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DECEMBER 23, 2021 | The Jewish Home
Around the
Community HAFTR Sweeps CIJE Robotics Tournament
Talia Platschek, Hailey Zicherman, Reanna Frand, Jessica Kass, and Rachel Stein
O
n Thursday, December 16, yeshivas from all over the tri-state area teemed into a state-of-the-art robotics arena for the 2021 CIJE Robotics Tournament, hosted at the HAFTR Lower School and Middle School Campus. The event brought out an explosion of talent, excitement, and technical skill. Although only students and coaches were permitted to attend, over 300 middle school and high school students from over 25 schools showed up to compete. HAFTR Middle School maintained their winning streak, sweeping the top four playoff spots and taking the championship in the middle school division. HAFTR Middle School boasts over 30 team members forming six teams. The students greatly pride themselves on their impressive performances and their undefeated reign. “In a world where athletics are so celebrated, it is powerful to see a large group of confident motivated students pursuing a cerebral accomplishment with pride and energy,” shared HAFTR Middle School robotics team coach Mrs. Gittel Grant. Mrs. Grant serves as HAFTR Middle School Department Chair of STEM and has built a strong STEM edu-
cation program that prepares students for rigorous STEM courses at the High School level. In the High School Division, HAFTR High School was paired with Frisch in the championship round and reigned supreme, placing first, and bringing home the first ever robotics trophy to HAFTR at the high school division level. HAFTR High School robotics coach and STEM teacher, Mr. Mitchell Schanke, expressed tremendous pride in his students and expects even more precision and accomplishment come the Spring Tournament. Rabbi Baruch Noy, HAFTR Director of STEM and Education Technology, credits HAFTR’s “STEM For All” vision with the first place wins in both the middle and high school divisions. Every HAFTR Middle School student is matriculated in a STEM class which builds on skills they began learning in kindergarten. Starting STEM from a young age breeds tremendous confidence and expertise in HAFTR’s older students. In fact, members of the team that won the High School division had themselves won the Middle School division just two years earlier, the last time that
Jack Ymar, Akiva Cunningham, and Ezra Goldstein
the competition was held in-person. HAFTR Middle School robotics coach Mrs. Gittel Grant is grateful for all the support that CIJE provides Jewish Day Schools – direct mentor support, drone Olympics, and of course, a Yeshiva League Robotics Tournament which provides incredible experiential learning for the students.
