News

On Thursday, June 18, IVDU Long Island’s School for Special Education celebrated the end of a unique and successful school year. From September to mid-March, IVDU students and teachers benefited from the plentiful materials and resources available in our school building. When we transitioned to remote learning, teachers and therapists continued to provide the signature individualized IVDU education on Zoom. Parents received hands-on materials, lesson plans, and activities. Teachers provided individual live sessions tailored to each student, and offered at-home activities, as well. Therapists continued to service students through live sessions and at-home activities.

This has been an exciting final week of what has been the most fascinating, innovative, exhilarating, and often challenging school year for the Yeshiva of Central Queens in their “Virtual Learning Environment.” Students joined with their teachers for Zoom “baking parties” and virtual trips to Disneyland. Second graders participated in a virtual talent show, and third graders went on a “Happiness Scavenger Hunt.” Many teachers visited the students at home, dropping off gifts, and some classes came for a “socially distant” or “drive-thru” milk-and-cookies party in the yard to say their goodbyes to teachers and classmates.

As schools have made the switch to “Zoom Learning” during the pandemic, there were many obstacles that students and teachers had to face on a daily basis. One of these issues was Zoom fatigue, becoming tired of staring at a screen for hours just to make it through a day of learning. Ezra Academy stepped in to help give local Middle School students a way to shake that fatigue and give them something to get excited about. This was evident by the overabundant enthusiasm for the Middle School Hanger Challenge from schools and students alike.

MTA welcomed the Class of 2024 with surprise visits to each talmid and an exciting grade-wide orientation. “We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2024 to the MTA family,” said Freshman Grade Dean Rabbi Eli Cohn. “Visiting each boy personally was a really special opportunity. It was great to spend time with every boy individually, and we truly enjoyed getting to know them better. Our Freshman experience is not only tailored to the needs of the grade as a whole, but also to the needs of each talmid. This was the perfect way for our incoming talmidim to meet our Freshman team, one on one, and start building what will become lifelong relationships.”

An incredible feeling of achdus and warmth was felt by the entire Bnos Malka family at our end-of-the-year drive-through on Sunday morning. After being greeted by a huge Sky Dancer, each girl received a can of lemonade from the G.O. girls, who were all dressed up in their adorable lemonade booth!

As everyone adjusted to the new normal of remote learning this spring, it became clear that the absence of physical classrooms or typical schedules would not stop the dedication and creativity of Shevach teachers or students. Under the guidance of Shevach Principal Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz, and Associate Principal for General Studies Mrs. Nechama Mirsky, the staff reworked extracurricular events to meet the changing realities. Classes were dynamic, collaborative experiences, and in place of several traditional assessments, teachers designed fabulous projects that enabled students to learn through heartfelt writing, high-tech science, and solid teamwork.