Fundraising Update

Is there really life after SAR? There is no general agreement on this topic, but for sure our top notch College Guidance Team helps prepare students no matter what they think about SAR after-life. And so, in early March, the College Counseling Team chaperoned the SAR juniors on a day of college visits. 

Students had the opportunity to travel north to Brandeis University and Boston University or south to the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University.  The purpose of these trips was not merely to showcase these four specific campuses that have fantastic options for modern orthodox Jewish life; rather, the campus visits provided an educational platform whereby the students could learn the important things to look for in thinking about college selection.  These include academics, faculty interactions, social climate, study abroad options, internships, extracurricular opportunities and a host of other considerations.  At each of the four schools the SAR students were led by undergraduates on official campus tours.  They had the chance to interact with a number of SAR alumni currently studying on some of these campuses.  They also were able to get a strong sense of Jewish life at each.  Regardless of the trip north or south, each of the students visited one urban and one suburban campus during the day.  Several of the students on the Penn/Rutgers trip were able to take some time away from the Penn campus to visit Drexel, a neighboring Philadelphia school whose students utilize the Penn Hillel facilities.  The campus visits came four weeks after the juniors went to see Queens College, Yeshiva University and New York University.  Another great day for our students. 

 

We are seeking an alum to work several hours per month (we estimate 20 hours) on our alumni projects. This effort will span from writing this newsletter to maintaining the alumni database of names to collecting the life event news.  The hours can be worked from your home or at SAR.

 

Those interested should have writing experience, great memories, an outgoing personality and a desire to create a strong alumni network. This assignment covers both Academy and High School graduates. 

If you are interested in applying for the position please email Heidi Greenbaum, Director of Development at greenh@saracademy.org. 

 

 

The keynote speaker at this meaningful evening was Mr. Mark Weitzman ('74 grad and parent of two SAR alumni) who is Director of Government Affairs and Director of the Task Force Against Hate and Terrorism for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Through this initiative, our students were involved in the very important work of bearing witness and passing on their knowledge to future generations.

 

This elective, now in its second year, truly was an incredible experience for the students. One more SAR experience they will never forget.

Grade 1  * Days Absent:  9  * Late Arrivals:  45
 
Teacher(s):  Name omitted to protect the innocent
 
This year, I have had the unique experience of being Haman's teacher. He is a bright and intelligent person though he has not been channeling these qualities in a productive way. He is often late to class and makes everyone stand up until he is seated. I would like to add that while we are very open at SAR about our student's unique and quirky habits, we feel that school is not an appropriate place for horses. The horse feed has also created a mice problem in the 1st grade area. During davening I often have to remind him to open his siddur, and sometimes he can be heard switching his name for Hashem's; but, he continues to improve. Haman enjoys the opportunity to work independently, except for when he can boss the other children around. We are working with him to improve his inter-personal skills. Haman often calls out in class. When someone else answers a question he is often heard saying, "Oh, I knew that, now bow down to me!" Haman and Rabbi Krauss have developed a special relationship this year; in fact, they share an office. Haman loves to draw. He has made many pictures of trees and seems to have a great interest in them. Haman is in my reading group and loves to read the story of "Yertle the Turtle" by Dr. Seuss. He sometimes has trouble sitting in groups and has not heard the story's ending. Perhaps it would be a good choice for his reading log. Overall, Haman is an interesting boy who has not reached his full potential. It was a joy to have him in my class this year.