Issue 8 February/March 2010 Adar/Nissan 5770
Dedicated by Anna and Sol Zuckerman and Family
Model Classroom EARLY New Added Technology Emilia-Inspired Curriculum CHILDHOOD Reggio Extended Hours of Care EDUCATION Adjusted Tuition ECE Program Generates Wait List, Excitement
In addition to renovated Parents first entering the space, Hillel’s ECE program new Early Childhood Education for 2010-2011 features (ECE) model classroom are competitive tuition, extended speechless as they walk through hours of care, low childevery corner of the space that teacher ratios and a Reggio has been thoughtfully created Emilia-inspired curriculum for preschoolers. for children to grow socially, “The excitement has emotionally and intellectually generated a wait list in PK2, at their own pace. with classes quickly filling “Hillel’s early childhood in PK3 and PK4,” said Betty program encourages creativity, Salinas, Director of Admission. curiosity and individuality “Parents are overjoyed with in an environment rich with enthusiasm when they enter the choices and challenges so new classroom,” she added. children explore and discover,” From the warm blond said Debra Abolafia, Lower bamboo floors up to the inviting School Principal. window seat with books in ECE students discover the exciting new model classroom. “One of this year’s main English and Hebrew, and from goals has been to reinvigorate the child-sized art center to the two-story loft dedicated to imagination and play, the model our early childhood program,” said Dr. Adam C. Holden, Head of classroom includes an interactive whiteboard, lap tops and learning School. “Debra Abolafia and her committee have done an excellent job centers for discovery. Hillel’s ECE classrooms will follow this model, which includes of determining target goals and ensuring we meet each one. I am a library, art studio, science and exploration center, dramatic play so pleased about the enhancements they’ve put in place so far and area, blocks and manipulatives. In and beyond the classroom, even more so about the educational plans to be unveiled over the students learn from a balanced play-and-project-based curriculum next few months,” Dr Holden said. of secular and Judaic studies, music, art and physical education.
Merit Scholars: Student Named Finalist, Three Commended
Hillel senior William Scheinman was named a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Scheinman is one of 15,000 finalists selected based William Scheinman Avi Gadish on exceptional academic achievement from across the country. About 8,200 finalists will be notified of their scholarship before June. Three students were awarded letters of commendation by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Seniors Avi Gadish, Josh Traub and Boris Treskunov were among the top five percent of the 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition.
“I am very proud of these students and their accomplishments. Not only is this a credit to the students and their families, but it is also a validation of the type Josh Traub Boris Treskunov of education that our students earn at Hillel,” said Upper School Principal Tym Bonilla. Students considered for the highly competitive National Merit Scholarship program must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by the principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s performance. Each student submits an essay and information about participation and leadership in school and community activities. Mazel Tov!
The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School The Juda and Maria Diener Elementary School The Henrietta Scheck Middle School
learning for a lifetime
TECHNOLOGY BOARD OF GOVERNORS Chairman Vice-Chairman Treasurer Secretary Immediate Past President HIP/PTA President
Gil J. Bonwitt Jorge Woldenberg Carlos Berner David Wolf Rafael Russ Amy Chafetz
Michelle Amselem Sara Bejar Uri Benhamron Dr. Judith Dach Michelle Diener Rossana Franco Anita Givner Dr. Jan Hockman Matt Kuttler Anita Lapco Sherri Lebwohl Rabbi Ezra Levy, Ed.D.
David Lichter Rabbi Avrohom Lipszyc Gary Mars Diana Mundlak Joanne Papir Eva Rub Rachel Sapoznik Marty Scheck Dana Yemin Schrager Mike Shalom Jill Shockett Hedy Whitebook
ADMINISTRATION Head of School Rabbinic Dean Principal, Lower School Principal, Middle School Principal, Upper School Director, Nativ Assistant Principal, Lower School Assistant Principal, Lower School Assistant Principal, Grades 6-12
Dr. Adam C. Holden Rabbi Michael Druin Debra Abolafia Nick Hinrichsen Tym Bonilla Carole Repensek, Ed.D. Valerie Lustgarten Tara Solomiany Joshua Meisels
ABOUT HILLEL From early childhood through Grade 12, Hillel is a Jewish community day school structured to cultivate and inspire students and to prepare them for college admission. Through meaningful religious and cultural experiences, Hillel strives to deepen students’ commitment to Judaism, the Jewish people and Israel. ACCREDITATION Hillel is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and is accredited by: Commission on International-Regional Accreditation, National Council for Private School Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Association of Independent Schools of Florida. Hillel is affiliated with: Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, National Association of College Admission Counseling, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Broward County and Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education. KOL HILLEL The Kol Hillel is a bimonthly publication of The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School/The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School, 19000 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL 33180, P: 305.931.2831. For Kol Hillel sponsorship opportunities, please contact Erica Shafir, (305.931.2831 x279/shafir@hillel-nmb.net) For submissions or information, please email Jane Yaffe at plainjanegraphics@gmail.com.
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Campaign Adds White Boards, Laptops, Computers to Classrooms The tremendous support of “Our Campus-Our Campaign,” Hillel’s recent fundraising effort among Grade 1-5 parents, has filled classrooms with state-of-the-art technology. This effort, paired with the operating budget, resulted in students schoolwide learning with 60 new interactive white boards and eight mobile computer carts - each with 24 laptops. There is also the addition of 250 desktop computers in classrooms throughout the school. “The parents’ goal was to purchase technology before the second semester, and we accomplished that. It was the first fundraising effort of its kind and was a great success,” said Erica Shafir, Director of Development. Special thanks to parents Julia and Moti Abadi, Flavia and Raphael Ades, Deborah and Flavio Hojda, and Denisse and Henry Waissman, who donated matching grants for Grades 1-5 of up to $10,000. Thanks also to HIP/PTA which partnered with Hillel to raise $100,000 in a few short weeks. Hillel says thank you to those who contributed to the campaign: Mr. and Mrs. Moti Abadi Mr. and Mrs. Larry Abbo Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Abrams Mr. and Mrs. Marcelo D. Acherman Mr. Daniel Ades Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Ades Ms. Sandy Algranatti Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Almosny Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Ammar Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Assor Mr. and Mrs. Shlomo Assraf Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Bacal Mr. and Mrs. David Bejar Mr. and Mrs. Lior Ben-Shmuel Mr. and Mrs. Alberto Benarroch Mr. and Mrs. Elias Benasayag Mr. and Mrs. Uri Benhamron Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell Benoliel Mr. and Mrs. David Bensadon Mr. and Mrs. Ariel J. Bentata Mr. and Mrs. Jaime Birmaher Mr. and Mrs. Sol Bonan Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Broide Mr. and Mrs. Michell Brown Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bursztyn Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Chehebar Mr. and Mrs. Robert Diener Mr. and Mrs. Salomon Esquenazi Mr. and Mrs. Sergio Faigenblat Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Fincheltub Mr. and Mrs. Max Fischbach Mr. and Mrs. Dan Fuhrman Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Garzon Mr. and Mrs. Eli Gelman Mr. and Mrs. Israel Getzel Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. Gilbert Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Gilinski Mr. and Mrs. David Guenoun Mr. and Mrs. Moises A. Guenoun
Mr. and Mrs. Andres Hausmann Mr. and Mrs. Todd Heller Mr. and Mrs. Flavio Hojda Mr. and Mrs. Salomon Homsany Mr. and Mrs. Allan Kiblisky Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kiblisky Dr. and Mrs. Jacobo Kirsch Dr. and Mrs. Eliecer Kurzer Mr. and Mrs. Eyal Lalo Dr. and Mrs. Paul Lapco Mr. and Mrs. Zalman Lekach Dr. and Mrs. Moises Lustgarten Mr. and Mrs. Alex Mann Mr. and Mrs. Gary Mars Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Memun Mr. and Mrs. Michael Moreinis Mr. and Mrs. Marcelo Mroz Mr. and Mrs. Simon Mundlak Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Murciano Mr. and Mrs. Philip Namiech Mr. and Mrs. Michel Polikar Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Politano Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Rayek Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Rimon Mr and Mrs. Jose Rimsky Mr. and Mrs. Andres Rosen Dr. and Mrs. Jose M. Rub Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Serfati Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shalom Mr. and Mrs. Mauricio Sion Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stiberman Mr. and Mrs. Jack Strimber Mr. and Mrs. Richard Toledano Mr. and Mrs. Johny Tryzmel Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Wakszol Dr. and Mrs. Simon Weiss Mr. and Mrs. William Yisrael Mr. and Mrs. Achikan Yogev Mr. and Mrs. David B. Yohros
Students Volunteer-Organize Efforts to Support Earthquake Victims
HELPING HAITI Hillel students of all ages organized efforts to make a difference in Haiti, after one “The Talmud tells us that a core of the worst natural disasters characteristic of the Jewish People is in history left more than one Gomley Chassadim - being charitable and million people homeless. giving. We were privileged to see this firstUpper School students hand through the various ways our students Yoni Bonan, Kevin Cooper, chose to help out with the disaster in Haiti,” Salomon Gicherman and Jade said Rabbi Michael Druin, Rabbinic Dean. Wollschlaeger were featured The students also organized a schoolwide on local and national television water drive, collected baby goods, clothing stations for spending nearly one and close to $1,000. Students brought in week at a Haitian distribution more than 1,300 bottles of water. center in Miami sorting Students in Grade 2 made get-well donations. Hillel students Yoni Bonan, Jade Wollschlaeger, The students volunteered Salomon Gicherman and Kevin Cooper volunteer at the cards in Creole for injured Haitians who recently arrived at Jackson Memorial after school, on school holidays distribution warehouse in Little Haiti Hospital for medical care. Middle School and on a weekend. After only a few days of helping, Wollschlaeger said they were assigned students Jeremy Benhamou, Alexandra Mundlak and Ilana as managers among the distribution from the Little Haiti Woldenberg raised funds to contribute to the relief efforts by the warehouse. They prepared all the donations for FedEx to Greater Miami Jewish Federation. These are only examples of the many efforts on and off campus. deliver to Haiti. “It was inspiring to see the response of our students “It made me feel a great sense of accomplishment,“ said Wollschlaeger, a Grade 11 student and a Jaime and Raquel and families wanting to do everything possible to help with the relief efforts,” Gilinski Hillel Ambassador. “I felt proud that I could help and have an impact on other said Hillel Hurwitz, Student Activities Director. “We truly have an active, caring lives,” said Cooper. “I really felt like the community was coming together to community here at Hillel.” help the Haitian community,” said Bonan, a Grade 10 student Middle School students and also Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassador. Alexandra Mundlak and Ilana Woldenberg
COLLEGE BOUND
Early Decision Sends Students to Prestigious Ivy League Schools
While most students begin to hear from colleges now, three Hillel students already have received early decision acceptances to the University of Pennsylvania and one student has been admitted early decision to prestigious The Cooper Union College in New York. Senior Avi Gadish will attend The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, an all-honors college which accepts students based on merit and awards full scholarships to all enrolled students. “I am just really happy, and I am honored,” said Gadish, a Hillel student since PK2 who first became interested in The Cooper Union in Grade 8. Seniors Shira Papir, Josh Traub and Boris Treskunov were admitted for early decision to University of Pennsylvania. Hillel seniors are accepted to Ivy League and other fine universities each year. “These are all top tier schools and this is a great accomplishment for Hillel,” said Dr. Allan Wolf, Director of College Counseling.
Dr. Wolf believes this year’s seniors will continue Hillel’s annual tradition of about 90 percent of students in a graduating class receiving acceptance to their first-choice school. A true community day school, Hillel seniors graduate to their choice of Ivy universities, state schools and gap year programs in Israel. “Hillel’s College Guidance Department has done a remarkable job in recent years making sure that our students are accepted to the schools of their choice, including some of the very best colleges and universities in the country. This year has been no different,” said Dr. Adam C. Holden, Head of School.
Gilinski Hillel Ambassador Applications
Applications are now available for students in Grades 6-12 to become Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassadors for 20102011. The program recognizes exceptional students through a grant toward Hillel tuition. Applications are available in the Advancement Office. The deadline is March 15. KOL HILLEL 3
Scene Hillel’s Got Talent!
Grade 5 student Akiva Shechter was the first place individual act winner.
Finalist from “America’s Got Talent” Hairo Torres was a celebrity judge who helped select the winners of the first Hillel’s Got Talent competition. The top prize for an individual act went to Grade 5 student Akiva Shechter for his rendition of the hit song from Les Miserables, Bring Him Home. He was awarded a ticket to Israel, sponsored by Jerry Allen Travel. The top prize for a group performance went to the rock band, The Edge, featuring Grade 6 students Jonathan Rose, Ariel Gelrud and Abraham Shalom. They performed the Green Day hit, I Walk Alone. They were awarded a $1,000 Best Buy gift certificate. Congratulations to all the talented students who auditioned and participated in the exciting event.
NEW YORK NEW YORK!
Hillel arts students spent a few days in New York City on a trip to learn about fine and performing arts. Students and chaperone Seth Dimbert, Upper School computer science teacher and technical director of Hillel’s Jordan Alexander Ressler Performing Arts Department, enjoyed New York, saw plays, toured museums, and participated in workshops. Pictured are Ben Sinyor, Jake Najjar, Ariel Auerbach, Kylie Glazer, Dana Wasserman, Daniel Wodnicki and Lily Rood. Highlights of the trip included seeing the shows Our Town, A View from the Bridge, South Pacific and The Fantasticks. Students also met with technical consultants, stage managers, actors and writers, and spent an afternoon with Orin Wolf, son of Hillel College Guidance Counselor Dr. Allan Wolf. He is a theatrical producer and had a hand in bringing the Arthur Miller drama A View from the Bridge to Broadway. The group toured the Museum of Modern Art, toured backstage after seeing South Pacific and met Rob Krausz, who currently works in show development at NBC but also wrote the play Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! which opened at Hillel on March 11.
One-Act Plays Puts Students on Stage
Lower School in Shlock Rock Lower School students Shlock Rocked for a special February Shabbat Beyachad assembly. Every month, a special Shabbat is planned where students enjoy an assembly together with other classes. This month students in Grades 3-5 participated in the Shlock Rock event, which teaches songs that strengthen Jewish concepts. 4 KOL HILLEL
Grade 6 students in Corey Feinsilver’s drama class took the stage to perform one-act plays titled The Kids’ Book of Questions. Each student selected a question and wrote the anwer as part of a creative writing process. The answer was transformed into a monologue, then into a rehearsal where the students became actors, learning about diction and voice. All the monologues came together and a one-act play was created. At the end of each quarter, students perform the one-act play before parents. “Many of the students are getting their first taste of performing; they are gaining playwriting and acting skills, and they are building confidence and becoming comfortable speaking in front of others,” Feinsilver said.
at Hillel Upper School Places 3rd in Bee
Hillel placed third in the 10th annual Dade Association of Academic Non-Public School (DAANS) Geography Bee, competing against eight private schools in Dade County. Team members include Upper School students Rebecca Battat, Brandon Berman, Alex Eibinder, Ari Gontovnik, Eli Soffer and Myles Wolfe.
Generations Day In celebration of Generations Day, early childhood classrooms were filled with parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and other relatives as they joined students for a special morning together. Families were greeted by Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassadors Esther Schoonover, Yonathan Bonan and Ariela Zebede. They then shared an activitity in the classroom, and enjoyed a chior presentation. This event has become a beautiful tradition at Hillel.
Middle School Geography Bee Students in the Middle School G e o g r a p hy Club competed in the National Geographic Geography Bee. First place winner was Elan Kainen, who will take a written exam to qualify for the state-level competition in Jacksonville. Second place winner was Joseph Mitrani, and third place winner was Sam Kainen. Special thanks to Hillel alumnae Esther Saks and Aliza Ben-Arie (’09) who volunteered to assist at the Bee.
Lower School Show Highlights Heritage in School Performance
Grade 3 students brought their diversity to the stage in a play dramatizing It’s a Small World After All. The students presentation before family and friends highlighted music from around the world and costumes representing their heritage.
Generations Day photography by Grade 11 student Taylor Cohen. KOL HILLEL 5
HIP/PTA’s annual Lower School event brought nearly 300 people together to watch theatre production Comedy with a Twist of Lemon presented by Fantasy Theatre Factory. Children enjoyed a morning of carnival games, arts and crafts, face painting and food by Kosher Subway. The event was chaired by Susy Abbo and Ileana Berentestein. HIP/PTA’s Schoolwide Mishloach Manot Exchange took place on February 26. Every family and each faculty and staff member received a Purim basket. “The fundraiser was very successful,” said HIP/PTA president Amy Chafetz. Event chairs were Julie Assor, Vanessa Benhamron and Sara Rayek. HIP/PTA is planning to offer presales of school supplies for next year. Please check the Web site for upcoming details.
Tickets on Sale for Production of Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!
Hillel is honored to recognize those who support the school with charitable gifts. Current Ma’ayan Society members are: HaKotel The Greater Miami Jewish Federation Robert and Michelle Diener Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Family HaTikvah The Scheck/Bonwitt Families
Tickets are on sale for Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! which runs March 11-15 in the Jordan Alexander Ressler Performing Arts Theatre. The play features performances by Grade 6-12 students and is directed by Upper School faculty member Seth Dimbert. The play is a musical, based around the songs of Allan Sherman, and features a small cast playing dozens of hilarious roles in a madcap homage to the American suburban Jewish experience. Tickets are available for purchase at the Online Box Office (http://www.hillel-nmb.org/boxoffice) and are $5 each. The last production sold out, so reserve your seats today!
Students Receive First Siddur
Yerushalaim shel Zahav Raphael and Flavia Ades Jorge and Tammy Woldenberg Kinneret Moti and Julia Abadi David and Sara Bejar JGB Bank Mike and Carole Shalom Massada Flavio and Deborah Hojda Frank and Rebecca Kriger Mario and Rachel Sapoznik Henry and Denise Waissman Idel and Yvette Woldenberg
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Students in Grade 1 performed for family and friends before receiving their first Siddur. The ceremony is a long standing Hillel tradition marking the beginning of a lifetime of study of Torah values.
BASKETBALL SOCCER FOOTBALL GOLF FENCING TENNIS VOLLEYBALL BASEBALL THE SPORTS A Slam Dunk Year for Hillel Athletics PAGE More students than ever before are participating in athletics at Hillel. With the addition of Lower School teams and a commitment by Hillel and parents to support the athletic programs, Hillel sports are blossoming. Athletic Director Cindy Lyon said there are double the number of athletes competing in sports, as well as double the number of wins from last year. “This has happened from having passionate, dedicated coaches, who not only coach athletes, but mentor and tutor students as well. They spend countless hours dedicating themselves to better the Hillel athletic program,� Lyon said.
Varsity Sports Roundup Boys varsity soccer ended its overall season 12-1. They are district champs, beating Dade Christian and Florida Christian. Hillel hosted the quarter semi-round of regionals beating Palmer Trinity 4-3. They lost in the semi-round against Westminster Christian.
The boys varsity basketball team ended with a winning season, 14-4, winning a basketball tournament in Houston and coming in second place in Memphis at the Cooper Yeshiva High School Invitational. The varsity girls basketball team ended its season 11-3. Both the girls and boys teams won the preseason Hebrew tournament games. The girls team is seeded 5th in the district, with Sabrina Zarco ranked 4th and Esther Schoonover ranked 6th. Girls varsity soccer ended their season 7-4.Varsity football ended 5-2 this year, versus the 2-7 last year. Varsity volleyball won 5 games this year, versus not winning any games the previous year. Golf team member Elon Rubin, made it to regional. Spring season is underway and girls softball tryouts attracted 42 athletes - 20 more than last year. Girls tennis is looking forward to making regionals again, and baseball season is just getting started.
Middle School Sports
The Middle School boys soccer team won first place in the Independent Athletic League. They played Boca Christian in the finals and won 2-1. The boys basketball team is 7-0 and will play in district. The boys flag football team ranked second place in the division. The girls volleyball team won two games. The girls soccer program grew enough to have two different teams. Girls basketball ended the season 3-3 with a few close games.
Fencing
In Grades 4-12, 17 students participated in fencing tournaments. This is the seventh year that Master Arnold Mercado is teaching students the art of fencing at Hillel. Mercado says that fencing requires a trained skill that attracts the attention of Ivy League colleges. At the recent Super Sabre competition, Ariel Croitoru came in first place, Jonathan Woldenberg second and Abrahamn Milhem third in the Youth-12 division. In the Youth-10 division, Benamin Givner came in first, Steven Dubman, second and Jonathan Woldenberg third. In the Youth-14 category, Daniel Givner came in second place.
Lower School Sports
The Lower School boys basketball team is currently 5-1 with two games remaining and on their way to the playoffs. The boys flag football team was undefeated and won the Jewish Independent League championship game. The girls only had a few games this season due to a lack of competition from other schools. The Lower School athletics grew so much, there was a need for two flag football teams and two basketball teams. The increase is also expected for soccer season.
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The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School The Juda and Maria Diener Elementary School The Henrietta Scheck Middle School 19000 NE 25th Avenue North Miami Beach, Florida 33180
Discover 2010-2011 at the
OPEN HOUSE
PK2 - Grade 12 Thursday, March 18 8:30 a.m.
305.931.2831 x136 www.hillel-nmb.org