2016 ANNUAL REPORT More Than 1,000 Community Members Came Together for a Spectacular SAR Family Fun Day at Metlife Stadium in November
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SAR ACADEMY & SAR HIGH SCHOOL 2016 ANNUAL REPORT More than 1,000 community members came together for a spectacular SAR Family Fun Day at MetLife Stadium in November. Over $170,000 was raised for SAR buildings STING SPIRIT and Gan Elisha, an innovative new ELC playground and recreation area, dedicated in memory of Elisha Goldscheider z”l. EVENT CHAIRS: Shana Krauss & Hila Stern SOARS FAMILY FUN DAY @METLIFE COMMITTEE: Debra Benovitz-Tepler (’78), Josh Bernstein, Malki Bernstein, AT SAR FAMILY FUN DAY Seth Botnick (’08), Ian (Yudi) Fishkin, Lea Rappaport Geller, David Glazer, Dahlia Goldbrenner, Benji Hain, Fara Hain, Rafi Halpert, Sophia Hershman, Gila Kolb, Rachel Lopatin, Stephanie Minkove (’91), Jeff Morris, Amit Stern, Audrey Weitz, David Winter 2 WINDOWS | SAR HIGH SCHOOL & ACADEMY 3 WINDOWS | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE PARENTS TO BE MOST HELPFUL IN HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE PARENTS TO BE MOST HELPFUL IN THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY? THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY? The Discovery Channel used to have as its motto, “Explore Your World.” Three things: patience, always being present for opportunities for organic Every child who attends SAR is enormously lucky to be in a safe discussions, and conscious role modeling. Kids mature and grow at such environment every day with many hidden nooks and crannies. Encourage different rates and in such different ways. They need time and space them to find something new—attempt a sport they might not feel to develop—and they need to be guided and held as they go through confident in, meet with a teacher to improve in a subject they feel nervous that process. It is so important for us as parents to find opportunities to about, try their hand at art even if they believe they are not artistic. Tell talk with our children about our deepest held values and what is most them not to fear feeling lost, but rather work at finding their way. important to us—but it should be in a space that feels organic to the situation. It is equally important for us to listen to what our kids have to say HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FACULTY’S COMMITMENT and consider it seriously without jumping in to redirect their thoughts. TO STUDENTS? Every single teacher is here for all of our students in exceptional ways. WHAT DISTINGUISHES SAR ALUMNI FROM OTHER YOUNG ADULTS? If teachers are aware of a difficult circumstance, from food for a holiday I am so inspired when I speak with graduates who care so deeply to make to buying a book at the book fair, to making a simcha, they let me know the world a better place, to contribute, to make a difference. For some, in a very private way. If there is a child needing extra attention they that is joining the IDF, for others, Teach for America. For still others, it might take him or her to a favorite event or choose him or her to light is social work, medicine, engineering. The common denominator that the Chanukah candles for the school or lead a tour. Teachers are there to feels so special to me: young adults who believe that at the core of their carpool students, set up play dates, and cook meals. And they show the Jewishness is a desire to improve the conditions of others. same enormous care for each other. Just one example—for the fourth year in a row, our faculty members organized a siyyum tanach in merit of WE TRAIN OUR STUDENTS TO BE ADVOCATES. AS THEY HEAD a co-worker in need of a refuah shleima. OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD, WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THEY NEED TO BE PREPARED TO ADDRESS? WHAT DISTINGUISHES SAR ALUMNI FROM OTHER YOUNG ADULTS? I pray that our graduates are proud and strong in their commitment to I think that SAR kids are open to the world. They approach life, conversations, mitzvah observance, Torah study, and being active members of their new Orthodoxy, Israel, and other religions with a maturity towards respectful college communities—both Jewishly and more broadly. Students must be conversation. As I heard Achinoam Nini say of my SAR principal, Rabbi Fuld, engaged in the real world but work hard to maintain a countercultural stance, from the stage at one of her concerts, she learned from him that what is most one that expresses dedication to Jewish life and living. And students must important is to be a mensch. And our alumni smile—I can’t think of anything be better prepared than ever to advocate on behalf of the State of Israel in RABBI more valuable than approaching the obstacles and challenges of life with an environments which have become increasingly unfriendly to Medinat Yisrael. attitude that is positive. I think a lot of that comes from SAR. TULLY RABBI WE ARE ALL LIFELONG STUDENTS. WHO AND WHAT DO YOU HARCSZTARK WE ARE ALL LIFELONG STUDENTS. WHO AND WHAT DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE? BINYAMIN LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE? This is not a platitude; I really mean it: Torah and halakhah, my family, my “ I pray that our Aside from my parents, who are my lifelong teachers, I have gained SAR colleagues, and my books. When I know that I have all four of those graduates are proud KRAUSS (’84) tremendously from Rabbi Yitz Greenberg’s writings. He contributes with me, I feel like I am as secure as one can be in the world. almost daily to an online journal I read and I am always inspired both by and strong in their “ I think that SAR the fact that he responds to so many people seeking guidance though he WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER A NEW PRESIDENT? commitment to mitzvah kids are open to the has his own scholarship to focus on, and by the answers he gives, always Take the high road, bring people together, inspire! observance, Torah world. They approach guided by the fact that we are all created b’tzelem elokim. study, and being active life, conversations, WHAT BOOKS ARE ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND? members of their new WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER A NEW PRESIDENT? My nightstand. That means before I go to sleep. Right now, that would be Orthodoxy, Israel, Words matter—use them to inspire and move forward. Shulem Deen’s book All Who Go Do Not Return—the memoir of a lapsed college communities— and other religions chasid, and Visions in Action, a book of essays on Jewish education by both Jewishly and more with a maturity WHAT BOOKS ARE ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND? the late Professor Seymour Fox of Hebrew University. And, of course, an broadly.” towards respectful Self-help books, especially those with titles like Getting to Yes, or Death iPad for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Haaretz, etc. by Meeting, and a few memoirs, currently Thomas Jefferson and George conversation.” Mitchell. My wife, Shana, is recommending The Nightingale, though I rarely get a chance to read novels unless they are focused on ways to keep kids engaged and loving their Judaism. 4 WINDOWS | SAR HIGH SCHOOL & ACADEMY 5 ACADEMY HIGHLIGHTS BIGGEST ART PROJECT IN ROOFTOP GARDEN TEACHES 5776’S THEME FOCUSED ON THE SIGNIFICANCE SAR HISTORY TORAH THROUGH GARDENING OF EVERYDAY ACTIONS AND INTERACTIONS. Thanks to the brilliant direction and N-12 students learned halakhah, innumerable hours contributed by science, nature, and horticulture WE CONTEMPLATED HOW LIFE PRESENTS COUNTLESS Donna Salamon, parent volunteer through Gan Ilan, an urban, organic and artist, nearly 1,000 square foot rooftop garden, dedicated in memory MOMENTS WHEN SIMPLY DOING THE RIGHT THING retaining wall on the field was turned of Ilan Tokayer z”l. into a mosaic mural using thousands Yosef Gillers, Director of Education BUILDS CHARACTER, FOSTERS GOODWILL, AND of tiles and painted clay discs. The at Amir, and founder of GrowTorah, mosaic, , dedicated to curriculum on SAR with worked ועשית הישר והטוב ENHANCES OUR CONNECTION TO EACH OTHER in memory of Emanuel Frankel z”l, ACADEMY teach Torah through gardening. AND TO HASHEM. grandfather of SAR alumni and teachers Batya Sharbat and Ayala The SAR HS Garden and Environmental Raice, depicts the core elements of Clubs launched the school’s Gan the SAR experience that are part of Ilan Compost initiative, fulfilling our each student’s journey. obligation to take care of the earth. CHANUKAT HABAYIT CELEBRATES LARGEST EXPANSION IN 42 YEARS SAR Academy underwent its largest expansion since the original building was erected in 1974. The first expansion of the original structure took place in 2001 when the Junior High and Atrium were built. Fifteen years later, we celebrated an additional 34,000 square feet of living and learning space, including a new full-size gymnasium, new classroom spaces for our Middle School students, a new Beit Midrash, a renovated lobby, a new Multi-Purpose Room and Middle School lunchroom, a new science lab for students in Grades 3-5, and a new art classroom. In February, each grade celebrated the opening of the new gym with SAR Sting spirit and a school-wide pep rally. In April, more than 300 parents, grandparents, faculty, and friends attended a special community-wide Chanukat HaBayit, at which the new 6th Grade classroom wing was dedicated in memory of founding principal Rabbi Sheldon Chwat z”l. A student-driven project, each —ambassadors as served grade ועשית הישר והטוב students teaching students—for DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD a particular middah, including THE TORAH’S BEAUTIFUL AND TIMELESS EXHORTATION TO US ALL generosity, gratefulness, and compassion. Who will ever forget “MIDDAH MAN”? 6 WINDOWS | SAR HIGH SCHOOL & ACADEMY “LOVE LETTER TO ISRAEL,” an original music video, served as #LOVEOURSARSTUDENTS a source of chizuk (strength).