Representatives from the Yavneh Academy seventh grade visited the Stephen D.Hassenfeld Childrens’ Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders NYU Langone Medical Center. There, they delivered stuffed animals (doggies) to ill children. During Mrs. Shifra Srolovitz’s 7th grade advisory class, a child life specialist had presented to the students about life at the hospital and how it feels to be a child facing illness. Students then decorated the stuffed dogs with pictures, jokes and inspirational and encouraging words. The specialist instructed the students as to what are “do’s” and “don’ts” when it comes to making sure their words were able to elicit hope.

This project was the culmination of a unit in the Yavneh Academy Advisory program called “When Life Gives You Lemons- Dealing With Adversity in Life” wherein the students learned the skills of coping with difficulties and challenges.

Four seventh grade students, Aviv Fox, Kayla Goldberger, Ben Greenbaum and Zoe Raykher joined Dr. Aliza Frohlich in personally meeting some of the young, brave patients and hand-delivered the “doggies.” The look of excitement on the faces of the patients was inspirational to all. The visit left a deep impression on the Yavneh students.