Being inspired, having fun at DRS

The past few weeks at Davis Renov Stahler (DRS) Yeshiva High School have been nothing short of enjoyable and inspiring for the entire student body. From a new initiative to holiday celebrations, students are having a good time while gearing up for midterms.
Twelve current and former Israeli soldiers visited DRS on Dec. 12 and spoke to students about their experiences during Operation Protective Edge this past summer. They captivated the student body as they recounted stories of heroism during the recent war, and discussed their motivation and pride in defending the Jewish state. “It was inspiring to see people out there who are willing to fight for a cause beyond themselves,” sophomore Chaim Alper said about the soldiers visit.
More than two dozen juniors were inducted into Achdut, DRS’s chapter of the National Honor Society, on Dec. 15. Inductees had an academic average of 90 or above and were selected by faculty members for having exemplary character and leadership traits. Lawrence School District Superintendent Gary Schall was the guest speaker at the ceremony and addressed the inductees about leadership in today’s world. Each inductee briefly spoke about a famous Jewish leader, and veteran chemistry teacher Dr. Rosalie Peck was honored for her dedication to her students.
A student-lead healthy eating initiative has started up, spearheaded by junior Yoni Gutenmacher in an effort to promote nutritional awareness and provide healthier eating choices. “The Healthy Choice is an initiative that we started in order to raise nutrition and health awareness within our school, and to provide healthier options for students who feel that they need a snack,” Gutenmacher said. Future plans call for creating a bulletin board, revamping the vending machines to include healthier snacks, and a bimonthly column in the school’s newspaper promoting healthier eating.
The DRS Wildcats of the Metropolitan Yeshiva High School Athletic League have been excelling in both basketball and hockey, and both the varsity teams are in second place in the league’s Eastern Divisions, having won key matches against rival squads. The wrestling squad had strong showings in their recent matches, and the flag football team is off to a solid 4-2 start.
One of the highlights of the year at DRS, the annual Hanukkah celebration, was held on Dec. 18, as students enjoyed the holiday together. Various prizes were auctioned off by the student council, and Head Custodian Andre Wilson won the singing competition. The students, junior varsity and varsity basketball players, topped the faculty in the annual game 46-37. Latkes, hot cookies, hot chocolate and ice cream were served, as the school community had a great time together on the holiday, before heading into the midterm season.