As students and parents enter Week Two of their new learning routines, the Yeshiva of Central Queens faculty and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) continue to enhance the virtual learning environment and set of activities to keep students engaged in learning while keeping social avenues open. This week, students were engaged in the #YCQatHome photo scavenger hunt challenge, a daily activity where students find certain items and then photograph the items and submit for the end-of-the-week video. Teachers continued to introduce class challenges encouraging students to do chores around the house, which certainly helped frantic parents begin their Pesach preparations; show off their personal collections; share videos of recipes and cooking; and show school spirit by spelling out YCQ with various items. Specialty classes were introduced this week, including gym class for all grades, art, music, and library for lower elementary, and computer class for all elementary school students.
School psychologist Dr. Sara Asher, on Wednesday evening, gave her well-attended weekly Zoom.us webinar on her series Psychologist’s Coping Toolbox: Strategies for Managing Difficult Moments. She has been available for the entire YCQ community to help develop coping skills to navigate through this trying time period and to offer emotional support.
Every morning, students daven together with their rebbeim, moros, and classmates; and on Rosh Chodesh, 300 students, parents, administration, and faculty members davened a beautiful Hallel together, led by JHS assistant principal Rabbi Moshe Hamel and elementary assistant principal Rabbi Michael Ribalt. And on Thursday evening, rebbeim led the second YCQ virtual pre-Shabbos ruach event.
Despite what is going on in the world, the students are displaying incredible midos tovos, and dealing with both the uncertainty and the temporary changes like true b’nei and b’nos Torah.