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The Weekly Newsletter of
Weinbaum
Yeshiva High School
Parshat Shemot
Friday, December 28, 2007
Shabbat begins in Boca @ 5:19
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From the desk
of
Rabbi Perry
Tirschwell
This Monday is the most dangerous night of the
year for teenagers.
Studies of observant Jews have shown that there are
three days of the year that
teenagers are most likely to be introduced to
liquor for the first time- Purim, Simchat Torah,
and New Year's Eve.
Teenagers are significantly less likely than adults to
think twice before drinking
and driving (or driving with someone who drank). In
addition, teenagers are more physiologically likely to
become addicted to alcohol than adults.
Many of us distinguish between alcohol and
drugs. The law and the doctors do not. Both are illegal
for teenagers. The doctors will tell you that, for
teenagers, alcohol is a gateway drug to
marijuana
and harder drugs.
It is our responsibility as parents to ensure our
children's safety this Monday night. Loving your
child means not giving him or her the option to make a
bad decision. Teenagers are placed in situations on
New Year's Eve where the peer pressure to do illegal
and illicit things is overpowering.
Keep your children safe. Stay home with them on
Monday night.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
Click
on the images below
to
link to these
nine websites
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Upcoming Events
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Girls JV Basketball
vs
Faculty
Saturday,
December 29
8:00 pm @ Boca Prep
Boys JV Basketball
vs
Faculty
Saturday,
December 29
9:30 pm @ Boca Prep
New Year's Day- No School
Tuesday, January 1
Auditions for Comedy
Wednesday, January 2
Guys & Dolls Cast Party
Saturday, January 5
Boys Alumni Shabbaton
in
Israel
Friday, January 4-5
Click Here To Order Your
Storm Klipped Kippahs
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Good and Welfare
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Mazel Tov To:
Moshe Genet ('06) on his being sworn
into the Israeli Army's Nachal unit.
Netanel Schlesinger on his marriage to
Netanela.
Condolences To:
Charles Tractenberg on the loss of his
father.
Mrs. Beverly Weiss on this loss of her
brother.
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A Blast on the
Beach
Sophomores spend an incredible Shabbat in
Miami Beach
By LeeLee Borzak '(10)
As the final bell of the day rang last
Friday, 10th graders excitedly boarded the
buses,
eager for the Sophomore Shabbaton in Miami
Beach. After
arriving in Miami Beach, each student went to one of
their
classmate's homes,
a different WYHS family, or other
community members to get ready for Shabbat.
Along with the sophomores, several
teachers and their families attended the shabbaton
and had the opportunity to get to know
the WYHS Miami Beach students' families. Having the
teachers at the shabbaton also afforded the 10th
graders the opportunity to spend
more time with their teachers outside of the
classroom and
talk to them on a more personal level.
After Kabalat Shabbat on Friday
night, the sophomore class and some teachers
and their
families went to the Jewish Learning Center
for a delicious
dinner and Friday night's entertaining
activity: paper bag
dramatics. The grade was split up into six
groups, each of
which were given a paper bag filled with
random house
hold objects such as sunglasses, books, and
much more.
Team members were then assigned a scene
which they
had to act out using the objects, and were
also given a
specific phrase which they had to incorporate
into their skits.
Everyone was laughing as students
displayed their
creativity and humor through their plays.
After a
winning team was declared, everyone had a
chance to play
board games, including fan favorites such as
Trivial Pursuit
and Taboo.
After Shacharit the next
morning,
the girls and boys were divided into groups for
Shiurim given by
Rabbi Horowitz and Rabbi Spodek where they
discussed the
Parsha and pertinent 10th
grade-related topics. It
really gave the students a chance to talk with their
teachers about
relevant topics outside of school.
After a tasty lunch with all of the WYHS
Miami Beach families, there was a relaxing rest
time where students
could simply "hang out." The girls then met
at the
Baumgarten home and the boys at the Rosenbaum
home for
Shalosh Seudot filled with amazing
food, beautiful
Divrei Torah and uplifting singing.
The 10th grade Shabbaton was an
incredible success and the sophomores got
a chance to
really unite as a class as well as a
chance to bond
with their teachers. Thank you so much to
10th grade class
presidents, Daniella Litwin and Michael
Mizrahi and
Director of Programming Rabbi Josh Spodek for
a wonderful
and fun-filled Shabbat in Miami Beach!
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Click on Picture for a
College Guidance
Powerpoint
Looking to
the
Future
9th/10th Grade College Meeting
By Mrs. Marcy Roberts, Director of College
Guidance
Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 received
their PSAT
scores along with their report cards in the
mail last week.
Earlier this month, 10th graders took the
PLAN exam, the
precursor to the ACT. The PSAT and PLAN are
often a
student's first official steps on the road to
college. So that
parents of freshmen and sophomores can better
understand the complex world of college
admissions testing,
a special program was held for them this past
Wednesday
evening. An overview of the PSAT was presented
including information on who takes the test
(3.3 million
college-bound high school students around the
world), what
the PSAT measures (critical reading,
mathematical problem-
solving, and writing skills), and how the
PSAT is scored
(highest possible score = 240). Similar
information was
presented about the PLAN exam.
These preliminary or practice exams expose
students to
and provide familiarity with standardized
college admission
testing. The PSAT and SAT have similar
formats, directions,
and question types as do the PLAN and ACT.
Students who
take the PSAT and PLAN ultimately score
higher on the SAT
and ACT, the two primary college entrance
exams required
by most universities in the United States.
Similarities and differences between the
two exams
such as when to make educated guesses and
when to skip
questions were also discussed. Moreover, the
importance
of utilizing the results of the PSAT and PLAN
to turn
individual weaknesses into strengths and to
brush up on
certain skills was emphasized. Results of
the PSAT will be
reviewed in math and English classes after
the January
break so that students may have the
opportunity to learn
from their mistakes and improve in the future.
Most importantly, recommendations for
steps freshman
and sophomores can take now to bolster future
college
applications were presented. Students should:
Earn solid grades throughout high
school - the
most
important criteria in college admissions
Challenge themselves with
appropriately rigorous
classes
Engage in meaningful extracurricular
activities with
continuity and commitment; pursue a passion
Demonstrate perseverance, curiosity,
maturity,
responsibility, dedication, and leadership
Develop good study habits (i.e., no
iPhones, iPods, or
IMs while studying!)
Plan meaningful summer activities
Visit and explore colleges
Read! Read! Read! (It has been proven
that students
who are avid readers perform better on
standardized tests!)
Remember, you are more than a test score!
One parent called the program "a lucid and
entertaining
overview on college admissions testing," and
added, "I
enjoyed it! Not an easy feat considering the
subject matter."
The entire power point presentation from
this week's
program is available online. Additional
handouts can be
obtained in the front office. Students,
please take a moment
to thank your parents for spending their
evening learning
more about your college process.
A special evening just for Juniors and
their parents is
scheduled for Tuesday evening, January 29,
2007, 8 p.m. in
the Beit Midrash. The entire college
application process
including standardized testing will be
reviewed at that time.
Juniors and their parents are encouraged to
make plans
now to attend.
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Click on Picture for an
Unbelievable Storm
Video
YESHI-WHAT?!
YESHIVA!
Boys Varsity
Basketball Team
Plays an Unbelievable Game
By Elie Baratz ('08)
The Boys Varsity Basketball team was
coming off a
couple of big wins in a row, including
district rival Donna
Klein, when they faced off against a very
tough Fort
Lauderdale Christian. The teams seemed
evenly matched
throughout the entire game, but the Storm
was just barely
unable to overcome a late five point deficit
despite the
clutch three-point shooting of forward
Michael
Schiff ('08). The entire team played well in
the game, but a
couple of late costly turnovers prevented the
win.
The intense excitement and
ruach was
undeniable as students anticipated the much
awaited Boys
Varsity Basketball game against WYHS'
friendly rivals,
RASG Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach on
Thursday night.
Students and faculty wore all the WYHS Storm
paraphernalia
they had to
school on Thursday including jerseys,
sweatshirts, and
sweatbands.
In the evening before the game, the cars
and buses met
at the school parking lot to form a car
parade to the gym.
Balloons, paint, and silly string adorned the
cars and
buses as students made their way to the gym
to cheer on
the varsity team. Students proudly
displayed the school
colors, maroon and white, with face
paint and colored hair
spray and by sporting various WYHS jerseys--
clear
evidence that students are proud to attend
WYHS. It
was truly amazing to see the school
spirit that WYHS students have.
The game went back and forth throughout
the first half,
and the Storm held a three point lead at
halftime. The second
half started with Hebrew Academy going on a
quick 10-2
run, but the Storm was resilient and
tied the game
late in the third quarter. After a few
bad possessions however, the team
found themselves down by five, never to
regain the lead.
Despite the loss, the Storm executed its
game plan
very well, in that all of the players played
a very strong
lock down
defense, and offensively produced the types
of shots that
they wanted, but those shots just would not
fall.
It was a devastating loss, but the
Storm hopes to
bounce back next week against Hillel in
another big
rematch in which the Storm won at their first
meeting. The
team continues to improve and just
hopes that all the
pieces to winning tough, close games will
fall into place
before tournament time.
Next Game
on
1/3/08 @
Boca
Prep
Come
Cheer
Us On!!
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The Man Behind
the
Scenes
Up Close
and Personal with
Mr. Shimmie Kaminetsky, Executive Director
By Daniella Greer ('09)
This past Shabbat, a family and sophomore
Shabbaton
was held in Miami Beach. WYHS' loved Executive
Director
Shimmie Kaminetsky was the organizer of the family
aspect
of the Shabbaton and plays a pivotal role in everything
non-academic
at WYHS. Although he is hard at work in his
office
all day, Shimmie manages to create a strong bond
with the
students and even raised the most money at this
year's
teacher-student auction, with ten boys paying eight
hundred
and twenty dollars to have a barbecue at his house. I
was
privileged to speak to Shimmie about his job,
upcoming
activities, and what parents could do to participate
more in
the school.
Why do you think it is important to hold family
Shabbatonim?
Shimmie: Due to the fact the school is located
in
Boca Raton, families who live outside of Boca don't
get to
feel the
excitement of school as often. As a result, we have
created
several opportunities, including family Shabbatonim
and town
hall meetings, to bring the energy and excitement of
WYHS to
all of our constituent communities.
What upcoming activities are coming up that
WYHS
parents should be aware of?
Shimmie: Our Ten Year Annual Journal
Dinner
is
coming up on March 25th honoring Rabbi and Mrs.
Tirschwell
and Bernie and Melanie Kaminetsky. In addition, the
Purim
Chagigah will be held during March, which is always a
very
popular event.
What is special about this year's journal dinner?
Shimmie: This year is special because we are
celebrating the ten year anniversary of the
school.
We are honoring two exceptional couples: Bernie and
Melanie
Kaminetsk and Rabbi and Mrs. Tirschwell. Bernie
and
Melanie Kaminetsky have been parents here for many
years,
and they have contributed in many ways to the
school's
success.
As the founding principal of WYHS, Rabbi Tirschwell,
along
with his wife Miriam, has ably led our school to the
place
where it is today. We are extremely grateful to these
two
couples, and we look forward to a record attendance
from
our
current parents and the entire South Florida Jewish
community in their honor.
What can parents do to get more involved in the
school?
Shimmie: We have set up several committees
for our
parents and lay leaders including fund raising,
recruitment,
PR, building, and finance. Parents should feel free to
email me
any
time with their expertise, comments, and suggestions
at
MSK@wyhs.net.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Shimmie: All summer long the school
administration
works diligently to prepare for the upcoming school
year. I
often comment to people that I like it much more when
our
hallways and classrooms are filled with students and
teachers. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing
the
fruits of our labor, and seeing how our school
continues to
inspire and challenge our students year after
year.
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140 Number of
Students
who came into school with Storm
Paraphernalia
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22 Number of
cars that were in the parade to the
game
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22 Number of
points scored by Elie
Baratz
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18 Number of
tubes of facepaint used by Storm
fans
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"Both my boys mentioned the
inspirational talk given
last week by Jay
Feinberg, of
Gift of Life. I know what a
positive impact
these type
of lectures have on their
growth and
development
as mentsches.
I truly appreciate these great
life
lessons you are giving our kids."
-- Mother of Students
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Yeshiva Highlites
Staff |
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| Danielle Wolkowicz
(’09) |
Editor-in-
Chief |
LeeLee Borzak (’10)
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Assistant
Editor |
Mrs. Claudia
Cohen |
Director of Technology
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Alana Dweck(’09)
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Photo Editor |
Daniella Greer(’09)
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Features Editor |
Josh Kaminetsky(’09)
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Layout Editor |
David Petrover(’10)
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Assistant Photo
Editor |
Aleeza Rubin(’09)
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Chief of
Correspondents |
David Spektor(’10)
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Assistant Photo
Editor |
| Rabbi Josh Spodek |
Staff Advisor |
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