Alumni Game 2011

The Annual Irby Cooper Memorial Alumni Game returned home last night, after a few years in alternate venues.  The turnout was great, the food was fantastic, and the environment was electric.  Believe it or not, we even had some good basketball, too!  Led by Richard Lewis, the alumni made it close, but the boys of the Cooper Macs prevailed.  This doesn't bode well at all for the alum, given that most of the current Macs are freshman and sophomores and they are still at the point in their lives when getting older means getting better...

Below are some highlights from the fun-filled night.  For all of the pictures, click here.

The Muqata: Talmud Study now Mandatory in South Korea

The Muqata: Talmud Study now Mandatory in South Korea: "The following fascinating article was translated by The Muqata from YNET. Close to 50 million people live in South Korea, and everyone lear..."

GMSG Students Top Finalists in Writing Contest

Shoshana Somer and Molly Brakha have been selected as "Top Finalists" in B'nai Brith International's 2011 Diverse Minds Youth Writing Challenge.  The Diverse Minds Writing Challenge competition asked public and private high school students in Memphis and New York City to write and illustrate a children's book that discusses the topics of tolerance and diversity.  The contest winner in each city will receive a $5,000 college scholarship and publication of his or her book.  Second place in each city will receive a $2000 scholarship and third place receives $1000.  In addition, the teacher of the winning students (in our case, the phenomenal Mrs. Abby Johnson) receives a grant of $500 for the purchase of classroom materials and the school receives $500 as well.  


Shoshana and Molly will be attending an Award Presentation Event later this year in which the winners will be announces and presented with their prizes.  We wish them both the best of luck!!

5 Students Admitted to Honors Program

An unprecedented five MHA / FYOS students were admitted into Yeshiva University's prestigious Honors Program for 2011-2012.  Applicants must have at least a 90 cumulative average throughout high school and score at least a combined 1400 in the Math and Verbal sections of the SATs or a 32 on the ACT to even be considered for the program.  Together with their acceptance, each of the five students received a significant merit-based scholarship which together amounts to nearly $100,000 per year.

Students who enroll in the Honors Program at Yeshiva University select from special honors courses from offerings in the humanities, Jewish studies, natural sciences and social sciences, whose enrollment is capped at eleven students. In their final three semesters, honor students each complete a Senior Project under the individual guidance of a faculty mentor.  In addition, students in the program participate in a rich variety of extracurricular events focusing on the cultural resources of New York City as well as summer programs abroad. 


Congratulations to:

Debbie Farber (currently in Israel)

Ariav Schlesinger (currently in Israel)

Jonathan Tavin

Sam Rapp

Maddie Tavin

Purim Festivities

For weeks now, Purim has been in the air throughout the school.  From dress-up corners in the Early Childhood transformed into make-believe Shushans to high school students dressed as beavers preparing for their annual video Purim Schpiel, the spirit of the day was everywhere.  Amongst the most impressive of the Purim presentations was the play put on by the third grade, under the direction of Morah Yehudit, completely in Hebrew.  It was true testament to how comfortable our children have become in Hebrew due to our Lower School Hebrew immersion program for Judaic studies.  Click here  for images and some video clips of their performance.

Topping my personal list of most enjoyable Purim experiences were the grammen prepared by our Boys High School rebbeim and affectionately delivered on Purim afternoon at Rabbi Lubetski's house, and the rather  significant scare I delivered to the Girls High School as part of their Shushan Purim Color War breakout.  Though I think a few of them probably swore never to talk to me again, after a fun-filled two days of Color War, I think most of them of over it...    

Preparing For Purim

Dr. David Pelcovitz, a leading professor of psychology at the Azrieli Graduate School of Education and Administration, recently posted 7 tips for parents in preparing their teens for Purim.  I urge everyone to read it and to share it with their friends.  Have a wonderful, enjoyable, and safe Purim!

Digital Expressions

It seems that every day another one of our teachers begins venturing out of the world of traditional essays, reports, and tri-fold presentation boards, and allowing their students instead to demonstrate their learning via digital, multimedia, web-based tools.  Here are two quick examples of recent student work:

• A Museum Box from Mrs. Massey's 6th Grade on Mesoamerica (click on the pictures to learn more) and 
• Two Prezis (one and two) from Mrs. Perl's 11th and 12th Grade Chumash class (click on the arrow to get an in-depth analysis of the parasha)

Not surprisingly, the response from the students has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic and the sophistication of the products they are producing - using software they have completely taught themselves - continues to amaze us.

The Government Inspector

The recipe never seems to get old: take a whole bunch of high school kids, give them a classic play, mix in a heavy dose of Dr. Kutliroff, and out comes something simply startling.  Such was certainly the case this past Wednesday when the Boys High School staged Nikolai Gogol's 19th century political satire, The Government Inspector.  The fits of laughter heard throughout the audience attested to the talent and skill they demonstrated in pulling it off.

Below is a slideshow of some of the highlights from the play. For all the pictures click here.

Champions!

Congratulations to Coach Winestone and our Mini Macs Girls Basketball team on winning their league championship game tonight!  The team has worked hard all season and there couldn't have been a better way to cap it off.  Well done, girls!

Rosh Chodesh Adar

There are few MHA traditions as hallowed as the practice of our high schools dancing down to the Lower School on Rosh Chodesh Adar and together, as a single school, making their way to the gym for a special breakfast and chagigah.  There isn't a student in the school who doesn't look forward to it and this year's rendition certainly did not disappoint.

Click below for a taste of this uniquely festive atmosphere that electrified the entire school this past Monday morning.

Jeremy Cooper Named Academic All-Star

Congratulations to 11th grader Jeremy Cooper who was named this week's Cellular South Academic All-Star by the Commercial Appeal.  The award is given to seven of the top-performing high school students in the metro-Memphis area each week of the school year based on their academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, good character, and community service.  Those of us who know Jeremy know that in all four areas the honor is most deserved!

Click on the picture to read the full write-up on Jeremy's accomplishments and look for it again this Sunday's Commercial Appeal.

3rd Grade Science Fair Glog

To view a larger version click here.