Ska sonics Update
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They are eagerly anticipating and working hard to prepare after a disappointing loss in a late playoff game last year. Good luck to all the players and looking forward to a great season!!!”
Tali Goodstein (tennis player): “After a long week of school I get to end off with my favorite part- Friday tennis practice. I get to have a fun time with my friends while being active and being in a stress free environment. I’m so excited for the season to start and I have no doubt the Sonics will have a great record and hopefully win the yeshiva league!” SKA is rooting for you, and we are looking forward to a great season! |
Channel Creativity, Confine Convention
rebecca berg
The eleventh grade Creative Expression class transcends the traditional confines of the standard classroom by pushing students to explore alternative modes of self-expression beyond basic essay writing and verbal responses. Through this transformative course, I have found avenues to express myself both verbally and non-verbally, delving into slam poetry, Tehillim/Torah studies, acting, and exploring my family history and legacy among other forms. Each new unit or assignment initially sparks nervousness among students, as we wonder how we will tackle challenges like crafting poetry on seasons and colors or embodying characters on stage. However, as we immerse ourselves in each project, we discover a sense of pride in our accomplishments.
This class continuously reinforces the idea that growth often comes from discomfort by presenting us with thought-provoking yet enjoyable projects and discussions that push us beyond our comfort zones. One of my personal highlights was a unit where we explored the intersection of music and spirituality. Each student selected a song that resonated with her and dissected and annotated it in a manner that demonstrated how she sees the truth in it and relates. She then connected her chosen song to a passage from Tehillim which revealed the profound connections and similarities between her favorite modern songs and what Hashem knew and out there for us to discover all along.
Creative Expression is a class that I eagerly anticipate each day, offering engaging and nuanced topics that encourage diverse forms of communication. Being in this class ensures that every student feels not only heard but genuinely listened to, fostering an environment where creativity flourishes and students are empowered to break free from the conventional constraints of traditional education. I wholeheartedly recommend Creative Expression to anyone seeking to nurture her creativity and challenge the norms of traditional learning.
This class continuously reinforces the idea that growth often comes from discomfort by presenting us with thought-provoking yet enjoyable projects and discussions that push us beyond our comfort zones. One of my personal highlights was a unit where we explored the intersection of music and spirituality. Each student selected a song that resonated with her and dissected and annotated it in a manner that demonstrated how she sees the truth in it and relates. She then connected her chosen song to a passage from Tehillim which revealed the profound connections and similarities between her favorite modern songs and what Hashem knew and out there for us to discover all along.
Creative Expression is a class that I eagerly anticipate each day, offering engaging and nuanced topics that encourage diverse forms of communication. Being in this class ensures that every student feels not only heard but genuinely listened to, fostering an environment where creativity flourishes and students are empowered to break free from the conventional constraints of traditional education. I wholeheartedly recommend Creative Expression to anyone seeking to nurture her creativity and challenge the norms of traditional learning.
IsraeL Update
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Amid the tense conflict in Israel, recent updates have shown the unwavering strength of the Israeli military in defending our nation against attacks from terrorists. Israeli forces have conducted precision airstrikes to target Hamas militants and their infrastructure in Gaza, effectively preventing their attempts to harm any more innocent civilians. The Israeli Defense Forces have also successfully neutralized numerous threats posed by Palestinian militants in the West Bank, ensuring the safety and security of Israeli residents in the region. Despite facing challenging circumstances, Israel continues to stand firm in its commitment to protecting its citizens and maintaining peace. There is also an ongoing effort to successfully negotiate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas because the Israeli state is committed to securing the safe return of these individuals.
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Furthermore, this passed weekend Israel was under attack as Iran sent hundreds of missiles towards Israeli cities. Families were forced to spend their shabbat in bomb shelters, fearful to what was to come. Although hundreds of missiles were launched, 99% percent of them were intercepted by the iron dome, leaving no casualties. We can see how Hashem has watched over the Jewish people everyday, especially this weekend, and be grateful for this miracle!
Our nation shines bright in the face of adversity-- showing support to one another, resilience, and faith in our homeland. Mi Ke'Amcha Yisrael! |
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Owala vs Stanley
Gila Yastrab
It’s time for SKA to properly address one of our generation’s most controversial and significant questions. A conundrum so captivating that an SKA student might find herself spending hours, if not days, deliberating. The answer to this would affect the health and hydration of many, many SKA students. The mystery in question is of course, which bottle is more efficient, Stanley Cup or Owala water bottle?
To answer this question we must first study the basic structure of each of the water carriers. The average SKA student’s Stanley cup is made of metal, holds 40 ounces of liquid, costs $45 (give or take), has a handle, and an open/visible straw at the top. A notable feature about the Stanley is its narrow bottom, specifically designed to conveniently fit in cupholders of an owner’s car or treadmill. The Stanley comes in a variety of colors and is customizable to the user’s likes.
Personally, a few problems come to mind when I think about the design of the Stanley water bottle:
The Owala has a similar design but has subtle differences to make it unique. The Owala comes in 24, 32, and 40 ounces. It has a straw that can be used for sipping and a spout for gulping. The bottle also has a strong lock feature which prevents spilling, making it easy to travel with. Part of the lock mechanism can also be used as a handle to hold the bottle. The Owala has a narrow shape, but the larger sizes do not fit into an average cup holder. The Owala company often drops specialty colors and designs, but they tend to sell out quickly. The ordinary Owala color designs are bright and are matched with a similarly bright cap.
The issues that are prevalent in the design of the Owala water bottle are as follows:
So which bottle will enhance your day-to-day routine the most? Owala or Stanley? There are flaws in both designs, but they also both have efficient features. In terms of aesthetic qualities, the Stanley is bulkier and lighter in color, whereas the Owala is less bulky and brighter. Regarding hydration, the Owala has different ways to drink– sip through the straw or chug from the spout– and the Stanley only has one plain straw. The only major quality that the Stanley has that is more practical than the Owala is its handle, however, an anonymous tenth grader stated, “It hurts my hand and wrist to hold my heavy Stanley at an angle all day. I wish I could hold my water bottle by the top instead.” Her described design is that of the Owala because its lock/handle is located at the top, making it easier to hold. The Owala’s impressive lock system that prevents spillage is the quality that, for me, puts the Owala above its competitor. I calculate that my peers at SKA agree since no high school students want a water bottle that will constantly spill on their books or iPads or that they can’t just easily throw into their bags.
In sum, both water bottles have practical and impractical features, and any owner of either water bottle will be happy. I would also like to give an honorable shoutout to all other water bottle brands, such as Hyrdoflask, Simply Modern, and more.
P.S.,
I am the proud owner of an Owala water bottle!!
To answer this question we must first study the basic structure of each of the water carriers. The average SKA student’s Stanley cup is made of metal, holds 40 ounces of liquid, costs $45 (give or take), has a handle, and an open/visible straw at the top. A notable feature about the Stanley is its narrow bottom, specifically designed to conveniently fit in cupholders of an owner’s car or treadmill. The Stanley comes in a variety of colors and is customizable to the user’s likes.
Personally, a few problems come to mind when I think about the design of the Stanley water bottle:
- The Stanley is not cost-efficient; many high-quality water bottles are on the market of a similar design for a fraction of the price
- The exposed straw on top presents several issues: bugs could fly into the cup, strangers can subtly slip drugs into the drink, and there's overall difficulty traveling with the cup because of how easily it might spill
- Covers for a Stanley straw cost extra with many students reporting that they do not even work properly all the time
The Owala has a similar design but has subtle differences to make it unique. The Owala comes in 24, 32, and 40 ounces. It has a straw that can be used for sipping and a spout for gulping. The bottle also has a strong lock feature which prevents spilling, making it easy to travel with. Part of the lock mechanism can also be used as a handle to hold the bottle. The Owala has a narrow shape, but the larger sizes do not fit into an average cup holder. The Owala company often drops specialty colors and designs, but they tend to sell out quickly. The ordinary Owala color designs are bright and are matched with a similarly bright cap.
The issues that are prevalent in the design of the Owala water bottle are as follows:
- Owalas are brightly colored, and one cannot mix and match the cap colors
- Owalas do not have an official handle, requiring the larger sizes to be held with two hands, making them difficult to transport
- Owala water bottles are expensive as well, and not attainable for someone on a budget
So which bottle will enhance your day-to-day routine the most? Owala or Stanley? There are flaws in both designs, but they also both have efficient features. In terms of aesthetic qualities, the Stanley is bulkier and lighter in color, whereas the Owala is less bulky and brighter. Regarding hydration, the Owala has different ways to drink– sip through the straw or chug from the spout– and the Stanley only has one plain straw. The only major quality that the Stanley has that is more practical than the Owala is its handle, however, an anonymous tenth grader stated, “It hurts my hand and wrist to hold my heavy Stanley at an angle all day. I wish I could hold my water bottle by the top instead.” Her described design is that of the Owala because its lock/handle is located at the top, making it easier to hold. The Owala’s impressive lock system that prevents spillage is the quality that, for me, puts the Owala above its competitor. I calculate that my peers at SKA agree since no high school students want a water bottle that will constantly spill on their books or iPads or that they can’t just easily throw into their bags.
In sum, both water bottles have practical and impractical features, and any owner of either water bottle will be happy. I would also like to give an honorable shoutout to all other water bottle brands, such as Hyrdoflask, Simply Modern, and more.
P.S.,
I am the proud owner of an Owala water bottle!!
color war 2024
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The contests and races had students engaged in intense competition. But regardless of the competitive atmosphere, the girls were sure to look out for one another– even for their rivals. When someone lost a race, the only words that were heard were “Good job” and “You did great.” Small acts of support, kindness, and care, shown to the other teams as well as your own reveal the true reason for color war: to have fun and make connections with others.
With the banner, map of Israel, and other various projects, the art room was packed with students from every grade eager to make their teams’ projects the best. What I witnessed in the art room myself, was bonding through passion. Besides everyone being talented and artistic, they were also friendly and outgoing. People were working together and growing close despite the early stages of awkwardness. |
snow day
Tamar Ciment
A report on Monday, February 12, 2024, forecasted heavy snowfall for the following day. To ensure the safety of all students, SKA emailed the parent body on the night of February 12 canceling school for Tuesday, February 13. The decision was made after consulting with the bus companies and the local school district. All extracurricular activities and events were canceled for the 13th.
Heavy snow is cause for concern. Driving conditions could be unsafe. Even walking to and from the car could be risky with driveways and sidewalks slippery from the snow and ice. The school’s decision to have a snow day was to save us from having to face these weather-borne threats.
The snowfall on Tuesday, February 13th amounted to about 4.2 inches— breaking New York’s record for the highest single-day accumulation of snow in over 2 years according to ABC News. Aside from the snow, Tuesday’s weather included a temperature ranging between 32 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit with wind.
During deep winter, when the days are dark and cold, when work piles up and summer seems like a distant memory, a snow day is like a gift from heaven. I caught up on some studying, slept in and went outside to play in the snow. However you chose to spend your snow day, I’m sure it was as relaxing, rejuvenating, and as enjoyable as mine
Heavy snow is cause for concern. Driving conditions could be unsafe. Even walking to and from the car could be risky with driveways and sidewalks slippery from the snow and ice. The school’s decision to have a snow day was to save us from having to face these weather-borne threats.
The snowfall on Tuesday, February 13th amounted to about 4.2 inches— breaking New York’s record for the highest single-day accumulation of snow in over 2 years according to ABC News. Aside from the snow, Tuesday’s weather included a temperature ranging between 32 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit with wind.
During deep winter, when the days are dark and cold, when work piles up and summer seems like a distant memory, a snow day is like a gift from heaven. I caught up on some studying, slept in and went outside to play in the snow. However you chose to spend your snow day, I’m sure it was as relaxing, rejuvenating, and as enjoyable as mine
The Teacher’s Favorites- Featuring Mr. Hurst
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Q: What is your favorite movie?
Mr. Hurst: I saw this question, and I'm still racking my brains on this. I'm not a very big movie watcher. [R: you could do a movie or TV show.] I'm not a big TV fan, believe it or not. If I watch TV, it's maybe a little bit of the History Channel but mostly sports or the weather channel. I would have to say the movie I've really loved the most that I've watched a lot of times- it's two really- Shrek, or the Jungle Book. Having five children and growing up, I used to have to watch all of these movies. Shrek was always one that appealed to me because there are two sides to the movie. And The Jungle Book, it was kinda cool. Q: What is your favorite song? Mr. Hurst: Oh, if you could see my playlist… it goes from the 1950s to the present day. And all the points in between. I think, I don't know, if I do have one favorite song I would have to go back and go with the Beatles, and it would be In My Life. Q: What is the best museum? Mr. Hurst: The one I've spent the most time in, for a full day, was the Imperial War Museum in London. It was a full day. I was able to check out my grandfather's regiment and everything else, with the machines, and they have mock trenches of World War I in the back. He served in World War I and they could trace his records to find his regiment with computers. Q: What is your favorite food? Mr. Hurst: Chinese. [R: what would you order?] You name it. Chinese. You should see me in a Chinese restaurant. I eat where the Chinese eat. When I go to Chinatown, I find the places, like, on the second floor where nobody goes up to where there are only Chinese people. Mind you, I am partial to Italian as well. Q: Who’s your favorite British person? Mr. Hurst: Oh, me. Yes, my number one answer. Gotta be me. You know, a lot of favorite people from Britain over the years; sports people… I'd have to say the one that I grew up with as my hero was, he just recently passed away, Sir Bobby Charlton. One of the best football players around. Q: Who is the most famous person you've ever met? Mr. Hurst: Where do I start? Quite a few; I've been very fortunate. When I was working at the airport, I specialized in transporting high-value cars around the world so you get to meet the owners. Ralph Lauren; Bill Marriott, who owns the Marriott hotels; a lot of, you know, strange people I've met. The person who really stands out the best though, the true, true, person I've met who was one of the most wonderful in the world, was the great Pelé*. I was very fortunate to have met Pelé several times over the years when he was playing with the New York Cosmos because my dad and I were season ticket holders. One night we even had dinner together downstairs; it was a thing that the season ticket holders could do- you could have dinner with one of the players. Pelé is still probably the most famous of the lot. *Note for those who have no idea who this guy is: he's a super famous Brazilian soccer player who is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time. Q: Do you have social media? Mr. Hurst: Yeah, ‘course I do. How could you not have it in this world today? I'm still very limited, though. I, unfortunately, do spend too much time on it, but the only reason for that is that my family is either up north in Buffalo, or my sister's down south in Florida, or my friends are around the world, so that's how we communicate- on Facebook and facetime… it really can be too much sometimes, though. Q: Are all of the stories that you tell in class true? Mr. Hurst: Oh, heck yeah. Been there done that. I told you, I wear the T-shirt: been there, done that. I was blessed. My father worked for an airline, after the war, and growing up, I grew up as an airline kid. Which meant you got to travel, and in those days that was when you got dressed up to go on a plane, not in your pajamas and all that other stuff. And then, working in the industry, I got to travel and do business in these places, and see these places, and meet these people. Not a bad life. Never made any money out of it, but not a bad life. Q: Can we get free hundreds on the next test for this amazing interview? Mr. Hurst: No. Absolutely not. No free hundreds. “There's no such thing as a free lunch.” We will see how it goes. Thank you. |