The Phoenix 2019-2020 Issue 8

A Student Publication of the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School • 1609 Avenue J, Brooklyn, New York • Vol 54, Issue 8 • May 2020 / 5780

Coronavirus changing students’ summer plans

By Diana Gindi

an unforgettable experience, as well build his resume. “I School News Editor have no idea what they are planning to do about ILead This summer, as the Corobeing canceled,” Guy said. “I navirus continues to keep just hope I can get something most of the world shut down, done this summer that looks students at the Yeshivah of as good as ILead on my colFlatbush are in a bind, looking lege application.” for alternative summer plans “I was accepted into the from what they’d originally Bronfman Fellowship, an had in mind. all-expenses-paid trip to IsraEach summer, students el,” said junior David Hidary. find many interesting ways to spend their time off from Rabbi Besser’s annual visit to students at camp, like this 2019 “The program has decided to continue through Zoom, but I school, including internships, visit to Camp AllSport, may not be possible was really excited about spendspecialized programs, travel, ing my summer in Israel.”

Labs in the Fall to complete that portion and various jobs. However, While many students were lining up many students’ original plans are now of the program.”

Many students, including junior Emy internships, others were planning on unavailable and they must think of more Shamah, were planning on participating working at summer camps, which are creative ways to spend their free time.

Pathfinders helped many students in prestigious internships. “I was really still not definitive on whether they will find summer internships and opportuni- looking forward to shadowing a doctor be open this summer. “The potential ties months ago. Now, with many of the this summer. Opportunities like these cancellation of camp is not easy. I’m still opportunities canceled or up in the air, are what can truly guide me to what I unsure if I should look for an alternative or to stay hopeful,” said senior Audrey they’re trying to help students find out want to be in life.”

Freshman Moselle Goldstein was Sutton. more information and find alternatives.

With many cancellations and un“Many internships were cancelled, offic- planning on traveling the West Coast certainty, many students have decided with five of her friends.

“I was so excites are closed, hospitals are not business to take online summer courses. “I had as usual, and camps are still unsure,” said ed to travel on a plane for the first time Mrs. Hanon. “We are still waiting to hear without my parents. I’ve always loved a few internship leads that were all canback from the few options that we are traveling and was looking forward to celled,” said junior Ralph Betesh, “but left with and we are continuing to search gaining some independence,” she said. I’m thinking of taking an online course “I was devastated finding out that the in finance or Excel so that I can be more for remotely run programs.

Max Shalom, one of the many stu- trip was cancelled and now have no idea secure.”

The summer may not turn out to be dents who found a program through what I’ll be doing this summer.” what most people had hoped but, as alSome were going to spend their sumPathfinders, was accepted into the NYU ways, Flatbush students are sure to make ARISE Program. “The Program was sup- mers participating in programs in Israposed to be at the NYU labs but will now el. Junior Jonathan Guy was excited to the best of whatever the situation turns happen on Zoom. We may go into the partake in ILead, where he would have out to be.

Junior Editor

It is well known that most Flatbush students don’t get nearly enough sleep, but the problem appears to have gotten worse since we began distance learning, even though the school day starts much later.

“I’ve been working so hard. I have no

In This Issue People: Page 2 D’var Torah: Page 4 Fun and Games: Page 7

time to take walks, watch TV, and have time to myself,” lamented junior Daniella Kohn. “And even though school starts late I’m going to sleep later for homework so I end up getting less sleep.”

Kohn is not alone. Increasingly, students have been complaining that they simply have not been able to get enough sleep, are not able to sleep soundly, and are struggling more than usual to wake

Special Feature: Advice from graduating seniors Page 3

By Stella Lessler School News Editor

up each morning. Although this seems odd on the surface, as—after all, they are home all day—the explanation may be as simple as our new routines. The defined schedule that students have been accustomed to all their lives has now shifted.

As a result, they have been going to sleep later while at the same time waking up at unusually early times.

Quarantine has been a crazy time for us all, and that translates to some of the craziest and oddest classroom experiences in the history of Flatbush. From classic pranks to awkward occurrences, class Zoom and distance learning has been an educational but hilarious time.

From the first day of the distance learning program, the most common mistake made by Flatbush students was mixing up zoom codes. Ms. Theil’s class constantly interrupted the meetings of a man named Brian Thiel, messing up Ms. Theil’s code (btheil with an “ei”) with Mr. Thiel’s code (bthiel with an “ie”), and continued to do so throughout the past two months. The seniors in class 4-HN recall entering the wrong Zoom and, upon seeing a random man there, proceeded to yell in confusion at him to leave the Zoom as it was their class. Unfortunately, Ms. Theil was still figuring out Zoom herself, and had one of the students from her class add her to the incorrect call. She then proceeded to teach until Brian Thiel eventually gave up and left the class to use his Zoom without him.

This happened with Ms. Bloom’s classes as well, as her original code, mbloom, was already taken by a Michael Bloom in England, and landed quite a few students in some random person’s Zoom call.

Since then, her code has been updated to mbloom1 and there have been fewer mistakes (except when students forget the 1).

Following the rough beginning, the seniors have seemed to enjoy the freedom Zoom allows them, taking their Zoom classes to the park or even on car rides to nowhere. This has caused a few interesting situations, including senior Grace Madeb driving over a sudden pothole and letting out a severe shriek in the middle of class, and senior Reuven Goldstein leaving Ms. Bloom in the midst of an AP Literature class in order to save a stray dog and bring it to a shelter.

Though the seniors are enjoying their newfound freedom, some have gotten too comfortable, with some boys too lazy to put a shirt on for class in the morning, and seniors often lying in bed through-

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Is distance learning ruining our sleeping habits?

By Michael Oved

Zoom mishaps cause confusion and laughter

Entertainment: The rise of Chalamet Page 5

Sports: Highlighting four seniors Page 8 www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 1

Flatbush Family:

The Mudicks

Faculty Freshman: Ms. Dweck

By Moe Sutton

was something that should be a part of her everyday life. Having that in mind, she strives to be a teacher who doesn’t just teach math but one who shows her students that secular and Judaic studies are not independent. As Ms. Dweck exclaimed, she loves teaching because “I love being in a constant position of sharing and gaining knowledge. I love learning new things and being able to give it over to others.” There is so much she loves about teaching but one thing that stands out to her is seeing the improvement in her students and seeing the “aha” moment on her students’ faces when a concept clicks and she can see the excitement on their faces.

As a kid, Ms. Dweck’s first “career” was baking. First in Magen David elementary school and then Flatbush high school, she sold cakes and cupcakes from about 8th through 10th grade, calling her business “SimplySteph.” She doesn’t sell her creations anymore but she still loves baking for family and friends and experimenting with fun recipes whenever she can.

She began working toward her degree in mathematics in Macaulay Honors at Brooklyn College. She remembers the exact motivation that helped her make up her mind to teach math specifically.

She had always wanted to be a teacher but couldn’t decide between Judaic studies and secular studies. In high school she had Rabbi Lubner for Gemara and Halakhah as well as science. That’s when

Contributing Writer

From left: Alison, Jennifer, and Sara

By Joyce Louz Contributing Writer

Jennifer, Sara, and Alison Mudick are the Flatbush student-sibling trio you may not have seen in the halls together, but they’re a close bunch.

Jen, a junior, is the oldest out of the trio (twins Sara and Alison are sophomores). She was the first to experience Flatbush high school and is still helping to her sisters navigate the ups and downs that each new school year brings. Coming into high school, the twins felt comfortable knowing that Jen was there to prep them for what was to come.

All three are above-average students who keep their grades up with a clean rep. Alison is known as the studious sister, Sara is more outgoing, and Jen is a combination of both. Jen is the only Mudick on the Flatbush girls dance team, but all three sisters can be seen together at extracurricular events like Cooking for a Cause and SBH Thursday night cooking. Their closeness in age is what has really brought the sisters together in and outside of school.

Although Sara and Alison are in the same friend group and Jen is a grade older, the sisters have been able to branch out to different grades and all become pretty friendly with each other’s friends.

Alison and Jen’s brains put them in the same Halakhah class last year and thus began the siblings’ habit of studying together and sharing notes. The three don’t talk much in school, but at the end of the day they use their walk home together to spill the drama and vent to each other about their day.

Many people are shocked to learn that Sara and Alison are even twins. Sara says that, because of the lack of physical resemblance to each other, many teachers in high school have been surprised to find out they’re even related. Alison recalls a time last year when a teacher came up to her midway through the first semester and couldn’t believe that the two were sisters.

These days the siblings are spending what they say is “too much” time to-

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Before she was a geometry teacher at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School, math teacher Ms. Stephanie Dweck started off as a regular student in Yeshivah of Flatbush just like everyone else.

As a high school student, she was in school more than she was home, sometimes even staying there until 10 or even 11 at night. Ms. Dweck said, “Flatbush constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone and got me to try new things.” As a result, she was always doing as much as she could to get involved in the school, from being on the Tzedakah commission and the soccer team, to even being head advisor on seminar. As a student it always stood out to her how teachers were never just teachers of their subject material but were always involved in some other way in a different aspect of the school. She never realized back then how much time and effort teachers put into her education, and as a student sometimes she forgot that teachers have another 100 or so students to teach but still find the time to concentrate on you individually and not just as a part of a larger class.

Some of the teachers who had the biggest impact on her during high school were those who taught secular studies but taught while having in mind the Torah and its beliefs. It was those teachers who showed her that Judaism wasn’t just a subject for her to learn but

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A life in medicine, a lack of sleep Alumnus Interview: Marco Balas (HS ’01)

By Jennifer Neuman Contributing Writer

Dr. Marco Balas embodies the phrase “four years for the rest of your life.” Dr. Balas, a 2001 Flatbush graduate, has moved on to become a successful clinical scientist, taking with him the valuable lessons and skills he learned from high school and instilling them in his career and daily life.

One of the most important skills Dr. Balas learned in his years at Yeshivah of Flatbush was time management skills. He says that handling multiple religious and secular courses taught him a great deal about managing his time, which served as a stepping stone for him throughout college. During his time at Long Island University’s Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, he felt that he was well prepared for his college’s rigorous workload, saying that the course load was easily manageable in comparison to

The Phoenix Staff Editor-in-Chief: Raquel Silvera Managing Editor: Jayne Haddad Senior Editors: Claudine Hadef, Bonnie Melamed School News Editors: Diana Gindi, Stella Lessler Religion Editor: Rose Sternberg World News Editor: Sarah Dagmy Entertainment Editors: Rachel Lincer, Danielle Mehani Food Editor: Sarina Shalom

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she realized she didn’t have to choose one but could do both. She added, “I chose math because I love the implications it has beyond the classroom. Math plays a huge role in the lives we live, even though we are often unaware of it. I also love the puzzle that math sometimes is.

Not only solving the puzzle is fun, but also the path to figuring it out.”

In addition to teaching math at Flatbush, Ms. Dweck engages her love of Judaic studies as the co-president of Sephardic Synagogue’s young professionals minyan and also as the director of a program that is opening up a communitywide Women’s Beit Midrash to

the curriculum at Yeshivah of Flatbush.

As he moved on to the next stage of his life, Dr. Balas felt that he was not fully prepared for the diversity or the anti-Semitism seen around campus. Being surrounded by Jews throughout high school, he wasn’t so exposed to people from diverse backgrounds; the closest he got to “diversity” was exposure to people from different sects of Judaism. However, adapting to his surroundings and keeping faithful to his Jewish ideals, he was able to meet all kinds of people and shut out any negativity.

Dr. Balas always knew he wanted to study medicine, taking great interest in classes like biology and AP chemistry throughout his years at Flatbush. How-

Fashion Editors: Rose Kurland, OrDavid Menashe Fun & Games Editor: Reuben Goldstein Sports Editor: Nathan Sidaoui Junior Editors: Carole Cohen, Terri Elmann, Kaden Harari, Michael Oved, Jennifer Salzman Sophomore Editors: Elie Esses, Nicole Muravsky Staff Writters: Sylvia Mizrahi, Natalie Ryba Design: Carolina Cohen Faculty Adviser: Adam Hofstetter

ever, Dr. Balas only realized he wanted to be a clinical pharmacist in the treatment of children with cancer when he experienced a tragic loss in his family: a cousin of his passed away due to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (a blood cancer). Dr. Balas is currently ”working on developing new medications that treat cancer with fewer side effects” at a pharmaceutical company. He helps oversee the enrollment of patients onto open clinical trials, writes investigational protocols, and manages the day-to-day operations of the early-phase clinical trial.

Dr. Balas continues to work hard on a daily basis, and when asked what his hobbies were, he joked “Currently, my hobby is sleep!”

High School Administration Rabbi Raymond Harari, Head of School Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Principal Ms. Sari Bacon, Associate Principal Ms. Esther Hidary, Assistant Principal / Director of Admissions

What I learned in high school Seniors share their parting thoughts and advice

By Raquel Silvera Editor-in-Chief

For years we’ve all been reading the same poster over and over again in a bored trance in the middle of class: “30 years from now it won’t matter what shoes you wore, or how your hair looked, or the jeans you bought,” and so on.

I’m not sure any of us really gave that poster any credit until recently. Learning through Zoom means that all your classmates can see is a pixelized, delayed version of yourself; you can forget about them seeing your face clearly much less your hair, your clothes, and least of all your shoes. And when you take all of those things away there has to be something left, something real that did matter, and will matter in 30 years, something that people will remember.

I asked my fellow seniors to answer one of four questions in an attempt to clean up some of this unfinished business with our high school experience. What is one thing you’re never going to be able to do/see/have after you graduate? What is an honest piece of advice you can give to the lowerclassmen? What was a powerful moment you had that you’ll never forget? What was something bigger than yourself that you realized? They were instructed to answer only one question— whichever they felt compelled to answer.

It turned out that what was left, what mattered, was your friends, your team, your class, your grade—it was the people.

All along it was never about the clothes or the hair, it was about the person underneath. To even think that we won’t see some of our classmates ever again

is a scary thought because we’re a family in every sense of the word. The mere notion of not being able to have a color war, seminar, or rikudim, to dance and celebrate with the grade as a whole, after graduation, brought one senior to an important piece of advice: “Be yourself and be friends with everyone,” because you’re not always going to be able to have the funniest Ms. Bloom class with classmates joking around and getting into pretend fights. One senior said, “Within a blink of an eye those times will be just a memory, so appreciate it while you can.” While you’re in high school the days seem endless and time seems infinite, but the end has a way of creeping up on you. And while we can always try to stay in touch, “we’re never going to be in an environment where you know that you’re always surrounded by friends who support you and all you have to do is walk down the hall to see them.” Once we leave that building, we won’t get to experience a place full of people who we’ve grown up with and known most of our lives. Yes, we have had our differences, “but in the end there’s a lot of love in our grade and that’s something we’re all going to miss.”

From small moments to big ones, some things will always stick with us in a happy place in our hearts. For some it’s being in the same place as your friends at the same time for the same reasons. Even just “having breakfast every morning in Crawford’s was an easy highlight of the day” that every single senior is going to miss. For others, “having all your friends chanting for you and watching you” play a game you love was priceless. That “rush of adrenaline you feel while wearing the

red and gold is something unforgettable.

It’s something that is worth every second of work put in” and has shaped the characters’ of so many seniors.

For many seniors, a piece of advice that they had to express was the importance and the beauty of student–teacher relationships, because if there’s one thing Flatbush students should know, it’s that Flatbush teachers are unlike any other teachers. They maintain that it’s part of their job to educate but, almost more important, to support and mentor.

Their job doesn’t end when the period does; every one of them goes above and beyond and out of their way to extend a helping hand or a listening ear. One senior advised, “Form relationships with teachers. They’re people too, and there’s something to learn from every one of our teachers and faculty.”

Another added, “You may not realize [the impact your teachers had on you] until after high school, but it’ll happen, and it’s worth it.” And yet another senior said, “The relationships with your teachers go so far, even after high school.”

Each of our teachers has molded our minds and our hearts. They took us in freshman year and got to work. Class wasn’t just dedicated to learning the curriculum but also presented so many opportunities for conversations and meaningful moments. We would share our thoughts and personal stories with each other, and we built lasting connections as a result. In English class we would talk about our memories and stories from our childhood, and in History class we would talk about our futures and what’s in store for us.

Amidst all of the seniors’ personal memories and emotions lay words of wisdom beyond themselves. There are certain things that Flatbush has embedded in us, or exposed us to, that have become a part of our cores. One senior shared an enlightened idea that he has only come to understand after all these years: “Put yourself in others’ shoes and you’ll be standing in a kinder world.” While it’s true that Flatbush educates its students in myriad subjects, more than that it teaches its students about what it means to be a decent person and how to become the version of yourself that you can be proud of. And along with that comes all the powerful moments that each senior has experienced in those hallways, classrooms, and auditoriums.

One senior shared, “On Yom Hazikaron, when we watched that movie for the first time and I saw my teacher crying, I was so moved by the whole thing.” She had a realization that not everything in school was just material on a test; it could also be pieces of our own history that still stung like a fresh wound. At a certain point we began to understand that the pages in our textbooks were not of fictional tales, but they were the realities of our world not so long ago.

To some, the end of Seniors 2020 had already been written and signed away, but it simply isn’t the truth. Before “all of this,” we were still seniors about to graduate in June with enough emotions, stories, relationships, and knowledge to fill thousands of pages. And even when we are away from the building that brought us all of those things, they still exist within us all, and they still matter.

We’re told that we’ll remember this year because of a pandemic, and I’m here to challenge that; we’ll remember this year because it was special, it imprinted itself within us, and marked the end of an era for us. And that’s an ending that we’ll be writing for ourselves.

SGO Zoom events promote Seniors finishing year sense of community with practical electives

By Elie Esses

tremely successful so far.

Sophomore Editor The events are beloved by teachAlthough the ers and students past two months alike. Cohen said haven’t been easy that teachers are for anyone, the practically waitoutgoing SGO has ing in line to be been doing their asked to host a best to take the Zoom event of load off. The highlight of many stuSaadia family karaoke their own. Coach Gurock, whose daidents’ days is the SGO-led after-school Zoom programs ly school announcements on Instagram with members of the faculty. Some of the Live include birthday greetings and permost popular of the events were “Danc- sonal shoutouts every morning, stated ing with Coach Gurock” and “Karaoke that the Zooms give him the chance to with Mr. Saadia,” and almost every one infuse enthusiasm into the students and of the “Meet the Fam” events were men- teachers, which perhaps wouldn’t otherwise be possible during this time of distioned as students’ favorites.

Contrary to what many might think, tance learning.

Students have been extremely recepthe events weren’t originally intended for tive to the enthusiasm shown by Coach the coronavirus lockdown. Junior ComGurock and many other teachers. Sophmissioner Vivian Cohen stated that the idea came in the very beginning of the omore Jacob Cohen stated, “It was cool school year. The SGO wanted to create to learn more about the teache rs that opportunities for “students to see that I’ve built strong relationships with over their teachers were human, too.” And al- the past two years. I miss being in school though the idea never came to fruition and the calls help me connect with those during the school year, the unfortunate whom I wouldn’t speak with otherwise.”

Jennifer Neuman, another sophobreak from school served as a perfect opmore, described a similar sentiment, portunity, and the events have been ex-

By Etty Jajati Seniors have finished their regular classes and received their final report cards, but they are still learning. With the combined efforts of pathfinders and Rabbi Galpert, seniors now have a well-rounded variety of elective Zoom classes every day, including Judiac discussions, instructional classes on professional resume writing, and delving deep into discussions about poetry and economics.

The concept was simple, as Mrs. Hanon explains: “The idea was no homework—just good use of daytime hours.

Time is a gift we don’t believe in wasting.”

The classes are assignment-free and entirely optional; students are free to join whichever classes they choose. The new program, though it is completely voluntary, has been received with lots of praise from students, and adds a little extra to their otherwise uneventful days social distancing at home.

Jacob Rishty praised the practical

nature of the classes, which he said “are very important for the seniors after high school.” It’s clear that many students agree, as some of the most popular classes have been the Excel crash course with Ms. Lamm, discussions of the stock market with Mr. Morris Kishk, and the wide variety of life lessons with Ms. Caroll Dweck.

Ricky Sasson said that the less-popular classes have their advantages: “Mini crowds make a more intimate learning experience.” He added that Torah-based classes tend to have the most taken away from them in this gradeless learning system. The no-pressure feel of the program “makes it fun and, especially since motivation is already low, it’s easier to join when there’s no busywork attached.”

Another benefit is the opportunity to be in class with a variety of teachers. “The school is giving us a chance to learn with teachers I would otherwise never get to know,” said senior Diana Gindi. “I got to see another side of Ms. Setton as she was teaching a different type of class from the usual.”

saying, “It’s just really cool to see my teachers in a chill environment like that.” The Zoom events have served as a chance for students to grow even closer

to their teachers without physically being with them, and also provide a much needed escape from the everyday stresses of coronavirus and school.

Contributing Writer

www.theflatbushphoenix.com | 3

New SGO has big plans

D’var Torah:

The collective whole

By Rose Sternberg Religion Editor

The new SGO’s first meeting with Ms. Marcus and Rabbi Beyda

By Daniel Beyda Contributing Writer

The new student government seems determined to improve the quality of student life in Flatbush, whether we are in the school building or at home on Zoom.

“School takes such a heavy toll on us students with endless tests, quizzes, assignments, and so much more. As our schoolmates have so much to focus on outside of school, it’s hard for them to do that with all the work we have,” newly elected SGO President Teddy Hara explained. “It’s extremely nerve-wracking and I will propose ideas to help make that easier.”

Hara listed countless ideas to help improve student morale. “Relaxing the test schedule, proposing later minyanim, free periods, trips—all these ideas aren’t to make school a joke, rather to ease up the lives of students so they can enjoy school while tackling different things.”

Many lowerclassmen have complained about a lack of representation, and in order to solve this issue, Vice President David Shalam has been preaching for better representation for the 9th and 10th graders. “I plan to ac-

complish this by proactively addressing any student issues or concerns promptly and with the appropriate administration members who can work with us to make real change,” Shalam said. “As the voice of the students, I will strive to make every grade feel as one. I will speak for ninth graders as passionately as I will speak for seniors. My passion is not only for my friends or my grade, it is for the school as a whole, and making the school better means making sure everyone’s voice is heard.”

Historically, almost every member of SGO has claimed to bring changes to the school, but not as many have actually delivered. Many students are questioning the legitimacy of our new student representatives, especially with the current situation keeping us locked indoors. But Hara assured all of his critics that he can bring about real change.

“The key to accomplishing things is all about delivery and timing. The time to get things done is prior to the school year, when the testing schedule is still in the making and trips and schedules are still being decided,” he explained.

Little is known about what the school year will look like in September, but one thing is certain: the newly elected members of SGO hope to make it a great one.

Zoom mishaps cause confusion and laughter continued from page 1

One of Mr. Thiel’s colleagues in disbelief out the entire zoom or even doing a face mask.

In addition to the numerous hilarious situations that have occurred accidentally, many pranks have been intentionally

played, leaving teachers confused and bewildered on Zoom calls. The most iconic of these pranks occurred when all the students in the sophomore honor class turned off their videos and changed their names to “reconnecting…” leading the teacher to believe the Zoom connection had failed and they must end the call or start a new one.

Beyond all the students’ incidents, there are of course the classic teacher mess-ups that leave the class doubling over. Whether it’s having their face WAY too close to the camera or simply forgetting how to mute everyone after threatening to do so, they always seem to find a way to make the class laugh.

Flatbush Family: The Mudicks continued from page 2

gether. Their recent days in quarantine consist of doing Chloe Ting workouts, baking new desserts, and making TikTok iced coffee. They hope to be back

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to school soon and continue their usual routine of giving quick head nods to each other in the Student Commons.

This week’s parasha deals with the counting and assignment of work for the people of Israel. Split into tribes, clans, and families, every man of age was counted and every tribe was designated a place to camp. Leaders were assigned, bochorim were redeemed for Levites, and Levites were assigned tasks for the Beit HaMikdash. The people of Israel were given a sense of order that they did not have before.

They had been wandering the desert for two years at this point, ambling aimlessly, and this new structure gave them a sense of stability, a purpose. Most important, the designation of each tribe, each clan, each family, gave a sense of identity, not of the individual but of what the individual can contribute to the collective whole. Everyone would have a place among the others and a collective goal to strive for.

Similarly, every student at the Yeshivah of Flatbush is counted and considered, seen as an individual but moreso a part of the collective whole.

There are 629 students—broken into their grades, 131 seniors, 152 juniors, 163 sophomores, 183 freshmen, and further into their 5–7 classes of at least 20 students. There are 5 SGO members, 4 senior council members, 24 class representatives, multiple ad-

ministrators and a principal and rosh yeshiva.

All this to ensure that the school runs smoothly and the students are happy and well educated.

We may shout for anarchy, calling the system unfair in the heat of the moment when we’re wronged, but we don’t acknowledge the efforts put into correcting the wrongs, and we barely even acknowledge them being corrected. Every institution has problems and every system doesn’t run perfectly all the time, but it’s the parts of the whole that make it great. High school might be terrible or wonderful depending on whom you ask, but none can say that the friends they made, the classmates they had, all their fellow students who supported them and helped them every time they faltered, didn’t make the experience worth it. And that’s because the help wasn’t done to benefit the helpers, but to improve the overall situation. This is similar to God separating Israel and counting them; it was in no way to benefit him, how could it? It was to show the love he had for each individual who made up a part of the greater whole.

SGO, senior council, all the administrators, representatives, class presidents, and even simply the voice in the crowd, all of them have spent this year speaking up not for their benefit, but for ours.

Is distance learning ruining our sleep? continued from page 1

To better understand the sudden sleep struggles of Flatbush students, The Phoenix questioned 50 students from various grades. Of those 50, 72% stated that they have been feeling extra drowsy during the day as a result of shortened sleep schedules. Another 20% stated that, while they don’t feel tired during these times, they still go to sleep later and wake up earlier.

When asked why this is happening, most of the students blamed their new schedules because they now have to be on their computer or phone for at least five hours a day, which is extremely straining for their eyes. “Online school not only puts a burden on my physical state, but an even harder long lasting strain on my mental capabilities. The Zoom classes

throughout the day are very demanding on my eyes and puts a lot of tension on me,” junior David Shalam explained.

Even when the students have finished school for the day, they are using their computers for an even longer time to complete and submit homework assignments online. “At the end of the day when I finally finish all my work, my head hits the pillow and I’m out for the next 12 hours,” junior Isaac Esquenazi said.

Whether it’s the additional screen time, less exposure to sunlight due to quarantine, less physical activity, or a radical adjustment to what we have been accustomed to, the effects are certainly real and are something that needs to be considered and addressed if “distance learning” is going to be the new norm.

Faculty Freshamn: Ms. Dweck continued from page 2

help women further enhance their Judaic Studies education.

As a Flatbush graduate, Flatbush was her home away from home, so she couldn’t think of a better environment to start off her teaching career. Coming back to the school after having been a student there, she said that Flatbush has changed a lot and that “the amount of energy and life in the Commons at all hours of school is awesome to see.”

Ms. Dweck’s past connection to Flatbush certainly helps her thrive in her role as a teacher now. “Coming from Flatbush allows me to come to school and feel at home,” she said. “I did not have to worry about meeting my new colleagues or learning where everything in the school was and I was able to concentrate on the content that I was teaching and being a better teacher.”

Entertainment Timothèe Chalamet Netflix benefiting from becoming household name quality and quarantine

By Jayne Haddad Managing Editor

Timothèe Chalamet, a 24-year-old American and French actor, has gained millions of new fans over the course of the past few months. About two weeks ago a video on TikTok featuring Chalamet dancing in slow-motion went viral, with over 29.5 million views. Ever since, girls all over the world have been falling in love with his stellar acting, dark curly hair, sharp jawline, and lovable personality.

He first found fame after costarring alongside Armie Hammer in the 2017 movie adaptation of the romance novel Call Me By Your Name. His role earned him nominations for the best performance by a lead actor at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. Chalamet later went on to star in the Movie Beautiful Boy with Steve Carrell and in director Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-winning adaptation of Little Women in 2019.

The Jewish actor was born and raised in Manhattan and went to school at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. After graduating,

he attended Columbia University for a year, but transferred to New York University’s Gallatin program so that his classes were more flexible for his acting pursuits. He has dated actresses and models alike since his rise to fame.

Chalamet is also known for being a massive Kid Cudi fan and for being sheepish and awkward yet charming during interviews and while talking to fans. He has acted alongside Saoirse Ronan in three films; their special friendship, which is apparent in interviews and photoshoots, is adored by fans and a delight to watch.

As for Chalamet’s current projects, he just released a new movie with Netflix in November entitled The King, which is a historical drama detailing the reign of young King Henry V during the 15th century, and is also starring in the sci-fi movie called Dune with the actress and icon Zendaya, which comes out this December.

His versatility as an actor, his otherworldly looks, his intelligence, and his genuine personality offer plenty of verification that this is only the beginning of a very promising career.

Get creative with Pinterest

By Rachel Lincer Entertainment Editor

During the past two months, many people have found entertainment and fulfillment through many activities and hobbies which they had never done before.

There have been various artistic approaches such as paint-by-number, making photo collages, tie-dying clothes and even hair, and baking. One of the more popular platforms for people to use to help them get creative is Pinterest.

Pinterest is a visual discovery app for finding ideas for recipes, home decor inspiration, trending outfits, and more.

This app allows users to upload images, articles, blogs, or anything that has inspired them enough to place it on their “pin board.”

The way Pinterest operates is that it allows users to “pin” or post images to create a photo album, otherwise known

as a “board.” According to Pinterest, “the best Pins represent the best ideas— they’re inspirational and actionable. Create Pins that have a clear audience, and are engaging for that audience.”

Your homepage is where you’ll find pins that the app thinks you’ll love, based on your recent activity. It also shows you pins from the people, topics, and boards you choose to follow. Pinterest gathers information about you based off of your pins so you can connect with other people that share the same interests.

During quarantine, millions of people have downloaded Pinterest in order to indulge in their newly found creativity and fill their extra free time. One common Pinterest-inspired activity is printing out aesthetic pictures to decorate your bedroom walls with. People choose their pictures based on a certain

By Danielle Mehani Entertainment Editor

Tens of millions of people now spend hours of every day on Netflix. It’s no secret that Netflix is the most popular streaming network on the market, but its popularity has reached an all-time high in the past two months.

While many companies are currently suffering, Netflix is absolutely thriving. And while the main reason for that is due to the fact that millions of people are home all day with no work or school, it could also be attributed in part to the new original shows that Netflix has released over the past few weeks.

Most recently, Netflix’s brand-new show Outer Banks, a free-spirited yet thrilling show about a group of teenagers on a quest to solve their town’s biggest mystery, has reached number one on Netflix. While people believe that the reason for this is that there was a need for a newly released show during this time, others commend Netflix for their increase in great binge-worthy shows in a variety of genres. Season three of Money Heist, a gripping show about a group of criminals who come together to rob color, mood, or vibe they want to capture, and then print them out to form a collage. A Pinterest profile is not just a

the Bank of Spain and the Royal Mint of Spain, is also now booming in popularity as many people just recently learned of the bingeworthy drama despite its 2017 release.

Just as widespread quarantines began, Netflix also released a new documentary, Tiger King, about colorful zoo owner Joe Exotic, who owned thousands of tigers, allegedly illegally bred and sold them, and is now in jail for hiring a hitman to murder his main rival. Tiger King held the number one rank on Netflix for weeks as people were engrossed in the lives of those involved in the big-cat business in the U.S. and activist Carole Baskin, who fought against it. Memes about the documentary flooded social media and a previously closed murder investigation was even reopened as a result of the documentary.

While this is a devastating time for many businesses worldwide, Netflix’s good timing and their knack for producing riveting TV has them raking in viewers and dollars. Luckily for us, we’re benefiting from that as well because, let’s be honest, what else would we be doing? collection of the ideas you love, it’s a reflection of who you are.

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Fun & Games Ask Merle

Dear Merle, My sleep schedule is out of control. I go to sleep at 3 AM, wake up at 2 in the afternoon, and then, of course, I take a quick nap from 6 to 8. How do I go about making sure I get everything I need to get done every day? I keep missing classes and submitting late assignments.

Please help, Sleepyhead Dear Sleepyhead, There are two simple solutions: You need to start watching more Netflix. If you’ve already seen everything on Netflix, think about investing in Disney+ or Hulu or Apple TV or Quibi (yeah, even Quibi). This will keep you so busy you won’t have any time to sleep at all.

That way you’ll be up and about in time for your first class. I also suggest investing in some good coffee. I’m more of a strong-and-dark kinda guy, but if you like it light and smooth, you do you.

You can stop going to sleep so late.

GLASS HALF FULL

• I think I’m moving to London just for the morning British talk shows.

Imagine it being 7am and Piers Morgan is yelling about gender fluidity and gun control before your first cup of coffee.

• Sorry, not sorry that Twitter is a million times more entertaining than TikTok will ever be.

• Oh my G-d it’s May. Wow, it really sneaks up on you, doesn’t it?

• Fingers crossed for lenient college admissions next year due to current coronavirus complications.

• “OMG, I’m so sorry! There wasn’t enough toilet paper in the house and I couldn’t focus on my AP exams” “That’s OK, enjoy Harvard.”

GLASS HALF EMPTY

• I’m doing my best not to engage in sibling bashing. In all fairness, she took my scrunchies first without permission.

• I will probably walk my dog before I finish my history paper. P.S. I don’t have a dog.

• My closest friends at the moment are the Cuomo brothers.

• I recently found out that Notting Hill was based on a true story and I know I’ll never be able to forgive myself if the exact same thing doesn’t happen to me.

• I’m not a fan of SGO campaigning because some candidates make me lie to them and I don’t like lying. You try saying “No” to someone who privately texts you, “I CAN COUNT ON YOUR VOTE…RIGHT?” Terrifying.

THINGS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK MOVIES AND TV SHOWS Good Morning Britain Notting Hill Nine Months Love Actually

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Cancel your subscriptions and avoid wasting time watching TV. And do not drink coffee; studies show that even if you drink it in the morning, it can still affect your sleep that night. Doesn’t matter if it’s light or dark, it still has caffeine.

Keep away from it like the plague.

Sweet dreams, Merle Merle, I was hoping to become you next year.

I love giving advice—only when it’s asked for, though. My name isn’t Merle, though.

Is that a dealbreaker?

Paweeeeeeeease say yes, Prospective Merle Dear Merle, A few points: Not gonna lie, asking to become me is kinda creepy. I mean, like, you can, but then who would I be? Would I stop being Merle? Would I have to change my name?

Would I have to stop giving advice? What are your terms?

About giving advice, you need to change your strategy to be eligible. Merle’s job is to give advice specifically during

Four Weddings and a Funeral Chatty Man Coitus and the City After Life Skeleton Twins

THAT’S SHOW BIZ BABY

Since I have a load of free time, I have returned to my guilty pleasure: cult research. I don’t know why, but I’m obsessed with cults, particularly perversions of Christianity. I’ve been reading day and night about cults, people who leave, people who get arrested, and I cannot sleep. I’m so afraid someone is gonna baptize me and turn me into a sister wife in my sleep. It could happen.

While we’re still talking about dreams, and let’s be honest, 90% of my brain activity happens while I’m asleep, I’ve been having these crazy Hugh Grant nightmares. Usually I’m hosting The Tonight Show in pajamas and Hugh Grant either jumps out of the audience or speaks on the intercom and legit growls ’cause he has a scary jaw face. He rants on live television that I’m a fraud, I’m never gonna make it, and my ratings are plummeting.

Oof. Despite my recent mellowing out, I had this terrible headache that lasted two days and I really didn’t want to take Advil or anything because it makes me feel like a junkie. I went on a million websites and they all said drink copious amounts of water because I’m most likely dehydrated.

I thought, “Sounds legit.” So I drank about seven glasses of water in an hour. Bad, bad, bad idea. My teacher made a dumb joke on Zoom, I half giggled, and I … how shall I say this … EXPLODED. I thought water was going to come out of my eyes. But hey, I was on mute, so there’s that.

Follow me on Instagram @thenatabreeze

those times when it isn’t warranted. You have to place your opinion where it isn’t needed. That’s Merle’s job. If it was just solicited advice, well, anyone can do that, and Merle’s no Basic Bianca.

Is the name a dealbreaker? That’s a tough question to answer. If I say it is, then I would be saying that every Merle’s name was, is, and always will be Merle.

But if I say it isn’t a dealbreaker then I’d be allowing non-Merles to become Merles and I don’t know how ethical that is.

Whether Merle is Merle has plagued the minds of many Merles and non-Merles since the beginning of time. It is, in fact, the unknown that causes the aura of mystery to remain over Merle. Who is she? Is her name Merle? Is my name Merle? Is Merle even real?

As for your question whether you can be Merle…

Maybeeeee, Merle?

Dear Merle, After four years in high school, I thought it would be super sweet to thank some of my favorite teachers. What are some appropriate ways to show my gratitude?

Thankful Senior Dear Thankful, Right out of the gate, I must applaud you. Your thought is already sweet because, believe it or not, many teachers go unthanked each year. While you may be tempted to buy them a lifet i m e ’s

The Food Corner OK, confession time, people: I can’t be the only who eats out of boredom when there’s nothing else to do. And yet, the same old sprinkle cookies and chocolate bars are getting tiresome. I wanted to come up with a treat that I loved, while feeling good about what I was eating.

With ample time on my hands, I began to experiment and came up with these delicious banana chocolate chip muffins. They’re dairy free, gluten free, and refined-sugar free, so you’re probably thinking that they can’t be all that tasty, but these are no joke. Extremely moist and fluffy, you won’t want to share! The best part is, you can add whatever you’d like to them. Try swirling in some peanut butter and jelly for a PB and J muffin, or some chopped walnuts for a nice crunch!

Makes 12 muffins INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups almond flour 2 tablespoons tapioca flour/ starch or potato starch

supply of toilet paper or write their name in the sky, there are other, simpler, cheaper, but just as meaningful ways to show how much they mean to you: Zoom with them and vent about everything you love about them.

Send them an e-mail. It does not have to be a novel, but tell them how much you appreciate them or let them know what kind of impact they have made on your life.

Wish them happy birthday each year.

Something so small yet memorable can go a long way into letting a teacher know how much you care about them.

Write them a letter. Keep it simple and let them know just how much they mean to you.

Tell the principal how much you appreciate your teacher. Principals tend to hear about the negatives of a teacher from students, so letting them know that overall the teacher was fantastic can go a long way.

Check in after graduation. Let your teachers know when you have reached a milestone such as graduating college.

While this is a little far in the future, remember that they played a role in getting you there, and including them in this celebration will let them know just how much they meant to you.

Do something with your life. Nothing says thank you like being a success.

Teachers want the best for every student that they teach. When you are successful, they are successful because they know they had some influence on you and your life.

Bye for now, Merle

By Sarina Shalom Food Editor

2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 VERY ripe bananas 2 small eggs 3 tablespoons avocado oil 3 tablespoons maple syrup (I use Grade B) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips Directions: Whisk together your dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Here’s where you can get creative and add some more chocolate chips on top, sprinkle some chopped nuts, or swirl in some peanut butter!

Fill muffin liners 3/4 of the way.

Bake muffins at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. They will puff up and turn a really nice golden color!

Enjoy… and try not to eat the whole tray at once!

Fashion Virtual photoshoots become standard

By Lillian Louz Contributing Writer

Models worldwide have been participating in virtual photoshoots since the coronavirus pandemic forced them off their sets. The new way photoshoots have been happening may change the modeling industry forever.

Professionals working in the fashion, photography, and modeling industries are seen as “nonessential workers” during this time of crisis, and thus face restrictions all over the world. Since this type of work usually involves close physical interaction, it didn’t seem doable at the start. However, to keep businesses thriving, a solution was born: virtual photoshoots! This new era of FaceTime photoshoots is helping keep the fashion world alive and related businesses afloat.

“Social distancing doesn’t mean stop-

ping creating. We are lucky to live in an era that offers all the resources needed.

Stay in. We’re in this together,” photographer Alessio Albi wrote in his first quarantine photography post.

The way a photoshoot like this works is that, before the day of a shoot, equipment is sent to the model’s house with lights, a background, and a tripod. On the day of, the model is virtually connected with someone who helps her through set-up. Then, she video conferences with stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists, who help her achieve the desired look.

When the model is all prepped and ready, a FaceTime or Zoom conference with a creative team is started; the model is given any direction needed. On another device, the model records videos, takes photos, and captures content.

“There’s a first time for everything!

FaceTime photoshoot with @kat_in_ nyc,” supermodel, Cindy Crawford, captioned an Instagram photo of a picture from one of her photoshoots. “Fashion and photography

are going to be different for a while, but that doesn’t mean we need to stop being creative.”

Ideally, models don’t do all the work themselves.

Models sit in a different spot and are only called to set when needed. They have a team of experts behind the scenes prepping them for the perfect shot. Under the new circumstances, models have been required to attend crash courses via video conference to make sure they are capable of getting ready on their own. Many have said that rising to the challenge has made them more appreciative of their prep team.

“I would say it’s at least four times as much work,” says model, Terumi Murao, who has conducted multiple virtual shoots since the pandemic began.

Recently, supermodel Bella Hadid took part in a photoshoot for Vogue Italia’s April issue—completely over FaceTime. Hadid did her hair and makeup on her own for the shoot. The results proved that during this time with its restrictions art can still be made.

Earlier in April, i-D debuted a special project called Safe + Sound. 19 models from across the world, including Gigi Hadid and Adut Adech, reflected on how they’re adjusting to life indoors during these FaceTime calls.

Fans seeing some of their favorite models having photoshoots at home has given them inspiration for a quarantine activity. Many fans have posted photos of themselves recreating shoots in their

own homes.

There have been multiple issues with the new photoshoots that haven’t been addressed properly. Now that models have been having to take the photos on their own devices, industries have been looking for models with the latest iPhone and knowledge of technology. The storage space on a model’s device has also been an issue for some. In addition, many models aren’t getting properly compensated for the extra labor they are putting into these shoots.

Industry experts anticipate that new protocols may be put into place following the end of the pandemic. Models may be doing makeup on their own under the watch of a makeup artist, or their outfits will be picked out by a stylist, but the models will have to adjust the clothing themselves.

Meanwhile, this trend is spreading outside the fashion industry as well, as wedding and event photographers have been virtually conducting shoots for their clients.

Use your wardrobe to bring structure to your days

By OrDavid Menashe Fashion Editor

As humans we have developed many social morés, one of which is routine. We make a point to plan out every portion of our lives, from the college we attend to how we want to retire. But it’s not just the broad strokes, it’s the mundane. Breakfast, prayers, classes, lunch, more classes, homework, all thoughtfully planned out in advance. We even plan our spontaneity, our vacations. We find solace in

our routine; it gives us a sense of stability and assures us that we have some control over our otherwise chaotic lives.

Unfortunately in the past months we have lost all routine. And planning for tomorrow suddenly seems impossible in a world that is changing so quickly. So, if we can’t plan out tomorrow, we must plan out today.

An otherwise overlooked but integral part of our daily routine is our wardrobe.

In the past it was school clothes during the day, maybe a T-shirt and sweats in the evening, pajamas at night, our best suit or dress on Shabbat, our trendiest clothes on Saturday night, and on Sunday often a jersey and sneakers to play sports or maybe an outfit to go to the City with our 20 closest friends. No more. All we have now is pajamas.

But as we embrace physical comfort we forget that our uniform or outfit often defines the actions we

will take.

As you’ve probably guessed by now an easy start to restoring routine and structure to our lives is with the clothes we wear. It’s far more simple than we think.

Before your first class of the day, take five minutes and pick out a real outfit: shirt, pants, even shoes, the whole shebang.

And when Friday night comes, pull out a suit or dress from the closet. No one other than your family will see you wear it, but the act of putting it on will give the ambiance of Shabbat. On Sunday put on

a pair of jeans and a hip T-shirt.

Through this we gradually begin to regain control of our once lost routine.

The more often we stick to it, the stronger our routine becomes, and with it our comfort comes back. We may be just planning a day, a microcosm of our lives, yet day after day we see the effect these days have on us. As Edith Head once said, “You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.” If you want your routine and structure back, dress for it.

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Sports Finding motivation in isolation

By Simone Amkraut Contributing Writer

Amkraut practicing at home She laces up her Kyrie II’s, grabs a basketball, and swaggers onto the court.

Moving up the middle, ball low, she dribbles straight at LeBron, crosses him up, pulls to Sue Bird, spins around, jumps up, and lays the ball in for the win! The crowd roars, but only she can hear it, because while there is a real basket in her driveway, the opponents and the fans are a figment of her imagination. This is COVID-19 basketball.

As bedrooms become classrooms and once discarded dolls are the only playmates now allowed to visit, playing sports has been confined to our driveways and our imaginations. SARS-CoV-2, a microscopic parasite smaller than bacteria, is forcing us to take up the enormously big challenge of feeding our motivation from within ourselves—nothing more than our own love of the game.

For those of us who love the company of teammates, the hard-earned sweat of accomplishment, the barking of coaches who push us to give a little bit more, learning how to keep our competitive athletic edge has become a challenge.

Athletes and coaches are tasked with finding new ways to train and to play and, most important, to accelerate our motivation when the only competition is ourselves.

Whether it’s watching old game film to analyze every play, breaking down what we did in the past in order to figure out what we will do in the future, or doing online drills in modified spaces, now is the time to step up our game by adapting our workouts and practices due to lack of proper equipment and space.

It is now up to the athletes to determine what kind of athlete they want to be. Do we take this newfound free time— time we always said we never had—and find the blessing in it? Why shouldn’t we choose to make the most out of this forced isolation to prepare ourselves to be even better versions of ourselves when we come back to real life?

Technology has truly been a blessing in giving us the ability to stay in touch with our teammates and coaches, to find endless virtual workouts and new diet regimens. Our student body is grateful to the Flatbush coaches who send videos into our team chats, sharing different workouts that we can follow, and suggesting plays that we can learn. However, what is even more meaningful are the messages of hope and support. The reminder that once a team, always a team is what warms our hearts, even if it’ll be some time before we can high-five each other’s accomplishments in person.

Until then, we can make the most of our free time; we can not only play imaginary opponents, but we can choose to play the highest level of competition our minds can conjure up. For me that might be LeBron and Bird, for some of you that might be Federer and the Williams sisters, for others Rapinoe and Ronaldo. No matter what, if you are willing to challenge the best in your imagination, to put out maximum effort in the isolation of your own driveway, there’s no way you can’t tackle the greatest opponent of our time: a tiny spiked virus that will soon meet its match!

school year we have chosen to highlight multiple students, to showcase a few of the many talented players in the graduating class.

Freddy Salem

By Joey Alhadeff Contributing Writer

The seniors of 2020 have worked hard and put countless hours into school, not only academically but athletically as well.

Unfortunately, we haven’t had a chance to highlight most of the grade’s athletes, despite the fact that they’ve done so much and put so much heart into their respective teams. In our final issue of the

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Through his four years participating in the school’s athletics, Salem has been integral to the volleyball and softball teams.

Last year, Salem and the varsity volleyball team held an undefeated record, taking the Yeshiva League by storm.

Unfortunately, their promise this season was cut short by the school’s closure. He also played second base for the Softball team, leading the squad as one of their top hitters and a great fielder. “It’s been one great experience after another participating in our school’s sports,” Salem said. “Being able to represent our school on and off the field is an amazing oppor-

Eat healthy in quarantine

By Nathan Sidaoui Sports Editor

Zoom class, snack, and repeat. That’s what it seems like our days consist of in quarantine. Watching our weight is difficult when it feels like there’s practically nothing else to do except eat, but there are extremely important benefits to eating healthy in quarantine and keeping our bodies fit.

The first and most difficult question to answer: how do I eat less? Well, remember that snacking is normal, and eating regular portion sizes is definitely justified. Having a snack in between lunch and dinner, and one later in the night is still “healthy,” but to be eating every time you miss your Zoom class would be catastrophic. The key to preventing over-snacking is making the most of your meals. Eating a salad along with your regular dinner or having a piece of salmon with a side of string beans for lunch can definitely fill you up throughout the day. However, witnessing slight weight gain and going into panic mode is the worst idea.

There are two extremes to our scale: the “who cares” and the “OMG I have to fix this now.” We’ve addressed the who cares: feel good about yourself and stay healthy. There’s no Pizza Time or Crawford’s to push you to unhealthy foods, and it would take a lot more effort to eat super unhealthy than to eat healthy in your house.

tunity, and I’ve developed great relationships with teammates and coaches.”

Sylvia Mizrahi

Mizrahi has been towering over defenders for as long as fans can remember, playing for the basketball team all throughout high school. She developed a passion for basketball early in her life, and was able to be a key piece in the team’s success. Having opportunities to play in tournaments, as well as a game in the Barclays Center, Mizrahi has had great experiences with her team. She recently spoke to The Phoenix about how it felt to play her last career game as a Falcon: “It was bittersweet. Of course I was sad that it was all over, but it was also amazing to know that I can leave having made my mark on the court. The work ethic that I gained from my coaches and teammates is priceless. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Michael Escava

A true athlete, Michael Escava, or “Scavs” as he’s better known, has been on a wide variety of teams. Throughout his four years, he spent time on the floor

However, we also have the other extreme: trying to lose weight by not eating. Having a coffee for breakfast and a slice of cheese for lunch will just lead to even more problems. Your body needs calories for energy in order to burn them off. Taking in large doses of healthy meals is exponentially healthier than starving yourself until you hit a breaking point.

The key term to understand is attainability. Eating very well five days a week with two cheat days is very effective, but trying to make every day Yom Kippur is just not attainable.

The next question is a whopper: I’m not seeing anybody, who am I trying to impress? Impress yourself! You’re the only person who has to live in your skin, so make it comfortable and feel good about it. Plus, eating healthy doesn’t just help us boost our self-confidence, it helps us strengthen our immune system to fight off the coronavirus. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables gives your immune system the necessary nutrients to battle the virus and quarantine. Packing cooked vegetables and fresh fruits as a side to every meal is vital to your body’s health. Eating healthy, taking vitamins, and exercising regularly is the only way we can build up our body’s strength to fight off the virus.

Remember: attainability is everything. Be a human, eat normally, and even cheat once in a while, but find a balance.

hockey and ice hockey teams, the volleyball team, and the soccer team. “I’ve always liked playing sports, even ones that aren’t my favorite. I just love spending time with teammates and gaining new skills,” he said. “I know I’ll never have the same opportunity like this again, playing with my closest friends against other schools competitively. It’s just upsetting that it had to end this way.”

Gabby Eisner

Gabby Eisner has always been involved in all things Flatbush. Although she transferred from Ramaz, Gabby quickly became part of the Flatbush culture, taking multiple leadership positions including Senior Council, and being a strong part of the girls hockey team. Balancing sports, schoolwork, and leadership roles is a difficult task, but, Eisner said, “It was worth every minute.”

Although Eisner is especially upset that her senior year was cut short, speaking on sports specifically, she said, “It’s very tough, each teammate will always mean a lot to me and it’s a lot to handle, but I’m happy where I left things off.”