Paramus—With a new school year, a new 8th grade wing, a Middle States Accreditation and a new administrative approach, Rabbi Jonathan Knapp, Rosh Yeshiva of Yavneh Academy says, “There needs to be somebody watching over every child in all aspects of his or her school day, someone here at Yavneh who can tell you what is going on with that child from the time they get off the bus until the time they go home. In the Lower School it’s the homeroom teacher. In Middle School, the students need somebody who is there for them, as a go-to-person who watches over them academically, socially and spiritually.”
Yavneh Academy, a pioneering Modern Orthodox day school in Bergen County, is becoming a Middle School that recognizes its responsibility on staying student focused and nurturing emerging leaders in school, in their communities and eventually in their professional lives.
With the eighth-grade wing nearing completion and under the leadership of the new dean, Rabbi Aron Srolovitz, eighth graders will have access to him and other trained staffers on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, to guide them and help them develop their leadership potential. Mrs. Barbara Rubin and Rabbi Dr. Aaron Ross will serve, respectively, as 6th and 7th grade dean advisors.
Student-driven activities, brainstorming and teambuilding efforts will include planning, assistance and input from the eighth graders themselves. The students will also have their own daily mincha minyan, which they will create and shape. A state-of-the-art science lab will serve as a multipurpose room that will offer enhanced learning opportunities in science and in project-based team initiatives that will offer hands on real world experience. “These are essential life-long skills. It’s not just about the end result, it’s about the process. Students will engage in true project management, from activity objective, to design theme, to design materials. It’s the work leading up to the event that is so valuable,” says Knapp.
“Ou new approach is an extension of our educational philosophy to educate each child in his/her place. For our middle school students, that would mean understanding their particular educational, social, spiritual and emotional needs and continuing to ensure that we meet them,” said Pamela Scheininger, the newly-installed and first female president in Yavneh history.
One year after receiving a Middle States Accreditation, Knapp said, “The most rewarding and exciting part of obtaining the accreditation was the process. We revisited our mission statement for the first time in a very long time and from there we created a set of belief statements, together with faculty, parents and professionals. We set out to meet the core three essentials, academics, social and spiritual needs of our students, reshaping some of how we monitor progress and encourage growth among our Middle School students,” said Knapp.
“Enrollment is at the highest its been in a least a decade. It is gratifying and exciting that people are responding to the type of education that Yavneh offers, but this is not the only way we measure our success. We hold ourselves to a high standard and we are continuously looking to move forward. We are always looking to improve,” said Knapp.
Why the increased demand for Yavneh? Academically they offer learning diversity, increasingly important for families with children who have different learning needs. “Every decision we make is student-centered. I am proud that our building project is narrowly tailored to meet our educational objectives in a way that gives due recognition and respect to all the sacrifices our parents make to ensure that their children have a quality Jewish day school education,” says Scheininger.
Yavneh offers a fully developed Mishnah program and skilled teachers who more and more are meeting the needs of different types of learners. They are also leaders in the use of technology among all types of schools not just Jewish day schools. “As Yavneh embraces technology, our Technology Director, Chani Lichtigher’s ensures that Yavneh is at the forefront of best practices and strategies for developing digital age literacy. Under her leadership we continue to strive to meet rapidly changing technology and close the educational gaps,” said Knapp.
After last year’s successful seventh grade pilot program, Yavneh is extending its iPad initiative to include grades six and seven for this school year. Ongoing continuing education for faculty exposes teachers to the finest educational methodology, thousands of IT professionals, hundreds of workshops, inspiring limitless opportunities to grow the classroom environment for higher student engagement and success.
In September 2014, Yavneh will cut the ribbon on its lobby entrance, security center and state-of-the-art eighth grade wing. For more info www.yavnehacademy.org or follow them @YavnehAcademy or Like them on FB.
By Elyse Hansford
