For 28 years, Peshie Saphirstein has been a source of smiles and warmth at HALB’s Avnet Country Day School. A resident of Kew Gardens Hills and a morah at YCQ for 21 years, Peshie is known for her devotion to both her students and campers. At Avnet, Peshie has always worked in the Tipot division with girls entering kindergarten – the same age as her YCQ students. “I love my job as a teacher, and I love that I get to work with children all year to build their confidence,” Peshie said. “This is a great age, because they are already little people who can communicate their needs. Camp is the perfect time to strengthen abilities while providing a fun experience.”
Along with her dedication, Peshie is known for her creativity and sense of humor. Every summer, she puts extra thought into giving her bunk a cute and relevant theme. When Avnet moved from Long Beach to Woodmere, she called her group the “A Ticket To Ride,” and dressed as “tour guides” for Crazy Hat Day to help everyone find their way in the new building. The summer of COVID, when bunks were limited to ten kids, her group was “the Minions.”
Having Peshie as part of Avnet’s dynamic team is probably one of the reasons there has been a steady increase in Queens enrollment over the years. This past summer, there were ten buses of Queens campers!
“Morah Peshie is an Avnet all-star and we’re thrilled to have her. She’s one of the few people working at Avnet longer than I am,” said Daniel Stroock, Camp Director. “Peshie’s dedication is unparalleled. I feel privileged that all of my daughters have had a place in her bunk.”
Peshie sums up her attention to her campers best: “I have to put in 110 percent to make sure the kids are happy and safe,” she said. “Safety is first and the fun flows from there.”