Thursday, October 1, 2026
Now that the 2025-2026 academic year has begun at HAFTR High School, the building is once again buzzing with excitement as students dive back into learning, friendships, and new opportunities.
This year’s school theme, “HaMakom Shelanu - Our Place,” invites us all to consider how we can make HAFTR a place where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired. It asks us to reflect on how each one of us can contribute to making our school the best it can be. Whether it’s by joining a club, participating in school activities, helping a friend after class, or just smiling in the hallway, we each have the power to shape the school into “our place” for the better.
This spirit of community and renewal is reflected in the unveiling of our newly renovated auditorium, which has already become a gathering space for meaningful programs—such as our Teshuvah Shiur held before Yom Kippur, where students came together to hear inspiring words and prepare thoughtfully for the chagim.
With this spirit guiding us, the school year began in an atmosphere of anticipation and unity. Classes officially began on September 3, with a special mini-day designated solely for freshmen, giving them a perfect start to their high school journey. Walking in on that first day, they were given the time and space to navigate the new building and get to know new teachers and peers. Meanwhile, sophomores, juniors, and seniors returned to school for orientation sessions and began classes the following day, where they were able to reconnect with friends, teachers, and resume the flow of student life. While our freshmen were only beginning their high school experience, seniors took their yearbook pictures, marking their final year at HAFTR with bittersweet excitement.
The sentiment of HaMakom Shelanu continued with one of the highlights of the beginning of each year, which is the first Big Sibling event. This program pairs seniors with freshmen, who become in-school siblings for the year. The mentorship allows our seniors to guide their freshman “little siblings” through their first year, answering their questions, showing them the building, and being a friendly face in the hallways. To continue building camaraderie, later in the week, the freshmen packed their bags and set off on an unforgettable rafting trip, building memories, teamwork, and friendships along the way.
HAFTR hosted its annual Chesed and Club Fair on September 17, a vibrant showcase of student leadership, passion, and creativity. Students gathered in the Scott Satran Arena, exploring their personal interests as they joined new clubs and fellowships. Students were able to select activities ranging from fashion and design to medical journalism, golf, E-sports, Mock Trial, art and more. In addition to student-run clubs, the fair welcomed several community organizations, such as the JCC,
As classes and programs continued, we also paused to reflect. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the recent holiday of Sukkot are not only a time for celebration, but also introspection.
As we begin this school year, and the new Jewish year 5786, we will challenge ourselves not to just succeed academically, but to grow overall. We aspire to be present, positive, and growth oriented.
Erin Nathan is a student at HAFTR High School.
