ב"ה HARKHAM HILLEL HEBREW ACADEMY TEACH. EMPOWER. INSPIRE. SPRING 2015 AVIV 5775 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2 Right: Video Production Laboratory Presents Seventh graders Arutz Hillel Maya Maya Schapira, 7th Grade Schapira Hillel has a brand new news channel! It is called Arutz Hillel, and the VPL - and Ari which stands for Video Production Laboratory - is the group of students that work Schlacht film a to produce each news segment. Through this brand-new news channel, we report segment what is currently happening at our school and in the Hillel community. We are to be creating new segments on events and activities that are going on at Hillel. Even included though VPL has an elective time on Fridays, many students devote their time in an during recess and breaks, as well. In Video Production Lab, we learn ideas and episode concepts to filming, editing, and publishing. Arutz Hillel is 100% scripted, filmed, of Arutz edited and produced by Hillel students.This process currently takes us about one Hillel. month from start to finish. Both students Our first segment came out on February 21, 2015. The team introduced Arutz are Hillel and gave a taste of many more shows to come. In our first episode, we involved in the showed how lucky our school was to have distinguished guests visit our school, VPL. such as Senator Joe and Hadassah Lieberman, and Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau. We then introduced the COW (Computer On Wheels). Lastly, we showed the championship victory of the boys’ varsity and Junior Varsity basketball teams. Our second episode came out not long after. In the second episode we covered three stories. The first story was about Hillel hosting a shloshim for Rabbi Gottesman. Our next story was on the third graders’ wax museum unit. And our last segment was on the middle school’s science fair. (Continued on p 16). Hillel Launches Robotics Program Talia Myers, 7th Grade Left: Sixth grader Joey Blumofe tests out his robot after programming it on a laptop computer. Can you imagine what it would be like to be in a class where you do robotics? Earlier this year, the seventh grade girls’ class completed a robotics unit in science class. In the robotics unit, we started off by building a basic robot and we had also had the option to build a puppy, a gyro boy, and a color sorter. My group decided to build the puppy. In order to build the basic robot, you have to follow the steps that are given to you on the computer. After building the robot, you have to create your own program so that the robot is programmed to do different things. Once we build the robot and create the program, we have to write it in our journals. Something that you can learn from the robotics is that you are learning how to build the robot and you are also getting to know what pieces you are using. You can also learn that you can program it in such a way that it can actually do things in real life. For example, when we built the basic robot, my group had to go back a few steps because we did something wrong. Something that I learned from this unit of robotics is that you have to have a lot of patience because if you don't have enough patience, it will be really hard for you. When doing the robotics program, I learned that every step you do is very important. For example, if you put a piece in the wrong place, you have to go back and fix it because it affects the next step. I spoke with the teacher that is directing the program, Mr. Irons, and he shared his experiences and what he thinks about the robotics program. At the beginning of the interview, we spoke about why he wanted us to do the robotics program and he responded that robotics is a way to the future and he wants us to learn about how you are supposed to program the robot. (Continued on p 16). ב"ה 2 COMMUNITY LIFE THE HILLEL GAZETTE SPRING 2015 AVIV 5775 essage from Student Council M Lady Hillel Hawks: Volleyball Dear Students, Faculty and Friends, Leah Golfiz, 7th Grade Volleyball is an amazing sport at Hillel because most people enjoy it. The Hillel Middle School Student Council (STUCO) has had Tryouts were a big deal because it depended on whether you get on the an action-packed last few months. We began the month of Adar with dressing up the week of Purim. During this team or not. Everyone had a fair opportunity to try out. When the team time the Bat Ami did an amazing job decorated the atrium was finally chosen, we were all good, but we could work to be amazing. with the theme of Israeli candies. One more thing on Purim week was a beautiful Megillah reading led by Rabbi Boruch In practice we do many things, such as setting the ball, spiking the ball, Sufrin. serving, and towards the end we play a practice game. When we start One trip student council is remembered for is our Purim practice we do warm-ups. The first warm-up we do is we run around trip. This year, we took everyone in middle school on an the whole court many times for approximately 5 minutes. Then we start exciting adventure to Jump Sky High for a day packed with doing jumping drills such as jumping up and touching the net, followed jumping. During this trip, we had a chance to have fun with by push-ups. We also perform walking squats and other fitness exercises. our friends, and connect with our teachers and Rabbis. Next we get partners and we bump and set the ball to them through Finally, the annual Brandeis Bardin/Color War trip was a various drills. After that, we practice serving the ball over the net. huge success! The day was filled with ruach and fun, and Finally, we have a practice game. really brought the middle school and our community to- gether. Both teams, tzanchanim and golani, had amazing Communication is very important in volleyball because we need to times. After we had an awesome BBQ, followed by a series know who's going for the ball, so that we know that if someone says of songs sang together to end the day off. "mine" then we don't go for the ball. At the beginning of the season, our Look out for more exciting activities that we will have in the communication was average and needed improvement. At the moment next few months! we are good with communication but we need a reminder to say “mine” from our teammates or coaches. Thank you all for your tremendous support, Hillel Middle School Student Council In our first game, it was a little challenging because we had trouble with Written by Jacqueline Englanoff and Josh Mintz, 7th Grade saying “mine” and we were nervous. Although in our second game, we stepped it up and we were outstanding versus Pressman. We improved in all ways. For instance, we got the job done and did what coach said Hillel Gazette Staff and what our teammates said. During the game against Maimonides, Talia Myers we had an amazing game and we showed a lot of improvement and hard work. Even though we lost the game, it was still a very close game Etai Shachar and the coaches were very happy. The last game for the 7th graders was against Pressman. In the game we all did amazingly because we Liam Abucasis always tried saving the ball no matter what. Hopefully, playoffs and Rebecca Cohen championships will be outstanding. Contributing Writers My teammates are working hard for each game. They are working hard because they practice at home and during P.E. a lot. At home, Yonah Berenson Sabrina Jahan Emunah Garmaise even though some of us don't have the equipment, we find a way. For Eleanor Moheban Tala Moradian Bracha Garmaise example, Brittany Marshak uses a soccer ball. Many of us don't have Sarah Nachimson Avital Sarir Rebecca Wizman someone to play with sometimes and if we don't, we use the wall to hit Mitchell Hoenig Dana Even Celine Basiratmand the ball of off. Captain Jordana Glouberman has been doing a great Talya Heyman Shmuel Kligman Jacqueline Englanoff job leading us the right way. Altogether, I think each and every one one Shirin Neman Nicole Klausner Shlomo Bookstein of us are doing extremely amazingly and have improved in numerous Yaelle Shaye Daniel Suriel Jonathan Krombach ways. Shawn Partovi Gideon Gordon Isaac Herskovitz Rena Harkham Uri Cohavy Gabriella Gomperts Our managers, Kira Faerstain and Rebecca Wizman, have a big job. Jake Wainburg Leah Sarir Benjamin Sarir Kira and Rebecca's job is to make sure everyone gets to the games. Kira Joey Blumofe Hannah Shaye Leah Golfiz and Rebecca make the rides for us to get to the games, and they answer any questions that we have. They also make sure there are no problems, Gazette Faculty Advisor Hebrew Faculty Advisor and they do the scoreboard at the games, the score sheets, and last but Samantha Pack Dalia Golan not least they make sure that everyone is happy. One way they made sure we got our questions answered is they made a volleyball group Head of School General Studies Principal chat. In the group chat we ask questions, and they make us confident Rabbi Y. Boruch Sufrin Jason Ablin and motivate us by saying, "You guys are amazing," " You guys got this," "You guys are gonna win!" and much more.