DRS students and faculty get positive

Interactive multimedia presentations, faculty and student workshops, and informative flyers and posters are just some of the ways Davis Renov Stahler (DRS) Yeshiva High School social worker Doni Joszef is trying to assist students and faculty improve their self-esteem, strengthen student-teacher relationships, and provide social and emotional support to students who attend the Woodmere-based school, through his new initiative, “The Positive Project.”
“The Positive Project is an innovative initiative to enhance our school culture with creative workshops and engaging media presentations for the sake of promoting a socially and emotionally-rich atmosphere,” said Joszef, who has a master’s degree in social work, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in media psychology. “Schools are moving towards stricter guidelines and greater demands, and I felt the need to balance the pressure and scholastic demands with an added dose of social and emotional support for both teachers and students alike.”
The program consists of various components to provide social and emotional support for students and faculty members, including monthly workshops to work on various dimensions of personal well-being, Joszef said. “We work on social sensitivity, self-esteem, and self-respect for what we do on a daily basis to remind ourselves that this is an opportunity for growth,” he said regarding the workshops, which include various multimedia presentations which Joszef creates.
According to at least two students, the program has been highly successful in accomplishing its mission among the more than 300 boys who attend DRS. “The Positive Project promotes camaraderie and friendship, and makes sure that everyone in the school is kind to each other,” said junior Eli Goldberg. Sophomore Brian Chernigoff agrees that the program has promoted more unity and friendship among students. “I think the Positive Project has changed the school because kids are looking out for one another more,” he said.
The program has increased student awareness of specific issues and their social sensitivity for others, according to Judaic Studies teacher Rabbi Shlomo Klapholtz. “The Positive Project has been vital in bringing to the forefront of our students’ consciousness the issues of bullying and empathy for others,” he said.
Joszef is seeking long term results by promoting a sense of partnership among the students. “I want to take the positive spirit to an even greater level by fueling the momentum with collaboration, compassion, creativity and a sense of community,” he said.