Break over: lockdown practice, battling cancer

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) High School reopened its doors on Feb. 1, after a 10-day vacation. Students returned from various exotic places with braids in their hair, a healthy golden tan, and a “rested mind.”

That day, my Hebrew teacher went around the classroom asking where everyone was during the vacation. She herself said that she had a staycation, an exciting word she had just discovered. A staycation is a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or at home and involving day trips to local attractions.

Safety first
Our school conducted the first lockdown drill of the new semester on Feb. 4. The day before, an email was sent to students, parents, and staff members reminding them of the protocols to be followed during a lockdown. During second period, an announcement was made on the loud speaker that the lockdown drill was in effect.

The teacher turned off the lights and locked the door with a new locking mechanism designed for lockdowns that was installed on all the doors in the building this summer. Everyone shuffled to the back of the room or the safest location and sat down on the floor.

Someone went around the building testing all the doors to make sure that they were sufficiently locked. According to protocol and common sense, everyone is supposed to be silent as they wait patiently for the drill to be lifted. A couple of minutes later another announcement was made, declaring the end of the drill. We appreciate all of the steps the administration is taking to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

Snow and Pink days
HAFTR had its first official snow day! On Feb. 5, I woke up to an email sent by the school revealing that all of HAFTR campuses were closed due to the snow. It was an unexpected snowstorm, and I happily went back to sleep.
Pink Day was held on Feb. 10.

The high school’s hallways were decorated, Chinese auctions were held and shirts were sold with the proceeds donated to Sharsheret, a nonprofit organization that supports Jewish women and their families who are battling breast cancer throughout the world.