Dear Parents,
I hope this letter finds you well after an enjoyable Rosh HaShannah. Although the school week was short due to the holidays, there are quite a few exciting developments at MDYHS, and it is a pleasure to share some of them with you.
I recently returned from a visit to Brooklyn College where, I am proud to announce, MDYHS has established an official presence. As part of our ongoing relationship with CUNY, we have secured a large meeting room on campus for the exclusive use of Magen David throughout the year. During the fall and spring semesters our students will have the great benefit of visiting the college to hear seminar presentations by the Deans of different departments of Brooklyn College. These seminars are being arranged by Assistant Dean Lillian O'Reilly and our own Dr. Abe Tawil, and will include presentations in the areas of business, health sciences, law, education, and other topics of interest to our students. In addition, we will be hosting events for MDYHS alumni who are currently enrolled in Brooklyn College - for their own benefit, as well as to have the alumni interact with our present students, to help advise them. Our students thus have the wonderful advantage of learning from world class educators and of being guided by "big brothers and big sisters" - MDYHS alumni - as they look ahead to their future in higher education.
And speaking of "higher" education... one of the hallmarks of our curricular programs at MDYHS is Skills-Based Education. This approach emphasizes mastery of skills and methodology in all areas of study so that students can be independent, lifelong learners who are passionate and confident in their pursuits. With that in mind, our Limudei Kodesh departments, under the talented supervision of Rabbi Joey Haber and Rabbi Ely Matalon have unveiled a Skills-Based plan for each grade.
The Ninth Grade, in all of their Limudei Kodesh classes will focus on textual skills: voacbulary, terminology, syntax and textual structure.
The Tenth Grade classes will focus on learning how to draw inferences from the text, to extrapolate problems and solutions.
The Eleventh Grade classes will focus on how to analyze a text within its broader context, thereby expanding conceptual understanding.
The Twelfth Grade classes will focus on the skills necessary to do independent, sophisticated research.
Each subject area within a given grade - Humash, Halakhah, etc. - will be working on the same skills sets, thereby reinforcing those skills throughout the year. Further, this system provides a beautiful progression - the ninth grade skills are a necessary step for mastery of the tenth grade skills, and so on. Students have told me that they already see a wonderful difference in their learning, and they feel more excited and confident about their studies!
One of the primary goals of Skills-Based education is to encourage and nurture the students' creativity. In that spirit, the English Department, under the wonderful leadership of Mrs. Rachel Harari, announced today the formation of the MDYHS Journal of Arts & Sciences, designed to showcase and celebrate the extraordinary work of our students. The journal will include essays on literature and historical research, poignant college essays, poems, works in Hebrew and Spanish, artistic photography and drawings, reflections on hessed experiences, creative business plans, scientific findings, robotics, computer design, and entrepreneurship projects. I have no doubt that the future literary masters, scholars, financial leaders, artists, and professionals will be well represented in the pages of this new, prestigious journal!
Finally, MDYHS was proud to send a delegation of students recently to the World Trade Center Memorial. Led by our Director of Student Activities, Rabbi Ben Zion Scheinfeld, and our Forensics teacher, Ms. Laura Pritchard, the students toured the site, and learned of the heartfelt tragedy and inspiring heroism surrounding 9/11. The group sought out the name of Eli Chalouh on the memorial wall; Eli was an MDYHS alumnus who perished on 9/11. Our delegation returned to school appreciative of the gift of life that we enjoy every day, and inspired to help each other in every way we can. Please see the attached photos of this poignant and moving experience.
As we face Yom HaKippurim, I take this opportunity again to wish each of you a wonderful year - one of health, happiness, and fulfillment for you and for the entire MDYHS family. And as always, please accept my warmest wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and for a great week ahead!
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Saul Zucker
