Yavneh Academy hosted their first Friendship Circle MVP program on Thursday, November 8. The MVP training was offered to sixth graders and upon its completion, the participants are allowed to volunteer at Friendship Circle events. The opportunity is traditionally only open to students in seventh grade and older. School dismissed and close to forty students had their favorite dinner, pizza and fries. And then the training began.

With so many volunteers, students were divided into two groups. One was led by Rabbi Moshe Grossbaum, director of the Bergen County Friendship Circle chapter, and the second by Chevee Szokovski, a Yavneh Academy parent and Friendship Circle coordinator. The program began with an introduction to how Friendship Circle works and information on how to help children with autism, cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome. The students participated in scenarios to help increase their awareness, the evening concluded with each participant creating a “sparkle globe” which will be given to Friendship Circle members as they celebrate their birthdays. Yavneh Academy and Friendship Circle look forward to celebrating Chanukah together on December 4.