Warriors' Week in Review
Dear Parents,
What a fantastic week it has been at MDYHS! It is a pleasure for me to share a glimpse of some of the programs and events of the past few days with you.
Yesterday, seventeen students from all four grades at MDYHS were privileged to visitRockefeller University in New York City for a science seminar, arranged by Mr. Steven Kaye, our Intel Science Talent Search Director. Our young scientists heard a presentation by a leading biologist on the interaction of bacteria and human cells. Following the lecture, the presenter was extremely impressed with the question that 11th grader Ikey Shuster posed about how a physician would differentiate between harmless and harmful pathogens in the course of a bodily exam. When the students returned from the trip, 12th grader Leon Betesh told me, "I found it exciting to be on the campus of a prestigious science research facility. I had the chance to see how the roots of knowledge that we explored in high school biology classes are expanded upon in the real world of science." The future pioneers of science are coming out of MDYHS! (Please see the attached photo from this wonderful visit).
While some introductions to higher learning and career paths for MDYHS students occur during visits to places such as Rockefeller University, other such introductions occur within MDYHS itself. On Tuesday, our entire 11th grade was treated to the first of a series ofCareer Breakfasts for Juniors. Designed by our College Guidance & Career Counseling Services department under the direction of Mrs. Debbie Solomon, Mr. Steve Harris, and Mr. Daniel Zide, the Career Breakfast had adults from the community - and beyond - representing career paths in 14 different fields: accounting, business, computers / technology, dentistry, education, finance, human resources, law, medicine, music, non-profit, psychology, real estate, and retail sales. Students had "power breakfast" discussions with the career representatives who spoke about their respective fields and what it takes to prepare for and excel in those fields. Each student had the opportunity to meet with 3 different career representatives. The program has already sparked excited interest in summer internship programs among our students. (Please see the attached photos from this great program).
And speaking of career preparation, our seniors were treated this week to the second of a series of presentations by Ricky Cohen, CEO of Conway, on the topic Risk to Succeed. Mr. Cohen spoke about how a student could get the most out of an internship experience, how an intern can contribute to the business even at a young age, and how he or she can get noticed. Our seniors engaged in a wonderfully spirited dialogue with Mr. Cohen, and they loved the specific strategies for success that they were able to learn. Mr. Cohen, in turn, remarked that the MDYHS students are in a league of their own in terms of their preparedness to go out into the career world. The next step in Risk to Succeed is aseries of webinars in which our students will participate. Look out world - the young MDYHS entrepreneurs are coming!
Our career path program is complemented so well with our students' exposure to high culture. This past Wednesday, Mrs. Natalie Greenberg took a delegation of MDYHS students to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City to see the Picasso Black and White exhibit. Prior to the trip, the students had researched Picasso and had written an essay about the artist. Mrs. Greenberg mentioned that the students' interest and enthusiasm were not confined to the artwork alone - they extended as well to the architecture of the museum's classic building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. (Please see the attached photos from this enlightening visit).
The students' appreciation for creativity also extends to the written word. This past Monday, twenty-five Book Club members, under the leadership of juniors Hannah Cohenand Zachary Mosseri and under the direction of our librarian Mrs. Bruchie Weinstein, met to discuss Unwholly by Neal Shusterman. The excitement in the room was contagious as students debated analyses of plot and character development, and as they drew parallels between media propaganda in the book and in current advertisements. The Book Club members decided upon their next selections, The Giver and The Son by Lois Lowry, which they plan to discuss in February. What a great way to develop a passion for reading and for critical thinking. And while on the subject of clubs, please see the attached photo of our Cooking Club, under the direction of Mrs. Shara Netkin - our young chefs delighted in making tiramisu this week. Iron Chefs - beware the culinary experts of MDYHS!
No view toward future success is possible without a grand appreciation of the past. In that spirit, MDYHS was proud to host its Grandparents Breakfast this week, under the direction of our Hebrew department chairperson Dr. Chagit Hadar. The entire 9th grade had completed a project entitled Shorashim (Roots) in which each student interviewed his or her grandparent(s). The students then wrote a story in Hebrew about what they learned about their grandparents. At the breakfast we were privileged to host 65 sets of grandparents, along with our students and parents. Six 9th graders introduced their grandparents to the audience, and everyone enjoyed the delicious breakfast and wonderful conversation. Students told me afterward how much they appreciated the links to the previous generation, and what a strong bond they felt with their own grandparents over this warm event. What a beautiful lesson to take with us throughout our lives - and to pass on to yet the next generation. (Please see the attached photos from this inspiring and poignant event).
The warmth of our students was felt also at an event earlier in the week as well. TheYACHAD Shabbaton, coordinated by our Director of Hessed Programs, Ms. Elyse Nadjar, at which over a hundred MDYHS students and faculty participated, was an awesome sight. Our students served as role models and mentors as they helped the developmentally disabled youth of YACHAD - eating together, singing and dancing over Shabbat into Mosaei Shabbat. Many of our students told me that what they were able to give to the YACHAD members was nothing compared to what they received from being helpful to them. MDYHS students - we are so proud of you; you have learned the warmth of our heritage so well! (Please see the attached photo from this great program).
This week also saw two inspiring programs - one spiritual and one physical - for our students. On Wednesday, all of the MDYHS girls had the great privilege of hearing a presentation by renowned inspirational speaker Charlie Harary, arranged by our own Ms. Sally Mishanieh. Mr. Harary spoke about the power and meaning of tefillah, and how every Jew can find meaning in life by first looking inside and seeing the strength thatHaShem has given us. Our young ladies were enthralled by Mr. Harary's dynamic, sometimes humorous, and always meaningful messages. And yesterday, our 12th graders heard a presentation from SAFE, arranged by our own Ikey Dweck, on the critical messages of not phoning or texting while driving. A panel of police officers spoke to the students and impressed upon them the live-saving import of this lesson, and I was very impressed with the mature and well-formulated questions and comments that the students had for the officers.
Finally, in the area of sports, I am pleased to report that our Boys Varsity Basketball Team, under the great leadership of coach Ikey Dweck, defeated the team of Simhat Hayim by a score of 69-29. The higher scorer of the game was Morris Dweck with 20 points. Last night, the boys' team were victorious over the team of Yeshiva of Flatbush by a score of 70-54. Morris Dweck was again the high scorer with an impressive 23 points. Go Warriors! Look for all the sports scores as well as other breaking news at MDYHS in the latest issue of our student newspaper, The Flame, which came out today.
I write these words as I am about to go to the Junior-Senior Seminar Shabbaton, led by our Director of Student Activities Rabbi Ben Zion Scheinfeld. I am excited for the weekend, where more than 120 of our students will spend Shabbat with faculty and alumni in Somerset, NJ. I look forward to telling you all about it in next week's letter. In the meantime, as always, please accept my warmest wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and for a great week ahead!
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Saul Zucker
