Senior Memories Class of 2015

Girls Go Camping As Part of Wellness Class

At the end of May, the Girls Wellness class went camping with their teacher and advisor Ms. Ariela Robinson. Camping was definitely an experience like no other. It all began once we arrived to the campsite located in Barryville, NY. Our first task once we arrived was to collect as much wood as we could find to start the fire. Then, we used various art supplies to create our journals. These journals would be used to write down our thoughts, experiences, and whatever connections we felt with nature. We were told to answer prompts such as "choose one aspect of nature and write as if you are that form of nature. What would you want to say to humans?"

Once we finished creating our journals we did something very unusual. After a seminar and discussion on the purpose of clothing and how society places importance on clothing, we took various pieces of fabric and dressed up some trees. It was a learning experience to strip the trees of their nature and bring them into our views on fabric, clothing, modesty, and society. 

After undressing the trees, we began to prepare dinner. Dinner consisted of a nice barbecue meal all made on fire. We made corn on the cob, chicken, hamburgers, and then to top it all off, we even made smores! We sat around the campfire for hours talking about random topics and enjoying each other's company until the wee hours of the night.

The next morning, we woke up and prayed a meaningful prayer near the beautiful river and made eggs on the fire. Then, we embarked on a 7 mile kayaking trip through the Delaware River. Those 5 hours spent kayaking was definitely a challenge yet a very fun and adventurous learning experience. 

Leaving the campsite was very difficult due to the amazing memories that the Wellness girls all shared and which we will forever cherish. ~Rivi Saad

Pathfinders Update: Learning About Franchises

Yeshivah of Flatbush students had the opportunity to learn first hand about opening a franchise on a recent Pathfinders Program trip. These students learned about how to obtain permits, the fundamentals of marketing, the importance of branding and more when they visited a soft opening of a nearby franchise. Thank you to Dweck and Bijou families for the opportunity. and thank you Mrs. Rochelle Dweck for chaperoning.

Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School Pathfinders Program:
Beginning in 9th grade, the Pathfinders counselors work with each student to discuss their interests and develop their goals. Students are then given a wide range of opportunities of places where they can volunteer, intern and explore their unique academic pursuits and career ideas. Through the Yeshivah of Flatbush Pathfinders Program, we encourage our students to discover and expand their special talents and abilities and explore career options for the future. Whether a student is actively engaged during the school year or in the summer, we are confident that each Yeshivah of Flatbush student will find a path to success.

Pathfinders Update: Knitting, Crocheting and More

Through our Pathfinders Program, Yeshivah of Flatbush students hand the opportunity to learn more about knitting. crocheting and jewelry making with Renee Cohen Safdieh, an experienced craft creator.

Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School Pathfinders Program:
Beginning in 9th grade, the Pathfinders counselors work with each student to discuss their interests and develop their goals. Students are then given a wide range of opportunities of places where they can volunteer, intern and explore their unique academic pursuits and career ideas. Through the Yeshivah of Flatbush Pathfinders Program, we encourage our students to discover and expand their special talents and abilities and explore career options for the future. Whether a student is actively engaged during the school year or in the summer, we are confident that each Yeshivah of Flatbush student will find a path to success.

Flatbush Student Creation

Students Learn How to be Mitzvah Clowns

Yeshivah of Flatbush students took part in an Areyvut Clown Training in order to learn how to be Mitzvah Clowns. Each new Mitzvah Clown is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for bikkur cholim (visiting the sick), elderly, and those with special needs. Mitzvah Clowns also learn how to apply clown make-up, create balloon animals, and initiate conversations with others who may be different from them. These students will be able to use their new skills on various Yeshivah of Flatbush Traveling Troupe outings to nursing homes and hospitals throughout the year. 

Flatbush Students Take Part in Unity Day

Flatbush Students, Shlomo Husni and Morris Shalom, (center) take part in Unity Day Learning

On June 3, 2015, Yeshivah of Flatbush students, Shlomo Husni and Morris Shalom, joined other high school students from the tri-state area for a text study event with Rabbi Ethan Tucker as part of Unity Day. Unity Day, which is sponsored by the UJA-Federation of New York is meant to foster unity among all Jews of the community. This particular event was set in memory of Naftali, Gilad, and Eyal, z"l, who were kidnapped by terrorists on their way home from school. Jews throughout the world came together to search, pray, and offer support. The families of the boys wanted to honor the memory of their children by continuing this legacy of unity.

Students Enjoy Night on the Town Before Finals

Ms. Stein along with her students from class 2-HN treated themselves to a stress-free, pre-finals night on the town that consisted of watching Finding Neverland on Broadway, grabbing some Ben and Jerry's for Bonnie Tawil's birthday, and pretty much just enjoying each other's company with Times Square as their backdrop.

STEM Students Visit the American Museum of Natural History

On Thursday May 14th, STEM students had the opportunity to attend an exclusive lecture about the New Horizons Mission at the American Museum of Natural History.

New Horizons is a spacecraft that was launched from Earth on January 19, 2006. It has been flying through space collecting data on the planets. New Horizons will make its closest approach to the dwarf planet Pluto on July 14, 2015 three billion miles away.

Yeshivah of Flatbush students talking with one of the scientists

Students got to listen firsthand from the engineers and scientists heading the mission and collecting and interpreting the data. Specifically, the lead scientists, Marc Buie and Tiffany Finley came to speak personally to our students and answer their questions.

Thanks to Ms. Benun for organizing the trip and Ms. Wernick for joining us.

Nutrition Day 2015

The Yeshivah of Flatbush Nutrition class recently hosted a nutrition event for the entire junior grade. Students were treated to a panel of alumni speakers who spoke about nutritional, physical and emotional fitness.

The first speaker, Beth Warren spoke about what foods comprise healthful meals and snacks. Then, David Jolovitz, a certified personal fitness instructor who currently works at the SCC in Brooklyn, spoke about the importance of fitness and strength training as well as how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our last speaker was Margo Chabot, who is a yoga and wellness coach. She spoke about the benefits of yoga and a balanced approach to health in order to maintain wellness and peace of mind. Ms. Chabot also stressed that yoga is not just for females. She explained that both males and females can benefit from the strength and calm that practicing yoga offers.

Following the panel students had a chance to purchase healthy no-sugar and low sugar snacks from the chefs of Crave It and Jack’s Snacks.

Thank you to Ms. Benun and our Nutrition students Rena Jajati, Ninette Smouha, Danielle Dahan and Danielle Franco for their efforts in bringing the event to fruition.

WordWright: May 2015 Results

Four teams of students representing the Yeshivah of Flatbush recently won highest honors in year-end standings of this year’s WordWright Challenge, a national competition for high school students requiring close reading and analysis of many different kinds of prose and poetry. Participating with 600 high school teams from all across the county, the school’s ninth graders placed sixth in the nation in the cumulative standings at the end of the four meets held this year. At the same time, the school’s tenth graders tied for sixth place in the nation, its eleventh graders tied for second place in the nation, and its twelfth graders placed first place in the nation. The teams were supervised by Ms. Shifra Hanon.

Seven of the school’s students won highest honors for year-long individual achievement as well: Freshman Michael Feldman was one the four highest-scoring ninth graders in the entire country in the year-end cumulative standings, while freshman Claire Lessler was one of the eight highest-scoring ninth graders nationwide. Sophomore Avraham Tessone placed among the 24 highest scoring tenth graders nationwide, while junior Victoria Gindi was one of the four highest-scoring eleventh graders, junior Dylan Sutton one of the 16 highest-scoring eleventh graders, senior Louis Franco one of the four highest-scoring twelfth graders and senior Sarah Levy one the nine highest-scoring twelfth graders nationwide.