Hadar Bet Yaakov students enjoyed an evening of celebration this past Wednesday night. Staff and students gathered in the ballroom for a gala event where students were honored with a myriad of commendations ranging from academic excellence to midos to STEM and even a special Congressional Award of Distinction from the office of Congresswoman Grace Meng.
Dinner began with a wonderful salad course and welcoming remarks from Rabbi Robenov, Mrs. Rambod, and Mrs. Friedman. Rabbi Robenov reminisced on student growth in Torah, mitzvos, and relationships, and Mrs. Friedman focused on the school’s warm and professional teaching staff that sets up every student for success. Mrs. Rambod revealed her own feelings of gratitude for the idealistic and enthusiastic student body, followed by Mrs. Simes’ words of praise and thanks for the Mishmeres student leaders who transformed the group into a strong school movement.
One of the awards that was a complete surprise was Grace Meng’s Congressional Art Award, which was bestowed upon Mazal Khaimova for her poignant Holocaust painting of an Auschwitz tattooed arm. She was overwhelmed by the recognition of her artwork and thanked everyone for being so supportive, and encouraging her to enter the contest to begin with.
The night ended with a beautiful video created by Mrs. Miriam Katanov and Mrs. Devorah Robenov that captured the year’s meaningful moments in classrooms, school events, Shabbatons, and trips. The celebratory follow-up arrived just a few hours later, the next day, when students embarked on their end-of-year trip to Central Park for a “Secret City Scavenger Hunt.” Students divided into three teams, armed with a clipboard and pen, to conquer a 35-itemized list, peppered with intriguing clues and keys. The strategizing and guesswork took them on a two-hour trail through the zoo, boathouse, amphitheater, and a whole host of monuments and statues.
It all ended with a pizza lunch in the park, followed by the ride home to HBY for the last time that school year. As everyone said her last goodbyes, there were smiles that looked forward to September.
By Shoshanna Friedman