Open House

The welcome mat was out on November 8th for the annual YUHSG Open House, where prospective students and their families had the chance to experience our signature hospitality, professionalism and school spirit! With an informative program, enthusiastic student volunteers, erudite teachers and supportive parents, the Open House was an impressive showcase of everything our school has to offer (including an Oscar-worthy performance by the exciting extra-curricular fair “Central Cinema,” produced and directed by Student Activities Coordinator Ms. Shani Hochbaum, with the able assistance of Ms. Miriam Borenstein). Our thanks to Chairman of the High Schools Board Mrs. Miriam Goldberg for her kind words, and to our accomplished alumna Esty Rollhaus (‘06) for the gracious sentiments and reminiscences that were a high point of the morning’s program. Our appreciation, too, to freshmen Adi Shulman and Jennifer Van Amerongen, whose good-humored spirit (and colorful sneakers!) added so much to the proceedings. The warm and welcoming atmosphere generated in the building was due in no small measure to the presence of our many student volunteers, who greeted our visitors, manned the registration desk, introduced our extra- curricular activities and patiently fielded questions. We also gratefully acknowledge the presence of so many members of our parent body (led by Parent Council Chair Mrs. Judy Berman), who shared their enthusiasm for our school with our guests.

And while we’re on the subject of guests, we were pleased to host the Middle States team, visiting YUHSG from the evening of November 9th through Thursday, November 12th. We are extremely gratified by their very positive assessment of our school, as well as the unprecedented address to our students by team chair Mrs. Zipora Schorr.

Color Coordination

Kudos to juniors Michal Kupchik and Allison Rumelt for organizing this year’s successful “Pretty in Pink Day,” Central’s annual salute to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. First introduced at YUHSG by our alumna Rachel Schwartz (‘08), it has become a valuable and admired tradition, with informational programming and fund-raising on behalf of “Sharsheret ,” the national organization dedicated to addressing the unique concerns of young Jewish women
facing breast cancer.

Journalism 101

The October 30th issue of The Jewish Week’s “Fresh Ink” supplement featured a touching article entitled “Saba,” written by sophomore Ashira Greenberg. In it, she describes her close relationship with her grandfather, and her uniquely rewarding “career” as a translator and interpreter.

“Festival of Lights”

On December 1st, Athletic Director Mrs. Lynda Smith and senior Ronit Don will be kicking off an exciting and meaningful new project at YUHSG:  “Adopt-a-Family for Chanukah.”  Volunteer group leaders will each be assigned an anonymous family and its holiday wish list (first names only, for families recommended by OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services), organize a team and coordinate a gift collection and cards for Chanukah.  As Mrs. Smith says, it’s “just a way to give and brighten another family’s holiday.  The best part is that it brightens yours more.”  We know we can count on the enthusiastic and generous participation of our students and faculty!

“Factor”ing Us In

Also on December 1st, our special guest will be Rachel Factor, who will be performing her acclaimed one-woman show, “Not Even Normal.”

“Names” in the News

This year’s “Names, Not Numbers”© documentary film project is certainly off to an impressive start. The thirty senior grade participants were invited to CBS studios (thanks to the efforts of Mr. Andrew Siegel, father of seniors Marisa, Nicole and Danielle Siegel). CBS producers provided our students with valuable insights and helpful techniques in preparation for their own upcoming interviews (scheduled for the week of November 30th). The producers, for their part, were very impressed with the project itself. Our students were invited to tour the CBS studio, an experience that proved to be one of the day’s highlights. They saw various elements of the production process, including the “green screen” and “robotic” cameras. They also saw the set being readied for the upcoming election night coverage. The trip ended with a surprise meeting with CBS news anchorwoman Dana Tyler.

On Wednesday, November 4th, the entire senior grade was honored to host distinguished historian and Academy Award-winning film-maker Dr. Michael Berenbaum, whose extraordinary accomplishments include his work as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust, Project Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and President of Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation.

On Thursday, November 12th, the Names, Not Numbers© participants visited the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
And in a rewarding example of synergy in action, two of YUHSG’s most important programs are joining forces. The members of our popular “Adopt-a-Bubbie” Club have been regularly visiting the Boulevard Alp Assisted Living Community, and have been learning about the residents’ lives, including their experiences during the Shoah. The potential of this invaluable opportunity to formally interview these Holocaust survivors was not lost on our students, and it was brought to the attention of the Names, Not Numbers© project. A cooperative effort is now in the works.

Sports Central

Congratulations to the Central Basketball Wildcats upon winning their opening day doubleheader! The Varsity defeated HANC by a score of 34 – 24, while the JV squad also racked up a 10 point victory over HANC, 42 – 32.

“Top Chefs”

Cultural exchange is on the menu every Wednesday during Club Hour, when the “Cultural Cuisine Club” meets to learn about Jewish communities around the world. It’s a celebration of diversity, mutual respect, communication… and food!

Family Values

On November 4th, we hosted our 3rd annual Freshman Mother-Daughter event, a wonderful opportunity – as always - for the freshmen (students and parents!) to connect with one another. Our thanks to Mrs. Nechy Fischman, Mrs. Drora Brody, Mrs. Dina Steinberg and the organizing committee, as well as the Lillien family for donating the paper goods.

Senior Moment

On December 7th, our seniors will be spending the morning at Queens College, participating in a special tour and informational program. In addition to a walking tour of the campus with a YUHSG alumna who is a senior tour guide with the Queens College Admissions Office, the students will be spending time at such significant college sites as the Hillel, the Rosenthal Library, the recently renovated Powdermaker Hall, and the “Summit” - the residential hall whose kitchen facilities and access are Jewish observance-friendly.

“Bowled Over”

Congratulations to our Varsity College Bowl Team, on their excellent showing at the recent YUHSG-hosted meet. They defeated SKA and Rambam in two out of their three matches!

“Getting Psyched”

12th grader Elisheva Laks is currently conducting research for her senior project, an informational work about the potentially harmful effects of drugs on the human body. As part of her research, she recently attended a conference at the Albany Medical College on “Addictive Medicine.” One presenter dealt with the ethical dilemmas associated with physicians accepting gifts from pharmaceutical companies. The audience (composed of Elisheva and 130 physicians!) was asked why accepting a small gift over a larger one would be an ethical problem. No one seemed to know. But Elisheva, having just completed a unit on Social Psychology in Dr. Koenigsberg’s AP Psych class, raised her hand to suggest the cognitive dissonance theory as a way to explain the problem, and then went on to describe it and its relevance. The speaker was very impressed, and indicated that he was just about to address that theory, and that Elisheva had, in fact, explained it accurately. After the presentation, a physician member of the audience approached Elisheva and asked her to clarify it for him again! “I could not have contributed to the session if it wasn’t for my experience in Dr. Koenigsberg’s classroom.”

“JUMP Start!”

Bon voyage to the members of Central’s “JUMP Club,” off this week to the “Mile High City!”  On December 3rd-6th, juniors Daniela Bitton and Talia Kugelman, and senior Adina Burstein (accompanied by Ms. Miriam Borenstein), will be traveling to Denver, as our Jewish Unification Mentorship Program delegates.  They will be running programming for the elementary and middle school students there, with a schedule that includes a parsha/Shabbat party, a parsha/tefillah workshop, a Friday night oneg, and a chesed program. Our students will spend Seudah Shlishit meeting with the Sherut Leumi girls currently working at the local school, and they’ll be doing some sightseeing as well.
And tzeitchem l’shalom to our 10th graders who are embarking upon the six-week (December 6th - January 18th) Ulpana Exchange Program.  We wish them a successful and enriching academic experience, and an unforgettable stay in Israel!