The middle-school Effectiveness Challenge was a contest tied to the concept that every girl who was interested chose a goal that was within reach, but that she probably would not have done had it not been for the challenge. The contest had two rounds. Students received prizes delivered to their homes mid-summer. For the second round, students will pick up their prizes in school at the beginning of the year. After learning Parshat Kedoshim with the 8th grade, the grade voted on a summer project connecting to the mitzvot in the parsha. Students who wanted to participate chose a goal personal to them in the area of tefillah or respecting the elderly. For example, students called their grandmothers before Shabbat davened Mincha three times a week, bentched using a bencher, and added הללוקהs and שיר של יום. Zehava Greenwald, assistant principal of Bruriah Middle School said, “It is very satisfying to look back at the end of the summer and know that you stuck to a goal. I am so proud of my students for working hard and using the summer months for personal growth.” A Bruriah Middle School student summed up her experience this way, “Just wanted to let you know that I completed round two of the contest. I think I may actually continue it from now on. Thank you so much for motivating me to improve my tefillah!” The beauty of the results from the contest stretches well into the month of Tishrei, as students contemplate their successes of the past year and look ahead to the opportunities that await them respective of their personal goals.