Dear Friends,
Matching
the interests and passions of our students with the colleges and universities
that best meet their aspirations and needs is the number one goal of our
College Guidance Department. Because we have the opportunity to get to know
each student individually, we are prepared and eager to help guide them and
their families through this exciting, if anxiety-tinged journey.
Although
we meet with 9th and 10th graders to discuss looking
ahead to the college admission process, students begin their college search in
earnest in their junior year. We start with an individual meeting with each
student and his or her parents. We discuss what a student is looking for in a
college: large or small environment, location, distance from home, Jewish
life on campus, possible major, extra-curricular interests, financial
commitment and more. Students leave this meeting with a preliminary list of
colleges that are a good fit for them academically and socially. From there,
students research colleges, visit schools, and spend time clarifying their
goals and priorities. We are there for them every step of the way. We host a
financial aid information night for parents, and an evening panel discussion
with admissions officers from diverse colleges and universities. Through ongoing
meetings, e-mails, weekly newsletters, and an interactive college guidance
program called Naviance, students learn the "ins and outs" of identifying a
list of colleges that match their criteria.
In
senior year, over 50 representatives from colleges and Israel programs visit Barrack
to meet with our students. In the college office, we continue to personalize
the process by helping students with practice interviews, filling out
applications, charting a course for standardized testing, reviewing and brainstorming
essays, and most importantly, listening. They also stop by every now and then
for a piece of chocolate!
This
year, we are fortunate enough to have Rebecca Trajtenberg join our college
guidance team. A graduate of Jewish day schools in New York, Rebecca has been
on the staff of college and university admission offices. She
eagerly shares her knowledge and expertise with students.
Our
relationship continues even after our seniors matriculate at the campuses of
their choice. I often visit them when I meet admissions officers, and my
greatest joy is to hear them say, "Thank you! I am so happy here."
Sincerely,
Carol
Jacobs
Director
of College Guidance
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For Learning.
6th Grade Archeologists
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 On December 16, the sixth grade spent an enlightening
day touring the Egypt and Israel exhibits at the University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Mrs. Judith
Pransky's sixth grade Core program focuses on
studying the ancient past and discovering how it is the basis for our civilization
today in the United States. The students enjoyed docent-led tours of the
world class Egypt exhibit and participated in a scavenger hunt in the Israel
exhibit. As a special treat, they also attended a program in the museum's
International Classroom, in which an archaeologist shared her experiences
working in Egypt. Highlights of the day included seeing the world's
third largest sphinx and actual mummies that are thousands of years old.
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| Annenberg Science Symposium Preparation with Dr. Alan Donnenfeld
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Students participating in the upcoming Annenberg
Science Symposium and Mrs. Rhonda August, Science
Department Chair and symposium advisor, met this week with Dr. Alan
Donnenfeld, an expert on congenital abnormalities and chromosome
disorders, in preparation for their presentation on genetic testing. He shared
a wonderful presentation on the types of genetic testing for screening and
diagnosis, as well as led a discussion of some of the major genetic conditions
and how they are inherited. Dr. Donnenfeld, who practices obstetrics and
gynecology, clinical genetics and clinical cytogenetics in Wynnefield, is
mentoring the students.
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Upper and Middle School
Essay Contest Reminder
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We hope that all students in grades 6-12 are working
on their essays for the JBHA essay contest whose topic is The Ten
Commandments: Gift or Burden? Essays are due no later
than January 20, 2010. Cash awards will be represented to students
with the winning entries. Participate in this thought-provoking, relevant and rewarding
contest.
Full details on our website: Upper School Contest details, Middle School Contest details. |
For Leading.
Boys' Varsity Basketball Update
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The Cougars won their second game of the season and
their first conference win with a nail-biter over West Mont Christian, 56-49.
Barrack lead 26-17 at the half, and West Mont came back to end the third
quarter with Barrack 38-35. Halfway through the
fourth, West Mont was within two points, but Barrack held on for the win. Dan
Gabbay led Barrack with 22 points. Tal Ben-Maimon
had 13. Max Keil had 11 points and Ron Gabbay,
8.
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Lady Cougars Court Success
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Barrack's Varsity Girls' Basketball team has a 5-1
record and enjoyed a 59-13 win over Delaware
Valley Friends School. The Cougars showed a great defensive effort, while
Tamara Moskowitz led with team with 22 points. Jackie Khutorsky
added 10 points, and Jackie Drobny
had 9.
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Barrack Choir to Perform at
76ers Heritage Night
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Over 100 Barrack students, faculty members, and
parents will participate in the 76ers Heritage Night set for Wednesday
evening, January 13, according to Rabbi Michael Yondorf,
SA advisor. Barrack's Student Association is sponsoring the trip. Barrack's new
choir, under the direction of Dr. Karin Orenstein,
will perform prior to the game. Buses will leave from Barrack at 5:45pm on
Wednesday evening and return to campus by 10:45pm.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Monday, January 18
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There's no school on Monday, January 18,
so plan to join Barrack Chesed Club members and volunteer
to participate in two community events on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of
Service. One will take place at the Lamberton School in Philadelphia
and the second is the MLK Community Carnival at The Haverford School. All
interested volunteers should contact Erika Shaid
or Ms. Sarah Waxman, club advisor.
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Save the Date!
Chips for Charity Casino Night
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Barrack Hebrew Academy will transform into a happening
casino on Tuesday, January 26 to benefit the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation. Highlights include games, dinner and
entertainment. Stay tuned for details.
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For Life.
Speakers Needed for February 23
Human Rights Conference
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Barrack's
Human Rights Club is planning its school-wide conference set for February
23,
shares Devra Goldstein, Club president. Club members hope to have at least a dozen
speakers participate in the conference, speaking from a variety of perspectives
about human rights issues that plague our world today. IF YOU HAVE SPEAKERS
TO RECOMMEND,
please contact Devra Goldstein
or club advisor Mr. Tom McLaughlin. Thank you.
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Third Annual Alumni
Basketball Hoopla
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Alumni from classes 1970-2009 took to the courts in
our school gym for the 3rd Annual All Alumni Basketball Game. The action was
non-stop and both teams were winners. Many thanks to Joy Pincus Cooper '90,
Akiba-Barrack Alumni Association President, and Mitch
Kline, Barrack Athletic Director, who greeted our graduates
and helped the evening run smoothly.
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Tzedakah in Action
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Mr. Barnett Kamen
collected $435.00 in Tzedakah contributions from his classes during the fourth quarter of last year and the first trimester of this year. Checks of $217.50 were sent to Race for the Cure and to Hazon Yeshaya. Mr. Kamen thanks his students for their
outstanding generosity.
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Parents' Corner
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First
Barrack Shabbaton Weekend
Set for
February 5-6
Sam
Glaser Community Concert to Cap Event
Barracks
Home and School Association will host a first-ever Barrack Family Shabbaton Weekend on February 5-6 at our school. Barrack
hotel rooms are available for this amazing event on a first come first serve
basis. The special Shabbat event will begin at 4:45 on Friday evening and end at 7:30
Saturday evening
with a joyful community concert performed by world-renowned Jewish entertainer Sam
Glaser,
a jubilant singer, pianist and comp oser.
For full
details about the Shabbaton and a reservation form, click here.
The Sam
Glaser Concert,
open to the entire community on Saturday evening, February 6,
7:30 pm
will take place in the Barrack auditorium. Seating is limited, so don't miss this opportunity to bring the whole
family to hear Sam who has been hailed "as the best thing to happen to Jewish
music in decades." Tickets are $18.00 for adults and $10.00 for
children under 12.
Looking
forward to sharing Shabbat with our Barrack Hebrew Academy family and the Sam
Glaser Concert with the entire community.
Join us
for Super Sunday!
Federation
of Greater Philadelphia' Super Sunday will be held at Barrack Hebrew Academy
this Sunday, January 10. Join us to make phone calls that raise essential
funds for our community. Stop by to say "hello" to our students, parents, and
administrators manning our Barrack table. All Barrack volunteers can also stop
by the table to pick up a school t-shirt, while supplies last. Hope to see you
there!
10th
Grade Muss Meeting
Parents
of 10th grade students are invited to hear about Barrack's exciting
trimester of study in Israel on the Muss campus. The meeting is set for Wednesday,
January 20, 7:30pm
in the school auditorium.
Federation
Camp Scholarships Now Available
The Jewish
Federation of Greater Philadelphia is pleased to announce that it has
needs-based scholarships available for families from the Greater Philadelphia
region seeking to send their children to non-profit, Jewish identity day camps
and overnight camps during the summer of 2010. Families reporting net incomes
of less than $100,000 on their 2009 IRS tax returns are encouraged to apply for
awards that generally range between 10% and 40% of tuition. The deadline for
overnight camp scholarships is Friday, February 26, 2010. For day camp scholarships: Friday, March 26,
2010.
For more information, contact Deirdre Mulligan via email or call 215-832-0509. For a complete list of
camps, please visit the Federation website: www.jewishphilly.org
Library
Volunteers Needed
We are
seeking library volunteers to help in our beautiful Barrack Hebrew Academy
Library. Volunteers should love books and young people. Please contact Wendie
Gabay,
Head Librarian, wgabay@jbha.org/610-922-2356 for details.
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In the Spotlight:
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Early College Acceptances Arrive
in the Mail
A number
of Barrack seniors received early admissions acceptances this month to a
variety of colleges and universities. At press time, the list includes:
Brandeis, Cornell, Franklin & Marshall, George Washington, Johns Hopkins,
NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Skidmore,
Tufts, Washington University in St. Louis, and Yale.
Many seniors
have also been accepted to Rolling Admissions schools, including: Arizona
State, the University of Arizona, Drexel, Hofstra, Ithaca, the University of
North Carolina School of the Arts, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Tulane, and the
University of Vermont. To date, one senior has been accepted to IDC-the Interdisciplinary Center, Raphael
Recanati School in Herzliya.
Barrack seniors traditionally achieve 100% college admission to colleges
and universities of their choice. More acceptance letters will be in the mail
in March. | 
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PARENTS' MEETING
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8th
Grade
Parents' Meeting
Tuesday,
January 12 7:30pm in School Library
| High School is just around the corner! Join fellow
parents to learn about our enriching Upper School program and meet Upper School
Director Leslie Pugach and additional directors and
faculty members. Dr. Steven M. Brown,
Head of School, will discuss our exciting and unique 11th grade
trimester of study in Israel on the Muss campus. Current Upper School students
will also join us. RSVP to Karen Albero.
We look forward to seeing you!
Dr. Barbara Gelman
Thursday,
January 21 7:00pm
Dr. Barbara Gelman will be giving a
lecture for parents, entitled "Study and Organization Skills in Middle
and High School Students."
Barbara
Gelman holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania
and an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies
from Cornell. She works as a school psychologist for the School
District of Philadelphia and maintains a small private practice in
Center City specializing in learning disorders and evaluation of
children.
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Calendar
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10th
Grade Shabbaton:
Capital
Camps
Friday,
January 8-10
Senior
Portraits:
January
11-13
8th
Grade Parent Meeting:
Tuesday,
January 12, 7:30pm
in the
library
Middle
School Shabbaton:
Capital
Camps
January
15-17
Martin
Luther King Jr.
Day of Service
Monday,
January 15
School closed. Chesed Club volunteer
activities
10th
Grade Muss Meeting:
Wednesday,
January 20, 7:30pm
in the auditorium
Dr. Barbara Gelman
Thursday, February 21, 7:00pm
SA Ski
Trip
Wednesday,
January 27
No
School
Tu
B'Shevat Assembly
Thursday,
January 28
Upper
School Drama
Mary,
Mary
January 31-February 3
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For everything,
there is a season...
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Mazel tov to:
the
following Barrack students who will celebrate their B'nai Mitzvot this month
and to their families:
Joshua
Cohen '16
Tali
Glickman '16
Michael
Levin '15
Congratulations
to Barrack's Red Team that won
the Hanukah War. They
celebrated with a pizza party.
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Heartfelt
Condolences to:
Barrack
parent Shoshana Golan (David) on the loss of her brother Yoseph ben Masud
Moyal z'l, uncle
of Shira '13.
Barrack
parent Ellen Holtzman (Joseph Wolfson) on the loss of her father Henry Holtzman
z'l, grandfather
of Jessica '11
and Sarah '14 Wolfson.
Carol
Jacobs,
Barrack College Guidance Director, on the passing of her mother Jean Kiggins. Funeral Arrangements follow: Friday evening, January 8th,
calling hours from 6 to 8pm at Stretch Funeral Home, located at 236 East
Eagle Road, Havertown, PA. On Saturday, January 9th at 11:00am there
will be a memorial service at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in the Chapel,
located at 625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr PA (phone 610-525-2821).There will
be a luncheon immediately following the service.
Alumni
Life Cycles
Mazel
tov to:
Samuel Berger '73 and his wife Trisanne on the Bat Mitzvah of
their daughter Yael.
Jamie
Mendelovici Geller
and her husband Nachum on the birth of a son, brother of Bracha Miriam, Rochel Naami
and Yaakov Yosef.
Tamar
Silberberg Shiffman '01 and husband Yoav on the birth of a
son, Ben.
Best
Wishes to:
Tzeitchem
L'shalom "go in peace and return in peace" to Daniel Ludmir '05 who is joining the
Marines and leaving for Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia.
Heartfelt
Condolences to:
Bradford
Clayman '79
on the loss of his father, Morton Clayman.
Samuel Berger '73 on the loss of his
mother Lillian.
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Photo Gallery
11th Grade Shabbaton
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Fall Sports Banquet
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Submit to Benainu
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Please send Benainu information to our new email address benainu@jbha.org
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Get Connected
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Not on our mailing list? Join us today to get updates on what's happening at Barrack.
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