HAFTR Happenings Parshat Pikudai Candle Lighting 5:36 PM Dvar Torah: Pikudai The campaign for raising money for the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, brought in an abundance of funds. With these funds, the Jewish people were able to build a magnificent temple, a tribute for Hashem. But they only built one. Why then does the Torah speak about Hashem resting in multiple places, seemingly imploring us to build multiple mishkans? Our Chazal explain that when the Torah speaks about multiple dwelling places for the Divine Presence, it was not just referring to the Mishkan. Rather, the Torah was alluding to the idea that one should make a sanctuary for Hashem within one's own heart. This sounds like a nice flowery and lofty ideal, but practically, what does it mean? The Alter of Kelm, in a eulogy for Rav Yisroel Salanter (Sifsei Chaim, Moadim, Vol. 3), explains that this is referring to tikkun hamiddot. Our task in life is to try to correct our imperfections and to constantly strive to have a pure heart, filtered from all the natural negative traits that torment the average person. This is the idea of crafting a resting place for the Shechina in our own heart. Perhaps the message of this mussar idea can impact the future of the Jewish people. We all understand that the Jewish nation has been in exile for so many years, and we yearn for the day our Beit Hamikdash, our permanent temple, will be rebuilt. Maybe, if we improve our own hearts, our own inner sanctuaries for the Divine Presence, that will in turn hasten the building of the Beit Hamikdash speedily in our days. Shabbat Shalom!

Arie Assarof for putting on Tefillin Morah Alana and Aaron Beals on the birth of a baby boy and to big sibs Kyra, Noah, and Ayla Mazal tov to Lower School faculty member Amy and Donny Bodner on the birth of a baby boy and to big sibs Emma and Jolie Mazal tov to Morah Rachel and Randy Feder on the birth of a baby boy and to big sibs Avery and Gavin Alexandra Fuchs on becoming a Bat Mitzvah Caleb Gasner on becoming a Bar Mitzvah Kate Jacobs on becoming a Bat Mitzvah Lower School Faculty member Beth and Brian Katz on the birth of a baby boy and to big sibs Kayla, Olivia, and Matthew Benjamin Katz on becoming a Bar Mitzvah Yaacov Lock on becoming a Bar Mitzvah Nate Poznanski on becoming a Bar Mitzvah Adam and Nechama Slotnick o the birth of a baby boy and to big sisters Rebecca and Libby Dovi Spira for putting on Tefillin Daphna Steinmetz on becoming a Bat Mitzvah Jonathan Troppe on becoming a Bar Mitzvah

EARLY CHILDHOOD HIGHLIGHTS

While the temperature dips below freezing outside, it’s warm and toasty in our Toddler rooms. They have been learning all about the color yellow and their rooms are truly sunny. Not only have they been finger- painting and collaging with yellow, they have also been sorting all the yellow blocks, legos, and toys in their classrooms. By the way, in the realm of toddlers, finger-painting technically means experimenting with hands, arms, elbows, and even noses!

Our toddlers had a great time experimenting with snow. When the children came to school on Monday, snow filled our playground. We simply had no choice but to bring the outdoors inside and the children had a blizzard’s worth of fun. All in a day’s work…

Did you know that the Toddlers have been studying the Greek philosopher Plato? Plato claimed that play was a means for perfecting knowledge. Mounds of studies support the play-learning connection as a primary factor in the development of intelligence. Play is how children make sense of their world, learn to socialize, and make their own decisions. Children need to play games to learn that someone wins and someone loses. Children need to experience their emotions. Free play encourages children to make choices, become independent, and solve problems on their own. Play helps to reinforce the lessons taught on a daily basis. Our Toddler bakers use the language of measure and comparison when working with a recipe.  Our Toddler builders in the room organize blocks and vehicles solving problems of space and weight. The Toddler jewelers are stringing bead necklaces and figuring out what to do next.   In the library corner, one child is pretending to be the teacher and is doing a read-aloud with his/her friends. Our budding artists are busy at the easel using their imagination and creativity to draw what’s on their mind. Through play, these children are engaged in reading, math, social studies, science and art. As we play with these budding urban planners, artists, teachers, chefs, researchers, lawyers and doctors, we know that this play is a crucial component to an appropriate early childhood classroom. Play builds a solid social, emotional, and cognitive foundation which ultimately leads to success!

Upon our return from winter break, our three’s and four’s immediately got to “work”. The four year olds had an interesting discussion on shadows in preparation for Groundhog Day. Would there be six more weeks of winter? Some children noted the paradox: If the groundhog sees its shadow, then the sun must be out. And if the sun is out, why will there be six more weeks of winter?  Well, Groundhog’s Special Secret , addresses just that topic. In the meantime, our children were busy playing outside looking for their shadows. Our playground, when the weather cooperated, was alive with the sounds of happy children playing and dancing with their own shadows. In fact, our children learned all kinds of fascinating facts about groundhogs. For instance, did you know that a groundhog can move about 700 pounds of dirt and rocks in one day? Did you know that they have a fantastic sense of smell or that they can climb trees? Did you know they can whistle? Did you know that they are studied by scientists in order to learn more about body rhythms? Perhaps the Groundhog deserves more than one day of recognition a year.

February found our classes very busy learning about presidents. The children discussed Abe Lincoln and his log cabin.   This coincided beautifully with our January discussion on Tu B’Shevat and the importance of trees. It is exciting when we can show the children how our combined American and Jewish heritage helps us in our everyday life. The “aha moment” came when we realized that one of our favorite toys, Lincoln Logs, was named for good old Abe! We even found his face on the pennies we bring each day for tzedakah. The children compared and contrasted life in Lincoln’s time to life in today’s world. There were quite a few differences and yet some things never change. For instance, we discovered that honesty is still the best policy. The children then thought about what they would do if they were president.   They all had such good ideas that I am honestly hopeful about what our future holds in store for us.

Through engaging applications, children develop their hand-eye coordination further. This occurs when children visually follow an object on the screen and actively participate in the activity the application presents. Hand-eye coordination is essential as children begin school when they learn how to use their hands and eyes while writing and drawing.

Of course, we would be remiss if we did not talk about George Washington as well. The children know that not only was he our first president, but he was a great general too. He led out troops to victory and helped establish the United States as a separate country from England. They know that he is the face of our one-dollar bill. The children were especially pleased to learn that our school’s address is named for President Washington.

As you all know, February is our traditional time to teach about safety. Being safe and secure has never been more relevant. While we need to stress the importance of taking care of ourselves, we need to be able to do it in a non-threatening manner... especially nowadays when children grow-up so fast and become more independent. One of our favorite books,  How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe , aligns perfectly with this philosophy. The authors, Jane Yolen and Mark Teague explore everyday situations from recreational safety to safety at home; the facial expressions of the dinosaurs (as well as those of the humans) are a delight, from the worried looks of dinos behaving unsafely to the loving looks of caregivers seeing their charges safe and having fun.

As part of our unit on Health and Safety, many of the children can now identify which snacks are healthier than others. It’s never too early to teach about the value of nutritious eating accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. We’d like to encourage all the parents to provide a healthy snack each day. Thank you to all of the parents and family members who helped us learn healthy habits. We hope that you will continue to reinforce what we have taught the children here in school. We also introduced the “Food Plate” which has replaced the Food Pyramid. The plate is divided into sections for fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins.

Now what would life be like in the Early Childhood if we didn’t bake? The children have made such healthy treats. The children squeezed oranges to make delicious juice while discussing how something can change from a solid to a liquid. They also made whole wheat pizza. Other classes made fruit kabobs, fruit salads, apple muffins, and oatmeal crisps. Apologies to all the bakeries on Central Avenue…we really gave you a run for your money this week. And don’t get me started on all the smoothies we made.  Soooo good! We thank the many parents who have come in to cook with us.

The New York Times recently came out with an article on 5 reasons we should be cooking with kids.   As the Times points out, cooking is a basic life skill and a source of pride for anyone who is comfortable enough in the kitchen to take a few ingredients and turn them into a simple meal. And while it is true that having children cook alongside you elongates the process (not to mention that it may make your kitchen just a tad messier) there are good reasons to encourage this practice. Here are the five reasons in a nutshell: ·     Children who cook become children who taste. ·     Children who cook say “I can” not “I can’t”. ·     Cooking is a way to talk about healthy eating habits. ·     Cooking is a way to talk about healthy ingredients. ·     Cooking brings cooks of all ages closer together. Teaching children to eat healthy during the early years is important because it provides a strong foundation for the course of their lives.  Here is a list of some of the tips the children have been sharing with each other: ·      Wipe the table with a damp paper towel before and after eating.  ·      Wash hands before and after eating. ·      Cough or sneeze into an elbow. ·      Throw away food that falls on the floor. ·      Place used utensils, cups, and plates in the sink. ·      Use serving spoons for serving, not for eating. ·      Use a napkin to wipe your hands and face. ·      Take small bites and chew completely before swallowing. ·      Eat and drink nutritious foods. ·      Visit the doctor and dentist regularly ·      Stay home if you are sick ·      Exercise ·      Get fresh air

The children were treated to another very special event this month. Otto the Auto, a talking car, came to visit us and taught the children some wonderful safety tips when traveling in a car. He explained to the children why it is unsafe to sit in the front seat and why they are too little to wear just a seatbelt. He also encouraged our youngsters to watch over their parents and grandparents and make sure they are buckled up safely too. The program included advice for the children on how to walk in the parking lot as well as many other pedestrian tips. The AAA representative confided in me that she does hundreds of presentations every year and she had never seen a better behaved audience of two, three, and four year olds. Here at HAFTR’s Early Childhood Center, good midot and mentchlekeit infuse everything we do.

Speaking of visitors, our children hosted many Moms, Dads, Grandmas, and Grandpas who volunteered their time to teach us about our teeth, our bodies, our skin. Thanks to our fiends at Hatzolah who taught us that we always have a friend in times of emergencies. Thanks to our family members who practiced yoga with us and taught us relaxation techniques.

We presented a program for our Pre-K children called Safety Kid. It was facilitated by Estee Schneider, our school psychologist. The Safety Kid methodology is founded on the following principles: ·     It takes a community to create a safe environment for a child. ·     Education provides knowledge which empowers children to make the safe and correct choice. Through puppetry and a video presentation, the children are taught the ABCD’s of safety:  Ask for help, Bring a friend, Check first, and Do tell. We learned how important it is to get help if G-d forbid we were ever lost and how important it is to find a trustworthy person (a parent, a Morah, or a policeman) if someone is trying to hurt us.

February 27 th marked the 100 th Day of School. How did we know that it was the 100 th Day of School? So glad you asked! On the first day of school, some of our children started a chart that had a picture of a hand on it. Each day of school, one finger was colored in. When a whole hand was colored, we were in school for five days. When we had 20 hands filled in, we knew that we were in school for 100 days.   Not only was the counting fun, but the hands provided a clear, visual image of what 100 is. Other classes had been adding one penny a day to a jar for each day of school thereby showing the concepts of empty and full as well as light and heavy. Still others counted 100 steps starting at one end of the hallway and seeing how far they got. Then we had some authors who wrote books comparing and contrasting using the number 100. For instance, I would like to have one hundred candies but not one hundred sticks. We discovered that 100 pennies takes up much less room than 100 legos. We counted 100 Cheerios during our snack time. We saw that 100 Cheerios fits snugly into a small container but 100 apples never could. 100 feathers took up more room than 100 pennies but it was so much lighter! All in all, we had 100 tons of fun!

Now we start counting down to the last day of school. With the help of a paper chain and a chart, the children will now learn how to count backwards towards a goal. And what is that goal, you ask? Why it’s the day our children officially become kindergartners!

Since Dr. Seuss’ birthday was on March 2, we had a week-long celebration of his wonderful books. The children have been absorbed in lots of read-alouds and lots of rhyming fun. The children love playing with words while all the while developing their reading readiness skills. Morah Naomi kicked up the fun a notch during gym and library as she combined literacy and leaping in only a way Dr. Seuss could have done.  In school we celebrated the birthday of Seuss By putting our rhyming skills to good use All week long, we read book after book We beamed with delight and with laughter we shook We may not be big or so very tall But “a person’s a person, no matter how small. ”

!radA s’ti – yppah eB…No, my computer does not have a mind of its own (well, sometimes it does). It’s just that on Thursday, the four-year olds celebrated Rosh Chodesh Adar with Topsy-Turvey Day. Everything was backwards (hint to the first words in this paragraph) and inside out. The children looked adorable as they marched in wearing different socks, funny hats, clothing on backwards, etc. Morah Fran and Morah Sara even changed around the room so things were not quite where they were expected to be. The children were ADARable! It was a lot of fun and why not.

Now out thoughts are really turned toward Purim. I know that many of you have already heard from your littlest scholars all about the silly King Achashverosh and the lovely Queen Esther.  Purim is the perfect holiday for children. Not only do the events surrounding the tales of Purim make such a great and theatrical story, but the children get to dress up in costume, act out the story, bake Hamantashen, and think about others through the giving of shalach manot. Through the story of Purim, we learn of courage, faith and the importance of being Jewish and standing up for our beliefs. We also learn how one person can make a huge difference. We are hearing such wonderful comments from our parents, from the 2’s on up, about how well their children already know about all the characters. By the time Purim rolls around, our toddlers will understand that Purim is a time when we go to shul and hear the Megillah. They will know that Haman was a bad man and that they can shake their Raashan every time they hear his name. They will know that they can dress up in a Purim costume and eat some of those delicious Hamantashen. Our three and four year olds have listened to the story in many forms – through felt boards, books, puppets, etc. and they are already beginning to act out the story themselves. We watch with delight as we see them in the multipurpose room pretending to be the various characters. They understand that they too can be brave like Mordecai and Esther. They also know that it is a mitzvah to give Tzedakah and Shalach manot and to go to shul and listen to every word in the Megillah.

Of course another way we learn the whole Megillah is through the wonderful songs of Morah Leah. Morah Leah sequences the story from beginning to end through the beauty of her lyrics and melodies. We are very excited that Purim is just around the corner. Our hallways will soon be festooned with beautiful gaggers, masks, clowns and scenes from Shushan. All of our children are really enjoying the preparations and more importantly, they are just devouring the story of the lovely Queen Esther, the Tzadikim Uncle Mordecai, and the wicked Haman. Will Purim ever get here???

We want to wish our Pre-K children a hearty Mazal Tov. Right before we left for the winter break, our yeladim received their very own siddur. Each child made a beautiful cover for his/her siddur so that each one is special. The covers also contain their Hebrew names. Our bracha for each child is that they daven with the same kavanah throughout each day of their lives that they do each day here in Pre-K. Of course, how could we have an occasion such as this without a Kiddush? Well, we didn’t exactly opt for the herring and sponge cake variety, but we did have the ice-cream with sprinkles kind!

Last but not least, our four year olds will celebrate the completion of Sefer Shemot with a Siyum on Friday. It is just unbelievable how much our parsha experts know. Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazaik!

molahS tabbahS  ydnyC grebdloG ylraE doohdlihC rotceriD (in a topsey-turvey world!)

LOWER SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה! , and what simcha we had this week as we welcomed back grades K, 1, 2 and 3 to the Lower School building. Balloons were flying, music played throughout the halls and students ran right in excited about seeing their rooms. Upon returning to the Beit Midrash, Jonah Abrahams took a deep breath and said, “I’m taking in the HAFTR air.” Students were happy in the familiarity of the building as they resumed many of their routines. It is great having everyone back on the west side of Washington Avenue.

In our time away, we continued to draw on the skills we learned at HAFTR; resiliency, perseverance, empathy and hakarat hatov . In our first week out, students felt like they were on an adventure. They learned the ins and outs of their new locations. The community opened their doors and provided additional spaces filled with engaging activities. Visits to the firehouse were well received as students brought cards and thanked first responders. Food was in abundance as an army of parents brought daily treats hoping to bring cheer to our students

As the weeks went on, we continued with many of our scheduled programs. First graders walked the land of Israel on the large map. Ms. Hammer told the story of The Stone . Using their bodies as wagons, students helped David, Sarah, Moshe and Miriam haul the sparkling golden stone to the holy city of Yerushalayim. The stone was special because it was placed in a wall to protect the Beit Hamikdash. In the future it will be part of the third Beit Hamikdash. Students danced and sang songs of Yerushalayim around the map in celebration.

Each Friday at Oneg, Rabbi Feigenbaum engaged students in a variety of activities. Students loved playing games such as Parsha Bingo and Draw the Mishkan from Memory. Videos provided opportunities for students to gain a greater understanding of the process used to make the clothing of the Kohanim.

The Rosh Chodesh Adar I activity for all grades was facilitated by the PTA and our Bat Sherut, Shirel HaCohen. Students assembled edible clowns from ice cream cones, crackers, frostings and a variety of toppings. Parents volunteered to assist and watched students enjoy their treats. The activity made everyone deliciously sameach !

Health Week was celebrated at our various temporary locations. The focus of the week was on germs. As many students spend the winter months fighting off the flu, strep and the common cold, this topic was most appropriate.   Subtopics were as varied as handwashing, viral versus bacterial diseases and the immune system. Classroom teachers supported the science specialists with read alouds, experiments and discussions. Throughout the week over 30 parents and grandparents visited classrooms in the various locations to enrich classroom conversations. Dentists, doctors, nutritionists and dance instructors were just a few of the professionals who came and shared their expertise. To enhance their ‘talk’ the professionals brought models, charts, x-rays and an abundance of giveaways. Walking in the hallways, one could overhear the students excited about their new knowledge. The students were so proud of their guests and have expressed an interest in following in their footsteps.

Dr. Jessica Kirschner, mother of Benjamin and Jordan, addressed the fifth-grade students about streptococcus. She demonstrated how bacteria spreads and showed the results of a strep culture, with bacteria growing in a petri dish. Dr. Janine Nathan, mother of fourth grade student Erin, has been volunteering and sharing her expertise with HAFTR students about “Health Week” for over 10 years. She discussed the importance of vitamins and how they boost the immune system.

The PTA provided daily healthy snacks. Students enjoyed making smoothies, fruit kabobs and ants on a log. Everyone went home with a water bottle inscribed #HAFTRhealthweek.  Students also had the advantage of additional sports activities or exercises. Kindergarten and first grades were thrilled to do Hip Hop with Lauren Balsam. Fifth grade students joined Mr. W. in the HAWK’S Nest for races.

Parent volunteer, Jennifer Gober, mom of third grader Jonah said, “This is the first time I’ve been to the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst since the kids have been learning here. They seem happy and well-adjusted. They look like they’re having a good time enjoying eating healthy.”

We have been counting the days of school since the beginning of the school year. As we counted, students enhanced their number sense and understanding of place value. Students were also able to notice patterns on the 100 chart and apply them to their math lessons.  On Wednesday, February 27 th , we reached an important milestone, the 100th Day of School! To celebrate this momentous occasion, the younger grades participated in an activity that focused on 100. Kindergarten classes took part in one of the following activities: 100 Hershey kiss hunt and then charted them on their hundredth chart; 100 steps around the school, accompanied a Jack Hartman video on 100 exercises and/or read the book, The Wolf’s Chicken Stew, by Keiko Kaasza. Second graders laughed when Morah Shayna wearing her old lady costume and bifocals, read 100th Day Worries, by Margery Cuyler. Some of the older classes wrote 100 Hebrew sentences and over 100 brachot were recited out loud in the lunchroom. Everyone took note of the day and how much knowledge they have gained in 100 days. חזק חזק ונתחזק!

Fourth grade artists visited the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Carefully holding onto the side rails, students navigated the cylindrical structure, built by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Students explored the sixty-year-old building and viewed abstract works of art from famous artists. Students admired the grand works of Hilma af Klint, an abstract artist from Sweden and viewed the w orks by Wassily Kandinsky an artist who inspired some of the fourth-grade projects that will be on display at the Evening of the Arts later this month. At a workshop, students further explored abstract art by painting shapes and using texture and color inspired by nature. Thank you to the faculty and chaperones who accompanied students on the trip.

The show must go on! Evening of the Arts is rapidly approaching, and the fourth-grade teachers and students are enthusiastically preparing. Artists are putting the finishing touches on their works and they are perfecting their music and recorder parts for that event. We look forward to greeting you in person.

Once again, we are participating in the community-wide Brachot Out Loud Campaign. Students are encouraged to say at least five brachot out loud at home and to have someone answer Amen. Each week, a neighborhood store offers a special treat to children who have completed the form for the week. This campaign uses a mitzvah to strengthen our partnership between school, home, and the community. The campaign culminates on Shabbat, March 16 th .

This week we ushered in Rosh Chodesh Adar II. Kindergarten students davened together with Morah Janet Goldman. Yeladudes , the Jewish bilingual theatre, entertained kindergarten and first grade students with the story of “The Purim Baskets-משלוח מנות.” The presentation retold the Purim story with a twist. Students identified with the main character, Sara who was assigned to write about the story of Purim for homework, but instead wrote her own Purim story. The lesson of the show mirrored the Purim message; which is that not everything seems to be what it seems at first glance.

Fifth grade students participate in a fantastic tzedakah-a-thon for Lev Leytzan, an organization of volunteer circus artists who provide restorative experiences to the sick. Facilitated by Coach Joey Hoenig, the boys signed up to participate in a one of the following tournaments; 3-on-3, Three-point contest, Foul Shooting Contest or Hotshot. The girls had a great time at Hip Hop with Lauren Balsam. The PTA sponsored give outs and students exceeded their tzedakah goal of $360.00. Thank you to the Kirschner Family for helping to sponsor this event. For more information about the tzedakah organization, see www.levleytzan.com .

The festivities continued with music during lunchtime. Everyone enjoyed the delicious treats sponsored by the PTA.  Chodesh tov ! Thank you to parents for joining us at this week’s Parent/Teacher Conferences. Everyone who attended was impressed with the set-up of the classrooms and was happy to see the new and improved hallway lighting and ceiling. Teachers took pride in conveying the ongoing accomplishments of our children. We look forward to greeting parents at next week’s conferences on Wednesday, March 13 th .

On this coming Sunday, March 10 th , our first grade talmidim and talmidot will finally receive their very first siddurim at their long awaited Chagigat Siddur ! Although the original day was postponed, students’ excitement has mounted. They have rehearsed their songs, choreography and narrations and are enthusiastically waiting to greet their guests. After students perform for their families and special guests, they will be called up one by one to receive a copy of the Koren Youth Siddur. This unique siddur includes thoughts to ponder, illustrations and questions that help lead to a deeper understanding of the meaning of our tefillot.  After a joyous shehecheyanu , the students and parents will participate in a variety of activities to enhance this special day. Together with their guests, they will create a one of a kind siddur cover, practice saying their brachot on scrumptious snacks, play a tefillah related game on iPads, and mark tefillot they daven with bookmarks. May our families continue to have much nachat from their children and may the joy in opening their first siddur leave a lasting impression for years to come. Thank you to all our families who sponsored. Please share the following link with relatives who are unable to participate but would like to see the performance:   https://livestream.com/HAFTR/siddur2019

The Purim Carnival facilitated by the fifth grade students will take place on Shushan Purim, March 22 nd . Details are forthcoming. We also plan on participating in the after-Purim Mishloach Manot Drive. Please send packaged store-bought food with a reliable hechsher and place it in our bins located in front of our Education Office. The treats will benefit the children of Ohel , JEP, and Chai Lifeline.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped open their doors and hearts to us during this time, especially Congregation Beth Sholom, the Young Israel of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, HAFTR Early Childhood and Middle School and the PTA. You have helped teach our students the true meaning of chessed and Hachnasat Orchim . While everyone is eager to return to our building, you have become a part of our lives which we will remember for a long time. Shabbat Shalom & Chodesh Tov !

Ms. Joy Hammer, Principal Ms. Tova Zucker, Assistant Principal

MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Health Week The Third Annual HAFTR Middle School Health week was a huge success! Students in all grades had an opportunity to participate in small group workshops on health topics that are relevant and practical for Middle School students. Workshop topics included Nutrition, Mental Health, Physical Health, Exercise, Mindfulness, and Body Image. We are so thankful to all of our presenters and we also want to give a big thank you to the PTA for their incredible support and partnership in planning and facilitating this program for our students!

The Best Self Well-Being Initiative So much has been going on in the realm of positive character development, spearheaded by Dr. Yali Werzberger. Here are some of our highlights.... Gotchya Board We are pleased to say that our Gotchya Board (where students who exhibit positive behavior have their names displayed) was positively teeming this month! We held our raffle are proud of our raffle winners, Elyssa Bari, Alex Ernst, Kaitlin Pollack and Daniella Aronov! We are especially impressed by the good, kind, caring and positive acts committed by each student on the board.

Mindfulness Matters Students in all grades learned more about the value and benefit of mindfulness with Dr. Werzberger and the Guidance Department. Students learned that mindfulness is all about awareness, and about focusing on the present without judgement or attachment to the moment. Mindfulness is the opposite of automatic, habitual behavior, and also the opposite of rigidly clinging to a moment. Students learned that mindfulness is so powerful because it allows us to direct our attention to whatever we choose. Attention is such a powerful tool as focusing attention on any particular thing is a key step towards mastery.  To illustrate how mindfulness helps us cope with negative emotions, students in each group created a mindfulness jar using a mason jar, glitter glue and water. Students placed different colors of glitter into the jar, naming the emotion it represented. When the jar was full of different colors and emotions, we shook the jar, at which point all we could see was different colors swirling around. We saw firsthand, how when are emotions are "swirling" it is very difficult to see or think clearly. When we stay still and mindful, our emotions begin to settle, at which points we can start seeing and thinking clearly again. Students truly enjoyed the using mindfulness jar as a representation of what goes on in their minds when they experience strong emotion, and now have skills and tools to utilize when they feel upset or overwhelmed.

Sixth Grade Advisory Our sixth graders continue to forge strong bonds with their faculty advisers and classmates at our monthly advisory meetings. In addition to sharing good news and concerns, students have engaged in a number of fun, character building activities. During our February advisory, students and faculty continued to build on the theme of mindfulness by playing "Snap, Crackle, and Pop" (ask your sixth graders all about it!), teaching us how meaningful it is to participate fully in events and how mindfulness becomes so critical to participation when there are distractions all around. A great time was had by all and we are already counting down the days to our next advisory session!

8th Grade Trip to Gurwin Nursing Home On February 20th the 8th grade girls visited the Gurwin Nursing Home with Mrs. Teitelbaum. The girls socialized with the residents one on one, facilitated Bingo and led other fun activities. Our students felt fulfilled and proud of themselves for engaging in this chesed opportunity.  As part of our school wide chesed education initiative, we look forward to hearing from Rabbi Baruch Bender from Achiezer and to hosting our first chesed fair next week.

Principal's Coffee On February 20 a Principal's Coffee was held on the topic of "Listening with Understanding and Empathy." The focus of this session was on how parents can partner with our school to provide students with strategies and skills needed for developing their ability to be active and attentive listeners. Specifically, the session focused on developing our ability to paraphrase one another’s ideas, detect indicators of feelings or emotional states in oral and body language, and accurately express another person’s concepts, emotions, and problems. For those who were unable to attend, the session can be viewed on the HAFTR Livestream:  https://livestream.com/HAFTR/events/8564766

8th Grade Trip to Ohel Chessed and Pizza…a lovely combination! On February 20th the 8th grade boys visited the Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services Headquarters in Flatbush. There they were able to observe Ohel’s brand new gorgeous facility which assists those who are developmentally disabled. The students were in awe by how our community strives to take care of all people. The boys participated in workshops with the dayhab residents by making haman-tashen and gragers for Purim. The boys engaged the residents in conversation and assisted them in the projects.  In looking at the dedication walls the boys noticed familiar HAFTR family names and learned of the responsibility that we have as proud members of the Jewish community to do great things for others. We heard fabulous presentations from Jennifer Gruenfeld, Ohel’s recruitment and volunteer Coordinator, Reggi Salzberg (Rabbi Hulkower’s mother!!!), Ohel’s Director of Program Development and Robert Katz, Ohel’s Chief Development Officer. After saying goodbye to our new friends at Ohel, we went off to Amnon’s Pizza for a delicious pizza lunch sponsored by our very our HAFTR Parent, Sol Levy.  Once the pizza filled our stomachs, Mr. Amnon Levy, that’s correct – Amnon himself -, filled our hearts by telling us of the amazing chessed Amnon’s Pizza does for the local community. Amnon then took us to the back of the store, pointed out a pair of metal doors which appeared to be securing something secret and mysterious. We were only allowed to stand from a distance and as he opened those doors (dramatic music please) we saw the magic of where and how Amnon’s Frozen Pizza is made. After benching and thanking our hosts we were given a Rabbi Siff Special tour of Eichler’s…it was a z’chus! Shout out to Rabbi Hulkower for taking care of all of the arrangements and thank you so much to Jennifer Gruenfeld of Ohel and Sol and Amnon Levy of Amnon’s for making this trip a reality.

Upcoming STEM Summit We are super excited to launch the STEM Summit 2.0 on April 9th! This year we are opting for a progressive trade-show format where students will showcase their working prototypes of new and improved products in order to win the wallets of investors. A live shark tank competition between the top teams will take place at the Summit. Visitors will have the opportunity to chose third place winners by investing their money in their favorite projects. Students will gain entrepreneurial knowledge, real-world problem solving skills, and have a chance to showcase their STEM skills in an actual product! The winning team will receive a $500 grant from Real World Scholars to produce their product. Stay tuned and save the date!

Limudei Kodesh Update This past month HAFTR Middle School's annual Judaic Studies Assessment Tests (JSAT) were once again administered. A separate assessment was given in Navi, Chumash and Gemara. The purpose of these tests is to assess the students' progress in each subject and to serve as feedback to individual teachers regarding the overall comprehension of the material that was taught during the first half of the school year. Students and teachers used this as an opportunity celebrate their academic growth and accomplishments, as well as to gather data to inform future planning. Our school wide weekly Parsha video program has become an integral part of our curriculum. . This program has allowed students to learn the important pesukim and Rashis on the Parsha by watching a slide show and listening to explanations. Students are benefitting from hearing from a different Rebbe or Morah each week.  Rosh Chodesh has become a very exciting day for our school. Students are treated to a special breakfast every month. In addition, the simcha of the day is celebrated with both staff and students dancing to music relating to the theme of that chodesh. Thank you so much to our sponsors: The Margulies Family, the Einstein Family, and the Glaubach Family. In addition, daveners of the month from all grades were recognized for their growth in Tefillah during this month. Ms. Jacobs seventh grade group were very enthusiastic about their Sunday davening incentive initiative.

Pink Day HAFTR Middle School students were excited to join Sharsheret on Wednesday, February 13th, for their annual PINK DAY, to support breast cancer awareness. Many wonderful programs were planned to raise money for such an important organization.  In the Middle School, students were given the opportunity to rid their uniform for a day! For a $2.00 donation, students dressed in their PINK DAY best! Thank you to Molly Klein & Family for sponsoring a wonderful treat of pink donuts, in honor of Molly's Aunt Lisa Altman a"h, and thank you to Chesed U Coordinator, Mrs. Alibayof, for coordinating. All proceeds from the donuts will go to Sharsheret. HAFTR's also had their first PINK DAY CHALLAH SALE!

Torah Bowl It’s been a wonderful year of Torah Learning for our Torah Bowl teams!!! Our teams have mastered sefer shmot with rashis, studying and demonstrating their knowledge with excitement and grace! Yasher koach to both teams and to Ms. Jacobs and Rabbi Siff for their leadership and for a very successful season.

Trip to the Amen Group The 8th grade girls were very inspired by their Rosh Chodesh Adar II visit to the local Amen group with Mrs. Teitelbaum. The Amen group consists of a group of women who come together daily to inspire each other, to daven, learn and grow together. Thank you to all the parents who helped provide transportation, and to Mrs. Teitelbaum for making this such a special experience for our girls.

Lawrence Mayor Visits HAFTR Middle School HAFTR Middle School was privileged to host Lawrence Mayor Alex Edelman and Village Administrator Ronald Goldman who spoke to our 8th grade students about engaging in an essay writing contest titled, "If I were Mayor." This contest allows students to submit an essay that identifies ideas or programs that they would implement if they were the mayor of our village. So far many of our students have submitted essays that are innovative and creative, and we look forward to hearing the results of the contest! Additionally, Mayor Edelman and Administrator Goldman distributed reflective sashes for walking on Shabbat so as to ensure visibility and safety.

Quick! Find the product: (x – a) (x – b) (x – c) … (x – z) Did you get 0? If not, find someone on the math team and ask them for help! All year, our math team (led by Mrs. Farber) has been having so much fun being challenged with interesting math problems. In February, advanced math students across the country took the Math League written contest. Our math team took part in this contest. Our top scorers were Matanel Ginzburg, Kaitlin Pollack, and Ari Kavulya. We are awaiting an update from the Math League, but it looks like our team scores will put us in the top!

Shabbat Shalom, Joshua Gold, Principal

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

HAFTR Hosts Yeshiva League Model Congress Tournament By David Lederer, grade 11   HAFTR High School hosted the annual Yeshiva League Model Congress Tournament on Thursday, February 21. The Yeshiva League Model Congress has grown to include 15 participating yeshiva high schools, coming from as close as the Five Towns to as far away as New Jersey. This year, HAFTR changed the venue to accommodate the high demand for space and growing number of committees. Over 200 students showed their eagerness to compete as they arrived at Lawrence High School. The students were welcomed by HAFTR High School Principal Ms. Naomi Lippman, who thanked Model Congress Co-Presidents David Lederer, Eytan Libkind and Justin Moskowitz for their efforts on behalf of the successful program. Ms. Lippman introduced HAFTR senior Elijah Gurvitch, who spoke to the delegates about the importance of Israel advocacy and described AIPAC’s critical role in promoting and strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. After the opening remarks, Faculty Advisor Mr. Alex Libkind reviewed the Model Congress rules with the students and sent them to their respective committee rooms.

Model Congress is a simulation of the United States Congress, in which students act as Senators and are tasked with solving a simulated challenge while following parliamentary procedure. Before the tournament, students are assigned committees and prepare drafted legislation to debate and deliberate. Since the fall, students worked to formulate their arguments and strategies to get their bills passed. A few weeks prior to the event, students received copies of proposed legislation from other delegates in their committee. They engaged in an intense period of review and analysis to prepare themselves for the deliberations in their room. Students’ arduous preparation and countless after-school practices culminated in a competitive tournament filled with politically knowledgeable, highly motivated students.

This unique event encourages students to voice their opinions and hone their skills in public speaking. Students gave up to three-minute speeches and argued both for and against the legislation advanced by fellow Senators. Each speaker also faced a two-minute questioning period, in which competitors got to probe into the intricacies and potential weaknesses of the speaker’s arguments. The program was divided into two sessions, separated by a pizza lunch where competitors had the chance to connect with other delegates in a less formal environment.   Each student’s performance was ranked by two judges per session. Those students who scored at the top of their room were eligible for awards. The tournament awarded 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd place Overall Competitors, who received plaques. In addition, each committee awarded a first speaker in committee, who was presented with a gavel, and a second committee finisher who received a medal.   Avery Wietschner, a junior at HAFTR High School, received first place in the Homeland Security Committee, proving his arguments to be solid and his bill to be bulletproof. At the end of the day, all the delegates left with their heads held high in recognition of their hard work and dedication. It was an outstanding event filled with passion, thrill, and drama, and HAFTR is already planning its tournament for next year.

Mock Trial Kicks Off First Competition of the Season with a Win By Molly Vashovsky, grade 11 The HAFTR High School Mock Trial team had its first competition on Wednesday, February 13. This year's case is about a man named Harley Davison who is suing his town’s housing department for denying his application to take over his great aunt’s apartment after she passed away. Serving as the respondent, our talented lawyers, Aidan Schechter, Jonathan Lederer and Emily Silverstein, argued that Mr. Davison’s claim was illegitimate and that the chief investigator came to his conclusion with rational and sound basis. To do this, each lawyer used the testimony of key witnesses, who were played by Mia Mordowitz, Jeffrey Wolberg, and Eytan Libkind. Our team prepared for months for this competition season, and our efforts were not without purpose. Due to the incredible performance by our lawyers and witnesses, our team came out victorious against Great Neck North, who represented the petitioner. The Mock Trial team looks forward to an exciting and successful competition season. A special thank you to our coaches: Mr. Avrami Aharonoff, Mr. and Mrs. Altman, Mr. Cohen, Hon. David Kirschner, and our faculty advisor, Ms. Lauren Lillien.

HAFTR SciTech Students ‘Journey To The Startup Nation’ By Nava Schein, grade 10 Ten students in the 10th and 11th grade HAFTR Science & Technology program had the opportunity to visit Israel on the CIJE Journey to the Startup Nation . This eight-day trip, organized and run by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education and Go-Inspire, highlighted why Israel is known for its advances in technology. The HAFTR students were part of a delegation of 60 students from yeshiva high schools across the country who joined the mission, led by Mrs. Judy Lebovits, vice president and director of CIJE. Students experienced a behind-the-scenes look at startups, businesses, and companies that use technology to make their products. Students visited companies such as Mobileye, a company that develops vision-based advanced driver-assistance systems which provide warnings for collision prevention and mitigation; Mazor Robotics, an Israeli medical device company and a manufacturer of a robotic guidance systems for spine surgery; and Netafim-Drip Irrigation, who manufactures and distributes crop-management technologies, including monitoring and control systems, dosing systems, and crop management software. Students also had the opportunity to visit Israel's Technion University's Biorobotics and Biomechanics Lab. In the lab, they are in the process of creating a robotic hand for children who don’t have hand function. The microcontroller used to make this hand function is called Arduino, which is the same microcontroller used in HAFTR’s SciTech class! This trip to Israel gave these ten students the opportunity to see Israel from a new, technologically advanced, perspective.

HAFTR Places First in Boys’ Torah Bowl Division Match The Boys’ Torah Bowl team to the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) travelled on Thursday, March 7, for the Eastern Division playoff round. After the Yeshiva of Flatbush and North Shore Hebrew Academy were eliminated from the competition, HAFTR’s Torah Bowl team members were victorious in two out of the three rounds against HANC. HAFTR will now move on to the championship round, which will be held after Pesach. The members of the winning Boys’ Torah Bowl team are Daniel Singer, Gabe Kurlander, Ezra Wallach, Joseph Gettenberg, Benjamin Gettenberg, Ezra Stern, Sammy Tisser, Elijah Gurvitch and Brandon Arfa. Congratulations to this outstanding group of young Torah scholars and their faculty advisor, Rabbi Hirtz, on this wonderful accomplishment.

AP Biology Students Venture to the DNA Laboratories Learning Center By Ariella Levin and Emily Bengelsdorf, grade 11 Mrs. Akerman’s AP Biology class went on an exciting and educational trip to the DNA Laboratories Learning Center in Lake Success on Monday, February 25. The students performed hands-on experiments involving genetics and biotechnology. The two experiments consisted of analyzing gel electrophoresis bands and the insertion of recombinant plasmids into bacteria (E. Coli) cells. This experience allowed students to expand their biology knowledge by observing demonstrations outside the classroom. It also showed students how advanced biotechnology has become. Students were thrilled with their experimental results and it effectively gave students an educational experience to remember. A big thank you to Mrs. Akerman for organizing this unique learning experience!

HAFTR Students Debate Justification for Sanctuary Cities HAFTR hosted its second Extemporaneous Debate Tournament on Tuesday, January 8, which featured 23 students from HAFTR, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Ramaz, and SKA High Schools.  The topic was ripped from the headlines: "Resolved: In the United States sanctuary cities are just." Students had 30 minutes to prepare, and all students had to debate both sides of the topic. Students could compete as a two-person team or individually. Each round was approximately 15 minutes and students debated 4 rounds with a final 5th round play-off between the two top teams. First place was awarded to Eytan Libkind (HAFTR), who went 5-0; Joshua Santoro & Nick Cupobianco (Lynbrook) took second place with a record of 4-1; third place was given to teams that went 3-1, including Natan Goldschlag & Elijah Gurvitch (HAFTR), Gail Hafif & Josephine Schizer (Ramaz), Breindy Burger (SKA), and Racheli Gottesman & Devorah Gottesman (HAFTR).

Student Writers Take a Trip to Adelphi University for “Press Day” By Lulu Morse, grade 9 Writers for the HAFTR Tattler and other student publications on Long Island recently attended Adelphi University’s annual journalism event, Press Day. This fascinating day was divided into two main events. The first of these events centered around a panel study that focused on the present and future challenges in the field of journalism. This study helped the student participants to understand the importance of journalistic integrity. Panelists expounded on various writing methods, and student participants were given the opportunity to improve their writing styles.

The afternoon was spent in breakout groups that were tailored to meet the needs of the participants. The sessions, which were comprised of teachers and students, laid focus upon topics such as the shift in journalism to online/social media platforms, advice on ideas and organization of written articles, and, of course, the guidelines necessary to ensure that integrity remains in the forefront of every written article. The rewarding day concluded with a delicious lunch sponsored by Adelphi University, followed by the Quill Awards presentation, given to students with noteworthy publications. Thank you to our faculty advisor, Ms. Samantha Accurso, for a wonderful and enriching day.

Senior Sports Literature Class Takes Trip to Hofstra University Mrs. Beach’s Senior Sports and Literature class took a trip to Hofstra University on Thursday, February 7, to speak to members of the Hofstra Basketball Team’s coaching and support staff, and to test out their interview skills. The class was first introduced to Assistant Basketball Coach Mike Farrelly, who told them about his career path and detailed the Pride’s 16-game winning streak, which was the longest active run in the country until it was snapped five days earlier. The seniors asked questions regarding the Pride’s playoff hopes as well as several about the team’s leading scorer Justin Wright-Foreman (often referred to by fans as “JWF”), his accolades thus far in the season, and his NBA prospects.

Students were then introduced to Sports Information Director Stephen Gorchov. Mr. Gorchov explained his role in media relations and the specific challenges and rewards that come hand in hand with a 21-4 (to date) record, the recently ended win streak, and the 16 consecutive home wins that have resulted in sellout crowds at the “Mack,” Hofstra’s sports arena. He answered questions regarding the increasing number of scouts coming to games to watch JWF and the Pride’s increasingly frequent appearances on ESPN Sports Center, the most recent a #1 spot on the Top 10 List for junior guard Eli Pemberton’s unlikely 82-foot bucket at the halftime buzzer at James Madison. Students stayed on to observe part of the team practice. They also had the opportunity to return to Hofstra for the team’s game against Towson on February 21, and Mrs. Beach’s students were able to test their sports writing skills by writing game stories on the contest.

Back to the Drawing Board Tenth grade students in the Art Institute program under the direction of Mrs. Dale Malekoff are back to doodling. They have been creating artwork for the Doodle4Google contest. This year’s theme is “When I grow up I hope…” Some of the artwork illustrated issues concerning science and space exploration, empowerment, the environment, equality, and world peace. The students created pieces that show that inspiration is all around you. The winning doodler’s artwork will be featured on the U.S. Google homepage for one day. The National winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of his or her choice and a trip to Mountain View, California for the award ceremony. The winner’s school will receive a $50,000 grant for technology programming. There are also prizes for finalists and state winners. Best of luck to our aspiring artists!

Students Participate in YUNMUN HAFTR High School sent ten students to represent the school at Yeshiva University National Model United Nations (YUNMUN) on Sunday, February 10. Yeshiva high school students from around the world gathered at the Stamford Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Stamford, Connecticut for the occasion. Playing the role of Russian and Iraqi ambassadors, HAFTR’s students participated in twelve hours of rigorous debates discussing how to solve world problems, ranging from world hunger to nuclear proliferation. During these committee sessions, our students worked with other representatives to draft the best possible resolutions to the problems in front of them. Throughout the three-day event, our students built relationships and strengthened friendships with Orthodox Jews from as far away as South Africa. YUNMUN provided HAFTR’s students the opportunity to learn the processes and challenges facing the United Nations, while being able to enjoy the experience of socializing and engaging with others.

HAFTR College Bowl Team Wins the Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County's Annual College Bowl Fundraiser, and Goes Undefeated in Regional! HAFTR participated in the annual College Bowl tournament on Thursday, February 28th, at a special facility for children with Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder that causes partial paralysis, and makes it difficult for the person with this disability to move many of their muscles. Each year, schools from all over Long Island meet at the Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County's annual College Bowl fundraiser. This year, the finals came down to HAFTR vs Rambam. Before the tournament began, a short film was presented, showing the amazing work CP Nassau does to bring awareness and assistance to the many people with Cerebral Palsy.

During the tournament, HAFTR and Rambam were tied after 4 rounds, but then, HAFTR caught a break and Rambam could not answer the 5th question. HAFTR was able to answer the question, which put them up by 4 points going into the final round. Both teams answered the final question correctly, and with a score of 11-7, HAFTR's College Bowl team was declared the winner, bringing the CP trophy back to HAFTR. The team, captain Brandon Arfa, Joseph Gettenberg, Benjamin Gettenberg, Daniel Singer, and MVP, Ezra Wallach, had a great time competing and learning more about Cerebral Palsy. The teams have also competed in two Regional League matches, with both teams winning their matches against Schechter and East Rockaway. The undefeated JV team continued to dominate their opponents this season, winning by an average of 75 points per match, and currently sitting in 10th place in all of Long Island. We are looking forward to future success in our last two Yeshiva League matches and our last Regional match, B’ezrat Hashem , in the coming month.

“Pink Day” Held to Benefit Sharsheret By Ayelet Kerstein and Elizabeth Friedman, grade 10 Sharsheret Pink Day is a worldwide initiative by students to raise awareness about breast cancer and cancer genetics and to help save lives. Students are encouraged to wear pink as a way to generate meaningful conversation, and we mark this day with a wide range of educational and fundraising events. In honor of this day, held on Wednesday, February 13, HAFTR had the privilege to hear from Mrs. Rebecca Cohen, the Long Island outreach coordinator for Sharsheret. Mrs. Cohen showed a video and spoke to students about Sharsheret’s programs and support services for women with breast cancer and their families. In the video, many women spoke about how this organization has been extremely valuable to them during such a difficult time. Following the speaker, students raised money by selling pink lemonade, pink frosted donuts and manicure services. They also held a raffle auctioning off various items and gift certificates from local stores and restaurants. Students got in the spirit of the day when they entered the building and it was decked out with pink decor. Many students wore pink or purchased a custom designed t-shirt that read “Real Hawks Wear Pink” with all proceeds to benefit Sharsharet. Overall, it was a wonderfully impactful day!

HAFTR’s Big Sibs Host a Sensitivity Training Program with Yachad By Rebecca Wenger and Eden Hirmes, grade 12   Last week, Yachad visited HAFTR High School and ran a sensitivity training for our big and little sibs! During this visit, Yachad ran interactive workshops and simulations to help us understand the experience of a person with special needs. After discussing what the students already knew about autism, the Yachad program directors shared that autism is a condition which heightens all of the senses at once, thus making it harder for people with autism to perform basic day-to-day activities. To simulate this experience, a student was then selected to build a tinker toy tower, while having all five of his senses overwhelmed. A freshman boy volunteered to build the tower, attempting to do so while his classmates were yelling, shoving food in his face, poking at him, putting scents near his nose, and flashing lights in his face. It took this boy an incredibly long time to build the tower, demonstrating how it must feel having a disorder like autism. At the close of the simulation, the room got quiet and we could tell everyone was processing what had just happened. This activity allowed us to put ourselves in the shoes of a person with special needs, proving to be quite an eye opening experience for everyone involved.

Another exercise in which we engaged was playing the game “Headbands,” but with a twist - the words they put on our foreheads were different experiences of people with special needs. While playing this game, we did not know what it said on our own forehead, but we had to walk around the room and act out the qualities listed on other people’s foreheads. Some examples of the displayed experiences were “treat me like you are scared of me,” “speak to me as if I am a child,” “do not make eye contact with me.” This activity really had an affect on us. It helped to illuminate the fact that sometimes you don’t even notice you are doing these things or acting this way towards people, but it is still wrong and hurtful. We learned that even if someone looks different on the outside, every human being is a person with feelings just like us, and they want to fit in like everyone else. This experience with Yachad helped to show us that we should all think twice about the way we speak or act towards any person, especially a person with special needs.   The next week, HAFTR put the lessons we learned in the sensitivity training to work. We were privileged to invite a handful of Yachad day-hab workers to HAFTR, where we enjoyed pizza, made pink bracelets, and designed cards for patients with breast cancer, in honor of Pink Day, which took place the following day. The event was a success and we can’t wait to do many more events in the future and help to make the world a more sensitive and inclusive place for all!

Hofstra Drama Students Perform for HAFTR Freshmen and Sophomores By Jordana Mastour, grade 10 Hofstra University drama students visited HAFTR on Friday, February 22, to perform their one-hour rendition of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream . The play, entitled What Fools! was taken out of the context of ancient Greece and set in the 1950s comic-book, science-fiction style. The production allowed for students who have read or will read the play to further their understanding by seeing the characters come alive rather than simply reading the script. Taking the play out of the classroom and onto the stage allowed students to visualize the scenes. Even though students may not have understood every word of the dialogue, the humor was not lost on them, due to the physical comedy of the players. After the performance, students were able to interact with the actors by asking questions. Many students who don't particularly like Shakespeare’s plays on paper enjoyed the show- which demonstrates how the themes and characters are timeless and can appeal to every generation.

HAFTR Chess Team Wins Intense Match By David Lederer, grade 11 HAFTR’s Chess Team was victorious in an intense match against Yeshivah of Flatbush last week. The students played fourteen games of chess, winning 11-3. The meet took place in the HAFTR High School library, where they played their games simultaneously, heightening intensity and at times gathering an audience.The players used professional clocks and abided by tournament rules. The rules give each player 30 minutes to complete their entire game and forces one to move a piece once touched. Each player from HAFTR played two games against an opponent from Flatbush, one playing white and one playing black, totaling 14 games. At the end of the match, HAFTR dominated the scoreboard, winning 11 games and losing just three. This victory gives the HAFTR team a shot at the playoffs and possibly the title. HAFTR’s team consists of many dedicated members who occasionally practice after school or during club hour. For the past two years, HAFTR has partaken in the Metropolitan Yeshiva Chess Tournament, which includes a vast array of yeshivas such as Rambam, DRS, Frisch, SAR, and Ramaz. Last year, HAFTR’s first year in the league, the team made it to the championships, just coming short of bringing home the trophy. This year, HAFTR looks to return to the finals, but will first need to win their next match. Their next opponent will be determined shortly, which will be followed by the playoffs.

Girls JV Basketball Team Wins Championship Warmest congratulations to the Girls JV Basketball Team on their undefeated season and Championship win against SAR on Thursday evening, March 7. Special thanks to coaches Jelleah Sidney and Neil Wiener!

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach! Ms. Naomi Lippman, Principal Mr. Josh Wyner, Associate Principal

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