Volume 4, Issue 14 | April 30, 2026

Take a deep dive into how Mercaz is STEAMing ahead this year, from our sixth-grade robotics team’s final competition to a special visit from CIJE, along with rich classroom learning at every level. Read on for a glimpse into our week at school and reminders about important upcoming events!

Around Mercaz Academy

🤖 Final Competition Marks the End of an Era for Sixth-Grade Robotics Team

Our sixth-grade robotics team competed in their final event as Mercaz students this week, traveling to the Washington Heights Armory for an 800-student competition organized by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE).

More than just a competition, the event marked the culmination of three years of growth, teamwork, and leadership for our sixth-graders as pioneers of Mercaz’s robotics program. The sixth-grade team was the first at Mercaz to build its own robot and compete in a CIJE event, winning third place in their debut year. Now, as they approach graduation, the experience represents the close of a meaningful chapter.

Over time, the team has grown both technically and collaboratively, said Technology teacher Lynda Last, strengthening the muscles needed to work together as a team and engage with kids from other schools. “This year, they were strategizing with teams from other schools to get the most points, which is something they haven’t done as much before.” Competing in the middle school division, Mercaz sixth-graders are among the youngest, facing mostly seventh- and eighth-graders.

While they didn’t take home a top prize this time, Mrs. Last emphasized the bigger picture. “The pride and the feeling of what they accomplished, it’s huge. They’re only in sixth grade, and they did amazingly. Our teams finished in the top half of their divisions, out of almost 80 teams. They made me proud, and they made Mercaz proud.”

Students said one of their favorite parts of competing is the sense of independence. At the events, students are responsible for keeping track of their own schedules and match times. “We get to go places like adults,” said Evelyn. Yair added, “Going to the competitions makes us feel mature, and smart.”

Though excited to continue robotics next year at other schools, they’ll miss the close-knit team dynamic that is unique to Mercaz; bigger schools have bigger teams with limited spots, unlike Mercaz, where every student is welcome. “What’s special about this team is the people,” one student shared, fondly recalling the “controlled chaos” of lunchtime sessions and the high energy of bus rides to competitions.

After returning from the event, the students gathered in the robotics room to sign a scoring pin from their testing field, asking that it remain on display. As Evan explained, “It’s a memory of the second sixth-grade robotics team.”

🧪 CIJE Mentor Applauds Mercaz’s

Strength in STEAM

Speaking of the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, did you know it does a lot more than just robotics competitions? CIJE is a major resource for Mercaz in all things science, technology, engineering and beyond. As a CIJE Member School, we get access to tools designed to significantly level up STEAM learning in yeshivot, and we’ve seen the benefits at Mercaz in real time as our students continually punch above their weight in competitions, skills, and achievement. This week, our CIJE Mentor, David Seay, came for an on-site visit to observe our students, meet with staff, and consult with Vice Principal Karen Leeper on how best Mercaz can utilize CIJE’s resources -- and came away highly impressed with the level of learning at our school.

Something special about Mercaz, said Mr. Seay while visiting the 5th grade during their science class, is that both the administration and students “have a willingness to stretch and extend”: school leadership is always looking to try new initiatives, participate in interschool competitions, and take full advantage of opportunities to engage students in the fast-developing modern world of technology, science and math.

He was particularly excited by students’ original work with our 3D printer, even requesting his own “copy” of a completely student-designed, Mercaz-branded fidget spinner as an exemplar of the high level of STEAM at Mercaz.

“Mercaz is an amazing school, and Ms. Leeper is an amazing partner,” said Mr. Seay. “Not only are you seeing a breadth of instruction, but you’re seeing a depth of instruction. You’re not getting a cursory overview, you’re getting deep instruction.”

🌸 Sweet Snaps at Spring Fling

Pajama Night

Our last ECC Pajama Night of the year was filled with lots of friends both new and old! With spring-themed books and flower crafts, it was a sweet opportunity to warmly welcome incoming families while enjoying our favorite Mercaz traditions.

In the Classroom

🐛 Toddlers: Springtime Transformations

Our littlest learners are learning about seasons and life cycles this week with a study of the classic children’s book on metamorphosis: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. After reading the book in class and learning how caterpillars undergo transformation with rapid growth in the larval stage, followed by cocoon-building and emerging as butterflies, the toddlers made their own Very Hungry Caterpillars with reclaimed egg cartons and paint, showing off the fine motor skills they’ve been working on all year. Next week, to reinforce the concept of new growth and seasonal change, they’ll make butterflies - just in time for May flowers!

🖍️ Third Grade: Drawing Out

Lessons in Mishnah

As a rotating feature on the third grade bulletin board, third graders have been illustrating their weekly Mishna learning with creative interpretations of teachings that deepen understanding of key moral and halachic concepts. This week, one of the mishnayot they learned was “Lo ha-bayshan lomed,” meaning “a shy person doesn’t learn.” This, explained Morah Chaya, is why it is so important for students to have the courage to ask questions and speak out when they don’t understand an idea. Students illustrated the mishna with detailed drawings of raised hands, question marks, and a sense of confusion.

Another mishna they learned, “Al tehi noach li’chos,” translating to “don’t be quick to anger,” is often taught with the idea that one should not be like a snake, an impulsive, reactive creature that bites before thinking; snakes featured heavily in the students’ drawings.

🕸️ Fifth Grade: Food Webs

Fifth graders have been exploring ecosystems this week, with a focus on food chains and food webs. After reviewing how energy flows from the sun to producers, consumers, and decomposers, students analyzed sample food webs and identified the roles of different organisms, then created their own food webs based on specific environments, such as forests or oceans. The resulting projects demonstrated how living things are interconnected, and how multiple food chains overlap in real ecosystems, requiring an understanding of predator-prey relationships, energy transfer, and the importance of balance in nature.