October in Pink

"Breast cancer is not just a disease that strikes at women. It strikes at the very heart of who we are as women: how others perceive us, how we perceive ourselves, how we live, work and raise our families-or whether we do these things at all." -Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Every year, thousands of women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and many persevere past pain and stress to fight off the straining ailment. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 230,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, adding to the 2.6 million women in the US with a history of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is an annual health campaign that is organized in order to raise funds for causes, cures, research, and prevention of Breast Cancer and increase awareness among others who are not familiar with the symptoms of diagnostics of the disease. This past Wednesday, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, NSHAHS held a fundraising program in order to support the enervating disease that puts women at risk.

During the lunch periods, pink hair extensions representing Pink Hair for Hope were sold to girls for $10 each in order to raise money for the meaningful cause. Some girls, who didnt want to wear the hair extension, still bought one to keep it as an every reminder of what countless women struggle through. In addition, girls were encouraged to wear pink to school to show support for the thousands of women battling the agonizing condition. The students at the NSHAHS also support the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides against Breast Cancer" campaign by walking to raise money. Our students manage to raise almost $900 for the two events. Mrs. Debra Gold, chairperson of Health and PE expresses, "I have been participating in these events for many years with the hope that one day, a cure will be found, and we can use the money only to celebrate!"

Needless to say, showing support for causes such as this one is in a powerful move in comforting ones afflicted with the disease, as well as a meaningful approach in raising money for the disease.

Thanks to Alexandra L. (class of 2015) for the wonderful writeup.  Stay tuned for this, and more great articles in next week's issue of North Shore Notes (notes.nshahs.org), our weekly student publication.

NSHAHS Students Skype with author Shirley Reva Vernick

It’s September 22, 1928—Jack Pool’s 16th birthday—and he’s about to be accused of murder.

Today, North Shore’s freshman class had the opportunity to engage in a Skype session with Shirley Reva Vernick. Vernick, author of the summer reading novel, The Blood Lie, generously offered her time to discuss the book and her writing process with students. Additionally, Vernick fielded student questions and posed a few thought-provoking inquiries of her own.

Finding her way into a career in writing later in life, Vernick shared the real-life inspiration for her book about the 1920s blood libel in her home town of Massena, New York. Learning about this time in history from her father, Vernick first wrote a college paper on the topic; she later developed it into a full-length novel. Vernick described to the group her lengthy writing and editing process—including drafts in first person, varied first person, and finally third person point of view. She also revealed the real-life inspiration for the protagonist Jack Pool: her father.

Rounding out the session with a Q&A, students asked Vernick a variety of questions, from the role Judaism plays in her daily life to her plans for future novels. Vernick explained that she is currently working on three novels, one of which is due out this spring. She is also working on a sequel to The Blood Lie. Vernick challenged the students to think on their feet as the Skype session came to a close, asking whether they had ever experienced prejudice in their own lives and to what extent they thought the plot of the novel might have been different had current technology (cell phones, the internet, facebook) existed in the 1920s.

All in all the discussion was a success; conversing with and hearing from the author of one of their books was a real treat for the freshman class.

Thanks to Mrs. Zabinsky for the writeup!

NSHAHS student takes aim at Apple

A few weeks ago, our own Samuel Tavakoli noticed a glaring omission in Apple's new iPhone Maps app.  Read more about his online petition to correctly list Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and click here to sign his petition:

http://www.thejewishstar.com/stories/NSHA-HS-student-takes-aim-at-Apple,3598

via The Jewish Star

A Great Start!

What an amazing year we are having!  Our students are learning in class and smiling in the hallways.  There is a great feeling permeating the entire school that’s shared by students and teachers alike.

This year during Succot we had school on Chol HaMoed.  We took advantage of the time together with the students and had a Simchat Beit HaShoeva Wednesday night and two impromptu concerts in the Succah during breakfast on Thursday and Friday morning.  It was inspiring watching the students dancing and singing in the Succah.

We are in a great place and looking forward a year of health, happiness, good friends and of course learning.