Yeshiva Highlites: College, Night Seder, Spanish & More
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rpt@wyhs.net
Friday, September 11, 2009 22 Elul 5769
Parshat Nitzavim-Vayeilech Candle Lighting at 7:12 PM
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From the Desk of Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner
September 11th 2001. The barbaric obliteration of the Twin Towers. Amid the smoke filled streets and deafening blasts of sirens, America got its wake up call. Every mother held her child close, every person his or her spouse and every employee his co-worker, vowing to never take another day for granted. A country shaken to its very core and riddled with fear realized how grateful one has to be for life itself and the future of their loved ones.
Every year we experience a similar wakeup call through the piercing blasts of the shofar. How important it is for all of us to listen to that call, hold on to our loved ones and thank G-d for the gift of life. Every day in the month of Elul, the message of the shofar echoes throughout the various minyanim at WYHS, calling to and challenging our students to take stock of their actions and recognize how fortunate they are.
The WYHS family has so much to be grateful for:
The love and support of administrators, counselors and teachers
Rebbeim and teachers whose top priority is to connect to their talmidim and talmidot
An opportunity to learn the breadth and depth of Torah
A superior education that paves the way to success
Challenging, exciting and interesting classes
Fun-filled and inspiring programs
Chesed
Ari Shachter ('10) (who has masterfully blown the shofar for us)
Great friends
Good food (there are still a few sugary products that RPT hasn't confisticated)
But most of all, let us thank Hashem for having Hashem for having families that recognize true values and are willing to sacrifice for a Jewish education.
Mrs. Ora Lee Kanner
Principal
Letters to the Editor
Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding this edition of Yeshiva Highlites?
Seniors, Syllabi, & Schedules Meet the Teacher Night and College Seminar
By LeeLee Borzak ('10)
On Tuesday night, parents of WYHS students had the opportunity to experience the daily schedule (although a very shortened and much less rigorous version!) of their children. It was a great time for parents to truly understand the curriculum for each class and meet the teachers. As the teachers handed out their respective class's syllabi, parents got a glimpse into the intense, fun, and education-filled day that is WYHS.
Additionally, seniors and their parents attended a seminar by College Guidance Advisor Mrs. Marcy Roberts entitled "The Nuts and Bolts of the College Application Process." The seminar, which was very thorough and enlightening, really explained to the seniors what they have to do and when they have to do it. No doubt about it--college is a scary process. But thanks to Mrs. Roberts and her seminar, the seniors now have a better understanding of the steps they need to take.
News Brief
After School INTELect is UNbelievable!
A look into Model UN and the Intel Science & Research Program
by Rebecca Dresner ('10)
This year at WYHS, the academic extracurricular activities have been revamped.
Model UN is back and better than ever with returning advisor Mrs. An, a slew of new sophomores, and returning juniors and seniors ready to take on the challenges facing the world in 2009-2010.
Due to the hard work and diligence of the WYHS delegation last year, the WYHS Model UN team has been granted 18 delegate positions. While neither the team delegates nor the countries have yet been assigned, this year is shaping up to be a promising one.
Additionally, another worthy academic after-school program is the recently-introduced Intel Science & Research Program, which is being supervised by a new WYHS science teacher, Mr. Erlick. Students who participate will work arduously on individualized science projects, learning in various scientists' laboratories, conducting research experiments, and creating well-written research projects.
This year's academic activities are already beginning, so do not wait! Take part in some of the amazing and rewarding extracurricular activities that are being offered at WYHS!
News Brief
Students Scrutinize Sefarim
WYHS Night Seder Program
by Didi Weiss ('11)
This past Wednesday night, WYHS witnessed the return of Night Seder -- a weekly program that provides students with the opportunity to take their Torah learning one step further.
During Night Seder, students experience learning Torah outside of the classroom environment. Each student chooses a chavruta to learn with, and the learning partners select a topic that interests them, for example, gemara, halachah, or tanya. Throughout the hour and a quarter program, Rebbeim and teachers circle the Beit Midrash, answering questions and helping translate the various sefarim that get pulled off of the shelves.
The most amazing part of Night Seder, however, is its ability to incorporate students from every skill level to gather and learn together, creating an energy that is tangible and demonstrative of how much the students value the mitzvah of Talmud Torah.
This year's "opening night" concluded with inspiring Divrei Torah delivered by Rabbi Horowitz and Rabbi Hochman.
We hope to see more people take advantage of this tremendous experience next week in preparation for the Yamim Noraim.
News Brief
The Year Has Just Begun, But...
It's Already Storming!
By LeeLee Borzak ('10)
Even though it's only the second week of school, the WYHS athletic department is already well underway.
The boys' soccer team, led by captains Lior Goldstein ('10) and Arie Grunberg ('10), has started what is so far a great season. The team members' practices, which started during summer vacation, are certainly paying off as the team is improving week by week.
Like the soccer team, the girls' volleyball team is also putting forth a lot of effort and dedication. Led by captains Jackie Berger ('10) and Shana Itzkowitz ('10), the team has played hard against its rivals.
Besides these fall sports, WYHS also offers girls' conditioning every Thursday and practice and preparation for the upcoming first-ever girls' softball team. With such additions and improvements -- and even a prospective bowling team (!) -- it is sure to be a great year of athletics in WYHS!
Go Storm!
COME SUPPORT YOUR STORM THIS TUESDAY AT THE BOYS SOCCER HOME GAME!
Tuesday 6:00 pm at the Boca JCC
Feature Article
Let the Kindness Begin!
WYHS Kicks Off its First Tzedakah Project
by Randi Prince ('11)
As the school year begins to get on track (and the freshman get comfortable with their lockers and schedules) it is time, once again to commence one of the most important aspects of life at WYHS -- chesed. This week, the Chesed/Tzedakah committee got off to a running start, as it kicked off a major tzedakah prject.
On Wednesday, the WYHS students had the honor of hearing from two JNF representatives who spoke about a touching recent JNF project. This past March, the JNF completed the structure of their indoor recreation center in Sderot. This 21,100 square foot facility will give the more than 3,000 children in the area, who live in constant fear of a rocket attack, a safe place to play, talk, learn, and get counseling for their trauma. Students had the opportunity to actually see this unbelievable structure through an informative JNF video. Next, Chesed, Tzedakah, and Israel Advisor Mrs. Heather Andron introduced the new tzedakah campaign: all four grades at WYHS will be collecting money to help complete this beautiful project, and at the same time will be competing against each other to see which grade can raise the most money for the cause.
What is exceptionally amazing about this campaign is that it is something that, on some level, we high school students can relate to: we also would want a place to just hang out and have fun, and with this project, we are helping our peers. Moreover, tzedakah is a major aspect of the days leading up to the Yamim Noraim. With Selichot (for Ashkenazim) beginning in only a few hours, it is a great way for all of us to connect to the themes of Elul and also Tishrei.
With the help of the WYHS student body, hopefully we can truly make a difference to the Sderot youth and also strengthen ourselves through the mitzvah of tzedakah.
Featurette
APPLYING TO COLLEGE A WYHS Survival Locker
Courtesy of Mrs. Robert's Awesome College Seminar for Seniors Last Tuesday
By Chana Brauser ('10)
Do you find yourself frantically running to the office every morning, hoping to secure the first appointment with Mrs. Roberts? Have you even thought of making an appointment with Mrs. Roberts? Should you be meeting with Mrs. Roberts? For those of you who see the word college and freak, this guide's for you!
1. DO set up a meeting with Mrs. Roberts as soon as possible. Bring your sneakers, and make a mad dash for the office the second davening is over so you can get to the sign-up sheet and beat the crowd. Yeah, you might have to forgo breakfast, but hey, what's a little cereal compared to your future?
2. DON'T scream across the hallway to a teacher asking them for recommendations. While Mrs. Saddler may have use for your extraordinarily loud voice in the musical, teachers are more interested in getting the blue recommendation request forms than listening to your impressive vocal skills.
3. DO use a relatively professional-sounding email address on your applications. While you may think skooldrools92@gmail.com is perfect, oddly enough, colleges probably won't agree with you (and may take offense). Stick with something simple (and maybe even boring) like your name, because sometimes, you just don't want to stand out that much.
4. DON'T fill in your nickname when applications ask you for your full name. While everyone might call you "Jughead", you've still got to use your full name-even if it is Forsythe Pendleton Jones III.
5. DO be polite and friendly when meeting with college admissions officers, even if they're not representing your first-choice college. Don't waste your arm strength texting during the meeting -- preserve that energy for a good, firm handshake to make a great impression.
6. DON'T get a bad case of senioritis too early in the year -- colleges have access to all your senior year grades, and while skipping a class to head to the beach may seem like a good idea, colleges probably won't agree.
7. DO make sure to have your SAT/ACT scores officially sent to the colleges you apply to. It will not be fun to watch all your friends get accepted and wonder where your letter is -- if colleges don't get your scores, your application is disregarded. Remember: YOU ARE NOT MORE THAN A TEST SCORE. Just kidding, you are -- but it's still a very integral part of your application.
8. DON'T freak out. While the college application process certainly may seem daunting (I'm feeling pretty daunted myself...), Mrs. Roberts is there to show us the way to success, and is always available for questions or advice.
In Focus
¡Muy Bien!
A Taste of Spanish Culture with Senora Kestenbaum
By the Highlites Staff
WYHS's Spanish course is much
more than just an ordinary elective or language class; it is an opportunity for
many students to immerse themselves in a foreign culture and lifestyle. As a native Peruvian and linguist
extraordinaire, Mrs. (Senora) Kestenbaum shares with her students not only the
grammar rules of Spanish, but also an appreciation of the language. Inside and outside the classroom, Mrs. Kestenbaum
serves her pupils a taste of Spanish culture, as she did quite literally last
Sunday by hosting a fun-filled Fiesta for all of her classes.
After a quick exchange of
greetings in Spanish, we had the opportunity to ask Mrs. Kestenbaum
a few questions:
Highlites- We hear you held quite a Fiesta at your house
with hamburguesas, salchichas, chili, tacos, salsa- the works. What was the main reason why you so
generously opened up your home to a crowd of students?
. MVK- The Fiesta is
a wonderful opportunity for all the students of my three Spanish classes from
three different grades to get to know each other outside of the classroom and converse
in Spanish.
Highlites-You seem to be close with your students. Would you agree?
MVK- Yes; my relationship with my students is a
priority. I feel that a teacher can only
be considered completely successful when he or she has developed a strong
relationship with his or her students.
Highlites- What role does 'culture' play in your Spanish
language classes?
MVK- Obviously, the Spanish culture is an important
element in our classroom. Learning about the culture and not
just the language makes our classes so much more appealing. It
really gives everyone a greater love of the language.
Highlites- At the end of last year, we noticed that your
classes published a beautiful 'Revista Cultural' (cultural magazine). Do you plan to do one this year too?
MVK- Yes, but this year I want it to be even better and
more creative than last year. There will
be contributions from all the classes, as well as some interesting new topics.
CultureFood for Thought
As cultured individuals, WYHS students express themselves through art, writing, and thought. This section of the Yeshiva Highlites will serve as a showcase of select student works, from landscapes and portraits to editorial pieces from the Brainstorm, as featured this week.
So, it's Funny...
But is it News?
Excerpt from "Indecision 2008," originally published in the Brainstorm
By Rebecca Dresner ('10) Nowadays, no one actually watches those stuffy old
news shows -- why bother when there's a hilarious,
satirical news show on every night with the latest, greatest, and funniest news updates?
The Daily
Show featuring Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report
with Stephen Colbert (silent T's, people!) are parody
news shows that attract millions of nightly viewers,
a good portion of whom are high school and college
students, and even adults, who enjoy this version
of the news, complete with wry sarcasm, irony, and
sheer brilliance.
And while some may question the
use of watching a diluted version of the news, the
consequences of so many young viewers watching
are shockingly positive. The number of students who
actually sit down to watch the often dry and dour news
channels is quite low, while a huge number of high
school and college students choose to watch either
The Daily Show or
The Colbert Report
(or both!),
thus attaining quite a
good idea
of current
events.
SpiritualityD'var Torah
Afraid of the Flood?
Parshat Nitzavim-Vayeilech
By Rebecca Fuchs ('10) Edited by Didi Weiss ('11)
Imagine seeing the following commercial:
A family is quietly
relaxing in their living room when suddenly, water begins to seep under the
front door and slowly fills up the house.
The dog is barking, furniture is floating around, and yet the family is
completely unmoved, unaware of the danger surrounding them.
The television announcer
then explains, "some people act as if a flood could never happen to
them," attempting to sell flood insurance.
At first glance, this commercial may seem a bit
ridiculous. Could anyone really be in
such denial? Yet, in this week's Parshah,
Nitzavim, we read about a very similar situation. Moshe Rabbeinu
speaks about a man who decides to follow his own will instead of the path of
Torah and mitzvot, believing that, "peace will be with [him]." It is natural for one to believe that calamities
always happen to "someone else," a rationalization that allows one to
imagine that he or she is safe and secure, that there is no sense in worrying about anything.
The family in the commercial is only aware of the
problem when it is too late, after the house has been flooded and severely
damaged. As the commercial encourages,
the real solution is to buy flood insurance before the storm strikes.
With Rosh Hashanah approaching, it is very easy to feel as though
a "flood" may never affect us, as described in the Parshah. As Rosh
Hashanah draws nearer, the Shofar reminds us that we cannot act as
though we are immune to the Divine Judgment. We must acquire our own
form of insurance - Teshuvah- and then we will, B'Ezrat Hashem, merit
an incredible, spiritually enriched year.
From the Desk of 
