Volume 4, Issue 12 | March 19, 2026

This week was a big one for Mercaz -- our sixth grade took its first-ever overnight trip to Albany! As spring approaches (albeit slowly), we're growing in every way. Read on for a peek into school this week and make sure to check out important dates at the bottom.

🏛️ Advocacy in Albany: Sixth Grade Makes Their Voices Heard in the State Capitol 📣

Our sixth grade class had the opportunity of a lifetime this week when they traveled to Albany for an impactful real-life civics lesson in how to effect change at the state government level. More than just a school trip, it was an empowering lesson in how their voices can make a difference.

Accompanied by Rabbi Kalman Fogel, Mrs. Jenny Demeo, and three parent chaperones, the class headed by bus to the capitol city on Tuesday (with a stop at Urban Air on the way) and met with TeachNYS representative Yakira Hirsch to prepare to meet state legislators. The students learned about current budget debates in the State Senate impacting non-public schools. Each student chose a personal advocacy point – ranging from STEM and the arts to school security – and prepared to present it.

On Wednesday, the students met with lawmakers and their teams, including Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, Assemblyman Sam Berger, and Senator Steven Rhoads, who visited Mercaz in November and gave our group a warm welcome. The meetings, organized by TeachNYS, were led by the sixth-graders, with each student having an opportunity to speak. They confidently presented their ideas on funding important programs for non-public schools to lawmakers. 

Their maturity stood out. “A number of the legislators and aides we met with said they were more passionate and more well-spoken than paid lobbyists,” noted Rabbi Fogel. “Each and every one of the kids made us so proud. It was a kiddush Hashem from beginning to end.”

A major highlight of the trip was observing the session opening at the Senate Chamber. It was an incredible moment in which Senator Rhoads spoke movingly about Mercaz, recognized each student by name in front of the Chamber, and asked the Senate to rise and applaud them.

“How many sixth graders at how many schools can say that the New York State Senate stood up and clapped for them?” asked Rabbi Fogel. “It was such an empowering experience for our students. They learned that they can really walk into an office and talk to people and make a difference. They understood that as Jewish people, they have a special role in advocating for the things that are important to our community, and they did it beautifully.”

Parents called the trip “amazing,” “unforgettable,” and “wonderful.” “It was truly something special that the kids will remember for a lifetime,” said one.

Our incredible students are tomorrow’s leaders. We’re already excited for next year’s trip – fifth graders, get ready!

🌟 Scholastic Spotlight 🌟

Social-Emotional Learning at Mercaz

Commitment to nurturing students’ social-emotional growth is a core – and unique – part of Mercaz school culture. Through our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum, students in every grade, even the very youngest, build the skills to understand their feelings, respect others, and respond thoughtfully to challenges.

Every month, our school counselor Stephanie Bobroff leads each grade in developmentally appropriate lessons that instill and strengthen these skills throughout the school year. From learning to identify and name emotions in Nursery and Kindergarten to building empathy, compassion, and problem-solving strategies in the upper grades, the curriculum focuses on a major pillar of our mission: building character in our students.

Last week, Mrs. Bobroff led the 5th grade in an activity that brought these skills into action. Students worked in teams to build the tallest structure, with one important rule: they’d be disqualified if they were unkind, impatient or yelled. The challenge required students to collaborate, consider different perspectives, and manage frustration in positive ways.

“It was a really fun and successful lesson. Rather than thinking, my way is the right way, the students were able to really listen to and respect each others’ ideas,” Ms. Bobroff explained. “We practiced what we’ve been learning all year.”

➡️➡️Curious about what Mercaz students are learning in SEL? Click here to take a look at Ms. Bobroff’s March Counselor’s Corner updates for each grade.

🌾 Melachot in the Garden 👨‍🌾

The sun was shining last week as students returned to the Mercaz GrowTorah garden, where we connected Parshat Vayakhel, and the building of the Mishkan and its vessels, to the melachot – the categories of creative work forbidden on Shabbat. We were excited to realize that many of these same categories and activities happen in our garden, such as the process of growing wheat into the bread used in the Mishkan!

Since we did the melacha of zorea (planting) our wheat in the fall, the roots stayed protected through the winter and the plants are now beginning to emerge. We also explored our garden garlic, marveling at how these plants withstood multiple snowstorms. Some classes experienced the melacha of kotzer (harvesting) by tasting a wild mustard weed. Finally, we removed wilted plants to prepare the soil for spring planting – part of the melacha of choresh.



As the warmth of spring returns, we’re excited to watch our garden grow!