41, 65, 99, 122, 148, 153, 173, 185, 199, 211, to our
present student body of 243. There's clearly a pattern here! Our school is
growingrapidly.
In each of the next three years, WYHS will be taking in a
freshman class that is 15-30 students larger than the graduating class it
is replacing, G-d willing. This will bring us close to (if not more than) 300
students.
Our obsession on maintaining the personal attention
that parents and students expect from a private school is something I've written
about before in this column. Freshman Daniel Geller writes below about how this
has played an important role in his transition. The addition of Rabbi Moshe
Schochet to our guidance team has played an important role in the lives of many
of our students. Next year we hope to add another layer of guidance- giving
each 10-12 students their own advisor.
Though we are proud to be keeping our physical plant
overhead low in these difficult times by operating at a synagogue, there is
a limit to how many students we can accommodate at BRS. The silver lining of the
dark economic clouds is that the cost of construction, particularly in South
Florida, has plummeted. A window of opportunity has opened, just in the
nick of time.
We are working with an architect and builder who
are focused on affordability, practicality and alacrity. We are redesigning our
plans for the federation campus to accommodate a student body that has grown
even faster than we predicted a few years ago.
We are going to need your help- our parents & grandparents, past & present. The only way we can accommodate our growth if we take this project on as a school community.
This is a "Yeshiva Highlites Lite"- a smaller edition, as our graphic designers and video editors are furiously working on a fantastic "Saturday Night Live" program for next Motzei Shabbat's Purim chagigah. I look forward to seeing you all there.
Yeshiva Highlites will appear next on Friday, March 5.
Mazel Tov Ilana Weberman ('07) on her engagement to Yossi Bendel of Toronto
Eric & Sarah (Suri Hoenig '02) Kinzbrunner on the birth of a son Shimshon Refael
Chana Brauser ('10) National Merit Finalist Refuah Shleima Simcha Chaya bat Luna Ruchama bat Dina Malka
Condolences Dr. David Levenson on the loss of his mother
Why WYHS?
By Melissa Pereira DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS Prospective parents and students often ask me "Why
WYHS". In truth, there are 243 reasons
WHY, as many as our number of students. For some, it is the challenging
academics. For others, it is the inspirational programs (color war, chagigahs,
shabbatons, class trips, etc.). For the students who have not had the opportunity
to study at a Jewish day school, it is the exposure to the all encompassing
Jewish experience.
The prospective students of the Class of 2014 have tasted
the WYHS experience through our Open House, SSAT exam and interviews, and last
Friday's Rosh Chodesh Adar Chagigah. There's still more fun to come! The
girls and their mothers are invited to our production of "Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on Thursday, March 11. The prospective boys will
have a great time at our first Boys Fun Fest (basketball, soccer, chess and other
activities) on Sunday, March21.
We hope that what promises to be the second largest class in
WYHS history (behind the present freshman class) will begin to understand the
"WHY" during their last year of middle school.
Alumna Raquel Amram ('07) shared with me these thoughts. "WYHS for me was literally
life changing--it helped build who I am in the most critical years of my life.
It gave me the foundation for where I am now and for where I'll eventually get
to in life. WYHS was my second home, the teachers and my friends were family. I
learned there how to truly "ivdu et Hashem besimcha"; "serve G-d
with happiness". I always look back at those years as truly the most
amazing, fun, and challenging years of my life. I struggled, I laughed, I
cried, I danced, I lived. I wouldn't change one memory because it all lead to
where I am today".
That's why WYHS!
My First Impressions of WYHS
Midyear Reflections of a Freshman
By Daniel Geller ('13)
When I visited WYHS last year as an eighth grader, the first
thing that hit me was how welcoming everyone was. It was great that people
wanted to get to know me, not for my notes or homework. It was clear to me that
this was an environment in which I would feel comfortable. All the teachers
showed an interest in me. Even though I was just an observer, I could see the
connection between the students and their teachers. My transition from public school to yeshiva has been made
infinitely easier by the support offered by the Admissions Department. For
example, in preparation for the recent midterms, Melissa helped me make a studying
schedule for the double load of Judaic and college preparatory exams.
The best part of this process is you feel that you are more than just a
number. The administration really cares about how you're doing.
Rosh Chodesh Adar
Pizza for Breakfast Is This What
High School Is Like?
By Matthew Silkin APPLICANT FOR THE CLASS OF 2014 Last Friday, my fellow applicants and I were invited to join the WYHS students for their Rosh
Chodesh Adar Chagigah.
After learning with Rabbi Tirschwell before davening and having
pizza and ice cream
for breakfast, magician Gary Goodman enchanted the entire high school and eighth
grade
with his amazing acts.
Since I am a really big fan
of magic, I
can personally say that the show was great. Goodman's ability to predict
outcomes, days before they happen, has astounded me since I know a
few good mind gimmicks myself. However, some of his tricks were a little
obvious.
My
overall feelings about our morning at WYHS can be summarized into two
words:
really excited. The video at the open house back in November gave me a
sense of
what goes on at WYHS, but it was a speck of dust compared to the Rosh
Chodesh
Adar Chagigah. All of the WYHS students had ruach that could literally be
felt, and everyone seemed to really participate in the festivities. It
also
provided a way to meet people from other schools and get to know them
better. I know, not think, that I will have a
lot of fun as a freshman next year. Apparently, some classmates had the
same
idea. Jonathan Kennedy, another kid in my class said, "It was a lot of
fun."
Having the kids get dressed up was a really good idea, and it provided a
really
fun way to connect with friends. I think that I'll have a lot of fun
when I get
to high school."
By Jacob Levenson ('11) STAFF WRITER Nowhere is there more ruach to welcome the
month of Adar
than at WYHS. Students and faculty celebrated Rosh Chodesh
Adar in typical WYHS fashion with delicious food, blaring music and a
special magic show by Gary
Goodman.
WYHS students were also joined by eighth graders from
various schools in South Florida . To further
enhance the excitement of the event, each grade arrived at the chagigah
wearing a distinct color. Eighth graders,
Freshmen, Sophomores,
Juniors and Seniors poured into school proudly wearing their respective
colors, of green, blue, purple, pink and black.
After the unusual but
pleasing breakfast of pizza, chocolate milk and ice cream, the students
piled into the main sanctuary to enjoy the mind reading Gary Goodman and
his spectacular mind tricks. As his final act,
Goodman astoundingly made snow appear in the Shul and brightened the day for students who
rarely get to enjoy a winter wonderland.
Crazy Colors and Mind-Blowing Mentalist Magic Click on the image above to play the video
D'var Torah
Building a Mishkan
Parshat Terumah
We
have all heard so many speeches, describing history and the horrors of
the past, and drawing parallels to the present. We have heard so many
times that history is being repeated and we must act, for the future
looks grim. When questioned on what action should be taken, most
respond that we should be aware of current events, write to leaders,
and express our beliefs. The Torah seems to add an additional
suggestion.
In this week's parsha, Terumah, the Torah describes how we must build a "Sanctuary" for G-d, the Tabernacle. There is so much detail described in the psukim
as to the exact dimensions of each part of the Mishkan. One seemingly
superfluous detail is that the acacia wood, used for the walls of the
Mishkan, should stand up strait. One interpretation of that small
detail is that it represents the Jews who will always stand tall. It is
a guarantee that we will always survive despite the most difficult
situations. Despite our many enemies, and all that we may go through,
we will always be around.
So
what is the connection between our survival and the construction of the
Mishkan? The Mishkan can represent our relationship with G-d. All of
the details that go into the Mishkan's construction could be compared
to the many Mitzvot and ways in which we connect to
G-d. One could actually compare the Mishkan to Shuls, places in which
we serve G-d nowadays. In order to survive, to stand all, we must
"build a Mishkan", forming communities, doing Mitzvos, and most importantly, concentrating on our spiritual and personal growth, which is all that we really have control over.
Through our dedication to Judaism and our connection to G-d, accompanied by our hishtadlut,
we will earn, as well as understand, G-d's protection. By clinging to
G-d, we can feel safe, knowing that He has guaranteed our survival.
With the help of G-d, may we overcome any difficulties that come our
way.
