A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 54, Issue 5 • February 2020 / 5780
Administration considers finals exemption By Stella Lessler School News Editor
The Flatbush administration is s seriously considering a proposal from Senior Council to allow any seniors with an 90 average or higher in any particular class to skip the final exam for that class, members of Senior Council confirmed. The proposal was inspired by Magen David High School, which has a similar policy in place. If adopted, this rule would not apply to every class, as students will not be exempt from any AP finals, or the Israel in World Relations final. Furthermore, this new policy will not apply to any classes in which the requirements of the class cannot allow a final or final project to be replaced. “We understand that some classes have a different criteria that would prohibit them from exempting a student from a final,” Senior Council member Jack Bibi stated. Unaffected classes would include the Inquiry Beit Midrash program, for which students are required to give a final presentation, as well as Hebrew and English, which both require final papers in place of a final exam. Though the proposal has yet to be officially approved, a small number of teachers have already consented to the change. Music Appreciation teacher Mrs. Mauskop, for example, has publicly announced to her classes that she will exempt from the final any student with a 90 average or above and a minimum of 5 “pluses.” Many seniors believe the exemption initiative will have a positive effect on their attitude during the second semester. Audrey Sutton said, “I think allowing seniors to be exempt from a final for having an average above 90 would push seniors to work harder to achieve better grades as they approach the end of the year.” Other seniors expressed support for the possible new policy as they believe it will lift a lot of stress surrounding the end of the year.
In This Issue People: Page 2 D’var Torah: Page 4 Fun and Games: Page 6
Increase in applications leading to another large incoming freshman class By Diana Gindi School News Editor
About 265 applicants to Yeshivah of Flatbush high school’s class of 2025 have resulted in a waiting list for admission to the school, the first time in many years such a list has been necessary. The number of applications is the highest in over 10 years, and the incoming freshman class is expected to include seven homeroom classes for the second year in a row. The Yeshivah’s recruitment team, which includes Esther Hidary, Alyssa Shamah, and Sally Hamway, has worked long and hard to draw in more students to our school. By focusing on enhancing the Open House and proper advertising, as well as tours of the school, the team is drawing bigger crowds and increased interest. “We had about 1,000 parents and students at our open house house this year,” said Alyssa Shamah, the Recruitment Coordinator. “We feel that when
kids spend a day in Flatbush, that is what makes them want to come.” The new building has also raised interest in the school. “The new building provides a great environment for the students” Ms. Shamah said. “When you walk in, you can practically feel the energy of the school. A few eighth graders came last week and said that they had ‘the best day ever.’” There has been a recent increase in applicants from so-called feeder schools, which play a huge role in the increasing number of applicants. With the Flatbush eighth grade being around 130 students, almost half of this year’s applications have come from feeder schools. At the same time, there is greater variety in the schools from which incoming freshman are applying. “We are starting to see more applicants from Luria, Mazel, HAFTR, Shulamith, MDS, Ramaz, and more,” said Director of Admissions Esther Hidary. “The growth in new feeder schools is another factor in all of this.”
The current students at the Yeshivah have also recently become significantly happier in school, as shown in surveys, another factor that helps in convincing prospective parents that Flatbush would be a great fit for their kids. “Flatbush’s premier education and proven satisfaction can be recognized by prospective students and pushes them to apply,” Ms. Hidary said. With more freshman classes for a second straight year, some academic departments are considering hiring additional faculty for the coming school year. Ms. Hidary pointed out that this is a good problem to have. “With a trend in the size of prospective students rising each year, we can only hope that it continues to grow,” Hidary said. “With a sterling reputation, sterling education, and happy students, hopefully parents continue to realize that Flatbush is the right school for their children.”
Senior Council to debut Senior Spirit Week By Jennifer Salzman Junior Editor
With the help of Rabbi Beyda, Rabbi Galpert, and Mrs. Marcus, the Senior Council presents a week of fun activities and themed days for seniors. Usually, on Rosh Chodesh Adar there is a Senior Masquerade. For this event, the seniors dress up in costumes and the rest of the school joins them in rikudim led by Rabbi Besser. This year, however, in order to enhance the tradition of Senior Masquerade by extending it throughout the entire week. This special week is being called Senior Spirit Week and will take place from March 1 until March 5. According to Senior Council President Gabby Eisner, Senior Spirit Week was created “in honor of Purim, but also to make as many memories as possible in our few remaining months in Flatbush.” For each day of Senior Spirit Week the seniors will be dressing up in different ways. The planned days include pajama day, jersey day, Senior Masquerade,
Entertainment: How Disney and Nick shows helped shape us Page 5
and Flatbush Heat day (the seniors will dress up in the Flatbush colors or any attire that shows school pride), and class color day (each class in the grade will dress up in its own unique color). Senior Joe Shamosh explained that this week is special because it “gives a little extra to the school besides just learning. The school is giving us something positive to focus our energy on.” By celebrating Senior Spirit Week the seniors hope to leave their legacies in the school, create strong bonds with their classmates, and have as much fun as they can in their remaining time in high school. SGO Treasurer Arlyne Jemal is confident that “it’s going to be great. We got very united over the past two years and I think it’s going to be a success. Especially pajama day, something we’ve all been dying for!”
Scenes from last year’s Senior Masquerade
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Sports: Michael Soussan, five-sport star Page 8 www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 1