girls
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43 Number of
Boys
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13 Number of
frisbees given away
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62 Number of
Deli Sandwiches eaten by the boys
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"The Color War Special was by far the
most
amazing Highlites ever!!!"
--Everyone who viewed last week's
Highlites
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Yeshiva Highlites
Staff |
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| LeeLee
Borzak (’10) |
Editor-in-
Chief |
| Danielle Wolkowicz
('09) |
Senior Editor |
Josh
Kaminetsky(’09) |
Layout
Editor |
| Ilana Ben-Ezra
('10) |
Features
Editor |
David
Petrover(’10) |
Technical
Editor |
| Alana Dweck
('09) |
Photo Editor |
Josh Stadlan
('11) |
Creative
Editor |
Aleeza
Rubin(’09) |
Chief of
Correspondents |
David
Spektor(’10) |
Assistant Technical
Editor |
Michael Feit
('10) |
Assistant Technical
Editor |
| Paul Hess ('11) |
Staff |
| Claudia Cohen |
Faculty Advisor |
Rabbi Allan
Houben |
Faculty
Advisor |
| Mrs. Amy
Horowitz |
Proofreader |
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