Bounding into school activities

It’s not every day that teenagers wake up before 8 a.m. on a Sunday; however, this past Sunday proved to be an exception.

In a sea of grey, white, and pink, Hebrew Academy of Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) parents, students, and faculty showed their support for Sharsheret, an organization dedicated to helping Jewish women battle breast cancer, by participating with Team Sharsheret in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer NYC 5-mile walk. HAFTR junior Sam Levinson said, it was, “a great day to walk for a great cause.”

Events like these are key in helping our community come together. “It was really inspiring to see so many people come out to support a common cause. It was amazing to know that no matter who the person to your right or to your left was, everyone was there at that moment for the same purpose,” said Julia Schwartz.

Between acts of chesed (kindness) and rigorous academics, HAFTR High School has been buzzing with activity. While 10th- and 11th-graders were busy taking the PSAT exams on Oct. 16, the entire ninth grade class went to cemeteries in Queens and Staten Island to help maintain the grounds. With the beginning of fall, there are many leaves that needed to be picked up. Right now, there is a coat drive going on which has already collected about 100 coats! These coats will be donated to the JCC of the Greater Five Towns on Oct. 29, to provide needed warmth to people in need in our community.

The Tattler, HAFTR’s online newspaper, recently welcomed some new members to its team. Freshmen can’t wait to embrace this advantageous opportunity. “I am very excited to join The Tattler. I feel that in doing so I have opened up many doors for writing opportunities,” said Atara Hubert. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who were not previously involved are also eager to write.

The school year is off to a great start, and students hope the momentum continues to spark involvement in many activities.