Koleinu

Students Visit Molecular Genetics Lab at AECOM and Learn About Epigenetics
On January 15th, a group of SAR science research students accompanied by Ms. Brandriss, were privileged to hear a presentation on the cutting edge field of Epigenetics by John Greally. Dr .Greally is a researcher in the Department of Medicine and Molecular Genetics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM).

Dr. Greally gave a wonderfully engaging presentation in which he pushed our students to think and in which they asked him excellent probing questions in an exciting back and forth exchange.

Dr. Greally explained to the students that he began his career as a pediatrician, and later became a genetics researcher because he wanted to study the underlying causes of the genetic diseases he encountered in his patients. Introducing the field of epigenetics, his presentation explained how much of the human genome is not actually composed of genes, but rather of repeating sequences, he termed "virus like parasites" in our genome. These sequences copy themselves and pop into new places in the genome. Most of the genome landscape is wilderness that has been called "junk DNA". However, it is in these sections of DNA that we find the signals to turn different segments of DNA on and off; as a result, these sections are actually turning out to be quite functional and important.

He explained that it is not solely gene mutations that can harm an organism; importantly what can also cause great damage is genes being turned on and off at the wrong time. The best example is cancer, in which tumor suppressor genes are switched off inappropriately resulting in uncontrolled cell growth. The study of what turns genes on and off - epigenetics - is therefore an extremely important area of research.

Dr. Greally gave the students several interesting examples. First, he showed how the methylation of DNA to turn genes on and off, can be affected by diet. Second, he showed them a striking picture of identical twins who had received different amounts of blood supply in the womb and consequently were born with dramatically different birth weights that resulted in quite different physiologies for the rest of their lives. The students were surprised to learn that the scrawny one became obese and diabetic, and the larger one remained of normal weight and non diabetic. It is thought the difference may be due to the effect of the environment within the uterus, in turning on and off their identical genes.

Dr. Greally then walked us through his lab showing us how each of the cutting edge machines and equipment he has, is used in the study of epigenetics. It was a fascinating trip that really sparked the imaginations of the participating students.

Tobie Brandriss
Bob Goodman
Science Curriculum Coordinators

40th Anniversary Dinner a Success with a Special Video a Produced by Our Very Own HS Seniors!!
This past Sunday evening we celebrated the school's 40th Anniversary at our annual dinner. Parents, grandparents, friends, faculty, and alumni helped make this year's dinner one of our most successful. This year unlike any other, we held the dinner in our high school gym and the program in the high school auditorium. Everyone was pleasantly surprised at the school's transformation into an elegant venue.

What was most impressive, was the warmth and love for the school that permeated the building. Our esteemed principals, Rabbi Harcsztark and Rabbi Krauss, our magnificent honorees, Bettina and Spencer Waxman, Elissa Shay Ordan and Daniel Ordan, Abigail Feinerman Glass and Nancy Lerea, and the wonderful choirs from both the Academy and High School-- delivered a meaningful program that was a great tribute to the school and to our community. A cornerstone of the program, was the video created for the dinner entitled 'Transitions'.

'Transitions' can be seen by clicking on the link provided here. It is the creation of three seniors Sammy Ballan, Doni Bloomfield and Gideon Wieler, who spent hours together with Head of Security, Gilad Mor, to create a video that would be reflective of true SAR experiences. It was a resounding success and we are sure they have a future in movies. We thank each of them and faculty advisor Simon Fleisher for their unique contribution in making the evening extra special.

Kol Hakavod to everyone for their participation and involvement in supporting the scholarship fund and the children who benefit. We also are grateful to the many people who worked so tirelessly on the event including, Hudi and Lawrence Askowitz, Dinner Chairs; Ludwig Bravmann, Fundraising Chair; Sandra Greenstein, Judy Friedman, Susan Tessel and Randi Carrey, Journal Chairs; Avigyle Gorodischer and Lily Weisz, Decor Committee; Wendy and Sidney Ingber, Sheri and Stanley Raskas, and Ina and David Tropper, Grandparent Chairs; and our entire Parent and Alumni Committees.

Sophomore Slumberton Brings Grade Unity
On Friday January 23rd and Shabbat January 24th, the sophomore class slept, ate, talked, sang, danced and davened together in school. Like all SAR shabbatonim, the Sophomore Slumberton was a great opportunity for kids to learn and have fun together in school in a way they do not normally get a chance to during the regular school week.

The one thing that really set this shabbaton apart from others was the way in which it was planned by the students themselves. Everything from the games to the snacks, decorations and make-your-own-pizza night activity were planned by the students themselves. Most interestingly, even the educational theme of the Shabbat was chosen by students who completed surveys about their impressions of their own grade. The surveys were then considered by a committee of student volunteers who thought out the issues about social dynamics in the grade. It was those conversations which formed the basis of the session material used for our Friday night and Shabbat afternoon discussions. The Saturday night Murder Mystery show, although lacking in some regards, certainly did create a sense of mystery and left many mystified students asking: "What were you thinking?!"

The students felt a strong sense of ownership over their Shabbaton experience. The feelings of unity and mutual understanding fostered by the students' openness in discussing their differing experiences in the social climate in the grade were palpable.