Issue 8February/March 2010Adar/Nissan 5770

learning for a lifetimeThe Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High SchoolThe Juda and Maria Diener Elementary School The Henrietta Scheck Middle School

Dedicated by Anna and Sol Zuckerman and Family

Parents first entering the new Early Childhood Education (ECE) model classroom are speechless as they walk through every corner of the space that has been thoughtfully created for preschoolers.

“The excitement has generated a wait list in PK2, with classes quickly filling in PK3 and PK4,” said Betty Salinas, Director of Admission. “Parents are overjoyed with enthusiasm when they enter the new classroom,” she added.

From the warm blond bamboo floors up to the inviting window seat with books in English and Hebrew, and from the child-sized art center to the two-story loft dedicated to imagination and play, the model classroom includes an interactive whiteboard, lap tops and learning centers for discovery.

Hillel’s ECE classrooms will follow this model, which includes a library, art studio, science and exploration center, dramatic play area, blocks and manipulatives. In and beyond the classroom, students learn from a balanced play-and-project-based curriculum of secular and Judaic studies, music, art and physical education.

ECE students discover the exciting new model classroom.

In addition to renovated space, Hillel’s ECE program for 2010-2011 features competitive tuition, extended hours of care, low child-teacher ratios and a Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum for children to grow socially, emotionally and intellectually at their own pace.

“Hillel’s early childhood program encourages creativity, curiosity and individuality in an environment rich with choices and challenges so children explore and discover,” said Debra Abolafia, Lower School Principal.

“One of this year’s main goals has been to reinvigorate

our early childhood program,” said Dr. Adam C. Holden, Head of School.

“Debra Abolafia and her committee have done an excellent job of determining target goals and ensuring we meet each one. I am so pleased about the enhancements they’ve put in place so far and even more so about the educational plans to be unveiled over the next few months,” Dr Holden said.

ECE Program Generates Wait List, Excitement

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

New Model Classroom Added TechnologyReggio Emilia-Inspired Curriculum Extended Hours of CareAdjusted Tuition

Hillel senior William Scheinman was named a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Scheinman is one of 15,000 finalists selected based

on exceptional academic achievement from across the country. About 8,200 finalists will be notified of their scholarship before June.

Three students were awarded letters of commendation by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Seniors Avi Gadish, Josh Traub and Boris Treskunov were among the top five percent of the 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition.

“I am very proud of these students and their accomplishments. Not only is this a credit to the students and their families, but it is also a validation of the type of education that our students earn at Hillel,” said Upper School Principal Tym Bonilla.

Students considered for the highly competitive National Merit Scholarship program must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be recommended by the principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s performance. Each student submits an essay and information about participation and leadership in school and community activities. Mazel Tov!

Merit Scholars: Student Named Finalist, Three Commended

William Scheinman Avi Gadish Josh Traub Boris Treskunov

BOARD OF GOVERNORSChairman Gil J. Bonwitt Vice-Chairman Jorge WoldenbergTreasurer Carlos BernerSecretary David WolfImmediate Past President Rafael RussHIP/PTA President Amy Chafetz

Michelle AmselemSara BejarUri Benhamron Dr. Judith Dach Michelle DienerRossana FrancoAnita GivnerDr. Jan HockmanMatt KuttlerAnita LapcoSherri LebwohlRabbi Ezra Levy, Ed.D.

ADMINISTRATIONHead of School Dr. Adam C. HoldenRabbinic Dean Rabbi Michael Druin Principal, Lower School Debra AbolafiaPrincipal, Middle School Nick HinrichsenPrincipal, Upper School Tym BonillaDirector, Nativ Carole Repensek, Ed.D.Assistant Principal, Lower School Valerie LustgartenAssistant Principal, Lower School Tara SolomianyAssistant Principal, Grades 6-12 Joshua Meisels

David LichterRabbi Avrohom LipszycGary MarsDiana MundlakJoanne PapirEva RubRachel SapoznikMarty ScheckDana Yemin SchragerMike ShalomJill ShockettHedy Whitebook

ABOUT HILLELFrom early childhood through Grade 12, Hillel is a Jewish community day school structured to cultivate and inspire students and to prepare them for college admission. Through meaningful religious and cultural experiences, Hillel strives to deepen students’ commitment to Judaism, the Jewish people and Israel.

ACCREDITATIONHillel is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and is accredited by: Commission on International-Regional Accreditation, National Council for Private School Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Association of Independent Schools of Florida. Hillel is affiliated with: Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education, RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network, National Association of College Admission Counseling, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Broward County and Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education.

KOL HILLELThe Kol Hillel is a bimonthly publication of The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School/The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School, 19000 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach, FL 33180, P: 305.931.2831.

For Kol Hillel sponsorship opportunities, please contact Erica Shafir, (305.931.2831 x279/shafir@hillel-nmb.net)

For submissions or information, please email Jane Yaffe at plainjanegraphics@gmail.com.

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The tremendous support of “Our Campus-Our Campaign,” Hillel’s recent fundraising effort among Grade 1-5 parents, has filled classrooms with state-of-the-art technology. This effort, paired with the operating budget, resulted in students schoolwide learning with 60 new interactive white boards and eight mobile computer carts - each with 24 laptops. There is also the addition of 250 desktop computers in classrooms throughout the school.

“The parents’ goal was to purchase technology before the second semester, and we accomplished that. It was the first fundraising effort of its kind and was a great success,” said Erica Shafir, Director of Development.

Special thanks to parents Julia and Moti Abadi, Flavia and Raphael Ades, Deborah and Flavio Hojda, and Denisse and Henry Waissman, who donated matching grants for Grades 1-5 of up to $10,000. Thanks also to HIP/PTA which partnered with Hillel to raise $100,000 in a few short weeks. Hillel says thank you to those who contributed to the campaign:

H E L P I N G H A I T I

TECHNOLOGY

Campaign Adds White Boards, Laptops, Computers to Classrooms

Mr. and Mrs. Moti Abadi Mr. and Mrs. Larry AbboDr. and Mrs. Kevin AbramsMr. and Mrs. Marcelo D. AchermanMr. Daniel AdesMr. and Mrs. Raphael AdesMs. Sandy AlgranattiMr. and Mrs. Isaac AlmosnyMr. and Mrs. Raphael AmmarMr. and Mrs. Miguel AssorMr. and Mrs. Shlomo AssrafMr. and Mrs. Miguel BacalMr. and Mrs. David BejarMr. and Mrs. Lior Ben-ShmuelMr. and Mrs. Alberto BenarrochMr. and Mrs. Elias BenasayagMr. and Mrs. Uri BenhamronMr. and Mrs. Maxwell BenolielMr. and Mrs. David BensadonMr. and Mrs. Ariel J. BentataMr. and Mrs. Jaime BirmaherMr. and Mrs. Sol BonanMr. and Mrs. Bernard BroideMr. and Mrs. Michell BrownMr. and Mrs. Jack BursztynMr. and Mrs. Abraham ChehebarMr. and Mrs. Robert DienerMr. and Mrs. Salomon EsquenaziMr. and Mrs. Sergio FaigenblatMr. and Mrs. Meyer FincheltubMr. and Mrs. Max FischbachMr. and Mrs. Dan FuhrmanMr. and Mrs. Abraham GarzonMr. and Mrs. Eli GelmanMr. and Mrs. Israel GetzelMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey C. GilbertMr. and Mrs. Abraham GilinskiMr. and Mrs. David GuenounMr. and Mrs. Moises A. Guenoun

Mr. and Mrs. Andres HausmannMr. and Mrs. Todd HellerMr. and Mrs. Flavio HojdaMr. and Mrs. Salomon HomsanyMr. and Mrs. Allan KibliskyMr. and Mrs. Anthony KibliskyDr. and Mrs. Jacobo KirschDr. and Mrs. Eliecer KurzerMr. and Mrs. Eyal LaloDr. and Mrs. Paul LapcoMr. and Mrs. Zalman LekachDr. and Mrs. Moises LustgartenMr. and Mrs. Alex MannMr. and Mrs. Gary MarsMr. and Mrs. Abraham MemunMr. and Mrs. Michael MoreinisMr. and Mrs. Marcelo MrozMr. and Mrs. Simon MundlakMr. and Mrs. Bernie MurcianoMr. and Mrs. Philip NamiechMr. and Mrs. Michel PolikarMr. and Mrs. Jonathan PolitanoMr. and Mrs. Rafael RayekMr. and Mrs. Abraham RimonMr and Mrs. Jose RimskyMr. and Mrs. Andres RosenDr. and Mrs. Jose M. RubMr. and Mrs. Jacob SerfatiMr. and Mrs. Michael ShalomMr. and Mrs. Mauricio SionMr. and Mrs. Robert StibermanMr. and Mrs. Jack StrimberMr. and Mrs. Richard ToledanoMr. and Mrs. Johny TryzmelMr. and Mrs. Isaac WakszolDr. and Mrs. Simon WeissMr. and Mrs. William YisraelMr. and Mrs. Achikan YogevMr. and Mrs. David B. Yohros

KOL HILLEL 3

Hillel students of all ages organized efforts to make a difference in Haiti, after one of the worst natural disasters in history left more than one million people homeless.

Upper School students Yoni Bonan, Kevin Cooper, Salomon Gicherman and Jade Wollschlaeger were featured on local and national television stations for spending nearly one week at a Haitian distribution center in Miami sorting donations.

The students volunteered after school, on school holidays and on a weekend. After only a few days of helping, Wollschlaeger said they were assigned as managers among the distribution from the Little Haiti warehouse. They prepared all the donations for FedEx to deliver to Haiti.

“It made me feel a great sense of accomplishment,“ said Wollschlaeger, a Grade 11 student and a Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassador.

“I felt proud that I could help and have an impact on other lives,” said Cooper.

“I really felt like the community was coming together to help the Haitian community,” said Bonan, a Grade 10 student and also Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassador.

H E L P I N G H A I T I

Students Volunteer-Organize Efforts to Support Earthquake Victims

“The Talmud tells us that a core characteristic of the Jewish People is Gomley Chassadim - being charitable and giving. We were privileged to see this first-hand through the various ways our students chose to help out with the disaster in Haiti,” said Rabbi Michael Druin, Rabbinic Dean. The students also organized a schoolwide water drive, collected baby goods, clothing and close to $1,000. Students brought in more than 1,300 bottles of water.

Students in Grade 2 made get-well cards in Creole for injured Haitians who recently arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital for medical care. Middle School

students Jeremy Benhamou, Alexandra Mundlak and Ilana Woldenberg raised funds to contribute to the relief efforts by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. These are only examples of the many efforts on and off campus.

“It was inspiring to see the response of our students and families wanting to do everything possible to help with the relief efforts,” said Hillel Hurwitz, Student Activities Director. “We truly have an active, caring community here at Hillel.”

Hillel students Yoni Bonan, Jade Wollschlaeger, Salomon Gicherman and Kevin Cooper volunteer at the distribution warehouse in Little Haiti

TECHNOLOGY

While most students begin to hear from colleges now, three Hillel students already have received early decision acceptances to the University of Pennsylvania and one student has been admitted early decision to prestigious The Cooper Union College in New York.

Senior Avi Gadish will attend The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, an all-honors college which accepts students based on merit and awards full scholarships to all enrolled students.

“I am just really happy, and I am honored,” said Gadish, a Hillel student since PK2 who first became interested in The Cooper Union in Grade 8.

Seniors Shira Papir, Josh Traub and Boris Treskunov were admitted for early decision to University of Pennsylvania.

Hillel seniors are accepted to Ivy League and other fine universities each year. “These are all top tier schools and this is a great accomplishment for Hillel,” said Dr. Allan Wolf, Director of College Counseling.

Dr. Wolf believes this year’s seniors will continue Hillel’s annual tradition of about 90 percent of students in a graduating class receiving acceptance to their first-choice school. A true community day school, Hillel seniors graduate to their choice of Ivy universities, state schools and gap year programs in Israel.

“Hillel’s College Guidance Department has done a remarkable job in recent years making sure that our students are accepted to the schools of their choice, including some of the very best colleges and universities in the country. This year has been no different,” said Dr. Adam C. Holden, Head of School.

Early Decision Sends Students to Prestigious Ivy League Schools

COLLEGE BOUND

Gilinski Hillel Ambassador ApplicationsApplications are now available for students in Grades 6-12 to become Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassadors for 2010-2011. The program recognizes exceptional students through a grant toward Hillel tuition. Applications are available in the Advancement Office. The deadline is March 15.

Middle School students Alexandra Mundlak and Ilana Woldenberg

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Grade 6 students in Corey Feinsilver’s drama class took the stage to perform one-act plays titled The Kids’ Book of Questions. Each student selected a question and wrote the anwer as part of a creative writing process. The answer was transformed into a monologue, then into a rehearsal where the students became actors, learning about diction and voice. All the monologues came together and a one-act play was created. At the end of each quarter, students perform the one-act play before parents. “Many of the students are getting their first taste of performing; they are gaining playwriting and acting skills, and they are building confidence and becoming comfortable speaking in front of others,” Feinsilver said.

Lower School students Shlock Rocked for a special February Shabbat Beyachad assembly. Every month, a special Shabbat is planned where students enjoy an assembly together with other classes. This month students in Grades 3-5 participated in the Shlock Rock event, which teaches songs that strengthen Jewish concepts.

Scene at HillelHillel’s Got Talent!

Finalist from “America’s Got Talent” Hairo Torres was a celebrity judge

who helped select the winners of the first Hillel’s Got Talent competition. The top prize for an individual act went to Grade 5 student Akiva Shechter for his rendition of the hit song from Les Miserables, Bring Him Home. He was awarded a ticket to Israel, sponsored by Jerry Allen Travel. The top prize for a group performance went to the rock band, The Edge, featuring Grade 6 students Jonathan Rose, Ariel Gelrud and Abraham Shalom. They performed the Green Day hit, I Walk Alone. They were awarded a $1,000

Best Buy gift certificate.Congratulations to all the talented students who auditioned and participated in the exciting event.

Grade 5 student Akiva Shechter was the firstplace individual act winner.

Hillel arts students spent a few days in New York City on a trip to learn about fine and performing arts. Students and chaperone Seth Dimbert, Upper School computer science teacher and technical director of Hillel’s Jordan Alexander Ressler Performing Arts Department, enjoyed New York, saw plays, toured museums, and participated in workshops. Pictured are Ben Sinyor, Jake Najjar, Ariel Auerbach, Kylie Glazer, Dana Wasserman, Daniel Wodnicki and Lily Rood. Highlights of the trip included seeing the shows Our Town, A View from the Bridge, South Pacific and The Fantasticks. Students also met with technical consultants, stage managers, actors and writers, and spent an afternoon with Orin Wolf, son of Hillel College Guidance Counselor Dr. Allan Wolf. He is a theatrical producer and had a hand in bringing the Arthur Miller drama A View from the Bridge to Broadway. The group toured the Museum of Modern Art, toured backstage after seeing South Pacific and met Rob Krausz, who currently works in show development at NBC but also wrote the play Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! which opened at Hillel on March 11.

NEW YORK NEW YORK!

One-Act Plays Puts Students on Stage

Lower School in Shlock Rock

KOL HILLEL 5

Students in the Middle School G e o g r a p h y Club competed in the National G e o g r a p h i c Geography Bee. First place winner was Elan Kainen, who will take a written exam to

qualify for the state-level competition in Jacksonville. Second place winner was Joseph Mitrani, and third place winner was Sam Kainen. Special thanks to Hillel alumnae Esther Saks and Aliza Ben-Arie (’09) who volunteered to assist at the Bee.

Grade 3 students brought their diversity to the stage in a play dramatizing It’s a Small World After All. The students presentation before family and friends highlighted music from around the world and costumes representing their heritage.

Scene at Hillel

In celebration of Generations Day, early childhood classrooms were filled with parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and other relatives as they joined students for a special morning together. Families were greeted by Jaime and Raquel Gilinski Hillel Ambassadors Esther Schoonover, Yonathan Bonan and Ariela Zebede. They then shared an activitity in the classroom, and enjoyed a chior presentation. This event has become a beautiful tradition at Hillel.

Generations Day photography by Grade 11 student Taylor Cohen.

Generations Day

Lower School Show Highlights Heritage in School Performance

Hillel placed third in the 10th annual Dade Association of Academic Non-Public School (DAANS) Geography Bee, competing against eight private schools in Dade County. Team members include Upper School students Rebecca Battat, Brandon Berman, Alex Eibinder, Ari Gontovnik, Eli Soffer and Myles Wolfe.

Middle School Geography Bee

Upper School Places 3rd in Bee

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Tickets on Sale for Production of Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!

Tickets are on sale for Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!which runs March 11-15 in the Jordan Alexander Ressler Performing Arts Theatre. The play features performances by Grade 6-12 students and is directed by Upper School faculty member Seth Dimbert. The play is a musical, based around the songs of Allan Sherman, and features a small cast playing dozens of hilarious roles in a madcap homage to the American suburban Jewish experience.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Online Box Office (http://www.hillel-nmb.org/boxoffice) and are $5 each. The last production sold out, so reserve your seats today!

HIP/PTA’s annual Lower School event brought nearly 300 people together to watch theatre production Comedy with a Twist of Lemon presented by Fantasy Theatre Factory. Children enjoyed a morning of carnival games, arts and crafts, face painting and food by Kosher Subway. The event was chaired by Susy Abbo and Ileana Berentestein.

HIP/PTA’s Schoolwide Mishloach Manot Exchange took place on February 26. Every family and each faculty and staff member received a Purim basket. “The fundraiser was very successful,” said HIP/PTA president Amy Chafetz. Event chairs were Julie Assor, Vanessa Benhamron and Sara Rayek.

HIP/PTA is planning to offer presales of school supplies for next year. Please check the Web site for upcoming details.

Students Receive First Siddur

Students in Grade 1 performed for family and friends before receiving their first Siddur. The ceremony is a long standing Hillel tradition marking the beginning of a lifetime of study of Torah values.

HaKotelThe Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Robert and Michelle DienerJaime and Raquel Gilinski Family

HaTikvahThe Scheck/Bonwitt Families

Yerushalaim shel ZahavRaphael and Flavia Ades

Jorge and Tammy Woldenberg

KinneretMoti and Julia AbadiDavid and Sara Bejar

JGB BankMike and Carole Shalom

MassadaFlavio and Deborah HojdaFrank and Rebecca Kriger

Mario and Rachel SapoznikHenry and Denise WaissmanIdel and Yvette Woldenberg

Hillel is honored to recognize those who support the school with charitable gifts. Current Ma’ayan Society members are:

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FencingIn Grades 4-12, 17 students participated in fencing tournaments. This is the seventh year that Master Arnold Mercado is teaching students the art of fencing at Hillel. Mercado says that fencing requires a trained skill that attracts the attention of Ivy League colleges. At the recent Super Sabre competition, Ariel Croitoru came in first place, Jonathan Woldenberg second and Abrahamn Milhem third in the Youth-12 division. In the Youth-10 division, Benamin Givner came in first, Steven Dubman, second and Jonathan Woldenberg third. In the Youth-14 category, Daniel Givner came in second place.

THE SPORTSP A G E

BASKETBALL SOCCER FOOTBALL GOLF FENCING TENNIS VOLLEYBALL BASEBALL

A Slam Dunk Year for Hillel AthleticsMore students than ever before are participating in athletics at Hillel. With the

addition of Lower School teams and a commitment by Hillel and parents to support the athletic programs, Hillel sports are blossoming.

Athletic Director Cindy Lyon said there are double the number of athletes competing in sports, as well as double the number of wins from last year.

“This has happened from having passionate, dedicated coaches, who not only coach athletes, but mentor and tutor students as well. They spend countless hours dedicating themselves to better the Hillel athletic program,” Lyon said.

The boys varsity basketball team ended with a winning season, 14-4, winning a basketball tournament in Houston and coming in second place in Memphis at the Cooper Yeshiva High School Invitational. The varsity girls basketball team ended its season 11-3. Both the girls and boys teams won the preseason Hebrew tournament games. The girls team is seeded 5th in the district, with Sabrina Zarco ranked 4th and Esther Schoonover ranked 6th. Girls varsity soccer ended their season 7-4.Varsity football ended 5-2 this year, versus the 2-7 last year. Varsity volleyball won 5 games this year, versus not winning any games the previous year. Golf team member Elon Rubin, made it to regional. Spring season is underway and girls softball tryouts attracted 42 athletes - 20 more than last year. Girls tennis is looking forward to making regionals again, and baseball season is just getting started.

Boys varsity soccer ended its overall season 12-1. They are district champs, beating Dade Christian and Florida Christian. Hillel hosted the quarter semi-round of regionals beating Palmer Trinity 4-3. They lost in the semi-round against Westminster Christian.

Lower School SportsThe Lower School boys basketball team is currently 5-1 with two games remaining and on their way to the playoffs. The boys flag football team was undefeated and won the Jewish Independent League championship game. The girls only had a few games this season due to a lack of competition from other schools. The Lower School athletics grew so much, there was a need for two flag football teams and two basketball teams. The increase is also expected for soccer season.

Middle School SportsThe Middle School boys soccer team won first place in the Independent Athletic League. They played Boca Christian in the finals and won 2-1. The boys basketball team is 7-0 and will play in district. The boys flag football team ranked second place in the division. The girls volleyball team won two games. The girls soccer program grew enough to have two different teams. Girls basketball ended the season 3-3 with a few close games.

Varsity Sports Roundup

The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High SchoolThe Juda and Maria Diener Elementary School The Henrietta Scheck Middle School19000 NE 25th AvenueNorth Miami Beach, Florida 33180

OPEN HOUSEPK2 - Grade 12Thursday, March 188:30 a.m.

Discover 2010-2011 at the

305.931.2831 x136www.hillel-nmb.org