In a class this year called Inquiry that includes engineering and Judaic Studies, The Idea School students will have a choice between doing teacher-designed projects and their own self-directed ones. Already a group has decided to design their own learning experiences. Students this year will also still use their learning to solve real-world problems. In Advanced Topics in Biology, sophomores and juniors will be studying epidemiology with their new science teacher Sarah Bartges, learning how diseases such as coronaviruses spread and what can be done to prevent future epidemics. This course curriculum began last week with a back-to-school presentation by Dr. Moshe Cohn, a pediatric critical care doctor at NYU, on new medical protocols resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. As Rosh Hashanah approaches, students are working on developing themselves as students and people and how they will connect their goals and to the teshuva process. And in remembrance of September 11, students heard a presentation from their school administrator, Ms. Levin, who worked in the South Tower and told of her experience and escape, imparting to the students about the importance of courage, faith and resilience. Students are excited to be back in person and is looking forward to a productive and creative school year.