NSHAHS Academic Bowl Team's Victory on MSG Varsity

We would like to congratulate North Shore's academic bowl team on their winning performance versus Hicksville as seen on MSG Varsity's Challenge.  If you missed the show, please check out the attached video, or use the link below:

http://www.msgvarsity.com/tv-shows/the-challenge/the-challenge-hicksville-vs-north-shore-hebrew-academy-1.1253513

The Golden Land - A Musical in English and Yiddish about Jewish Immigration to America

Featuring a North Shore Elementary graduate, Daniella Rabanni, The Golden Land, the musical created by Zalmen Mlotek and Moishe Rosenfeld, which premiered in New York in 1984, will be presented in a new adaptation in October 2012 by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, under the direction of Bryna Wasserman.

We encourage our students and families to attend!

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!

Chag Kasher V’Sameach

Thanks to Rabbi D. Alpert, Rabbi D. Kahana, Rabbi Y. Lehrer, Ms. L. Septimus, and Rabbi N. Weinberg for contributing their thoughts and well wishes to this video clip.  Also, thanks to Ben N. (class of 2015) for editing this video.

Introducing The Written Voice: NSHAHS' Literary Voices Unite

Here we are, April of 2012, right in the midst of tests, homework and extra-curricular activities. Amongst all the work and academic stress, North Shore’s writers still work hard, creating intricate plots and developing dynamic characters. The Written Voice is a digital literary magazine founded in order to be a unique channel for the aspiring young writers of NSHAHS and a mode for the publication of their work. Our goal with this monthly literary magazine is to provide a means of exposure for North Shore’s ambitious writers and a place for their literary works to unite. This inaugural issue includes literary stylings by some of North Shore’s most talented and dedicated writers. The novels featured here will progress with each successive issue and the poems and short stories have been carefully chosen by Written Voice staff for their creativity and originality. These writers have worked tirelessly during their free time to ensure that their works are edited to perfection and ready for publication. We hope that The Written Voice will be received with open arms and constructive feedback. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

The Editors
Anna Hardcastle and Rachelle David

Visit us at:  http://nshahsthewrittenvoice.blogspot.com/

A Festival of One Acts

Article by Sarah Silverstein; Artwork by Zachary Blumner; Photography by Ira Somach.

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School’s drama club has worked over the past months to put together a Festival of entertaining One Acts. The Festival, directed by Mr. Nick Matros and Ms. Alizah Kramer, included plays written by Arnold Perl, David Ives and Stephen Gregg.  The first show premiered on Sunday March 11, followed by a second show on Sunday March 18 at the Great Neck Arts Center.

“Our goal as educators is to teach the kids how to take on a character, make it their own and have fun with it,” said Ms. Kramer and Mr. Matros, who would like to send a special thank you to the entire cast for all of the hard work and effort they put into the show. This year’s plays were definitely an act to remember and the Drama Club has left the audience excited for next year’s production.

Entrants in JV LISEF

“To be in it, is to win it!!”  2nd Place Environmental, Yonatan David; 3rd Place Environmental, Emma Oberstein, Avery Rubin, Alexandra Paul; 3rd Place Biology, Josh Cohen and Benjamin Khakshor

Newsday Video: NSHAHS teens join others to remember Holocaust

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School seniors prepare to travel to Poland for the "March of the Living," coordinated by Ms. Gabriela Rozanski, then to Israel to commemorate fallen soldiers on Israel's National Remembrance Day.  Video courtesy of Newsday.  See the full article on Newsday.

Shiriyah 2012 - Feel the Ruach!

Tomchei Shabbos

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School students ventured to Queens to package food for families in need through "Tomchei Shabbos".  The experience gives the students the opportunity to better understand how communities and local merchants combine their time, money and goods to help others.  These packaged groceries will be distributed to many families for Shabbos.

Cohen Named National Merit Finalist

North Shore Hebrew Academy High School is pleased to announce that Samuel Cohen has been named a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program.  He is one of 15,000 finalists chosen among 1.5 million entrants for consistently high academic performance and outstanding standardized test scores.

Mazel Tov To The Class of 2012 Successful Early Decision Applicants!

NSHAHS shares victory in debate contest

The North Shore debate team did more than hold its own against fierce competition at the North Shore Debate Tournament on Monday.  Out of the 52 debaters competing,  Elias Horowitz emerged as the #1 speaker at the event; Leigh Goldstein placed third.  Leigh and Elias advanced to the final round where they shared the first place team award with a team from Heschel.  Ben Markowitz and Mac. Berman were semifinalists.  Overall, North Shore was the #1 school with an unsurpassed 14-2 preliminary round record.  The North Shore Debate team is currently preparing for its next tournament on December 18 at MTA.

11/30 - Modern Orthodoxy Program

Check out our video of last week's Modern Orthodoxy Program, consisting of a memorable keynote from Rabbi Kenneth Hain, and two accompanying workshop sessions led by our faculty members.

Thank you Ilan B. (class of 2015), Judd E. (class of 2014), and Dr. Klein (Assistant Principal, Judaic Studies) for helping put this video together!

11/21 - Kosher Bird Presentation

Check out our video of last week's interesting live Kosher bird presentation.